Lincoln School Newsletter

Dear Families,

Your child is learning strategies to add and subtract numbers using mental math. One strategy for solving addition problems using mental math is to break apart numbers to make a ten, because the ten is easier to add. Here’s an example:

Use Strategies and Properties

to Add and Subtract

Find 157 + 34

You can make a 10 by adding 3 to 157.

157 + 3 = 160

Break apart 34 into 3 + 31.

160 + 31 = 191

So, 157 + 34 = 191.

For subtraction, you can use the same strategy of making a ten.

Find 378 - 195

It is easier to subtract 200.

378 - 200 = 178

If you subtract 200, you subtract 5 more than 195.

You must add 5 to the answer.

178 + 5 = 183

So, 378 - 195 = 183.

Help your child practice using mental math to add and subtract. Here is an activity you

can do together.

Use Mental Math to Add and Subtract

Materials: paper and pencil

Write different 3-digit numbers on eight slips of paper.

Place the slips of paper in a bag and select two at random. Add the two numbers by making a ten and breaking apart numbers.

Then, subtract the lesser number from the greater number using the same mental math strategy.

Celebrating Amazing Women

Our classroom is buzzing with excitement as we dive into our new unit all about amazing women in history and today! Our Third Graders are exploring the lives of incredible women who have changed the world. From scientists to artists, leaders to athletes, we're learning about women who dared to dream big and make a difference. Each student has joined a book club where they're reading biographies of famous women. They're discovering fascinating stories and sharing what they learn with their classmates. It's wonderful to see their eyes light up as they uncover new facts about these inspiring figures! As part of this project, our creative young minds will be designing colorful brochures about their chosen amazing woman. They'll use what they've learned to highlight key facts, achievements, and interesting details about these remarkable individuals. But that's not all! Our budding artists will also be crafting peg dolls to represent their chosen woman. These cute little figures will help bring history to life in a fun and hands-on way. We can't wait to see the unique designs they come up with!

In our hallway, you'll notice something special. We've posted pictures of each of our Third Grade girls because they are our amazing women of the future! It's a beautiful reminder that every one of our students has the potential to do great things and make their mark on the world. We're so proud of how engaged and enthusiastic our Third Graders are about this project. They're not just learning history, they're seeing themselves as part of a long line of incredible women who can shape the future. Stay tuned for updates on our progress and the big reveal of our finished projects!

Mrs. Alkin’s Fifth Grade Discussion Groups were a huge hit this school year. For the past two months, each week, a special guest facilitated a Fifth Grade group counseling session based on student topic requests. Some of the topics included dealing with various stressors at home and school, navigating bilingual pressures, refusing cyberbullying, avoiding brain rot, and keeping true to personal style and fashion. Each week, our special guests generated powerful conversations and infused new perspectives. Some of the Fifth Grade students attended each week while others attended based on the topic. It was a meaningful experience for all involved. A special thanks goes out to our guest presenters: Dr. Ferraro, Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Sher, Robyn Spielberg and Alyssa Decker at Mamiye Brothers Manufacturing, Ms. Manzo, Ms. Manresa, and Ms. Centrella.

The Second Graders marched into spring immersed in poetry, persuasive writing, three-digit regrouping, and matter concepts. March began with exciting Read Across America themed activities and our first ever READ-A-THON! We had special guest readers throughout the week. The children also practiced reading in literature circles and in book clubs with upper grade level peers. Poetry has been a highlight this month in Reading. The students are recognizing craft and structure in poetry that includes rhythmic qualities, humor, expression, imagination, and symbolism. In Writing, the students are working on developing a persuasive letter with convincing reasoning as to why they should or should not have homework.

Three digit addition continues to be the focus in Math. The students are adding within 1,000 using concrete models, place value strategies, and properties of operations to problem solve and regroup.

Experiments with states of matter, changes in matter, force, motion, and sound are current topics being covered in Science. The students are investigating states and properties of matter, i.e., solid, liquid, gas. Hands-on activities that test magnetism, heating, cooling, physical changes, and chemical changes support students as they determine differences and changes in matter. Following our matter unit, we will be moving on to Economics.

Please be sure to check our Google Classroom for important reminders, updates, and additional resources that relate to class activities or school events. In addition, please continue to work on building math fact automaticity at home using math fact strategies to better support student learning. Have a wonderful weekend!

The students in Ms. J's Room 2 classroom really embraced Read Across America, after getting excited about reading, following the wonderful stage performance kick-off organized by Ms. Katie Lane and Ms. Domke. The students sported their Olympic Gold Medal reading skills throughout a week of exciting, interactive Read Aloud events and activities. There were sight words to be searched for, a Pete The Cat cupcake mystery to be solved, colorful travels around the Earth to be explored, and even stories to be sung rather than read aloud. On the final day of Read Across America, we welcomed two Sixth Grade guest readers into our classroom who encouraged us to continue on our literary journey. Kudos to all the teachers, staff, administration, students, and PTA who made Read Across America a success. Congratulations to Connor Mathys, who won a prize for his fetching Cat In The Lincoln Hat bookmark!

Last week, we bid a fond farewell to winter and welcomed in the new season of spring. The new season is already bursting with a shower of possibilities as we look forward to studying the life cycle of plants and animals, completing our tour through the alphabet, and counting and grouping double digit numbers as tens and ones. The students in Room 2 continue to shine and bloom!

Happy Spring! We are really enjoying the warm weather and getting outside and having fun with our classmates. We are learning all about clouds and weather in Science. We continue to practice sight words, learn new word families, and work on our comprehension skills in Reading. We are learning about time in Math and working on our math facts!

Pre-K Explores Wheels!

This month, our Pre-K students are diving into the Wheels study! We are exploring different types of wheels, how they move, and why they are important in our everyday lives. Through hands-on activities, stories, and experiments, the students are discovering how wheels help people and animals travel, work, and play. This month we even had a dentist visit! Be on the lookout for fun projects rolling your way!

PreSchool 4 is diving deep into the world of insects! The children have been busy exploring and investigating everything about bugs, from how they look to how they live. We even transformed our dramatic play area into an entomologist’s lab, where the children can observe, discover, and learn like real scientists.

Dear Kindergarten Families,

Spring is in full bloom, and we are excited about all the learning and fun that April will bring! Here’s a look at what’s happening this month in Kindergarten:

What We’re Learning:

• Literacy: We are focusing on CVC words and blending sounds. We will also continue to introduce and practice new sight words.

• Math: We are continuing to learn about addition and subtraction.

• Science: We're exploring environments and different life cycles.

• Social Studies: We're understanding the views of others and different cultures.

Special Events & Reminders:

• Class Picture Day: April 14th

• Spring Break: Starting on April 18th and coming back on April 28th

Reminders:

• Please send a light jacket with your child, as spring weather can be unpredictable.

• Continue reading with your child every night and practicing sight words.
  
  

Thank you for your continued support! We are excited for another great month of learning and growth!