Frenchtown Academic Newsletter

In our classrooms, teachers have been utilizing a program during the literacy block which creates extended opportunities for student engagement in literacy activities called "The Daily 5".

The Daily Five is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. These research based tasks are ones that will have the biggest impact on student reading and writing achievement, as well as help foster children who love to read and write. While the teacher is meeting with small groups for guided reading, children are actively engaged in these meaningful literacy tasks:

• Read to self
• Work on writing
• Word Work
• Listen to reading
• Read to Someone

One thing you may have noticed that may be a change for you is a direct decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don’t really result in the high level of learning we want for your child. Instead, your child is taught to select “Good Fit Books” or books they can read, understand and are interested in, which they will read during Daily 5. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the number one way to improve reading. The motivation and enjoyment of reading will skyrocket when this gift of choosing their own books is accompanied by extended practice and specific reading instruction for each individual child.

For more information, please reach out to your child's teacher or Mrs. Vaughn.

Feb. 13: Isabel M.

Feb. 17: Sonny H.

Feb. 18: Mrs. Marasco

Feb. 19: Ryan E. and Mia D.

Feb. 23: Max C. and Adam E.

Feb. 24: Nicholas D.

Feb. 26: Mia B. and Cameron F.

Feb. 27: Benjamin S.

Feb. 28: Zoe S.

100th Day Celebration will be held on Wednesday, February 10th.

Digital Learning Days presentation will be Wednesday, February 10th.

February 15-19: Winter Recess

Parent curriculum links:

http://egsd.net/Frenchtown.cfm?subpage=1220319

Grade 1:

Math

Envisions Unit Sorico 3.1

Problem Solving

ELA

Unit 3.1

For the month of February students will be working on the components of a persuasive writing piece.

Science/SS

-New Plants Science Kit

Grade 2:

Math

Second graders continue to learn different strategies to solve three digit addition and

subtraction problems. One of these strategies, is using an open number line.

E/LA

Students continue to read a variety of fiction and non‐fiction books. We will be focusing this month on learning about famous Black Americans who have changed the course of history.

Reading

Please remind your child to read at least 20 minutes per day as part of his/her homework routine.

During my weekly reading, I came across this article that I would like to share with you. Credit to: Anna Johnson, the Head of School at The Wolf School in East Providence

"Research has indicated that daily mindfulness can be attributed to a variety of positive outcomes including improved academics, reduced stress, cognitive flexibility and focus, increased compassion and even pain management."