Torch Times

September 19, 2019

Dear Families,

We are almost at the end of the first quarter already! The end of the first quarter is on October 11th. All
corrected assignments with parent signatures and completed mistake matrix pages for math, are due on or before
Tuesday, October 8th if your child would like the opportunity to increase their score. Parent Teacher Conferences
will be held during the Early Release Week of October 14th through the 18th. All conferences will be scheduled
using Signup Genius again this year. We will send out the schedule soon, please watch for the email coming soon.

Our class field trip to the Cobb County Youth Museum is on October 7th. This is a great preview of American
history for our American Revolution unit. If you have not done so already, please send in the permission slip as soon
as possible.

Take a look at our learning targets:

Science: We have been learning about and modeling the causes of day and night, seasons, phases of the moon. We
will continue to learn about stars and planets in our solar system after the break. I showed the students my
SkyView Lite app and they are so interested! Take some time over the break to look in the early evening sky for a
full moon coming soon, Mars and Saturn are easily visible too!

Language Arts: We are drafting and revising our realistic fictional narratives. We will focus on bringing our
characters to life with movement, dialogue, character traits, and feelings about events.
We’ll focus on punctuation, and quotations coming soon.

Reading: Please have your child have at least 1 nonfiction book of their choice for our next reading unit. We’re
focusing in on finding evidence in the text.

Math: We just finished learning how solve addition, subtraction, money, and elapsed time word problems using the
C.U.B.E.S. strategy. The students will continue to use their rounding skills to estimate sums and differences, and to
determine reasonableness of answers when solving multiple step word problems. Students are required to write
equations with a variable, and an answer statement (complete sentence) for all word problems. This also includes
homework word problems! They use a C.U.B.E.S. strategy for word problems: circle the numbers, underline the
questions, box clues, equation with variable (letter) for the unknown, and a solution sentence.

Our next math unit is focusing on finding the perimeter of rectangles and rectilinear figures including those with
missing sides. After the break we will finish up with perimeter and review what we’ve learned so far.

I have several math videos and resources on my blog http://mrstorch.weebly.com/. The Weebly Parent Resources
tab on our class website has short parent video and downloadable information sheets for Quarter 2 math
standards. I would be happy to print them for you if you don’t have access, please let me know. We will focus on
multi-digit multiplication and division, and algebra standards for Quarter 2. It is crucial that the students know
their basic multiplication facts so that they are able to focus on the process of multi-digit multiplication, rather
than each basic fact involved in the process.

Very Important:
If your child is not yet fluent with their addition, subtraction, and multiplication math facts, please have them
practice for a few minutes daily at home by logging into their xtramath.com or Freckle accounts. You could have
them use sidewalk chalk, or build arrays with Legos if they want a more active practice.

Upcoming important dates: Sending money to school with your

Sept. 23rd – Sept. 27th -Fall Break student?
First Week in October-Sign Up for Conferences using
Signup Genius Please use the following envelopes
Oct. 11- End of 1st Nine Weeks clearly marked with the child’s first
Oct. 10 - Early Release Day, District Professional and last name, teacher, and reason
Learning Day for payment.
Oct. 15-19 - Conference Week Early Release all week
I’m looking forward to meeting with parents soon! Brown envelopes - ASP payments
ONLY
*The Trailblazer Trot is coming in November! More CCSD white envelopes - CCSD/Due
details coming soon! West payments
Plain white envelopes -
PTA/Foundation/Lunch money

I hope you have a wonderful Fall Break!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Mrs. Torch
Molly.torch@cobbk12.org
http://mrstorch.weebly.com/