Phonics

In phonics this week, we will begin Unit 13, which focuses on the long o sound. They will practice reading and writing words that use the vowel teams oa, oe, and ow. Students will also practice adding prefixes and suffixes to base words to help them build and understand new words. Throughout the week, they will read on-level decodable texts to strengthen their fluency and apply the phonics patterns they are learning. In addition, students will practice reading and writing this week’s trick words: Monday, Tuesday, and cousin.

Reading/Writing

We will be wrapping up our module about the American West. Students will review and complete a vocabulary assessment based on the words we have learned throughout the module. They will also write an opinion paragraph about their favorite book from the unit, explaining their choice and supporting their opinion with reasons from the text. This will give students a chance to reflect on what they have learned while practicing their writing skills.

Math

We will finish up our measurement chapter this week. Students will practice determining the length of an item on a broken ruler and solving word problems involving length. They will also work on estimating, measuring, and comparing the lengths of different objects using appropriate tools. Our measurement assessment will be on Friday, March 13th.

Religion

We will begin preparing for First Communion this week. Each week, we will work through two sessions from our textbook and support our learning with picture books, videos, and a review of the different parts of the Mass. Our first two sessions, “Belonging” and “Gathering,” will focus on what it means to belong to different groups and to our parish family, as well as the importance of gathering together to celebrate special events and worship God. Any additional review and preparation you can do at home is very helpful, especially attending Sunday or Saturday evening Mass and encouraging your child to participate in the responses. Thank you for continuing to support your child as their primary catechists.

Social Studies

We will continue to explore the question: How can one person make a difference? We will identify problems and solutions in various communities, and we will also look at how specific individuals have made valuable contributions to society.

Phonics

We will start Unit 12 this week. Students will focus on reading and spelling words with the diphthongs oi and oy. We will learn to recognize spelling patterns, noticing that oi is typically found at the beginning or middle of syllables, while oy is most often found at the end. Students will also be introduced to new trick words: favorite, early, and ocean. In addition, we will continue reviewing the vowel teams we have practiced over the past few weeks to strengthen our reading and spelling skills. Please note that this is a one-week unit, and students will have an assessment on Friday 3/6.

Reading/Writing

This week in Wit & Wisdom, students will compare two different versions of The Legend of John Henry. We will discuss how the stories are alike and different, then write a paragraph explaining the similarities and differences between the two texts. Students will work on including topic-specific vocabulary in their writing to strengthen their explanations. We will also focus on understanding and writing words that use the prefix un-, learning how it changes a word’s meaning to mean “not.”

Math

This week in math, students will focus on measuring length using a variety of tools and units. They will practice measuring objects in centimeters using a ruler and learn to compare measurements in inches and centimeters. Students will also explore larger units of measurement by comparing meters, feet, and yards. Throughout the week, they will work on choosing the most appropriate tool and unit to accurately measure the length of different objects.

Religion

We will continue preparing for First Reconciliation on Saturday, March 7th. We will spend time practicing the Act of Contrition together and reviewing the steps of Confession so students feel confident and prepared. Through discussion and reflection, students will deepen their understanding of forgiveness and God’s love as they get ready for this special sacrament.

Social Studies

Students will explore the essential question, How can one person make a difference? They will learn to identify problems that exist in different communities and discuss possible solutions people can create to help others. Students will also study the contributions of important individuals in U.S. history and culture, discovering how one person’s actions can positively impact a community and inspire change.

Phonics

We will continue working on reading and writing words with the long e vowel team. We will also practice reading and spelling our new trick words: breakfast, head, and ready. Students will learn how to identify different syllable types in multisyllabic words and apply that knowledge to read and write longer words. We will wrap up Unit 11 with an assessment on Friday, 2/27.

Reading/Writing

During Wit & Wisdom, we will begin exploring the legend of John Henry. Students will use collective nouns to accurately describe groups of items and practice sharing what they notice and wonder about the story. We will define what a tall tale is and identify important story elements such as characters, setting, and plot. As we read, we will also compare different versions of the same legend to notice similarities and differences.

Math

We will begin our new unit on measurement. Students will learn how to identify the length of objects to the nearest inch and practice estimating lengths in inches. We will also measure objects in feet and explore how inches, feet, and yards are related. As we work, students will compare these units of measurement and build a stronger understanding of how and when to use each one. If a ruler is needed for homework, I will send them home. Please be sure to send them back the following day to use in class. Thanks!

Religion

During religion, students will continue preparing for First Reconciliation. We will practice praying the Act of Contrition and review the steps of Confession so students feel confident and ready. We will also read the parable of the Good Shepherd and discuss how God is like the Good Shepherd in Jesus’ story.

Science

Students will learn about how new materials are invented and how they can solve problems in creative ways. During our “Bouncy Glass Inventions” activity, students will imagine a futuristic material, glass that can bounce and stretch like rubber, and brainstorm their own unique inventions using it. They will think like engineers as they design and explain how their new material could be used in the real world.