is here!

SJS Happenings This Month:



May 2nd: Play Dress Rehearsal at 10am
May 3rd-4th: School Play at 7pm
May 4th: 2-Hour Delayed Opening
May 5th: First Holy Communion (Grade 2)
May 7th: NO SCHOOL for Grades 1-4
May 11th: Grandparents Day
May 13th: Mothers Day
May 16th: Tag Day
May 17th: Ascension Thursday - Mass at 9am & Noon Dismissal
May 23rd: May Crowning in Church
May 25th: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day Weekend Recess
May 28th: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
May 30th: Spring Band Concert at 7pm

 

Here's what we're up to in Social Studies & Vocabulary!

General Academic Goals

• In Grade 1, we will begin our studies by focusing on topics related to our families and our school. We will discuss the concepts of community, citizenship, and rules. Related topics we will cover include community helpers, jobs, holidays, traditions, weather, Native Americans, and symbols of our country. The first graders will learn to use maps, map keys, and globes to begin to understand the larger world around them in their every day lives.  Each month's study will begin with the completion of a calendar that will allow students to practice learning their months, dates, and holidays!

• In Grade 2, we will begin our studies by focusing on topics related to our own community and other communities of the world. We will build upon the concept of community, as studied in first grade. Related topics we will cover include our earth’s resources, goods and services, government, national holidays, and the first Americans. The second graders will continue to develop their geographic skills, both map and globe, in order to achieve a greater understanding of the world around them.

• In Grade 3, we will begin our studies by focusing on topics related to the history of our own community and other communities around the world. We will build upon the concept of community, as studied in earlier grades. Related topics we will cover include rural, suburban, and urban communities, transportation, immigration, early explorers, and influential historical figures. The third graders will expand their geographic skills as they learn about maps, scales, latitude and longitude, and hemispheres.

• In Grade 4, we will begin our study of the history of the state of New Jersey. Students will learn about the geography, resources, environment, government, and people of New Jersey, and how the state has changed over time. The fourth graders can expect to complete even more independent work outside of the classroom in order to reinforce the skills learned each day.

Rules and Practices

Students are expected to participate in class and to see me during school hours with any questions or concerns.
Unless otherwise stated, homework will be assigned each night to supplement our work in the classroom.  It is expected to be completed with strong effort and handed in on time. 
Classroom rules, as stated in each room, are to be followed.
Cooperation is a must!
Each unit of study will end with a test on the material.
Everyone should come to class prepared with books, homework, and a pen or pencil!
Don't ever settle for less than your best effort!
 
Social Studies Schedule    
                                                           
Grade 1: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:00
Grade 2: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:50
Grade 3: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:25
Grade 4: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00

*** Parents, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. At school, I can be reached at ext. 414 or by email at lhammond@stjosephschoolmendham.org. ***

      




~ Social Studies, Week of May 21st - 25th ~
 

FIRST GRADE
Friday, 5/18: No homework
Monday, 5/21: NO CLASS due to Field Trip
Wednesday, 5/23: No homework
Friday, 5/25: NO CLASS - Memorial Day Weekend

SECOND GRADE
Friday, 5/18: No homework
Monday, 5/21: No homework
Wednesday, 5/23: No homework
Friday, 5/25: NO CLASS - Memorial Day Weekend

THIRD GRADE
Friday, 5/18: NO CLASS due to Field Trip
Monday, 5/21: No homework
Wednesday, 5/23: No homework
Friday, 5/25: NO CLASS - Memorial Day Weekend

FOURTH GRADE
Friday, 5/18: No homework
Monday, 5/21: No homework
Wednesday, 5/23: No homework
Friday, 5/25: NO CLASS - Memorial Day Weekend

Upcoming Tests & Quizzes...
None!


Recommended Resources
                                            
Social Studies Websites:
www.fedstats.gov/kids
www.pbs.org/kids
www.info.gov/kids/htm
www.americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/games
www.sheppardsoftware.com
www.nationalgeographic.com/kids

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Vocabulary

Grade 1

 - We will be using the Wordly Wise 3000 workbook.  It contains 15 lessons, each involving a story to be read aloud to the students and a carefully selected list of 10 words each.  Each lesson utilizes various activities to aid in the development of students' vocabulary throughout Grade One.
- At the beginning of each new lesson, a Family Letter will be sent home.  On this sheet are the vocabulary words that we will be working on in class, as well as some suggestions for activities that you can do with your child to help reinforce and strengthen their skills.
- On Thursdays, we will read our Weekly Reader newsletters.  This will be an interactive lesson that involves the Weekly Reader website; students should bring this newsletter home each Thursday and share it with their families. 
- The first graders will have vocabulary class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00.

Grade 2

- We will be using the purple Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop workbook. There are fourteen units, with 10 new words in each lesson. We will use analogies, word associations, classifying games, word webs, and other methods to help the students understand the meaning of each vocabulary word. A test will be given after each unit, to be announced at least a week in advance.
- At the beginning of each new unit, a Family Letter will be sent home. On this sheet are the vocabulary words for the Unit we are working on in class. Included are some suggestions for activities that you can do with your child to help reinforce and strengthen their skills.
- Students will also be expected to write sentences for each new unit of vocabulary words. These sentences will always be assigned on the Tuesday after the new unit has been introduced in class. Students will have two days to complete this assignment (due on Thursday), and they should follow the guidelines they have been given (taped into the inside cover of their vocabulary workbooks) closely.
- The second graders will have vocabulary class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:50.

Grade 3

- We will be using the green Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop workbook. There are sixteen units, with 10 new words in each lesson. After each Unit there will be a test, to be announced at least a week in advance. The students will come to enjoy using the games on the Vocabulary Workshop website (see below), as well as other word games, to reinforce their understanding of the lesson.
- Homework will typically not be assigned; however, it is expected that students practice their vocabulary words each night as a way to prepare for upcoming tests.
- Please note that students will no longer be expected to complete vocabulary sentences as a homework assignment for each new unit; however, I would like to encourage students to continue to write sentences as a way to practice the meaning of each word for the test at the end of each unit.
- The third graders will have vocabulary class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:25.
 

*Tips for a Successful Year of Word Study!*
 

First & Second Grade --
The Family Letter that is sent home at the beginning of each new lesson/unit will provide helpful suggestions for vocabulary work that you can do with your child to reinforce the skills practiced in class.

Third Grade --
Remember to have your son/daughter make up sentences using the vocabulary words so that you can evaluate their understanding of the correct meaning.  This can be a great way to help them study!
Students must also memorize the synonyms and antonyms in order to do well on the tests.
 

Use the Sadlier-Oxford website (see below) as a review tool - the games are fun and educational!

*Attention second and third grade parents!!!  Please help your students access this website.  
Students will need to create a username and password by entering an access code,
which can be found at the bottom of the copyright page of their workbooks.  
From there, students should be able to use the website as often as they would like!

 

 

~ Vocabulary, Week of May 21st - 25th ~

FIRST GRADE
Tuesday, 5/22: Unit 14 started in class today.  Review Week One words at home: GradeOneUnit14
Thursday, 5/24: Bring home Weekly Reader & share!

SECOND GRADE
Tuesday, 5/22: Unit 15 started in class today.  No homework.
Thursday, 5/24: No homework

THIRD GRADE
Tuesday, 5/22: No homework
Thursday, 5/24: No homework

Upcoming Tests...
Grades 2 & 3 - Unit 15 Test - Thursday, May 31st


Required Resources

Guidelines:
VocabularySentencesGr2
VocabularySentencesGr3

Websites:

www.vocabularyworkshop.com 
(Sadlier-Oxford site) *Grades 2-3

www.weeklyreader.com 
(Magic Word - sjsreads2011) *Grade 1