September 20-24, 2010

Mrs. Komarek's Newsletter
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. It is wholesome and bracing for the mind to have its faculties kept on the stretch. - Augustus Hare

Dear Parents, I can't believe that we have already been in school for just over a month! Our field trip on Friday was successful! We visited wetlands, coniferous and deciduous forests right in our own back yard! Cedar Mountain is an amazing place!
SEP's are fast approaching. I will be sending home appointments early next week.
Curriculum News:

• Daily Five - In our Daily Five: We are Reading to Self, students have been doing a great job picking out their own books using the I PICK and 5 Finger Rule, two strategies that they have learned. We have begun learning the procedure for Read to Someone and what level our voice should during different times of the day. In Writing students are finishing up their Summer Memory narrative as well as reading and writing Poetry during Poetry time. We are reviewing nouns (common and proper), verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. New high-frequency words are coming home today.
  
• Math - Students did well on the first math test of the year. We have started Topic 2 which is on Numeration. I have been reviewing and practicing addition and subtraction facts in addition to times table facts.
• Science - Last week we had a fun time learning about Wetlands, this week we will be studying Deserts.
• Social Studies/ART - Students have been doing a lot of art in science and loving every minute of it! In Social Studies students are finishing up their books on the symbols of Utah and continuing our study of the counties of Utah.

Important Dates:

• September 27, County Reports due
• October 7, August/September reading calendar due
  
• October 4-8, SEP week and book Fair
• October 11, Columbus Day Assembly
• October 12, Happy Birthday Katie!
• October 13, Happy Birthday Willie!
• October 18, Happy Birthday Karsen!

Homework:

• Daily Math and Language #5, due on Friday
• Nightly reading, mark your minutes on reading calendar!
• County Report!

Your children are amazing! Each day we have new adventures in learning, thank you for sending them to me ready to learn! Michelle Komarek