What are we working on this week?

Literacy:
In reading this week, we are identifying rhyming words in nursery rhymes, books, and poems. Ask your child to show you the gesture we use for 'rhyme'.

Has your child told you about our imaginary place called Letterland? Everyday, our class goes to
Letterland. There, we get to meet some very special friends (Annie Apple, Bouncing Ben, Clever Cat, and Dippy Duck). The kiddos know that most grown ups don't see these friends hiding in the letters that grown ups know as A, B, C, and D they only come out when we are in Letterland. Want to know more? Ask your child what new friends we have met this week and what sound they make.

In writing, we continue to work on using a combination of drawing and dictating to represent our ideas/thoughts. This week, we have introduced the concept of labeling our drawings. Want to support this at home? Have your child draw a picture of something they like to do. Encourage them to label as much as they can in the picture with at least the first letter sound. Can your child sound out the first and last sound of what they are labeling? Even better!

Math:
In math this week, we are working with numbers 1-10. We have worked on identifying these numbers and making groups (for example, making a group of 5 circles to represent the number 5) that represent each number. Want to sneak in some practice without the kids even knowing? Challenge them to find a specific number around the house (or wherever you may be...for example, can you find the number 5 in the kitchen?). Encourage them to find groups of 1-10 (for example, that's a group of 4 plates). See...sneaking in practice and they won't even know it:-)

In other classroom news.....

Open House Reminder
Open House is tomorrow from 6-7:30
Principals Presentation 6:00-6:30 in the multi-purpose room (gym)
Session 1 Open House: 6:30-7:00
Session 2 Open House: 7:00-7:30

Staggered Entry results and Quarter 1 Benchmarks:
As you may remember in the last week of July, you brought your child to school for a 1/2 day where myself and other staff members completed an array of assessments on your child (fine/gross motor skills, math skills, letter naming/letter sounds, reading behaviors, etc..). On Friday, a paper will go home in your child's daily folder to share with you these results for letter naming/letter sounds and reading behaviors.
On that same page, you will see that I have shared with you the 'End of Quarter 1 Benchmarks' for reading and writing that your child is expected to meet in order to be considered on grade level by the end of September. Please know that Ms. Cassidy (our teacher assistant) and I are working diligently each day to ensure your child meets these goals. The information is sent home in an effort to keep parents informed of our academic goals. However, any support you can provide at home is greatly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to email me should you have any questions or concerns.

Picture Day
Picture day is Wednesday, August 21st. Please be on the lookout for information regarding this in your child's daily folder this week.

Early Release
We have an early release day next Friday, August 23. Dismissal will begin at 1:15pm for all carpoolers and bus riders.

For School Updates and Information
Want to know about upcoming events/information in our school? Click on the link below to access the Banks Road Elementary website.
http://banksroades.wcpss.net/