News You Can Use!

Literacy

Treasures: 

This week, the children worked with digraphs (sh, th). They read several non-fiction stories about animals. The children worked on identifying the main idea and supporting details for each selection. 

Grammar Packets:

The children worked with plural nouns again this week. They learned that some plural nouns do not end with -s or -es. These nouns use a new word to name more than one (ex. mouse - mice). The children also worked with proofreading, they read a sentence and had to decide if it was written correctly or incorrectly. If it was written incorrectly they had to correct the errors.  

Writing:

This week, the children wrote a piece about what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Each child wrote about three things they are thankful for and why. They glued their writing to a turkey that they created using construction paper. You can view their writing out in the hallway during conferences. 

Math 

In Math, the children worked with their calculators. They practiced reading and entering numbers and symbols on the calculator. They programmed their calculators to count forward and backward by counts of 2s, 5s, and 10s. On Tuesday, the children worked with the dime. They identified the characteristics of a dime and noted its value. The children showed equivalent amounts of money using pennies and nickels. They worked with exchanging pennies for nickels and dimes. The children also showed amounts of money using dollars-and-cents-notation. On Wednesday, they found the values of combinations of dimes, nickels, and pennies. On Friday, we had a Data Day. We created a tally chart and then turned it into a line plot. The children used the line plot to answer questions. 

The children enjoyed playing two games this week to help them practice counting coins: Coin-Dice and Dime-Nickel-Penny Grab.

Science

We wrapped up our Collecting and Examining Life science unit this week. The children ended the unit by answering questions using Mimio Vote. They enjoyed reviewing all the concepts they had learned using their very own Mimio vote clicker. 

Social Studies

This week, the children learned all about the Wampanoag Indians. They listened to stories and worked together to fill out a graphic organizer about the Wampanoags homes, clothing, games, and food. At the end of the week, they used all of their graphic organizers to create a book titled, The Wampanoags, Pilgrims, and Me. Each child wrote down the facts they learned over the last couple weeks about the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians. They are very excited to share their book with you over Thanksgiving break.

Happy Birthday

On Friday, we celebrated Oliwia’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Oliwia!

Star Student

Jacob was our star student this week. Thanks Jacob for sharing all about you!

Royal Reader

A special thank you to Jacob’s Mom, she joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children really enjoyed listening to the two stories that Mrs. Miller read, Aliens in Underpants Save the World and It’s Thanksgiving. 

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and friends. 

News You Can Use!

Literacy

Treasures: 

This week, the children worked with short /e/ words. They read stories about growing grain and working together to cook. After reading, the children would summarize the story. They learned that when you summarize you retell the most important parts of the story. Summarizing helps you to better understand and remember the story.

Grammar Packets:

The children were introduced to plural nouns this week. They learned that a plural noun names more than one person,

place, or thing. The children learned that you add -es to form the plural of nouns that end with s, ss, sh, ch, or x. They also continued to work on proofreading sentences, checking for capitals at the beginning and a special end mark (period, question mark, or exclamation mark). 

Math 

In Math, the children worked with telling time to the hour and half hour on their tool kit clocks. They also took turns telling and recording a variety of different times. This week, the children were also introduced to frames and arrows. They had to fill in the missing numbers based on a given rule. Later in the week, they had to identify the rule based on the numbers in the frames. The children also had a chance to create their own frames and arrows problems, they traded with a partner and completed the others problems by identifying the rule and filling in the missing numbers.  

Election

On Monday, the children listened to the story, I Can Be President, Too! They had a great discussion about what they would do if they were President. After, each child wrote about what they would do if they were President. They drew a picture of what they would look like as President to go along with their writing. 

Science

The scientists completed two science lessons this week. On Wednesday, the scientists observed, compared, and dissected flowers. They learned about flower parts and created their own flower diagram. 

On Thursday, the scientists were introduced to living things that are neither plants nor animals, but members of a third living kingdom called fungi. They viewed photos and video clips showcasing fungi and mold. 

Get Buggy Field Trip

On Friday, a scientist from High Touch High Tech came into our classroom and taught us all about bugs. We learned about the creepy, crawly, weird, wacky, incredible life of insects and arachnids. The children learned about the life cycle of butterflies, bees and beetles. They got to see through the eyes of bugs, make their very own insect habitat, and were excited when they got to touch real bugs!

Social Studies

This week, the children learned all about the Pilgrims. They listened to several stories and worked together to add to our Then and Now Venn diagram. The children also completed a graphic organizer listing details about the Pilgrims homes, clothing, games, and food. They will use this to complete a final project at the end of next week. On Thursday, they created a Pilgrim project using a photo of their face. They wrote a sentence about something they have or can do but the Pilgrims did not have or could not do. Next week, we will learn about the Wampanoag Indians. 

Art Appreciation

On Friday, Mrs. Bartels came in and led the children in an Art Appreciation activity. The children learned about the painting, “Peaceable Kingdom,” by Edward Hicks. After discussing the painting the children acted out a peaceful Thanksgiving meal. Thank you, Mrs. Bartels for coming in and sharing the presentation with the class! 

Happy Birthday

On Monday we celebrated Samir’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Samir!

Star Student

Rachel was our star student this week. Thanks Rachel for sharing all about you!

Royal Reader

A special thank you to Rachel’s Dad, he joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children loved listening to the two stories that Mr. Rabe read, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. 

Have a great rest of the weekend!

News You Can Use!

Literacy

Treasures: 

This week, we started our second unit in Treasures. The children worked with short /0/ words.  They listened to and read different stories about animal families. The children read two genres this week: non-fiction and poetry. After each reading, the children determined the main idea and supporting details. They learned that the main idea is the most important point of the selection and that the details give the reader more information about the main idea. The children were often able to identify the main idea earlier in the selection and then go back and discuss the supporting details. 

Grammar Packets:

The children were introduced to nouns this week. They learned that a noun is a word that names a person, place, or thing. The children identified nouns in sentences. They also continued to work on proofreading sentences, checking for capitals at the beginning and a special end mark (period, question mark, or exclamation mark). 

Guided Reading:

I have almost had time to meet with all of my readers one on one. I will finish up running records early next week and then guided reading groups will resume. I am so proud of how hard our 1-1 readers have been working, it shows in their growing instructional reading levels!

Math 

In Math, the children worked with the number line. They found skip counting patterns and practiced counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s. The children also used the number line to find the answers for addition and subtraction number stories. On their white boards, they practiced writing the number model that represented each addition or subtraction number story. Remembering to use the correct number symbols: +, -,  and = to complete each number model. 

Science

The scientists enjoyed two science lessons this week and a follow up to our lima bean and corn experiment. On Wednesday, the scientists took at look to see if our corn and lima bean seeds had sprouted. They were surprised to see that the corn seed had sprouted but the only thing the lima bean was growing was mold! They recorded their findings in their science journal.

On Friday, we had twice the science fun, in the morning we examined roots. The scientists explored the structure and function of roots. Each scientist had their own seedling, they observed it using a magnifying glass and identified the roots and root hairs. Then they compared the weight of plant parts that grow above the ground to those that grow below the ground. They recorded their observations and findings in their science journal. 

In the afternoon, the scientists investigated stems and their functions. They observed and compared soft stems to woody stems and learned that stems provide support for plants. The scientists dissected celery to find tubes, they discussed what they thought the tubes were for. The scientists also set up an experiment using celery that will demonstrate how stems move water and nutrients to plant parts. Their hypothesis is that the tubes carry water and nutrients through the celery. They believe that the celery will turn red from the food coloring. We will check on the celery next week. 

Halloween Fun!

The children had a wonderful fun filled Halloween day! In the morning, each child completed a Halloween writing titled, Who Is Hiding Behind the Mask? They started by filling in a graphic organizer about themselves. Then, they turned their graphic organizer into a written paragraph about themselves. To go along with their writing, they made a portrait of themselves wearing a mask. Their name is hidden at the bottom of the page allowing everyone to make a guess at who the writing is describing. You just lift the black flap to see if your guess is correct! 

In the afternoon, the children kicked off the Halloween festivities with a parade around the neighbor. Thank you to everyone for coming out! After the parade, we headed back to our classroom for our Halloween party. The children enjoyed some delicious treats, moved through four different game stations, made a pumpkin craft, and listened to two Halloween stories. Thank you to everyone who sent in supplies for our party: treats, drinks, paper goods, and prizes!  A very big thank you to our two room reps, Mrs. Rabe and Mrs. Topps! Thank you for your incredible job planning and running our party. The children had a great time!

Social Studies

We started our Thanksgiving unit this week. Over the next couple weeks we will talk about Thanksgiving. The children will learn about the Pilgrims, Wampanoag Indians, Mayflower, and what the very first Thanksgiving was like. 

This week, we began the unit by filling out a KWL on Thanksgiving. The children shared facts they already know, recorded questions for what they would like to learn, and then at the end of the lesson completed the learned section. They listened to the book, The Very First Thanksgiving Day and watched the Brainpop video, Thanksgiving. The children were able to create a long list of facts they learned just from these two resources. 

On Friday, the children began filling out a large venn diagram in our classroom.  The children will list the similarities and differences between Wampanoag Indians and Pilgrim life to our life today. We will add to the venn diagram throughout our Thanksgiving unit. 

Star Student

Kelly was our star student this week. Thanks Kelly for sharing all about you!

Royal Reader

A special thank you to Kelly’s Mom, she joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children loved listening to the two stories that Mrs. Robinson read, Jumanji and Max’s Words. 

Notes:

-Thank you to everyone who has donated food to the Dryden Food Drive. If you have not donated and would like to, you have until November 15th to send in your donation.

-During the month of November, schools across the district are collecting loose change to send to the American Red Cross. The change will help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. If you would like to help, send in your loose change and your child can add it to Dryden’s collection jar. Thank you! 

Have a great rest of the weekend!