News You Can Use!

We had a wonderful week here in 1-1!

Literacy

This week, the children finished learning the last components of the Daily 5. 

On Tuesday, the children learned about our word work activities. During word work the children will be: experimenting with words for learning and practicing spelling patterns, memorizing high-frequency words, generalizing spelling patterns, and adding to their knowledge and curiosity of unique and interesting words. Each day the children will engage in a different word work activity such as Rainbow Words, Spelling Code, Write Three Times, Word Sorts, and others involving their weekly spelling words and spelling pattern. The children will also have the opportunity to take turns at a hands-on word work station throughout the week. They will work with manipulatives such as magnets, stamps, and wiki sticks to practice their spelling words, word families, and sight words. 

On Wednesday, the children learned about the last component of the Daily 5, work on writing. During work on writing time, the children will spend time on writing that really matters to them. The children will often have a writing prompt and they can choose how they would like to respond. There will also be free write days where the children will be able to write about anything they wish. After discussing why it is important to work on writing, we created a work on writing I-chart together as a class. 

On Thursday and Friday the children practiced all of the Daily 5 routines: word work, work on writing, read to self, read to someone, and listen to reading. They are doing a great job of building their stamina and working quietly. We will continue to fine-tune the routines next week.  

This coming Monday, we will begin guided reading groups. The children will work on the Daily 5 while I meet with small guided reading groups. Your child will bring a book bag home at least one night a week. Please read the book with your child and send it back to school the next day. During curriculum night, I gave you handouts on reading with your child and a reading strategies bookmark. These will be helpful if you are looking for ways to help your child with reading or ideas for questions. If you have misplaced your copies please let me know - I can make you a new set! 

Writing

This week, the children started the publishing process. They will rewrite each part of their autobiography in their best handwriting and draw illustrations that are careful, colorful, and detailed. When they are finished publishing all of their pieces, they will compile them into a book. 

Math 

In Math, we wrapped up our first unit. The children practiced solving number stories using a variety of math strategies that we have learned.  

On Monday, the children had fun reviewing all of the math concepts from unit 1 with Mimio Vote. Our classroom was turned into the set of, Math Review Mimio Vote. The children became contestants in the game and answered questions using their own clicker. They enjoyed my performance as game show host! 

On Wednesday, the children took their first math test. I was so proud of how hard they worked on the test, they did a great job! 

We started unit 2 on Thursday. A note came home via backpack mail detailing the concepts that will be taught in this unit. On Thursday, the children worked with the number grid to locate numbers and solve math problems. They enjoyed playing the math game, Rolling to 50.

Social Studies

This week, we began our Map unit in Social Studies. The children learned about the seven continents and oceans this week. The children enjoyed two projects this week, Me On The Map and creating a map of the world using a paper plate and cut out continents. 

Next week, we will continue our Map unit. The children will learn about landforms and basic map skills including an introduction to the compass rose, cardinal directions, and map keys. If you have any books at home about maps or map keys, please send them in to share. Just make sure your child’s name is in the book. I will return them at the end of the week. 

Constitution Day

On Tuesday, we celebrated Constitution Day in our classroom. The children watched a short School House Rock video titled, The Preamble. Then, they listened to a short story titled, Our Constitution. I projected the story on our whiteboard and the children took turns highlighting important facts about the Constitution. After, they worked together to fill out a graphic organizer about the Constitution. 

Fire Safety Presentation

On Wednesday, Fireman Andrew from the Arlington Heights Fire Department visited our classroom. He shared a short fire safety video with the children. Then, he talked to the children about important fire safety rules to follow at home and at school. 

The children were excited to learn about his fire safety gear. He told the children that he has to be able to get into his gear in 1 minute when called for an emergency. After, he showed the children what he looked liked when fully dressed in his fire safety gear. They also had a wonderful question and answer session before he left. A special thank you to Fireman Andrew for teaching us about fire safety!

Royal Reader

On Friday, we enjoyed a visit from our first Royal Reader, Mrs. Sessler! The children loved listening to Mrs. Sessler read her book. She read the book, A Beasty Story. Thank you Mrs. Sessler for coming and sharing this amazing book with us!

Happy Birthday

On Friday, we celebrated Filip's birthday. Happy Birthday Filip! 

Note:

-I will place the Scholastic Book order Monday after school. It’s not to late to log into Scholastic and purchase good-fit books for your child!

Have a great rest of the weekend!