This week kids learned more about measurement as we talked about standard measurement with rulers. Next week, we will look closely at the penny and nickel. In reading groups, we practiced retelling and also thinking about the author's big idea. Have them retell and try to think about the "big idea" at home when they read to/with you. In writing, they wrote about a time they were hurt/sick and also what they do at recess. In Fundations, we have started learning how to tap out words using our fingers. We have been looking at the word families we have previously worked on, and tapped words out. Have kids show you tapping at home with simple C-V-C words, like mat, cat, hat etc.
I'm in the process of getting a day/time for kids to experience gym sometime before the gymnastics day (March 8th, talk to gym teacher for more details if interested), so that our kids are able to sign up for it.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Week of Feb. 14-17
This week completed our letter formation unit! The kids are now familiar with how to form all the upper and lowercase letters. Next week we will be moving into tapping out words, blending, and segmenting. I've already introduced them to tapping out words in small groups but now we will be using this tool more everyday to hear all the sounds in words and to blend the sounds together.
On Monday we had our Valentine's Day party. This was a great success as many parents and relatives came to help us celebrate! I liked how some kids told me their favorite part about the day was handing out cards. I like how my kids have very giving spirits!
In math we have started talking about measurement. We talked about how in the "old days," people used body parts like their feet to measure distances. Kids practiced using their feet to measure in the classroom, then they traced one foot and cut them out to compare to 12 inches. We discussed how every one's feet are a little different and why using the same thing to measure, like a ruler, is a more "accurate" way to measure. Next week, we will talk a bit more about measurement and then introduce the penny and nickel.
In writing, kids told me what they did during the Valentine's Day party and really focused on making nice sentences with capitals, punctuation, and spaces. I also had kids explore geoboards by making patterns, shapes, or just come up with something new!
I hope all the kids have a GREAT long weekend and I look forward to seeing you all again after President's Day!
On Monday we had our Valentine's Day party. This was a great success as many parents and relatives came to help us celebrate! I liked how some kids told me their favorite part about the day was handing out cards. I like how my kids have very giving spirits!
In math we have started talking about measurement. We talked about how in the "old days," people used body parts like their feet to measure distances. Kids practiced using their feet to measure in the classroom, then they traced one foot and cut them out to compare to 12 inches. We discussed how every one's feet are a little different and why using the same thing to measure, like a ruler, is a more "accurate" way to measure. Next week, we will talk a bit more about measurement and then introduce the penny and nickel.
In writing, kids told me what they did during the Valentine's Day party and really focused on making nice sentences with capitals, punctuation, and spaces. I also had kids explore geoboards by making patterns, shapes, or just come up with something new!
I hope all the kids have a GREAT long weekend and I look forward to seeing you all again after President's Day!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Week of Feb. 7-11
This week in the classroom, kids learned a new song to help them with the sound that "th" makes. We will continue to listen to songs to help us with other sounds like short and long vowels in the days to come.
In math, we discussed double digits and also revisited some math games like Spin A Number, Monster Squeeze, and Top It.
In writing, kids wrote about a trip they took and also what they do when they go to the movies. We continue to work hard with the narrative genre, as kids tell me what they do first, next, and last.
In reading, kids worked at retelling the stories they read. Have them also do this at home when they read to improve their comprehension skills. We are also talking about characters, setting, and main idea.
Next week is our Valentine's Day party. All parents/guardians are invited to help us celebrate! A note went home with details about our party. I'm asking for kids to bring a box they decorate at home to be their mailbox. That way they have more time than we could provide in class to decorate it how they want! I can't wait to see how creative they are with their mailboxes. I'm also asking that all kids bring their valentines without the "To:" portion filled out. This is a school wide policy that allows us more time to celebrate our party, as passing out specific valentine's to specific boxes takes a lot of time! Thank you for understanding and please contact me if you have any questions. Have kids bring their decorated boxes and cards on Valentine's Day, Monday Feb. 14th.
Conferences are also next week. If you would like to meet with me, please sign up on the sheet outside our classroom door.
In math, we discussed double digits and also revisited some math games like Spin A Number, Monster Squeeze, and Top It.
In writing, kids wrote about a trip they took and also what they do when they go to the movies. We continue to work hard with the narrative genre, as kids tell me what they do first, next, and last.
In reading, kids worked at retelling the stories they read. Have them also do this at home when they read to improve their comprehension skills. We are also talking about characters, setting, and main idea.
Next week is our Valentine's Day party. All parents/guardians are invited to help us celebrate! A note went home with details about our party. I'm asking for kids to bring a box they decorate at home to be their mailbox. That way they have more time than we could provide in class to decorate it how they want! I can't wait to see how creative they are with their mailboxes. I'm also asking that all kids bring their valentines without the "To:" portion filled out. This is a school wide policy that allows us more time to celebrate our party, as passing out specific valentine's to specific boxes takes a lot of time! Thank you for understanding and please contact me if you have any questions. Have kids bring their decorated boxes and cards on Valentine's Day, Monday Feb. 14th.
Conferences are also next week. If you would like to meet with me, please sign up on the sheet outside our classroom door.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4
This week ended with us celebrating our 100th day in school! I want to congratulate all our students on working hard and doing their best for each of those days! Keep it up for the rest of the year!
In the Friday Folders this week, a letter is going home about our upcoming Valentine's Day party. Please read through it and let me know if you have any other questions about our party.
I also still need report card envelopes from many of the students. Please sign and return those to me! I wrote a note in the folders of kids this pertains to, so if you are unsure if you returned them, please look at the folder comments!
I hope you all enjoyed the snow days in the middle of the week! We worked on more capital letters for handwriting and also wrote about the topic, "Tell about a trip to the library." In math we explored a new math game called What's My Rule, as I fished for kids who all had the same rule. We also utilized Everyday Math Online for some fun math games. If ever your child is looking for something fun to do, have them go to Everyday Math Online and play some games! The card with the sign in info is inside your child's Friday Folder. Continue to work on phonemic awareness with your child. Have them tell you what sounds they hear in words so that their ears start picking up the sounds. Also, please keep working on those sight words that went home in past Friday Folders! Let me know if you need another list, as this will make reading much easier the quicker they can recognize those words!
In the Friday Folders this week, a letter is going home about our upcoming Valentine's Day party. Please read through it and let me know if you have any other questions about our party.
I also still need report card envelopes from many of the students. Please sign and return those to me! I wrote a note in the folders of kids this pertains to, so if you are unsure if you returned them, please look at the folder comments!
I hope you all enjoyed the snow days in the middle of the week! We worked on more capital letters for handwriting and also wrote about the topic, "Tell about a trip to the library." In math we explored a new math game called What's My Rule, as I fished for kids who all had the same rule. We also utilized Everyday Math Online for some fun math games. If ever your child is looking for something fun to do, have them go to Everyday Math Online and play some games! The card with the sign in info is inside your child's Friday Folder. Continue to work on phonemic awareness with your child. Have them tell you what sounds they hear in words so that their ears start picking up the sounds. Also, please keep working on those sight words that went home in past Friday Folders! Let me know if you need another list, as this will make reading much easier the quicker they can recognize those words!
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