Some Information for the Week....

• As discussed during conferences, spelling tests will start this week.  The students will take a pre-test at the beginning of the week and a post-test at the end of the week.  There will be 18 words total on the test plus a few challenge words and sentence dictations.  I will give you 6 of the words.  You can work at home practicing spelling these words (there is a list of fun ways in the back of your child's folder).  I will also tell you the word family for the week and the phonics rule.  However, please do not constantly drill your child on all the words that follow that specific word family or phonics rule.  Your child's grade will be a culmination of skills and things.  Some parts of their grade will be: growth from pre-test to final test, spelling of given words (which we want them to truly learn and apply in their writing), correct application of word family and phonics rule (combined with developmental spelling and/or correct spelling), and conventions of writing combined with spelling for sentence dictation.  It sounds hard, but I promise it will make more sense once you see a completed test.  The most important part is to work hard at learning the words but also allow your child to have fun while learning and not expect perfection.  

• Thank you so much to everyone who attended parent-teacher conferences last week.  It is always a joy to talk about each and every student in the class and Mrs. Kang and I enjoyed our time spent discussing your child with you.  

• Progress Reports will not go home this Friday.  Mrs. Cuneo and Mr. Yodice decided that due to conferences and snow days progress reports will go home next Friday. (March 7th)  The progress reports will not be child specific at all.  There will be an explanation of the skills taught thus far and a grade for each child in each subject area, as conferences just happened.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

• During conferences a couple of parents discussed confusion about the missed teacher appreciation week due to the snow days.  On Friday the PTO brought lunch from PFChangs to school for teachers to make a plate and eat before conferences to make-up the event and decided that students can bring any items as they wish last week.  Mrs. Kang and I sincerely appreciate the hand-made cards and sweet tokens of appreciation we have received and love our jobs (and your children!).

• Thank you so much for the out pour of love and support toward the school's Pasta for Pennies Fundraising campaign.  Our class WON and will be receiving a free lunch at Olive Garden.  A permission slip will go home as soon as a date is established.  How exciting!