January 2026
Reading
We will begin Module 5, Lead The Way. In this module, children will read stories and texts that will help them identify the qualities many good leaders possess. They can learn to recognize these qualities in themselves so they can work to become good leaders in the classroom and in school. We will read about famous leaders in history, children who are leaders in their community, and opinions about what it takes to be a great leader. At home, make a special time and place to read with your child every day and try these activities during your reading time together: Snap your fingers when you read something that shows someone being a leader, work together to retell or summarize a text that you have read, and practice giving an opinion by sharing what you’d tell the author of a book you are reading.
Writing
The focus of Module 5 is writing a personal essay. In this module children will read a familiar story entitled, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon. Children will write a personal essay, with an emphasis on the importance of facing challenges. Children will learn more about how to write a personal essay that tells something special about themselves. It will be a challenge as well as learning something new. Children will be encouraged to work hard, ask for help, and try new strategies when facing a difficult task. At home you can brainstorm ideas together what makes your child unique. Use questions such as: What do you notice about your hair? Your eyes? Your height ? Is there a game you play that you want to tell others about? Is there an activity you do, like help a neighbor, that you want to tell others about?
Math
In Illustrative Mathematics Unit 4, children learn to use the number line as a powerful tool for understanding numbers and operations. They practice placing and comparing numbers up to 100 and use the number line to show addition as moving forward and subtraction as moving backward. Students will focus on representing and solving one-and two-step word problems, involving situation of “add to,” “take from,” “put together,” “take apart,” and with unknowns in any position. Students represent the numerical relationships in the word problems using drawings, bar graphs, and equation with a symbol for the unknown number. Then they fluently add and subtract within 100 to find the solution. In Unit 5, children deepen their place value understanding by working with numbers up to 1,000. They learn that three-digit numbers are made of hundreds, tens, and ones, practice reading and writing numbers in different forms, and compare and order values using place value and number lines. This unit builds fluency with larger numbers and prepares students for adding and subtracting within 1,000 in future lessons. At home you can practice these skills by Number Hunt: Look for three-digit numbers around the house (on packages, receipts, clocks). Ask your child to read them aloud and explain the hundreds, tens, and ones. Build with Blocks or Coins: Use Legos, pennies, or other small items to group into 10s and 100s. Show how 10 tens make 100, and 10 hundreds make 1,000.
Phonics
In Unit 8 of FUNdations we will study the r-controlled syllable words. When a vowel is followed directly by the letter r the r changes the sound of the vowel. For example, in the word bark the vowel a has neither the short nor the long vowel sound. To code theses words the vowel and the letter r are circled together. At home, review the packet for unit 8 to read, practice, copy and mark up the syllables. In Unit 9, we continue with r-controlled syllables words. This time using er, ir, and ur. These combinations are not usually difficulty to read but can be tricky to spell. At home, review the packet for unit 9 to read, practice, copy, and markup the syllables. At home playing games such as Boggle junior will help with spelling and word recognition.
Science
In the Changing Landforms: The Disappearing Cliff unit, students use models to investigate how wind and water can cause changes to landforms. They learn that landforms made of solid rock undergo small-scale changes, and that over time, these changes add up to big changes. The unit begins with an introduction to changes to the cliffs by Oceanside Recreation Center, which serves as the anchor phenomenon for the unit. Exploration and investigation of models (through both physical models and student-made diagrams) allow students to generate and explore questions about wind and water changing landforms. At home you can search the internet to learn and discover different types of landforms and how they were formed.