October 30

During Reader's Workshop readers chose their own spots to sit at. These spots will stay the same for a couple of months.   At the beginning of each week each reader chooses five books to read for the week. Each day they make a plan of which order to read them in.  Readers have been reading with partners. They learned that partners sit shoulder to shoulder with the book in between them.  Of course, they should read in a quiet voice.  

 Readers practiced reading a book called "I See Halloween."  They learned to point under each word as they read.  These books will come home at the end of the week so they can read to you! 

In math we used five frames to show different ways to make five. Then the children created fences out of popsicle sticks and five pumpkins.  They put some pumpkins on the fence and some on the ground to show different combinations to make 5.  

Mathematicians practiced solving number stories using a variety of strategies including drawing a picture and using counters.  I encourage students to use different strategies.  This helps them learn there is more than one way to solve a problem.  

Mathematicians did a variety of counting activities including playing  How Many Now?, making number boards, and playing Zap.  

On Friday students mixed paint to make their own shades of orange and green.  We will use the paper they painted with these colors to create pumpkins tomorrow.  They will be hanging in the hallway when they are finished.  

Writers chose their favorite small moments stories to put in their portfolios.  I love seeing the progress they are making.  Many students are writing labels and/or sentences. We have also been drawing and labeling the chrysalises and butterflies.  

October 14

During Reader's Workshop the children continued to read the pictures in books.  After sharing all the places where we like to read at home, we tested spots around the classroom.  Next week students will choose their own spot where they will read each day.  We also reviewed the words I, see, and a.  

 During handwriting time students practiced writing, B and R.

During writer's workshop, the children continued to write stories about their own experiences. This week they practiced adding labels to their stories. We put imaginary bubblegum in our mouths and stretched it out to hear sounds in the words.

During science time we observed our caterpillars and drew what we saw in our butterfly journals.  It will be exciting to watch the metamorphic process.

Fire Safety Week

Our greeting this week has been the fire truck greeting.  Students roll the fire truck to each other after saying hello.

At the fire station we watched a movie that taught the students about fire safety.  They learned to crawl low in smoke, create an escape plan with their families, and check the smoke detector batteries.  Then we watched a firefighter get on the gear he wears while fighting a fire.  

After giving the firefighter a high-five students had a chance to see the fire trucks and ambulance.  

The children even had a chance to go inside one of the trucks.  

                     

 

 This morning the children had a chance to crawl through the smoke trailer to practice staying low in smoke.  Thank you to all the parents that came and crawled through too!

October 3

Can you believe it is already October?!  The children have been learning so much!  

Last week we officially started handwriting.  We practiced capital E and F using sponges, paper towels, and chalk. We call this "Wet, Dry, Try."  This week we will practice writing these letters with pencil in our handwriting journals.  


During Reader's Workshop we learned we are all readers.  We practiced reading books by reading the pictures. We also continued activities using our names.  We put our names in alphabetical order on a chart and noticed what was the same and different.  Did you know three of our names begin with C?  Kai's name is the shortest and Sebastian's is the longest.   We ended the week making name trains after reading The Little Engine that Could.  They are hanging from the ceiling to remind us not to give up.  

During Writer's Workshop we learned we are all writers!  Our focus right now is telling stories with pictures.  We have learned when we are done, we have just begun.  We can either start a new story or add more to an already written story.  Before long we will be adding words.  

In math we have practiced number formations for the numbers 0-5. We have been playing games to practice number recognition and counting.  On Friday we learned about a tool called five frames. We discussed how we can make numbers in different ways on the five frame.