Hello Everyone! Sorry for the delay in making the first blog post of the year. Read below to learn some tidbits about 1-1’s learning adventures. Remember to follow us on twitter @mrsmjohnson11 to get daily photos and tidbits of what we are up to in class. If you don’t want to follow us on twitter, just view our twitter feed along the right side of this blog!
Meet our wonderful class!
Click on the link below to view all our first day photos!
Literacy
During readers workshop over the last two weeks the readers have been hard at work. They have been practicing building their reading stamina and applying the skills and strategies we have learned during our whole group lessons.
Our lessons have focused on:
-“Just Right Books” (Ask your child how to pick a Just Right Book and how to identify books that are Too Easy or Too Hard).
-Digging into Genres (Identifying components and features of Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction)
-Retelling
-Building Stamina
-Stop, Think, Write (The children worked on stopping, thinking and writing down notes about what they are reading). We call them “Stop and Jots.” The children use sketches, think marks, and sentences to share their thinking.
-Do you have a Balanced Reading Diet?
Guided Reading
Over the last several weeks, the children have learned about their independent activities for guided reading time. We refer to this time as Daily 5 time. These activities allow every child to be independently engaged in meaningful literacy tasks during our guided reading time. These research-based tasks are ones that will have the biggest effect on each child's reading and writing achievement, as well as help encourage children who love to read and write. The children receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write independently while I provide focused, intense instruction to individuals and small groups of children.
The children are engaged in the following independent activities:
-Read to Self - The children have the opportunity to read books of their choice that they have chosen as “just right books.” They keep these books in their book bins and change them out frequently.
-Work on Writing - The children receive a journal prompt and then decide how they want to respond. The children will think, draw, label, and write to respond to the prompt. They will keep their journal writings in their writing binder.
-Read to Someone - The children have the opportunity to read to a buddy and work on building their fluency.
-Listen to Reading - The children will listen and respond to many wonderful books throughout the school year.
-Word Work -In word work, the children learned about rainbow words, spelling code, and write 3x. These are some of the ways the children will practice their word wall words in class. The children also have an opportunity to go to the word work table where they work with different manipulatives, sorts, and games to practice the spelling words or spelling pattern of the week.
Guided Reading Groups:
During the last few weeks, we started our guided reading groups. During guided reading time, the other children work on independent Daily 5 work while I meet with small guided reading groups. Your child will bring a green book bag home at least one night a week. In their book bag you will find a book they have been working on in class. Please have your child read the book to you and send it back to school the next day. If your child brings home an organizer to go along with their book, have them share that with you as well. You may also find word rings or a word work activity in your child’s green book bag. Please have your child practice reading their words on their ring and complete the word work activity. These also get returned the next day in the green bag.
Your child may also bring home a sight word sticker book. Have them practice the words that they have not earned stickers for yet. This is a way for the children to develop automaticity of sight words they will find frequently in the texts they are reading. They will move on to the next sight word sticker book when they have earned stickers for every word in their current book. I will assess them weekly on the words they have been practicing. Your child will only place stickers in their book when meeting with me.
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
We started out next writing unit titled, Narratives. The children will use one of the photos that you sent in to write a small moment story. They will use the transition words: first, next, then, and last. Thank you to all of you for helping your child select their 3 photos. I can’t wait to begin the writing process this week!
Math
This past week, we started Unit 4 in math. The children are working on using various methods to solve subtraction problems. They are working with their tens frames, snap cubes, counters, drawing pictures, number line (counting on and counting back), just to name a few. The children have learned that they can use different methods and arrive at the same answer. They are also writing subtraction number sentences to go along with the problems they are solving.
Science: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Last week, the children started a Personalized Learning project. They chose their favorite science topic from our unit, Watching the Sky. Then, they generated a list of questions on their topic. Over the next two weeks, they will work with a partner to research and create a project to show their learning. Along the way they will stop to get peer feedback and edit their project. The children will finish their projects and then have a chance to share them with the class. This has been a wonderful experience for the children so far and I really look forward to watching them enjoy owning their learning!
Art Appreciation
Last week, Mrs. Marino came in and the children had their 1st Art Appreciation presentation. They learned about a detailed African Mask. They discussed the mask in detail, noting colors, materials used, and texture. Then the children got to create their own mask. Thank you, Mrs. Marino!
Star Students
Thank you to our first three star students: Miranda, Liliana, and Charlie T. We really enjoyed learning more about each of you!
Royal Readers
We have been lucky enough to have some fabulous Royal Readers over the last 3 weeks. Thank you to Mrs. Walter and Mrs. Torok. The children loved listening to the wonderful books you all read. We look forward to more Royal Readers as the year continues.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to all our fall birthdays so far. Happy Birthday to Maddie, Charlie T, Daniella, and Henry!
Halloween Notes
Tuesday, October 31st is the Halloween Parade. It will start at about 1:30. We will parade out the front doors and head north on Dryden to Fairview, west on Fairview to Bristol, south on Bristol to Rockwell, east on Rockwell to Lincoln, returning to the school playground area.Following the parade, the students will have a brief recess period, then return to our classroom for some fun activities. For more information on Halloween lunch procedures and costume questions read this weeks Dolphin Splash. A letter came home last week in backpack mail asking you if your child will be having home lunch on Halloween. Please fill out the note and return it by this Monday, October 23rd. Thank you!
Note:
-Remember our Pumpkin Decorating day is this Tuesday, October 24th at 1:15. If you are the adult coming to our pumpkin carving day please plan to come in one day this week to have your diver’s license scanned (if you have not volunteered at Dryden before). Everyone must have their license scanned before they can come to our classroom. Stopping by earlier this week will keep you from waiting in a long line the day of pumpkin decorating. I look forward to seeing all our parent/ family volunteers. Please remember to bring your decorating materials!!
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