This week in French, we will be talking about animals. We will be discussing and describing pets that we have at home or pets that we would like to have. We will also describe our pets’ temperament. Your child is more than welcome to bring in a picture of their pet or a favorite animal that s/he likes. They can share their picture with the class. Examples of oral structures that will be introduced this week : J’ai un lapin. Il s`appelle __. Il a X ans. Je n’ai pas … Je veux avoir un ___ Mon animal préféré est … . Il s`appelle __. Il est gros. Il a X ans. Son corps est recouvert de ___ (poil, écaille, plumes). Mon ___ a de petites oreilles et les yeux __. Ses yeux sont ____, ses oreilles sont ___. Mon animal est ____ … (gentil, calme, excité, fidèle doux, heureux), We will make a class book about our animals next week to end our study on pets. I feel that the students will love this part of the curriculum! Finally, we will work on Halloween vocabulary and learn new songs. We will have a busy, but fun week!

We will be starting a mathematics unit on increasing and decreasing patterns. Recognizing and analyzing patterns is an important part of mathematical thinking. Patterning concepts lead to work with algebra in higher grades. In this unit, your child will:  • Identify, extend, create, and compare increasing patterns. • Identify, extend, create, and compare decreasing patterns. • Find pattern rules. • Display number patterns on hundred charts. • Use patterns to solve problems. Patterns can be found all around us. Encourage your child to look for patterns around the home and talk about them. Here are some suggestions for activities you can do at home: • Look for patterns in your family’s activities as marked on a calendar at home. What activities do you do daily? Twice a week? Every week? • Use small objects like buttons or coins to make patterns that grow or shrink. Encourage your child to describe and extend the patterns. • Count collections of nickels and dimes by 5s and by 10s. Count pennies by 2s.    *** We will continue to work on numbers from 0-100 in order to be better prepared for our 2nd unit: Numeration. We will also work on Bar Graphs and Pictographs.   Mme Lockerbie