Curriculum Update- August 31, 2016

Important dates coming up:

- Monday September 5 - MAP Testing - Math
- Wednesday September 7 - NO SCHOOL - Brazilian Independence Day
- Thursday September 8 - MAP Testing - Reading
- Monday September 12 -  MAP Testing - Language
- Wednesday September 14 - MAP - make up tests

MAP - Measures of Academic Progress - is a personalized assessment that adapts the student's learning level and measures growth over time. All students from 2nd to 10th grade are assessed.
There are approximately 52 Language and Math Questions, 42 Reading questions and a total of approximately 65 min. to administer the test. Each student will login to the test sessions using Chrome books.
On the dates above, please make sure your son / daughter has had a good night's sleep and is well rested and fed. This will help him / her perform with a better disposition.


Math:
The Everyday Mathematics program develops concepts and skills in the following topics:

• Number and Numeration: Counting patterns; place value; reading and writing whole numbers through 1,000,000; fractions, decimals, and integers.

• Operations and Computation: Multiplication and division facts extended to multi-digit problems; working with properties; operations with fractions and money.

• Data and Chance: Collecting, organizing, and displaying data using tables, charts, and graphs; using basic probability terms

• Geometry: Exploring 2- and 3-dimensional shapes and other geometric concepts.

• Measurement: Recording equivalent units of length; recognizing appropriate units of measure; finding the areas of rectangles by counting squares.

• Reference Frames: Using multiplication arrays, coordinate grids, thermometers, clocks, calendars, and map scales.

• Patterns, Functions, and Algebra: Finding patterns on the number grid; solving Frames-and-Arrows puzzles having two rules; completing variations of  “What’s My Rule?” activities; exploring the relationship between multiplication and division; using parentheses in writing number models; naming missing parts of number models.

Language Arts:

The students have made great progress in building their reading lives.  They are now able to choose books that is within their reading range and are excited to be reading books they love. The children are beginning to focus their attention on developing comprehension skills using the strategies listed below. Please refer to this list when supporting your child's at home reading.

• use who, what and where questions to guide comprehension
• using details to visualize the actions of characters
• make predictions
• retell stories  to include important parts
• decoding a difficult words
• use context clues
• Understand figurative language

Again, students should be reading for a minimum of 20 minutes per night and record their reading in their log. 

In addition, writing lessons are developing your child's ability to write true stories using the language of story tellers. We are now moving toward using paragraphs to structure our writing and on use of common conventions, such as, capitals, commas, quotations, and punctuation. Spelling list are being developed to assist students in gaining skills specific to individual strengths and weaknesses. You can best support your child's writing by discussing story ideas and allowing them to orally rehearse those ideas with you. 

Social Studies:

Students have begun exploring stories of immigration through our shared reading of historical fiction. We are reading stories together and analyzing the reasons behind why people move or have moved in the past.  Students are exploring the + positive and - negative factors that influence the changing of countries.  Here is some of the new vocabulary being introduced over the next few weeks.  Please begin sharing your stories with your child and use this new vocabulary in your conversations at home.

- Push Factors?

The bad or difficult things that “push” you out of your country.

+ Pull Factors

The good or positive opportunities that “pull” or attract you to a new place.

- Risks?

The chance or possibility that things may be difficult in a new place.

- Challenges?

The things that ARE difficult once living in a new place.

+ Rewards

The good things that happen once living in a new place.