What a Terrific Team!

BOO!

Halloween is just around the corner!
Boograms are due this Friday, October 18th!

MR. FORSHAW'S INFO

Please check The Hoot for Mr. Forshaw's link to some information on our Investigations program!

A free parent workshop is being offered at Teachers College for project schools on Tuesday, October 29^th.   If you're interested, please contact Jean Clinton or Jackie Doty.  Here is a link to the event description: http://readingandwritingproject.com/workshops-study-groups/event-details.html?id=523

Overview of K-5 Curriculum

Meet the Literacy, Math and Technology Curriculum Coordinators for the elementary schools.  Learn how curriculum has been adjusted for the Connecticut Common Core State Standards, how instruction is shifting to prepare students for the Smarter Balance assessments in 2014-15, and how technology is supporting students in this learning.

Sponsored by
Darien Public Schools K-5 Parent Workshop Series

Save The Dates

Darien Public Schools K-5 Parent Workshop Series 2013-2014

OVERVIEW OF K-5 CURRICULUM October 15 at 7:00 PM* & October 16 at 9:30 AM Hindley School *note change in date

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE IN MATHEMATICS November 20 at 9:30 AM & December 11 at 7:00 PM Holmes School

READING & WRITING CONNECTIONS January 8 at 9:30 AM (snow date 1/22) & January 29 at 7:00 PM (snow date 2/12) Royle School

TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT LEARNING March 26 at 9:30 AM & April 2 at 7:00 PM Ox Ridge School

OCTOBER MCMONTHLY NEWS

HAPPY FALL!

Thank you for a wonderful first month of school!  We are getting into the swing of things with all the new routines at Ox Ridge!

Reading – we are remembering what makes a book Just Right and are thinking about the whole story before, during, and after reading, We continue to tackle tricky words with many word strategies and are remembering how important it is to distinguish between basic short and long vowel spellings.

Word Study – We are so excited to have begun our new Word Study (Spelling) lists.  It’s important to remember the patterns instead of just memorizing words. 

TIP:  At the end of every week, save your words! Keep the words in a journal or place them in an envelope at home.  Keep the envelopes inside of a shoebox and review your old lists, along with your new words. 

You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll become an expert at many word patterns!

 

 

Writing – we have been writing stories about small (important) moments from our lives, how to stretch sentences and stories, and what to include in our stories.  We are also setting goals in how to be even better writers than we already are!

We are finishing our first writing unit on Small Moment stories.  We have been setting goals, stretching our sentences, and are beginning to study the craft and technique of amazing authors such as Jane Yolen, Ezra Jack Keats, and Donald Crews.  We’ll try some of their cool stuff in our own writing.  We will also work on learning to make our writing better so others will want to pull it off the shelves and read it – like they do with other favorite authors!

Math – We have beem doing lots of “investigating” with our new Investigations program through lessons, games, and sharing with each other how we figure out the answers.  We’ve reviewed addition and subtraction, odds and evens, tens place, and the tricky fact families.  We are now doing more complex problem solving and have become experts at doubling. 

Science and other News – We made observations outside and noticed how the seasons are changing.   We have begun Spanish in our World Language Program.  We are just beginning to get into our Computer Lab routine.

BIRTHDAYS

 

Mon., Oct. 14:   Sadie Stafford

Mon., Oct. 21:  Caroline Jack

Mon., Oct. 21:  John Caliendo

 

 

REMINDERS

 

 

Mon., Oct. 7:  Scholastic Orders due

Mon., Oct. 14: Columbus Day, no school

 

 

Oct. 15 – Oct. 28:  Fall 4 Math

           (details to come)

 

Thurs., Oct. 31:  Halloween Activities

***You may wear your costume on Halloween (but no masks please)***

 

 

Tues., Nov. 12:  Photo Retake Day

**Please bring your original photos to the photographer on that day.  More payment details at Lifetouch.com



 

 

SPECIAL NOTES

·         I can’t thank you enough for sending in all the supplies in September.  The 2^nd graders have quite a lengthy list, so we appreciate all you have sent in!

·         Thank you for  coming to Open House.  It was pleasure to see the families who were able to attend.  If you were not able to, I certainly understand.  If you did not receive the paperwork, please let me know (and another time, I can show you the children’s photographs!)

A few items I wasn’t able to mention at Open House:

·         Extra lunch choices:  If your child does not care for the main Hot meal or the Alternate, they can always order Salad, Pizza, Bagel, or Deli Sandwich

·         A few students still need to bring in a few family photos for our rotating frame, classroom activity $$, as well as a favorite book from home.

 

·         If you didn’t get a chance to sign up for Conference Week, I will send a reminder with the open slots later this month.

 

·         Thank you advance for volunteering in our classroom.  The students and I are excited that most activities are starting this month, especially with Mystery Guests and our Halloween celebration later this month.

 

·         Continued thanks to our Room Moms, Elizabeth Svedlund and Jane Glassmeyer!