Fundations: (phonics): This week students will learn to:

• encode words with /er/ - er, ir, ur
• Decode words with /er/ - er, ir, ur
• Spell trick words: picture, learn, earth
• Spell trick words: mother, brother, father
• We will review previous words from Units 7, and 8 with an individual assessment to 

see how we are doing and where we need to focus more.

We will use both magnetic boards with letter tiles and dry erase boards to practice these rules for spelling and how to mark up these words.

Reading and Writing: (Wit and Wisdom) We continue diving deeper into our text The Journey of a Pioneer. This week we focus on the Oregon Trail map and the journey Olivia and her family took to move west in search of fertile land for good farming. We will focus on this type of text and how using text features (glossary, maps, pictures, etc) we can better comprehend the meaning of vocabulary words and what life was like for Pioneers. We will review key events on our continually growing Timeline of early American History. We will pair up or work in small groups 2-3 to jot down key points and main ideas of Olivia’s diary.

Math: We will review for our chapter 4 2-digit Subtraction with regrouping test on Tuesday. Wednesday we will be taking our I-Ready Diagnostic, using Thursday as a day to finish up with that. I am excited to use % of Thursday and Friday to do some Math stations with addition and subtraction word problems. Each group will be expected to work together to solve and cannot move on until each member of the team has the correct answer without just giving it away. We hope to also play subtraction Tic-Tac-Toe again-I love how competitive they are while still remembering good sportsmanship!

Religion: This week is all about preparing for First Reconciliation! We will wrap up our book in class and Wednesday we will take a “walking field trip” over to church and see the steps to making a confession first hand with Fr. Martin. We are blessed that he has accepted this request to walk us through this important sacrament. 

Social Studies: We continue to dive into Sequencing How Goods Are Made and Delivered → Learn how goods are made and brought to us by sequencing the steps in their production. This week we will work in groups to learn how goods are produced and delivered-each group will have a chance to put sequence cards in order and then present them to the class.

Reminders: 

• It was so great to see so many of you at Open House yesterday! I enjoyed chatting and letting your kiddos show off their work and our great classroom!
• I-Ready Diagnostics are again this week! We will have our Math on Wednesday.
• *Please help your child to be prepared as best as possible by getting enough rest, eating a healthy breakfast and bringing a hearty, protein packed snack.
• Chapter 4 Math-Subtraction with Regrouping is -Tuesday
• First Communion Banner Kits - Please see the email from Mrs. Lombardo with information about how to order a Communion Banner Kit. You can also visit this link to purchase one: https://www.givecentral.org/location/181/event/39492 Please let me know if you have any questions.
• 1st Reconciliation is February 4, 2024 after the 5pm Mass.

• Dress in your spirit wear tomorrow for our Pep Rally to kick off Catholic Schools Week!
• Join us at the 9:00 Mass this Sunday in our uniform to show off our pride in SJCS. Then our Open House from 10-12:30 and don't forget to eat plenty of pancakes at the Pancake Breakfast (cash at the door). Please also check out our STEAM lab!
• Monday, January 31st is red, white and blue dress-down to celebrate our great nation-USA!!
• Please watch for my email regarding a service project opportunity our class will participate in. "Chemo Care Bags"

Fundations: (phonics) This week students will focus on spelling words with r-controlled vowels /ar/ and /or/, and /er/, /ir/, and /ur/. Students will practice with gel boards, dry erase boards, magnetic letter boards and writing these words in a sentence: burst, burn, termite, hamster,  first and dirty. Trick words: learn, earth, picture

Reading and Writing: (Wit and Wisdom) Students will focus on what life was like for a pioneer. Students will look at visual art and share What do they “ notice” and “wonder” about this painting? We will review what makes a text non-fiction. Grammar this week is focused on proper nouns and capitalization.

Math: We will continue to practice 2 digit addition as we finish up and begin to prepare for the Chapter 4 test. Students will use a variety of ways to clarify the steps to effectively solve these problems. We continue to do sample problems at our whiteboard and “decide” if it is necessary to regroup tens to ones in order to subtract.

Religion: First Reconciliation is fast approaching! We are hoping to take a walking field trip over to church to see where we will make our first reconciliation and talk with Fr. about the steps to make our first confession. We continue to talk about forgiveness and making good choices. We have been learning the process of examining our conscience and practicing the Act of Contrition prayer.

Social Studies: Students continue to learn in the unit on  Economics ideas about where goods are from, what natural resources are used in making goods. This week we will learn more about not only how good are made, but how they are delivered to different places for our purchase. Vocabulary words: goods, trade, transportation, consumer, producer, and income will be our focus.

Reminders: 

• I-Ready Diagnostics are this week and next! We will begin with Reading on Wednesday, and Math next week. *Please help your child to be prepared as best as possible by getting enough rest, eating a healthy breakfast and bringing a hearty, protein packed snack.
• Unit 8 Phonics assessments-Tuesday
• Chapter 4 Math assessment next week!

• First Communion Banner Kits - Please see the email from Mrs. Lombardo with information about how to order a Communion Banner Kit. You can also visit this link to purchase one: https://www.givecentral.org/location/181/event/39492 Please let me know if you have any questions.

• *Optional* Book Fair snow globe decorations are due Monday, 1/22/24. Mrs. Hoglund and some fabulous volunteers will be hanging these up to decorate for the upcoming Book Fair. (We will preview the Book Fair next week!)
• Catholic Schools Week is next week and begins with Open House and Mass this weekend January 28th. 
• 1st Reconciliation is February 4, 2024 after the 5pm Mass.