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Enjoy reading about all our learning adventures from last week!

Reading

Last week, the children were introduced to Reader’s Workshop. The children were excited to learn that together we are going to become a reading community.

We discussed What Good Readers Do. As we read the book, Library Mouse: A world to Explore, we create an anchor chart to help us remember the important things that good readers do. 

What Good Readers Do
-Listen carefully

-Learn new words and information

-Link what we read to our own lives

-Share ideas and feelings

The children also learned about the important parts of a book. They learned that all books are organized in a special way so that readers are familiar with their structure and know where to look for certain information. The children worked together to identify and locate the different parts of a book.

At the end of last week, the children were introduced to their responsibilities and expectations to follow during reading workshop. We will continue to work on these responsibilities and expectations during our launch unit. 

I am continuing to assess the children using Fountas and Pinnell running records. I will continue working on these assessments until I have had time to read with each child.

Writing

Last week, we started our first writing unit, Autobiographies. The children learned that an autobiography is a writing about the author. They each have started their own mini autobiography. The children chose to write about either their favorite pet or animal. 

The children practiced using the writing process that authors go through. We will practice and use this process throughout the whole year. The children will: Think, Draw, Label, and Write. 

Math

In Math, the children continued working with number sense. They compared numbers, practiced writing numbers correctly, and practiced representing numbers using tally marks. The children were excited to create a Tally Chart to organize data. They created a class pet tally chart on the mimio. 

On Thursday, the children used the laptops to log into everydaymathonline.com. The children practiced logging in using their user name and password. Once online, they were able to practice navigating the site to play some math games. The children may play these same games at home to practice their math skills. I sent home directions and your child’s log in card in your child’s curriculum night folder.

The children also played two math games this week: Top-It and Bunny Hop.

Social Studies

We finished our first social studies unit last Friday on communities. The children learned about how firefighters and letter carriers help our community. They listened to a book about each community helper and then brainstormed ideas about how they help our community. The children completed their community helpers packet and brought it home to share with you.

This week, we began our next unit on Maps. If you have any relatives or friends that live in other states or countries please encourage them to visit our blog. The children will learn about ClustrMaps and Live Traffic Feed on our blog. They will be excited to check in during our Map unit and see all the places that people are visiting us from.  

Patriot Day

On September 11th, we celebrated Patriot day in our classroom. We read the story, America Is... After, we had a discussion on what America means to each of us. The children, created heart shaped flags and on the back they finished the sentence starter, America is... Some of the finished sentences were: America is a safe place to live. America is freedom. America is beautiful. America is my home. America is my family. America is a wonderful place to live. 

Fire Safety Presentation

On Tuesday, 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 child 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!

Notes:

-We started spelling today. Your child brought home their spelling list in their red folder tonight. Help them practice the words throughout the week. They will take their posttest on Friday. It will come home corrected on the following Monday. I have posted both List A and List B to the blog by chance your child’s list was misplaced.

-Please be sure to check your child’s red take home folder nightly. Encourage your child to show you the work they are bringing home.