Apple Field Trip!

In next week's Tuesday folder you will find the permission form for our field trip. Please sign and return it to school ASAP. We are renting a 15 passenger van for this trip, so if you would like to join us please let me know so that I can make accommodations. Also, please let me know if you would like to drive and meet us at the farm.

• We will leave school promptly at 8:15 which will allow us to still have guided reading instruction before leaving. 

• 9:15 check in

• 9:30-11:00- hayride, cider pressing, apple picking/tasting, antique farm equipment demonstration

• 11:00-11:45- lunch, shop and "run around" time

• 11:45 return to van for ride back to school
• 12:30 return to school 

the website for the orchard is http://millstonecreekorchards.com

~Event Details~

            Date: Wednesday, September 21st             

            Tour Start Time: 9:45am

            Cost: $8for parents
            Includes: Apple Tasting, Cider Pressing Demonstration, 
Hayride,Apple Picking, Antique Apple Washer Demonstration

      ~Safety Issues~ Bees are an important part of the orchard.  Please make the necessary arrangements for children with allergies.

      ~Clothing~ Mornings can be wet in the orchards…please dress   your child in old shoes and comfortable clothing.

      ~Other Details~ The orchard is located at 506 Parks Crossroad Church Rd,Ramseur 27316.  Parents are welcome ($8/person). They accept Debit & Credit Cards.

Homework and Xtramath.com

Welcome to the first full week of school! We certainly are going full-steam now in our classrooms. We are reimagining the way math instruction is delivered in 1st and 2nd grade this year. Last year we developed our version of what we call "the guided-math workshop-model." We're taking this further this year by moving away from isolated subjects and going towards STEM instruction. Because we value the thought process and critical thinking as much as (or perhaps even more than) the outcome, math homework will be limited to fact practice- at least of the time being. It is very important that this is done at home because very little time is spent in class on rote memorization of facts. We are using Xtramath.com again this year as part of your child's homework. They will need to log on every day. The program charts their progress and adapts to meet their individual level. For example if "Suzie" keeps missing 5+3, she will be given that problem more often until it is mastered. All students will start with addition facts until mastered and eventually graduate through division.

Today your child will come home with their homework packet; packets are due Friday. Students' words for the week are sight words that do not follow a particular pattern or they follow a pattern the children haven't learned yet. However, they at least need to be able to read these words by sight to be fluent readers. The theory is if they practice spelling the words, recognizing them to read by sight will come naturally. 

This tutorial will help you connect your child's account to your email so that you will receive updates on their fact practice progress.