News You Can Use!

Hello 1-1 Families! 

Here's what we were up to this week:

Literacy

This week, the children were introduced to Poetry Pete. Poetry Pete taught the children about poetry basics. We discussed what we know about poems, what poems can help us do, why we read poems, and why people write poems. 

Then, we read the poem, I Ate Too Much Turkey by Jack Prelutsky. While reading this poem, we focused on using all of our senses to visualize. The children each drew their own visualization. They used their highlighter to highlight words and phrases that helped them create their visualization. The children had a chance to share their visualizations with the class. 

Love Splat:

Using the book, Love Splat, the children worked on making character comparisons. After listening to the story, the children compared and contrasted the two main characters, Splat and Spike. Using a Venn Diagram they recorded the similarities and differences between the two characters. Then, they used their Venn Diagram to complete a Love Splat! Character Comparison booklet.

To coincide with our Love Splat reading, the children completed a writing activity. After listening to the book, the children wrote about what love is. They came up with lots of wonderful heartfelt ideas. Then they made a Splat the cat to glue their writing to. They look very cute!

Guided Reading Groups:

We are currently taking a short break from guided reading groups. I am meeting with all of the children one on one to do another round of running records. Reassessing allows me to make sure that each child is receiving reading instruction that best fits their instructional reading level. Guided reading groups will resume as soon as I have had time to meet with each reader.

Math 

On Monday, the children worked with Doubles, Doubles +1, and Doubles +2 facts. They also learned strategies that they can use to help them solve Doubles +1 and Doubles +2 math facts. They can start at a Doubles fact and count up 1 or 2, depending on the math fact.

On Tuesday, the children reviewed different fact strategies that they can utilize to help them solve their basic math facts. We went over different strategies for: +0, +1, doubles, sums of 10, and doubles +1 and +2. 

On Thursday, the children were introduced to the function machine and What’s My Rule math problems. They worked on finding the rule and missing input and output numbers.  

Social Studies/ Writing

This week, we continued our social studies unit on U.S Symbols and George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The children researched Abraham Lincoln. They listened to several books and watched a video about his life on Brainpopjr. As a class we wrote a list of important facts about Abraham Lincoln’s life and filled out a graphic organizer. The children then chose five important facts to record on their facts sheet.

100th Day Fun!

On Wednesday, the children celebrated the 100th day of school. They looked great dressed up like they were 100! The children enjoyed participating in an assortment of 100th day activities. They created a 100th day crown showing different ways to make 100. The children heard the story, 100th Day Worries. They wrote a story about what they would do if they had 1oo dollars. In the afternoon, the children had 100th day math stations. We had a wonderful 100th day of school! Enjoy our slide show below. 

                                   

Valentine’s Day!

On Friday, the children celebrated Valentine’s Day. In the afternoon, they completed some valentine math activities. After math, the children had their valentine’s party. They began the party with a valentine inspired science experiment. Using conversation hearts and water, sprite, and vinegar, the children experimented with what happened when the hearts were placed in the different liquids. They recorded their observations on a recording sheet. Then, the children enjoyed all the delicious treats that were sent in, passed out their valentines, and heard a story.

                                     

A special thank you to our room rep, Mrs. Stevenson. Thank you for organizing the science experiment and the treats for our valentine’s party. Thank you to all the families who provided paper products and treats. You made our party a yummy success! Thank you!

I would like to thank all of you for making my Valentine’s so special. I love the valentines and yummy treats. Thank you so much!

Star Student

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

Royal Reader

A special thank you to Oskar’s mom, she joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children enjoyed listening to the two stories that Mrs. Lesniak read, Telephone and Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads.

Notes:

• Thank you to everyone for sending in glue sticks!

• Tuesday, February 17th is a Monday schedule. 

Have a great rest of the long weekend!