<p>Mrs. Dykgraaf's Parent Newsletter December 8th-12th</p><p>P.E. Tuesday/Thursday Music Monday/Wednesday Library This Friday (books)</p><p>Reading: This week we are beginning our third unit in Wonders Reading. Our essential question is: How do earth's forces affect us? It will be fun to see how the students like reading about magnets, gravity, etc. in this unit. Spelling this week is long a vowel patterns. It is very important that the students catch on to these spelling rules and begin using them in their writing. It is also important that they are connecting the spelling rules to reading new words with these vowel patterns. This opens up so many more words that they can sound out. We will be working hard on these patterns.</p><p>Math: Hands On Math Practice for December has computation practice on the back it. These next two weeks please make an effort to practice math facts. When we return in January we will be having our mid-year test and want to see good growth. Please see the math note on regrouping strategies we will be practicing. After practicing using several methods, the students will be choosing the one they like best to use. </p><p>Social Studies/ Science: How Can One Community Change? How Do Leaders Help? These are two of our units for this week. We will also begin to learn about how others celebrate Christmas.</p><p>Writing: The writing assessment went well. Revising and editing is the area we need the most practice in. This week we will be writing descriptive paragraph about their stockings (Tuesday) and an ornament on (Thursday). We will write a reindeer story on Wednesday and work on similies on Monday. A busy and fun week of writing. PLEASE SEND IN THEIR STOCKING ON TUESDAY AND AN ORNAMENT ON THURSDAY. We play a guessing game on who's stocking it is by reading the descriptions. The kids feel sad when they don't have theirs and have to write from memory. If they have a special story about them, please share the story with them. (Grandma made this stocking for you when you were born, etc.) This gives special meaning to their writing and makes it more of a personal narrative.</p><p>Looking Ahead: Tuesday, Dec. 9th Christmas Stocking, Thursday, Dec. 11th Special Ornament (not breakable if possible). Tuesday, Dec. 16th Picture of Christmas tree. Polar Express activity is Friday, Dec. 19th. Kids will be wearing P.J.'s and watching the movie in the gym in the morning.</p><p>On Thursday, December 18th we will have some fun stations that I could use some help with. We will begin at 2:05 and go to the end of the day. (cookie decorating and crafts) I would like to help with the stations on 12/18 ______</p><p>I am asking for a $ 2.50 donation to cover the cost of these special projects/ gifts we are making. </p>