Graphing

Today in math students learned about making tally charts to collect data and then to use the chart to make a graph. Kids collected information about siblings and found out most kids in our class have only brothers. 

Awesome Authors

Wow, what incredible non-fiction writing the kids are doing. It is amazing how quickly they are learning to write books to teach others about things they know. We have so many experts, on so many things. Kids are writing books about football...

dinosaurs...

dogs...

And so much more. 

Today we learned ways to spell words that are really tricky, but are super important for teaching someone about your topic. Often kids will not use words because they are hard to spell, but being precise with your word choice is very important in writing, especially when your purpose is to teach others. Today the kids learned to listen for the syllables in words and then write the sounds in each syllable, remembering each syllable needs at least one vowel. Below are two anchor charts we refer to often during Writer's Workshop. 

Telling Time

We are learning about telling time to the hour and half-hour. Today we learned a telling time song and used a large floor clock to practice moving the hour and minute hands. The kids had the opportunity to call out a time and others moved the hands to the correct time. 

Beach Reading

We had a great time on this chilly Friday before vacation, reading with our buddies on the "beach". 

Have a great break everyone!!

Tric Trac

Today I taught the class another fun way to practice addition facts. Tric Trac is a game where students roll the dice, add the dots together and then find combinations of that number on their game board. As they find combinations they cover them with a chip. The object is to have the lowest total showing, when no other combinations can be found. This game is very similar to another game some kids have at home called "Shut the Box". 

Keep practicing those addition and subtraction facts at home. Practice is the key to fluent fact recall! 

Play Tonight!

Just a reminder that tonight is our play! Please have your child here by 5:45, so they are ready to take the stage by 6pm. Everyone has worked really hard over the past six weeks, it should be a great night of theater. 

February 9th Newsletter

February 9, 2015

Dear Families, 

Wow, this sure is going to be a busy two weeks before vacation!  There is so much happening. First off, this week is our play. Tomorrow afternoon, after school, there will be a painting party to get our scenery finished for the plays. If you can come help paint, please join us at 3:00 on the stage. Then on Wednesday, February 11th, we will be performing our play twice, once at 2pm for the school and then a second time at 6pm. Please have your child here by 5:45. The kids have all been working so hard, it should be a great night!

Tomorrow, February 10th, is Jump Rope for Heart. During our P.E. time the kids will be jumping rope to raise money for The American Heart Association. If your child has gotten donations, please remember to send in their forms. 

Friday we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day. We will be having a small celebration and exchanging cards. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to send in treats, I really appreciate it. We will be doing some Valentine’s Day crafts and activities as well. 

Then next week is TV turn-off. Each night your child does not have any screen time, send in a note telling what you did instead and they will have the opportunity to pick a small prize out of Ellen’s basket. I always love seeing what kids choose to do in place of watching television or playing video games. 

Next Monday, February 16th, is our trip to the Flynn Theater to see Schoolhouse Rock Live! Just a reminder to send in the $8.00 for the trip, if you haven’t already. Your child will also need a cold lunch that day. 

In addition to all these exciting things, we will be starting a unit on non-fiction. In both reading and writing, we will be learning all about non-fiction texts. The kids will be learning to write non-fiction books during Writer’s Workshop. This is always a favorite, since they all know so much about so many things! During reading, we will be learning all about the parts of non-fiction texts and how to read them. Reading non-fiction is more challenging than reading fiction. Developing different strategies for understanding this type of text is important as kids start to transition from people who are learning to read to people who are reading to learn. 

Remember to keep practicing addition and subtraction facts with your child any chance you get. Automaticity with basic facts is very important for success with future math concepts. Use time in the car, around the dinner table, before bed, or any time you have a few extra minutes to practice this important skill. In class we are continuing to learn new fact strategies, these help kids begin to move from counting strategies to more thinking strategies.  We will be learning about measurement and telling time, too! 

Phew! That’s a lot of stuff. Let me know if you have any questions, I’m always happy to chat about anything happening at school. Enjoy the gorgeous snow and I’m looking forward to seeing you at the play on Wednesday. 

Gina