News You Can Use!

Read all about our busy week.

Literacy 

This week, our close reading lessons focused on books about Thanksgiving and Pilgrims. The children worked with determining 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 early in the selection and then go back and discuss the supporting details. We will continue to work with main idea and details over the next couple weeks.

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 

This week, the children worked with the number line. They found skip counting patterns and practiced counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s. The children 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. 

Later in the week, 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.

Today, the children enjoyed using the iPads to log into Dreambox. Dreambox is an online math curriculum that builds mathematical competency, problem solving, reasoning, and critical thinking skills. Each student is able to focus on the areas that are right for them. Once the children are comfortable using Dreambox I will send home information on how you can access the program at home as well!

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 and recorded questions for what they would like to learn. They listened to the book, The Very First Thanksgiving Day and watched the Brainpop video, Thanksgiving. They were able to discuss a long list of facts they learned just from these two sources. 

This week, the children also began learning about the Pilgrims. Using resources on the Scholastic web site, the children researched what it was like for the Pilgrims on their journey to America. They learned about the different parts of the Mayflower and the difficulties the Pilgrims faced along the way. The children then used their knowledge to pack a suitcase with 5 items they would have taken, had they been a Pilgrim on the Mayflower. Next week, we will continue to learn about what life was like for the Pilgrims. The children will work together to create a then and now Venn diagram on our back bulletin board.

Warm Fuzzy Celebration

On Friday, the children were very excited to celebrate filling the warm fuzzy jar. They were proud of how hard they had worked together as a team. The children had so much fun wearing their PJ's and slippers to school! Everyone that visited our class today thought the children forgot to get dressed this morning! 

Happy Birthday

On Thursday, we celebrated Ryan's birthday. Happy Birthday Ryan!

Star Student

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

Royal Reader

A special thank you to Ryan’s Mom, she joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children loved listening to the two stories that Mrs. Sheehan read, If You Give a Pig a Party and The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear. 

Reminders:

-I sent home our second Scholastic book order. You have until Monday, November 17th to place your order. If you would like the books to be a surprise please email me and I will arrange to get them to you secretly. Thank you for placing your orders online. You are helping us earn free books for our classroom!

-Dads & Donuts is this Friday, November 14th at 8:30 a.m. Donuts, fresh fruit, coffee, juice, and water will be served by the PTA. Students can bring their grandfather, uncle or special person in their lives. Stop by and start your Friday off on a “sweet” note!

Have a great rest of the weekend!