ELA
We have begun our unit on friendship! We have begun conversation about how to be a good friend, as well as the qualities a good friend possesses. Some of the skills we have been practicing when reading are making predictions and connections, and asking questions/clarifying questions. Visualizing is also a skill we’ve been working on, as your children have enjoyed illustrating poems and stories we’ve read!
Sight words we should know now are the, and, go, had, has, have, he, a, I, and see. Don’t forget to save the pre-decodable books for practice!
We are nearing the end of our introduction of the letters of the alphabet. We will complete individual introductions of all letters prior to Winter Break, and then will review for the remainder of the year. At home, practice segmenting words into sounds (ie. cat /c/ /a/ /t/), and writing those sounds down on paper will give your child an advantage at school!
Listening Center
We have been discussing text features. At this point, children should be able to identify a character, setting, event, problem and solution in a story they hear. In our independent listening centers, students are expected to listen to the story and then illustrate a given feature. This is an independent activity.
Handwriting Without Tears/Writing
We have begun using the HWT program for handwriting and formation. When helping your child to form letters and numbers, please refer to the formation guides that were sent in folders.
Please continue to work on name writing. Please encourage your child to begin their name with a capital letter and then use lowercase letters for the rest of their name. Proportional sizes are also a focus.
Our writing focus has been on drawing detailed illustrations, labeling them with sounds we know (mostly initial/first sounds) and beign able to describe what is happening in their picture/story. We are now pushing towards using labels and small sentences to accompany our writing. Phonetic writing is developmentally appropriate and encouraged in our classroom. When working with your child, encourage them to spell sight words from our list (sent home) correctly, but to write down sounds they hear in words for unfamiliar words. You can help them with this by 'stretching out sounds in words' with them. (ie. cat is /c/ /a/ /t/) At this time, many students will only hear beginning and ending sounds of words. Practice will help them hear more sounds. Using familiar terms and practice at home will help them develop their skills more quickly.
Mathematics
We continue our unit putting focus on measurement and counting and comparing numbers and items. One of the activities we've explored has involved flipping cards with numbers 0-10 and comparing them to see which number is greater. (This is a game similar to the traditional card game WAR.) We have also worked with Inventory Bags during which children take the contents of a bag and draw/record it on a sheet and then write the amount. We play Comparing Inventory Bags by doing the activity with two bags and comparing how the contents are the same and different. Similarly, we've played Grab and Count and Grab and Count Compare (reaching in bins to grab handfuls of an item and then recording them/recording and comparing them).
At home, work with identifying numerals 0-20 and writing them correctly and counting to 100 will allow for more time to work on more advanced skills at school!
Science
In science, we have continued our study of trees!
-We are reviewing the parts of a tree, with focus on the roots, trunk, branches and leaves.
-We have discussed what a tree needs to grow and live.
-We have begun discussing what makes a tree useful.
-We have begun to discuss different types of trees.
This winter, we will put more emphasis on our study of trees and wood/paper.
Social Studies
We continue to work on rules and responsibility (what it means and how it looks we are responsible for ourselves and our belongings). We continue talks about our ‘school family’ and making sure that our classroom is a comfortable environment for all of us to thrive in.
Please have conversations with your child to discuss how to be a good friend and a responsible student. This will make a difference in their development as an adult in the future as well as the current climate in our classroom. Thank you!
We have begun our unit on friendship! We have begun conversation about how to be a good friend, as well as the qualities a good friend possesses. Some of the skills we have been practicing when reading are making predictions and connections, and asking questions/clarifying questions. Visualizing is also a skill we’ve been working on, as your children have enjoyed illustrating poems and stories we’ve read!
Sight words we should know now are the, and, go, had, has, have, he, a, I, and see. Don’t forget to save the pre-decodable books for practice!
We are nearing the end of our introduction of the letters of the alphabet. We will complete individual introductions of all letters prior to Winter Break, and then will review for the remainder of the year. At home, practice segmenting words into sounds (ie. cat /c/ /a/ /t/), and writing those sounds down on paper will give your child an advantage at school!
Listening Center
We have been discussing text features. At this point, children should be able to identify a character, setting, event, problem and solution in a story they hear. In our independent listening centers, students are expected to listen to the story and then illustrate a given feature. This is an independent activity.
Handwriting Without Tears/Writing
We have begun using the HWT program for handwriting and formation. When helping your child to form letters and numbers, please refer to the formation guides that were sent in folders.
Please continue to work on name writing. Please encourage your child to begin their name with a capital letter and then use lowercase letters for the rest of their name. Proportional sizes are also a focus.
Our writing focus has been on drawing detailed illustrations, labeling them with sounds we know (mostly initial/first sounds) and beign able to describe what is happening in their picture/story. We are now pushing towards using labels and small sentences to accompany our writing. Phonetic writing is developmentally appropriate and encouraged in our classroom. When working with your child, encourage them to spell sight words from our list (sent home) correctly, but to write down sounds they hear in words for unfamiliar words. You can help them with this by 'stretching out sounds in words' with them. (ie. cat is /c/ /a/ /t/) At this time, many students will only hear beginning and ending sounds of words. Practice will help them hear more sounds. Using familiar terms and practice at home will help them develop their skills more quickly.
Mathematics
We continue our unit putting focus on measurement and counting and comparing numbers and items. One of the activities we've explored has involved flipping cards with numbers 0-10 and comparing them to see which number is greater. (This is a game similar to the traditional card game WAR.) We have also worked with Inventory Bags during which children take the contents of a bag and draw/record it on a sheet and then write the amount. We play Comparing Inventory Bags by doing the activity with two bags and comparing how the contents are the same and different. Similarly, we've played Grab and Count and Grab and Count Compare (reaching in bins to grab handfuls of an item and then recording them/recording and comparing them).
At home, work with identifying numerals 0-20 and writing them correctly and counting to 100 will allow for more time to work on more advanced skills at school!
Science
In science, we have continued our study of trees!
-We are reviewing the parts of a tree, with focus on the roots, trunk, branches and leaves.
-We have discussed what a tree needs to grow and live.
-We have begun discussing what makes a tree useful.
-We have begun to discuss different types of trees.
This winter, we will put more emphasis on our study of trees and wood/paper.
Social Studies
We continue to work on rules and responsibility (what it means and how it looks we are responsible for ourselves and our belongings). We continue talks about our ‘school family’ and making sure that our classroom is a comfortable environment for all of us to thrive in.
Please have conversations with your child to discuss how to be a good friend and a responsible student. This will make a difference in their development as an adult in the future as well as the current climate in our classroom. Thank you!
Little Tidbits
As the days become colder, I ask that you label the tags of your child’s sweaters or coats. Surprisingly, our lost and found pile continues to grow as students don’t always remember what they wore to school or recognize their clothing. Also, please remind students act they MUST wear a coat outside during this season. We WILL be outside most days this winter and it gets COLD. Hats, gloves and scarves are also a good idea. If it becomes warm, they will be told if they can take them off, but many children are coming in without coats or with thin sweatshirts on very cold days. Also, please encourage honesty as sometimes students try to pretend they do not have a heavy coat with them. Safety of children is our top priority out there!
I encourage you to have your child decorate a ‘book box’ to store the books in to practice throughout the year.
Report cards were sent home last week. If you have not done so already, please remove and review your child’s report card and then sign and return the EMPTY envelope in your child’s homework folder. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you for the wonderful participation and turnout for our Thanksgiving gathering! It was so nice to see families and to share recipes! I hope to do it again soon!
We are running low on snacks! Thank you for sending them in! They are always welcome and very much appreciated!
If you are willing/able to donate any other small supplies, we do have a small wish list for future projects. Please contact me if you’d like to help! Thank you in advance!
I encourage you to have your child decorate a ‘book box’ to store the books in to practice throughout the year.
Report cards were sent home last week. If you have not done so already, please remove and review your child’s report card and then sign and return the EMPTY envelope in your child’s homework folder. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you for the wonderful participation and turnout for our Thanksgiving gathering! It was so nice to see families and to share recipes! I hope to do it again soon!
We are running low on snacks! Thank you for sending them in! They are always welcome and very much appreciated!
If you are willing/able to donate any other small supplies, we do have a small wish list for future projects. Please contact me if you’d like to help! Thank you in advance!
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