This week we read books by Doreen Cronin. We wrote about key details in the story. At the end of the week, we played "Guess My Key Detail". The children chose a detail from one of the many stories to draw in detail, and the students then guessed which book the key detail was from! Finding key details in both pictures and text is essential! This is a step to close and careful reading!
We practiced tallying this week, and we continue to work with sums to ten. As scientists, we used science tools to investigate an apple. We used magnifying glasses and balance scales. We used paperclip chains in groups of ten to measure our apples, and we used a tub of water to see if our apples would sink or float! Be sure to ask your child about their scientific work. Next week begins the next giant step in our learning! We will begin our first reading unit in the Wonders Reading Program. On Monday, your child will come home with a spelling preview and an "At Home Letter". The spelling preview will show you what your child already has acquired with the skill that will be taught. It will also include a list of the spelling pattern that we will be practicing and the words that will be assessed on. There are 8 spelling words to practice. On Friday, I will select 5 of these words for your child to try. The "At Home Letter" will include activities for your child to practice. This will come home as a paper copy for the first unit, but eventually it will be accessed digitally. This does not need to be returned. Our first week of math homework was a big success. You can expect math homework each Tuesday. You can expect a reading "celebration" book every Wednesday! The BEST Bobcats are an amazing bunch of kind-hearted children. We are enjoying our days together! The Best Bobcats had a great FULL week of school!
We read Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes, and many other great books with this favorite character. We wrote and drew key details from the stories. We also created our own Pete the Cats! We learned about scientists and how they ask questions. We learned to observe and ask questions! We are comparing numbers, adding sums to 10, and working on the concept of more or less. Specifically, we are working with one more and one less! Your children are fascinated with the size and texture of coins. We discussed how coins are different sizes and how some have ridges. We learned how knowing the size and texture can help them identify coins without even looking at them. Your child would love to learn more about this, so I encourage you to put some coins out and let your child observe and share with you what they are finding out. Back to School Night is Monday, and it begins at approximately 6:00. This is a night for parents/guardians only. I will be sharing a typical school day and also reviewing our academic standards. Your children have done an extraordinary job in their 8 days of school. They are creative and very kind to one another. I am thrilled to see them taking risks with making new friends and trying new things.
We are talking more about Growth Mindset and taking on challenges. They learned about the word "determination" this week. We read books by Denise Fleming this week. The children then responded through words and pictures about key text details. We are learning our high frequency words and blending decodable short vowel words. We began reading groups too. This Wednesday, be on the look out for their first "Take Home" Book. This will be one of their weekly "Homework" assignments. It's a time to celebrate what they are reading! More details will come home with their first book on Wednesday. We have released many Monarch butterflies, we have planted Sunflowers, and we have learned about mixtures and how they can bring about change. We also had a lesson on the voting process. We brainstormed names for our class, narrowed down the options through a "Primary Election" and then had the final election. We are now known as the BEST BOBCATS. I have enjoyed talking with each family through a "Phone Call from the Teacher". If you have not yet signed up, there are still a few slots open for tomorrow. If these times don't work for you, please contact me directly to set up a time that will. You can sign up via this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4cacad28a3f94-aphone 2018 School Year Families: A Phone Call from the Teacher... www.signupgenius.com I'd like to have a brief phone call with each family next week. This should be about 5-10 minutes, and it's an opportunity to check in with questions you might have and to share how your child is navigating the school day. Please sign up for a time, and then reply via email with the BEST number to reach you at that time. Let me know if these times do not work, and we can work to figure out a time that will. School pictures will be on Tuesday. This week we will read books by Eric Litwin. We will also be learning about Constitution Day. It's going to be a great week! Our first week in school has been a rich one.
We have learned the three big rules of our school and classroom. Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible. Your children have learned so much about their new classroom, playground, cafeteria, hallway, bathroom, and so much more! There is a lot to take in, and we will continue to practice and learn these things! Learning happens over time, and soon those rules and expectations will be inherent. Besides the hopping bugs that livened up our classroom, we also created ant playgrounds. We read Effie, a story about a loud ant who has trouble making friends. Your child had a challenge to create a playground for Effie and her new found friends. The children were so invested, they designed and created, and then joined their playgrounds to make even more fun for the ants! We've been reading books about Scaredy Squirrel as well. We have been learning about kNOwtions. I've explained this to the kids as thoughts that we have about things we think we know that might stop us from thinking, learning, and doing. Scaredy Squirrel has a lot of kNOwtions that prevent him from enjoying and learning. Within the next few weeks we will begin to call this type of thinking a "Fixed Mindset". Scaredy Squirrel, begins to take some risks and change his thinking. He begins to experience and learn new things. We will begin to address this type of thinking as a "Growth Mindset". I have enjoyed a great first week with your children. If you have not done so already, please visit Sign Up Genius to sign up for a Phone Call with me. www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4CACAD28A3F94-aphone It was a hot start to the school year, but your kids handled it with pizzazz! We hydrate often, so please be sure to pack a drink for snack and lunch and a water bottle! Thank you.
Lunch and milk can be confusing for some children. It may be a good idea for a few days to write a quick note to me if your child will be purchasing a snack milk, a lunch milk, or having hot lunch. There is so much for them to remember and to learn, that sometimes they get confused. A note can help me to guide them in the planned direction! As they get into the routines, the notes will likely not be needed, but it's a good place to start! We are learning each other's names and we created some fun caterpillars based on the book Caterpillar Dance! Their caterpillars are up and ready to greet them tomorrow. The first day of school is almost here! I am sure your children are very excited to start the school year, and probably have a few jitters too! Guess what? Their teacher gets the jitters too!
Please have your child pack an extra water bottle tomorrow...and each day. We hydrate often. When your child comes to school, I will be greeting them in the classroom. Part of our daily check in routine will be a hot lunch count. I ask each child to be able to tell me if they have a lunch from home or if they will be getting hot lunch. It is helpful if you assure your child each day about his/her lunch plans. We have a great day planned. We will start to learn about each other through stories, games, and art activities. Hurray for the first day! |
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