Greetings, Treehouse Families!
We have some great happenings that we’d like to share with you! Our first few weeks of school have gotten off to a great start. We have been building our routines and procedures and have dived right in to our curricula.
Reading – We have created a respectful and supportive classroom community, using structures to help students learn how to work together, develop social skills, and take responsibility for their learning. Students have been listening to and discussing stories, and have been building their stamina as independent readers. This week, students will begin using expository text structure to approach and comprehend texts. For example, readers who understand that expository texts have common features, such as headings and subheadings, use those features to help them unlock the text’s meaning.
Math – The fifth graders are in the middle of Unit 1-Investigation 1, which focuses on factors. Students use arrays and number puzzles to learn more about factors, multiples, and other properties of numbers. If you would like to help your 5th grade child at home, have them practice finding all the factors of a number (for instance – 1,2,4, and 8 are all the factors of 8). Here are some links they can visit:
The fourth graders have just finished Unit 1-Investigation 1, which focused on using arrays to model and visualize real multiplication problems. They have begun Investigation 2 this week, which works on computational fluency of combinations up to 12×12. If you would like to help your 4th grade child at home, encourage them to practice their multiplication facts. Here are some websites for fun fact practice:
Writing – Both the fourth and the fifth graders have begun an introductory unit in which they begin to see themselves as contributing members of a caring writing community. We have read and discussed examples of good writing, and have begun to discover the writing practices of professional authors, such as Jon Scieszka and William Steig. This week, we will explore prewriting techniques, and students will write freely in their writing notebooks about things that interest them. We are also practicing cooperative structures that we will continue to use throughout the year, as well as discussion prompts to help them listen and connect their comments during class discussions.
Science – Last week, we began exploring the many fields of science and what scientists do. This week, we began our first Sangari unit about electricity. The lessons in this unit will provide students with an understanding of the basic concepts of electricity, including the various types of energy as well as their conservation and maintenance. We will also explore the related concepts of electric circuits, electric currents, and batteries. One of the main purposes of this Electricity Unit is to help students understand that we cannot create or destroy energy; we can only transform it.
Water Bottles – We strongly encourage children to bring a water bottle to school that can be sealed. Preferably one that if it tips over won’t cause too much trouble. A water bottle, that doesn’t require the lid to come completely off while they are drinking is best. Having a water bottle handy allows children to stay hydrated without having to leave the class multiple times during instruction. Thank you for your help with this!
Homework – Homework will begin on Friday, September 12th, after Open House. In the meantime, it is always okay to encourage your child to read at home.
Important Upcoming Dates-
Tuesday, Sept. 9 – Elementary School Picture Day
Tuesday, Sept. 9 – PKY Elementary Open House (5:30-7:30) – All families will meet in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 5:30pm. Then, you can head over to our first Open House session, from 5:45-6:30pm, in the Treehouse Grove. For families who have children in other learning communities, we offer a second session which begins at 6:45pm, and ends at 7:30pm.
Wednesday, Sept. 17th – Wacky Wednesday – Fourth graders will have a Music, Art and PE rotation. Fifth graders will have Chinese, Technology, and Zumba for their rotation.
Friday, October 3rd – PKY PTO Fall Carnival – We will need volunteers to help run our 4-5 booths. If you are interested in coordinating and collaborating with our PTO to make this Carnival a success, please contact Danica Faulkner (pkyptodanica@earthlink.net). More information on volunteering opportunities and donations needed will head your way, soon.
Friday, October 17th – UF Homecoming (NO SCHOOL)
Thursday, October 23rd – 5th Grade Patrols Meeting (during schoolday) for 2nd Nine Weeks Rotation
Friday, October 24th – NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday)