Reader's Workshop:
*We read Lillly's Purple Plastic Purse and learned the importance to "check for understanding". We do this by asking the "who and what" while reading a story. This was added to our CAFE menu so it could possibly be a future reading goal for some of the children.
*We started our unit about nonfiction text. This included:
-learning the difference between fiction and non-fiction
-why we read non-fiction
-we listed what type of non-fiction books we would like to read about
-we listed what type of questions we would like to answer while reading non-fiction text
-we learned about the table of contents and that you don't have to read a non-fiction text from the beginning (Way cool!)
*We reviewed the expectations for reading to self time and buddy reading time during reader's workshop and we learned that strong readers think about how they are doing while reading. This allowed the children to individually evaluate how they are doing while reading to self and while reading with their partner. They also thought about what they need to work on.
*We read many fiction and non-fiction texts about Thanksgiving including Turkey for Dinner (one of Mrs. Marshman's favorite)
*We also read the books Bear Feels Sick & Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson.
*We learned about the different sizes of lower case letters. This included sorting the letters that are tall, small or have tails. This activity came home so please practice saying the letters and letter sounds with your child.
*This week we will be finishing our letter experts. Every child will have had the opportunity to be a letter expert. Thank you for your help with this activity!
*We have started to have a morning message that helps us read and write a message every morning. Every child will have a chance to be a morning message star. This child helps us with the morning message and they get to take the morning message home. Please practice reading the morning message when your child brings it home. You will notice that we circle, underline and star many different things on the morning message. This helps us learn our super words, words with different syllables, ending marks and many other concepts about reading and writing.
Writers workshop:
*We have learned that writers write more than what they like or see.
*We learned that writers write more than one idea. I ask them to tell me more.
*We learned that writers go back and add more details.
*We finished our first unit so we brainstormed a list of what we have already learned in writers workshop. Their writing samples came home with a letter explaining what they have learned so far. They have really learned a lot already!
*We learned about periods and exclamation marks.
*We brainstormed a list a possible things we could write about.
Math:
*We graphed how many boys and girls are in their family. We tallied how many moms, dads, brothers, sisters and pets are in our family.
*We solved Thanksgiving and family math story problems to help us learn our addition and subtraction.
*We tallied and counted what our favorite holiday is.
*We learned why calendar time is important and reviewed all the math concepts we learn during calendar time.
*We started to count by 10's and 5's.
*we played the game buzz to 30.
*we practiced writing our numbers to 100.
*we reviewed our shapes and what we find in our world that is those different shapes.
Social Studies/Science:
*we finished our 5 senses book. The book was sent home last week. Please read it with your child.
*Mr. Fay (Will's dad) came in to talk to us about Veteran's day and showed us some very interesting things from WWI and WWII. Thank you so much for helping us understand this important day!
*We made turkeys and wrote 4 things that we are thankful for.
*We made pictures of our house and our family so that we could learn how families are alike and different. (This will be coming home soon.)
****A special thank you to all the parents and family members who have come in so far for their child's star of the week presentation!!!!! Your child really loves when you come in and I appreciate the time you take to come and share with your child!!!! *****
