TeamLuby Update August 2014

Spring Street School

Mrs. Lubys class

General Information
Hope everyone is enjoying their
summers so far. We have been very
fortunate to have had a long
spell of wonderful weather
for outdoor activities. This
summer newsletter will give
you an idea of TeamLuby
Weekly Newsletters that will be posted on
our Class Website. These newsletters are
updated weekly and typically are two pages
long with general class/school information,
homework, math, LA, science, social studies,
and birthdays.

Technology will play an important part
in our classroom throughout this school
year. Two important bookmarks for your
family are:
http://teamluby.blogspot.com/- Our
TeamLuby class site will be updated
regularly along with our Weekly
Newsletters and other important
information. http://kidblog.org/TeamLuby/
- children will respond to class discussion
threads and questions through Kidblog.com
on a variety of topics. Each child will get a
student number and password to log in.
They will keep this information in their
planners.

The children should be reading at
least two books on the Summer Reading
List, including at least ONE off the
Required Reading List. They will be
discussing their texts in groups, completing
assignments independently and in small
groups. They should be using the organizer
found on the SPS Summer Reading link as it
will help them describe settings,
characters, plot/problems and solutions.
Please drop me an e-mail if you have any
questions or concerns. If your child is
reading The Island, he/she should
be encouraged to read the entire series. If
you dont have access to books 2 and 3, let
me know, and I can arrange for you to
borrow them from our class library.

Homework

Homework assignments will be listed
here and in the planner each week.
Although, assignments are revised
occasionally during the week, I usually try
to have the entire weeks material listed in
this weekly newsletter. Projects, quizzes,
and tests and other important dates will
also be listed.
Homework should take approximately
40 -50 minutes nightly and includes at
least 15-20 minutes of reading nightly in a
weekly cycle (remember-weekends are good
times for quiet reading). The children will
be filling in Genre Bingo Logs throughout
the school year.

Language Arts
We will be using a variety of reading
comprehension materials this year - Guided
Reading groups, chapter books, Daily 3, and
many other reading selections as part of
our overall language arts program this year.
MCAS and good testing preparation
strategies will also be stressed.

Writing
The children will write poetry, personal
narratives, expository and
opinion/persuasive essays this year.

Math
Very excited about our new Math In
Focus program we will begin this year! It
has a variety of topics and strategies
dealing with fractions, geometry,
pre-algebraic equations, patterns, and
more! Multiplication and
division fact practice is
essential at home and in
class throughout the
school year where we stress fact tables
through the 12s. We will be using the
XtraMath web site at home as one practice
tool. GregTangMath.com is an awesome site
to check out at home as well. In fact it will
be part of homework this year! Please
check it out and try it with your children
click on Games at the top of the page!

Social Studies
Cant wait to begin learning more
about mapping and regions of the United
States (East, Midwest, South, and West!
Physical features,
natural resources, climate, and culture and
economy will be our main focus this year.
We will learn why people live where they do,
why they came to this country, and the
freedoms we have. Social Studies includes
many individual and small group projects.





Science
Mrs. Liporto (Mrs. Smith for the
first month) will be
teaching the children
Science this year! The
year
s
curri
culum
includes earth
materials and rocks
and minerals, simple
machines, as well as
electricity and magnetism.

Class Tidbits
July/August/September
Birthdays!
Gunnar 8-3
Aanya 9-6
Sarena 9-15
Malek 9-21





*Specials*
Chorus: Monday 11:25 12:05 PM
Physical Education: Wednesday, 10:00-10:40
Media: probably Wed. morning
Music: Wednesday, 10:00 10:40 AM
Art: Thursday, 10:45 11:25 AM
Health: Friday, 10:45 11:25 AM


As always, your comments are welcome.
Please drop me an e-mail at school
bluby@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or at home
tbluby@townisp.com. I can be reached by
phone at SSS 508.841.8700.
Barbara Luby