September 28: News From IMA

Reading OAA Test for 3^rd Graders on October 2:

On Tuesday, the third graders will take the Fall OAA Reading Test.  We will begin testing at 9:30 and finish at 12:00.   Please be sure that your child arrives on time that day or he/she will not be admitted to our room and will need to make up the test on Wednesday, October 3^rd.  The third graders will test with Mrs. Smith.  Fourth graders will spend the morning with Mrs. Marlatt since they are not taking the reading test until May.  Thank you in advance to all of the families who volunteered to send in water, cheese sticks and hard candies to have as snacks during testing.  The reminders of home are very uplifting!

Third grade students will receive their Fall test scores in December or January. If students do not pass the test in the fall, they have another chance to take the test and pass in the spring.  All third graders will take another, more difficult version of the OAA Reading test in May. 

Math Homework:  Due Every Thursday

Student will add math homework to their weekly homework routine.  We started keeping our reading logs last week and will now add individualized math packets.  Each child’s packet includes work that he/she needs to correct and practice work based on the current unit of study.  If your child completes his/her work, they can use the resources on our Math Resource Pages:

IMA Symbaloo Math Resources

Students have used the math resources on our Symbaloo pages and they should be able to explain how to access the resources.  The activities have been carefully selected to match the current unit of study.  They may look fun, but they are important practice resources. 

At this time, the on-line Pearson Math resources are experiencing technical difficulties so we will not assign any work on that site until the company corrects the problems.  You will see plenty of math activities on our Symbaloo site!  Students should also continue to study their math facts if they are still working to pass their weekly fact tests.  Math homework is due every Thursday.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Reading Log:  Due Every Thursday

Independent reading is critical to a child’s reading development.  Time to read, selecting books of interest, and enthusiasm make a tremendous difference in a child’s learning.  Please help your child set aside time throughout the week to read and discuss his/her reading and learning.  Your child is expected to keep a reading log that shows 120 minutes of reading time.  They are asked to record the titles so we can help them find materials of interest.  Please visit our website (http://www.dublinschools.net/andreasmith.aspx) or blog if you need to make paper copies of our reading log.  Students can also submit reading logs through our class blog or email.  During the first week, 85% of our kids submitted their homework electronically!  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Cursive Homework:

Parents received a cursive writing packet at Curriculum Night for home practice.  If you did not attend the meeting, your child is bringing home a yellow packet today.  Students are asked to complete 3 pages a week to practice cursive letter formation.  The basic letter skills are then used to write cursive words.  Please return the packet when it is completed.  Your child will receive the next packet for home practice.  Work should be completed in pencil.

Reading Homework

Dear IMA Families:

Starting this week, the IMA kids will officially begin reading homework. 

How long should my child read?  How often should my child read?

Students are expected to read for a total of 120 minutes each week.  Students need to record their reading work on a book log. Some students read for 30 minutes on 4 different occasions over the week.  Some kids read for six 20-minute sessions.  Set up a reading schedule that works for your family’s schedule. Be flexible. Reading time should add up to 120 minutes.

What should my child read?  How should they read?

Students can self-select books that they can read independently, understand and enjoy.  Students can read aloud to parents or siblings.  Students can listen to parents read aloud if you have a family reading time.  Reading time can vary throughout the week.

What does the reading log look like?

Choice A:  If your child wants to submit his/her reading log on our classroom blog, you can see an example here: 

http://kidblog.org/TheIMAKids/smith_andrea/sample-reading-log-for-homework/

Choice B:  Your child can email me a reading blog that looks like this:

Choice C:  Your child can turn in a hard copy of his or her log.  I have a basket with copies of our log available in our classroom. Your child can pick up a copy from Room 137.  You can also find a file to copy our reading log here:  http://www.dublinschools.net/andreasmith.aspx.  You can use the file to make a copy of the log at home.  

Thank you so much for your support!  Our first official reading log will be due on September 27.  In two weeks, we will add cursive handwriting and math homework. Let us know if you have any questions. 

Andrea and Flora

Sample Reading Log

Name: _________________________________________________________________

IMA Reading Log

Date	Title Website (List chapter numbers if you are reading a chapter book)	Fiction Nonfiction Poetry	Who Read?

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!

Dear IMA Families:

It has been quite a whirlwind these past three weeks.  The third graders have settled into their new classrooms and we are so impressed with this group!  They are eager to learn and such a friendly, cooperative team of kids.  We are VERY proud of our fourth graders and the ways they have served as great role models and leaders for our third graders.   The first three weeks hold great promise for a happy, productive and exciting year of learning.

Our assessments are FINISHED and we are ready to dive into our studies with 100% of our class time. We look forward to busy and productive workshops!

Homework:  
Students will turn in a reading log and math log next Thursday (9/20) Please look for homework information and a sample reading and math log in your child's backpack on Monday.  Logs can be turned in 3 different ways.  Kids can submit their work:

• on our blog
• with an email
• on a paper

Talk to the IMA kids about:

Math Talks 

Where’s The Math? 

Poetry Friday 

The IMA Kids-Our Class Blog

Read Aloud Time:

Each day at 11:45, our groups gather together and share a novel before lunch.  Novels are presented with traditional books or Kindle versions on the Smart Board.  Read Aloud is a special time of day for us!

The Boys Start The War, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is the first read aloud of the year for the third graders.  Our conversations focus on plot development, point of view, and the excitement that conflict adds to a story.  This is a fun book that leaves you wondering what will happen next! Naylor has published over 135 books, so look for other books by this prolific writer.

The fourth graders are enjoying the book, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen.  A tense plot, character development and the integration of mapping skills all add up to great conversations and wonders about how a character can survive tough challenges.  If your child likes adventures, look for more Gary Paulsen books at the library!

Thanks to all of the support and enthusiasm from our families.  We look forward to a great school year together!