Regrouping, Parts of Speech, and South America. Oh My!

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In math Katie's group has been working on odd and even. We have used hundreds charts and played games to reinforce the skill. Today we took a day trip from South America to Germany! We met with our little buddies in Katlyn's class and listened to Sophia's grandmother talk about life in Germany. We then learned how to count from one to ten in German.

Currently Keri’s group is working on subtraction with “regrouping” or “borrowing”.  We are using 20 pennies and 10 dimes and we are setting up the problem before we attempt it.  For example, if the problem is 22 – 8, we put out 2 dimes and 2 pennies.  Then we ask ourselves if we can take 8 pennies away from the pennies that we have.  If the answer is no, then we go to the dimes and trade 1 dime in for 10 pennies.  Then we complete the problem.  Try a couple of these at home with your child to see if they remember what they are working on.  It seems that everyone needs help with this.  Our goal is to be able to regroup without the coins when needed to complete problems. 

For reading, Keri's group is working on short vowel sounds and sight words.  This week and last we have worked on the short a sound.  They all know that the short a says “a” as in apple, but many struggle when it comes to reading consistently words in familiar families.  We will continue to work our way through the short vowels as we work to sound out words that we don’t know and memorize more sight words.  We will be sending home sorts that we do in class.  If you want to work with your child on reading or spelling, feel free to include these words.  We will also be sending home the book that we are working on for them to practice reading at home as well. 

In Katie's class students were finally able to read their Surprise Sack assignments. Students had a great time guessing what each other had in the sack. We have also started parts of speech. Students had a great time learning about nouns. We sorted them into person, place, and thing categories. We also played a game where students bounced a ball and had to come up with a noun.  Students continue to work on reading comprehension and fluency during quiet reading times.  

• The Thanksgiving Potluck and Art Show is quickly approaching. Join us for this time-honored, Community School tradition. Close to three hundred people attend this annual event, and the students have been working very hard on their pieces for the art show. Good food, good fellowship, and incredible student art…what a wonderful way to begin the Thanksgiving Holiday! 
• Please note, dismissal is at 1pm from Hollins University, NOT  Community School. 
• Middle Elementary families should bring an entree and side dish to feed 10 - 12 people.
• You will bring your child to school as usual, but with no backpack or lunch box. Please send in a disposable fruit break and we will walk over to HU around 11:15am. You will meet us at Hollins in the Moody Center lobby after we walk through the art show on the upper floor of the Moody Center. You will then trickle into the dining hall with your child and find a table to sit at and enjoy your feast!