A big thank you to our class parents for hosting a fantastic holiday party! Thank you also to all the parents who so generously sent in supplies, food, and goodies for our class. Everyone enjoyed the yummy snacks and making the cute little crafts!
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for the wonderfully generous gift cards and all the cards and gifts. I was overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness ~ thank you very much!!
This week was a very exciting week of course! Jingle the Elf introduced us to her pet reindeer Snowflake! The children were thrilled! Take a peek!
In Math, the children used connecting cubes to "build" numbers from combinations of smaller numbers. First, the children helped me show different ways to build 5 using two different colored cubes. Then, I modeled how to record my combinations on a recording sheet. Finally, I assigned each pair of children a number between 6 and 9 to build and gave each pair that number of connecting cubes in each of two colors. They worked hard building their number in as many ways as they could using the two colors. Then, they recorded each combination on their sheets.
Next, we practiced counting by tens. To further practice counting the children sang and counted along to the "Snowflake Song." Check it out below!
We used our sense of sight to identify different attribute blocks. We also played some rounds of "I Spy."
We used our sense of touch to describe different mystery blocks. The children were instructed to feel the shapes by using their sense of touch instead of using their sense of sight.
Next. we observed our Winter tree to celebrate the first day of Winter. The children explained how the tree has changed. They explained that in the Fall, the tree had yellow, orange, red, and brown leaves and now it is bare, Then, they drew a picture of the Winter tree in their science journals.
To conclude, the children learned four new vocabulary words: allow, frustrated, decide, and practice. Ask your child to tell you what these words mean :)
During Writer's Workshop, I taught the kiddos that writers reread their stories, thinking about what they can do from everything they know about good writing to make their work the best it can be. I modeled revising one of my stories, adding details to the illustrations and adding more words to include the who, where, and what. The next day, we discussed the importance of editing our work. I explained that sometimes writers try to spell their words again so that they can remember them and help others read them too! They reread each word and make sure the word looks right. Then, they may even need to change it to make it more readable.
Finally, I modeled re-reading my own work, pointing to each word, noticing aloud how it doesn't look right, and adding letters to it. I stretched out the words and the children told me the letters to write :)
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Nork