10/1/12 - 10/5/12

 What a beautiful weekend!  I know how busy weekends can get, however, so I am hoping that through all the busyness you were able to get a chance to visit SIS to check in on your child's grades thus far in the quarter.  We will have at least one more test in all subject areas, and in some areas there may be more than one.  Please continue to encourage your to do his/her best right up to the end of the quarter!

Here's what is happening this week:
Math - We will be practicing our addition with larger numbers in the thousands.  This means lots of regrouping!  Rounding is still being used in this chapter.  Students must know how to round to the nearest ten and nearest hundred without fail!
Writing - We are wrapping up our stories about someone in our family.  We'll try to publish them at a later time.  In the meantime, we will write a short nonfiction piece that will tie in with social studies.  I'm hoping these will be finished by the end of the week.
Spelling - Words are coming out for all groups this week.  Blue and Green spelling groups will test on Wednesday.!
Reading - Our focus continues to be on cause and effect, a difficult skill for students to master.
Science - Sorry about all the confusion over science.  We will finish our unit of study before the end of the first quarter.  Our next test will be over part of chapter 4 and part of chapter 5.  I am planning to have that test next week on Tuesday.  Our vocabulary will include words such as population, community, environment, ecosystem, habitat, producer, and consumer.   This may sound like a social studies review, but these words have a slightly different twist when part of science.  Be sure to go over this vocab well in advance!
Social Studies - Be ready to know the states in the midwest region.  We will learn about this region  and quiz over the states on the map surrounding Missouri on Thursday.   Look for this geography study page on Tuesday.

Important Events:
Wed. - Blue and Green Spelling Groups will test;
Thurs.- Map quiz over the states in the midwest region of the United States;
Fri.-  Bingo Night!

Picture from Friday's Dance Day

 (PE All School Event for the Guiness Book of World Records)