Polk Elementary School

Happy February 2012!

February is here and Valentine's Day and CMT Parent events are around the corner. We will celebrate Valentines Day on Friday the 13 and parents are invited in for a special CMT event on the 17th.

Please be sure to dress the children for outdoor recess each day. We often can not tell until recess time whether we will be outside or not.

We continue to focus on improving our open ended responses in Reading, Narrative Writing, Grammar and Punctuation. The students have been learned how to use Powerpoint to create a slide show about a chosen Endangered Species in Science. Our next focus in Social Studies is the New England Region. In Math we are working on Geometry and Fractions. Time and Measurement will follow.

If you want to check out the reading level on a book... A great place to check out your book is on Scholastic book wizard. Here you can find out it’s DRA level and books that are similar. Check it out at:http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/homePage.do

Students on grade level for Fourth Grade will want to Read Level 40 novels and students reading at Fifth Grade level will want to Read Level 50 novels. While there is nothing wrong with reading something easy for you…not all your reading should be too easy. Challenge yourself. Read a book with a friend or parent. Remember to ask questions and make predictions and connections as you read.

If you would like to contact me feel free to email me at: rinaldido@watertownps.org

Fun Ways to Practice Math Facts:

Roll two dice or flip two playing cards and multiply the two numbers or add the two numbers. You can also subtract the two numbers.

In the car, you can try to add the numbers across the screen on the digital clock. You can also multiply a few of the numbers.

Use a clock to create some elapsed time questions. For example. If I have to be at camp at 9:00 and it is 8:17 how minutes do I have to get there?

Online: Try www.multiplication.com for some online practice.

A reminder when working with multiplication facts be sure to turn them around for Division facts as well.

Want to practice those typing skills:

Typing skills - check out www.abcya.com for practice.

Homework

Children are required to check the homework board before the end of school each day, write their homework assignments in their agenda, gather all materials needed, and pack their bookbags. There will be homework assigned Monday through Thursday. There will be no homework assigned on weekends with the exception of long term projects. Long term assignments and upcoming tests are on the board well in advance for study planning.

Classroom expectations:

Respect yourself, others and their property.

Listen when others speak

HW in on time - Be Responsible!

Raise your hand to speak

Be polite! Be positive!

Come to school ready to learn.

Some websites used often:

Fraction Practice

Cinderella Stories Online

Word Clouds

Addition Pre-Test