Writer's Workshop has begun! I am thrilled with the "stuff" the kids are "making" during our cozy, quiet, comfortable, and creative Writer's Workshop time. I have held on to most of the creations so we can share and inspire others in their writing. Speaking of sharing, your children have been a wonderful audience when classmates are sharing! Soon, your child will be bringing home lists, postcards, small label books, story retellings and so much more. Please celebrate you child's success! We will have Writer's Workshop at least four times a week.
Language Arts:
Our letter this week was "a" and our popcorn word was "am." There will be no letter or sight word introduction next week due to the days off. We focused on word families like -an, -at, -ap. We read a non-fiction book about alligators and did a 4 square to show what we learned. Next week we will read the story The Relatives Came and share who we like to have visit us. We will touch upon Thanksgiving in books and writing.
Math:
Our math boxes (centers) in the morning are all about numeral writing. Notice the papers that are coming home and help your child fix any reversals. This is the time to practice writing the numbers correctly to form good habits. We are creating simple number stories with pictures and retelling. Out food plate showed patterns of fruit. We also discussed things that are heavier and lighter than us.
Social Studies:
Our Cool Tool for the week was remembering to say "Thank you." We discussed how we should always say thank you when someone gives us something, helps or warns us, or pays us a compliment. Please continue to encourage thank yous at home. This sure is the season for being thankful!
Science: This week and next week we discuss nutrition. We focused on the food pyramid with our snacks, non fiction books and videos. We talked about choosing healthy foods for every meal. We read a book called Eat Healthy, Feel Great! which introduced the concept of green light foods (healthy choices that you can "go" ahead an eat any time,) yellow light foods (foods with some nutritional value but also ingredients that might "slow" you down....so we can "slow" down eating them,) and red light foods (foods with little or no nutritional value and added preservatives that we should "stop" eating all together.) Don't be surprised if your child begins monitoring his, her, or YOUR food choices.:)
Art Awareness:
This week, Mrs. Nosek came for Art Awareness. She shared with us the artist Grant Wood. We heard interesting facts about his life, looked at and discussed his most famous piece American Gothic, and created our own PARODY (fancy word meaning silly copy) of the painting. We even got to take a picture in the cut out of American Gothic. It was a wonderful experience. Thank you, Mrs. Nosek. Please know that volunteers are needed for the remainder of the year. Check back with me or the PTA chairperson in charge of Art Awareness (found on the Watts website.)
Notes:
Remember that next week is short with Wed-Fri off of school.
We are in great need of glue sticks. Feel free to pick up a pack to donate to our class. It will be much appreciated!
Enjoy your time off! Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful to have your child in my class!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Nov. 1- 12
Thank you, parents, for attending the Parent-Teacher Conferences these past two weeks! I hope you found yours to be informative and helpful. In response to our conversations, I have sent home a small packet of resources to help support your child at home.
Language Arts:
Last week we focused on the letter "t" and sight word "I." We finished up the Jolly Phonics sounds, brought our orange books home to practice, but kept sound book 7 at school for extra practice. We read some fun books centering around T and created books and art projects in response. We read a fact book and then wrote about turtles.
This week we focused on the letter "c" and sight word "can." Thanks to all of the students who sent in cans for our food drive! We read come books that had a C theme and recognized that C has a hard and soft sound.
We launched Writer's Workshop, a most anticipated part of the day. We discussed why we write, who we know that are writers, what Writer's Workshop looks, sounds and feels like, and began "making" things on Friday! Some of us brought home a sample but others wanted to keep work at school to complete. We will keep a lot of what we make at school for sharing with classmates or conferencing with me.
Math:
We played a Tricky Teens games. It is important for the students to see the teens as they count. This visual support will help them recognize these numbers that don't follow a normal number pattern. We drew pictures on slates representing simple number stories. We continue to make number books and will be focusing on the correct way to form our numbers. We created a symmetry picture and practiced patterns in our morning math boxes.
Social Studies:
We discussed the importance of showing respect for substitute teachers in the same way we show respect for our regular teachers. We need to understand that substitute teachers may do some things differently than our classroom teacher. We can be helpful to the substitute teacher if he or she asks for help.
Science:
Next week we will discuss nutrition and food groups. Please look at the green note from you child's folder. We will try our best to bring in snack items from each food group. I understand that your child may not consistently participate if he/she has allergies, aversions or follows a religious regimen.
Notes:
How lucky we have been with the beautiful weather! As cold weather draws near, please practice skills of independence: zipping, buttoning, putting on snowpants and boots. Please also label outerwear...they all can look similar and can be easily misplaced. Remember that we have no school Wed., Nov. 24- Fri., Nov. 26.
A belated thank you to Mrs. Jagshi, Mrs.Yampati, and Mrs. Nosek for planning a wonderful fall party!
Language Arts:
Last week we focused on the letter "t" and sight word "I." We finished up the Jolly Phonics sounds, brought our orange books home to practice, but kept sound book 7 at school for extra practice. We read some fun books centering around T and created books and art projects in response. We read a fact book and then wrote about turtles.
This week we focused on the letter "c" and sight word "can." Thanks to all of the students who sent in cans for our food drive! We read come books that had a C theme and recognized that C has a hard and soft sound.
We launched Writer's Workshop, a most anticipated part of the day. We discussed why we write, who we know that are writers, what Writer's Workshop looks, sounds and feels like, and began "making" things on Friday! Some of us brought home a sample but others wanted to keep work at school to complete. We will keep a lot of what we make at school for sharing with classmates or conferencing with me.
Math:
We played a Tricky Teens games. It is important for the students to see the teens as they count. This visual support will help them recognize these numbers that don't follow a normal number pattern. We drew pictures on slates representing simple number stories. We continue to make number books and will be focusing on the correct way to form our numbers. We created a symmetry picture and practiced patterns in our morning math boxes.
Social Studies:
We discussed the importance of showing respect for substitute teachers in the same way we show respect for our regular teachers. We need to understand that substitute teachers may do some things differently than our classroom teacher. We can be helpful to the substitute teacher if he or she asks for help.
Science:
Next week we will discuss nutrition and food groups. Please look at the green note from you child's folder. We will try our best to bring in snack items from each food group. I understand that your child may not consistently participate if he/she has allergies, aversions or follows a religious regimen.
Notes:
How lucky we have been with the beautiful weather! As cold weather draws near, please practice skills of independence: zipping, buttoning, putting on snowpants and boots. Please also label outerwear...they all can look similar and can be easily misplaced. Remember that we have no school Wed., Nov. 24- Fri., Nov. 26.
A belated thank you to Mrs. Jagshi, Mrs.Yampati, and Mrs. Nosek for planning a wonderful fall party!