FABULOUS FROGS!

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 26

This week in:

 
Reading we...

• spent the week talking about non-fiction books.  We discussed features of non-fiction books such as bold words, labels, captions, diagrams, and glossary.  We sorted fiction and non-fiction books in a variety of ways and also talked about how some books like the Magic School Bus books are a little of both.  We made a Venn Diagram together to illustrate this.

Writing...

• spent the week publishing out how to books.  Together, your child and I edited a book they chose from the unit and then they used their five star writing habits to make a published piece.  They cam out amazing and are hanging in our hallway. 
• Next up is "All About" books aka non-fiction writing

Math...

• spent the week learning about and practicing subtraction.  We played several subtraction games including a Disappearing Train Game, Subtraction Action, and Scoot.  We focused on putting the larger number first and using a number line to help us solve the equations.

Light Lab...

• Perhaps the biggest highlight of the week was the Light Lab today.  The scientists rotated through 5 stations as they predicted, tested, observed, recorded, and concluded.  The five light questions posed at the stations were...

• Does light bounce?
• Can light bend?
• Is light needed to see an object?
• Is light made of many colors?
• Can light travel through objects?

Their recording sheets are in their folders to give you some talking points with them.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED MAKE THE DAY HAPPEN!

Here are some pictures from the day.

Other...

• The children also used Blue Bots this week.  Click below to see a video.

BLUE BOTS

• First Scholastic book order is coming home today.  Better late than never!

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5

This week in:

Reading we...

• Continued to talk about main idea
• Played popcorn word zap
• Learned about the chunk "ou" and "ow" 

Writing we...

• Have launched into How To books
• Practiced using fancy words for "put" 
• Learned how to add warnings or tips to our books
• Changed our writing goals
• Saw a funny skit about how taking too many breaks during writing makes us forget what we're writing!

Math we...

• Explored numbers in the 100s.  
• Made symmetrical snowflakes
• Introduced 3D shapes
• Read Two of Everything (a book about doubles), did a doubles activity, and sang a doubles rap

 

Other:

• We had a germ class put on by our very own Nurse Webber.
• We had our first of six mindfulness lessons with Erica Marcus.  She will be coming in ever Wednesday to teach us a little be about what it means to be mindful and do some fun and engaging mindfulness activities with us!
• Conferences next week-Monday and Thursday.  Many progress reports went home today.  Make sure you check you child's folder.  I'll send the rest home next week. 

Practice at home:

• For fun, make a video at home like the one above and send it to me.  We can watch them in class!

WEEK OF JANUARY 15 and 22

This week in...

Reading we:

• have learned all the reading super powers to be learned.  The children "graduated" with a super power bookmark and are well equipped to become super readers.  
• Below are the members of the SUPER POWER READING TEAM.  They are a force to be reckoned with!

• talked about using post its to mark pages that makes us feel sad, happy, excited, etc.

• discussed finding out the main idea in a story
• got reading mats and there is a spot where they can keep track of how may books they read in a day
• read a snowman poem and created some art to go with it
• got new reading buddies

Writing we:

• During this month we continued to work on small moments.  Throughout the unit we focused on thinking and planning our story out, saying our story out loud before we start, writing our story across the pages, adding itty bitty details to make our story more interesting, and going back and rereading what we wrote.  A big focus was "what can we do if we can't read our writing?". 
• The children made writing goals.  Check them out!
• Next week we will start a new writing unit

Math we:

• I am sure you have heard about our "new student",  KIBO!   The robot came to our class this week for the first time and the children have been exploring, programming, problem solving, and engineering for the last couple days.  Here is a quick clip of KIBO in action.  They are so cool!  Thank you YEF!

 

• Started number scrolls--SEND IN PAPER TOWEL TUBES! 
• We have been playing a lot of addition fact games
• Friends of 10 activity
• Skip counting by 5s
• Proving number stories using pictures, words and numbers

Other:

• We could use some Clorox wipes and tissues that don't feel like sandpaper.   
• I sent out the conference sign up.  If you didn't get the email or are having difficulty signing up, please reach out to me.  This is an important conference.  

Practice at home:

• The next writing unit is "How to".  Brainstorm some things your child knows how to do and talk out the steps.  We use the words "First, Then, Next, and Last"
• Practice addition facts to 10
• Don't forget about RAZ KIDS!