November
Hello families,
We are looking forward to seeing all of you this month for teacher conferences. Conferences will be on November 21 and 26 from 3:00-7:30 p. m. Teachers will be sending home notes with the exact day and time for you to attend. If you are not able to attend during the time assigned, please reach out to the teacher to reschedule. We want to see all of you. We have amazing things to share about each student.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Watch for reminders on all of these events in your students' Seesaw account!
- Nov. 1 - Pizza with the principal
- Nov. 8 - 2 Hour Early Dismissal (Students are dismissed at 12:05)
- Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day Program - 9:00 (Veteran's please join us to honor your service.)
- Nov. 18 - Begin Safety Around Water - Gr. 2
- Nov. 21 - Conferences 3:00-7:30
- Nov. 26 - Conferences 3:00-7:30
- Nov. 26 - Reader's Theater- Gr. 1
- Nov. 26 - End of Trimester 1 - PBIS Celebration
- Nov. 27 - Teacher workshop - No school for students
- Nov. 28-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
Congratulations to Discovery staff!
Each fall, two teachers and one support staff are recognized for their contributions to our school and community. Their dedication and hard work make a lasting impact on students, families, and colleagues. Every day they contribute to creating safe, welcoming, and enriching spaces that help students thrive. Please join us to recognize and celebrate the contributions of these three staff members:
Joe Thoreson - Physical Education Teacher
Stephanie Kinney - EL (English Language) Teacher
Abby Fernstrom- EEOC (Educational Equity Outreach Coordinator)
October students of the month:
Nimo Abdi, Joslyn Meyer, Sumaya Abdirahman, Manal Dakane, Mannat Talat, Matthew Aguero Arias, Axel Canaca, Samera Mohamed, Alseo Alejo - Chavez, Audrianna Kreidler, Jubenia Pineda-Gomez, Asma Hashi, Hanny P Chavarria Macis, Juliette Aguero Arias, Serenity Baker, Maida Hassan, Salmo Mahdi, Alex Perez- Ortiz, Umulkeyer Ahmed, Abdifatah Abdi, Feyruz Ibrahim, Leeara Pappenfus, Karson Schwartz, Masuud Awl, Kniyah Lewis, Analya Eilola-Amigon
Hello from Kindergarten!
Hello Kindergarten Families!
We have been hard at work practicing school routines and developing ways to manage our emotions in kindergarten! We have continued practicing how to work with a partner and practicing our letter naming and counting skills, as well.
In math we have learned to sort objects into categories, and how to identify and compare numbers to 5. Next we are beginning to learn about three-dimensional shapes and how to compare objects by their weight. In reading we have been working on identifying key details in stories. We have also begun to identify rhyming words and to point to words with our fingers as we read together.
You will start to see library books and PAKRAT books in their backpacks – these are for you to read at home with your kindergartener and return to school, so they can get new ones the following week!
A friendly reminder - as the weather starts to get colder, please be sure to send appropriate outdoor clothing such as a light jacket, a hat, and mittens or gloves. We play outside on the playground every day for recess.
The Kindergarten Team
1st GRADE
Happy November!
In first grade, we are currently learning about adding and subtracting word problems up to 10. In reading, we are learning to find key details in the story and making predictions.
As the weather starts to get colder, please remember to send coats, hats and mittens with your student. We do go outside everyday for recess.
Mrs. Edwards, Ms. Klimpel, Ms. Karls, Mrs. McDonald, Ms. Aden
The Second Grade Scoop
We have been busy working on developing our math skills to use picture graphs and bar graphs to solve problems, as well as learning to make picture graphs and bar graphs. We are also solving two-step word problems through using models and equations. We will soon be wrapping up Unit 1: Numbers Within 20: Addition, Subtraction, and Data. When we begin Unit 2, our focus will be adding and subtracting numbers within 100, as well as learning about telling time and counting money. Watch for the ‘Family Letter’ that comes home with each new lesson for more information and examples of what we are learning in math.
In reading, we have been working with the genre ‘Expository Text’. This month, our essential question is, “How are offspring like their parents?” Our stories will focus on this question and our students will be working on identifying key details and the main idea of a nonfiction text. Our students continue to learn and use good reading habits at school. Remember to read at home EVERY day for at least 20 minutes. Classes have begun checking out books from the library. Please make sure these books are returned to school each week, so students can enjoy new books from the library.
3rd GRADE
Dear 3rd grade parents!
Where has the time gone? Here is what we have been up to and look forward to:
Reading/Writing:
We have been working on getting some interventions in place for students based on our previous FastBridge Assessment and teacher observations- meaning what your child needs, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary or comprehension!
Looking ahead, one main focus will be on correct sentence writing. It may sound simple, but we can't create a strong paragraph without a strong sentence. You can support your student at home by working on some basic aspects - creating a complete sentence (subject - who or what is the sentence about and the predicate - what is the subject doing), 5 star writing 1. Correct capitalization, 2. Neat handwriting, 3. Finger spaces, 4. Punctuation and 5. Re-read it, does it make sense?
We also are working on using our SONDAY skills - sounding out spelling using various strategies such as letter patterns, syllables to break a word up, and compound words.
Give them a question, can they turn it into a complete sentence?
Math:
We are wrapping up our subtraction unit. At home, you can keep working on basic subtraction and addition facts to build their fluency. If they have that down, give them some problems where they would need to regroup with 3 digit numbers.
We will be moving into multiplication next! Knowing our addition facts quickly will support your student in their multiplication facts too! Multiplication is understanding how many groups there are and how many are in each group - essentially it is repeated addition! Example - 3x4 is 3 groups of 4 ---- 4+4+4= 12 SO 3x4= 12.
You can support your student with a simple card game-each player will receive half of the deck. Decide on what number you will multiply cards by (start simple 2, 5, 10) and as each of you flip a card you have to say your answer - if you decide to multiply by 2 whatever card you flip will be multiplied by 2. whoever has the greatest product (answer when you multiply) gets the cards!
Social/Science:
We will be starting our science units in mid-November. Each teacher will be teaching a different concept, and come January, students will be rotating for their science/social topic.
The topics are: Motion, Water and climate, Native American studies/Archeology and Ancient Civilizations, Structures of Life.
A few reminders:
Please be sending warm clothes with your child each day - hats, mittens, jackets - as we do go out for recess each day! If these are items that you may need support in providing, please reach out to your classroom teacher and we can see what resources we have at school to help!
Conferences are Nov.21st and 26th. Your child's teacher will send out a reminder for your date and time. If you were not able to schedule a conference during our August/September Connection Conference, feel free to reach out and we can get one scheduled. Otherwise, your child's teacher will schedule you. We look forward to sharing about your student's success!
Thank you!
3rd Grade Team
Ms. Ewaysi, Ms. Kremer, Ms. Rowell, Ms. Quimby, Ms. Espinal (EL)
4th GRADE
Hello! ¡Hola!, Salaan, 問候
Can you believe we're already moving into November? Winter is fast approaching, and we can definitely feel it outside. Please make sure your child is dressed in layers, and we would even venture to say start bringing out winter coats, hats and mittens as the mornings and recess are getting cooler. The weather changes quickly, and we want to keep everyone comfortable!
Reading:
In phonics, we are about to begin our mastery checks on short and long vowels and be headed into learning all about prefixes; letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning (re, un, in, dis, etc.).
Language Arts:
We are currently working on writing personal narratives and will be venturing into Unit 2 soon where we will continue exploring expository texts focusing on the question, "What helps an animal to survive?" We will be focusing on the skill of identifying the main idea and key details and the comprehension strategy of summarizing.
Math:
We are currently working on Unit 2 in iReady on multiplication and division skills. While we are working on multiplication, place value is still a skill we are continuing to work on.
Reading at Home:
Please encourage your child to read for 20 minutes each night! Whether it’s reading to you, a sibling, or even the family pet, every bit helps to build their skills. Also, to ensure they’re well-rested and ready to learn each day, try having your child turn off devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Our goal as a school is building upon our vocabulary so we are working hard at developing vocabulary in all our subject areas as well. Our students write their daily learning in their agendas so that would be a good starting point for them to share their learning with you!
We hope you and your families are all doing well and are enjoying the cool weather!
Your 4th Grade Team -
Ms. Burrows, Ms. Dingman, Ms. Junes, Ms. Walz
Ms. Lopez, Ms. Reyes & Ms. Janda
Your 4th grade team,
Ms. Burrows, Ms. Dingman, Ms. Junes, Ms, Walz, Ms. Lopez, Ms. Reyes, Ms. Janda
5th GRADE
Hello 5th Grade Families!
In reading, we have read examples of personal narratives and wrote personal narratives of our own. While reading, we practiced the skill of sequencing. We have also been working on our phonics skills by looking at long vowels and words that have an "r" sound.
In math, we are focusing on multiplication skills. In 5th grade, we jump right into multiplying multi-digit numbers. We encourage families to practice single digit multiplication facts with their students at home. This will increase their confidence with their multiplication facts and help them when we start division shortly.
We completed our first social studies unit on geography and mapping. All classes are moving onto science lessons on mixtures and solutions, living systems, or Earth and sun.
We also encourage students to read at home for 20 minutes every night. This can be reading to themselves or to an adult or sibling. This helps increase their reading fluency skills.
As the weather starts to cool down, please send warmer layers for students to wear outside at recess.
We have had a great first few month of school, and we are proud of our 5th graders. We look forward to seeing families at conferences in November.
Thanks,
The 5th Grade Team