Friday, February 26, 2016

Feb. 29 - Mar. 4

Reading
Our book next week is "Marcel and Farfallina". It is the final book in our animal changes three week mini unit. We will focus on main idea and asking questions (kids did really well with this!). Please ask your child about asking questions before, during, and after reading. Practice it at home.

Writing
We will be focusing on telling more this week. Kids did amazing writings this week. We introduced author's chair (check out the youtube) and had a author of the week. I didn't get done commenting on all writings but I will send them home next week. I hope to send them home weekly to show you what we are doing in school. Please send in your child's writing ideas and writing artifact next week. 

Math
We are comparing and combining sets (early subtraction and addition skills). These are tough skills that will just be introduced to the students. We will go more in-depth later in the year. However, please work with your child on the concept of "How many more?/How many less? This question is difficult to differentiate from How many? At first. Practice, practice, practice.

Science
Animal changes: butterfly life cycle and growing

Monday is February's Class Dojo Event!!! Game day for all who received a certificate! Bring a game to play. 

Looking for some post-it notes donation. Thanks.

Mr. E

Monday, February 22, 2016

February 22-26

Reading
We are reading "The Little Panda" this week. I will be introducing the reading skill "main idea". This is a difficult skill for young readers but it is valuable that they are introduced to it early on. They will focus on it more in second grade. We are using a non-fiction text because it is easier to understand the main idea of a non-fiction text. The main idea of "The Little Panda" is that the panda changes as it grows older. I will also start introducing the comprehension strategy "asking questions". Students will learn to think of questions they have while reading/hearing a text. This is easy to practice at home. I recommend doing a think aloud with your child (that is how I will introduce it). Simpy stop at times when reading and ask a question to yourself (e.g. I wonder why...).

Writing
Students have been thinking of their own writing ideas and work on adding detail to illustrations and telling more with words. Students should be able to write 3-5 focused sentences about a topic at this point. I will be sending home an assignment to do with your child for writing this week or next. At this point students are expected to think of their own writing ideas. This is difficult for some students. The assignment will be to make a "writing ideas" page with your child. Details will come home with the assignment.

Math
We will be comparing sets this week (chapter 9). Students will use a number line to compare numbers to find which is more and less. This skill is a building block for future math concepts.

Science
How do animals change?

Social Studies
Feelings

I am running low on post-it notes and I want to start having the kids use them for reading. Any donations would be great!

Mr. E

Friday, February 5, 2016

Feb 8-12

Reading
We are reading The Little Engine that Could and focusing on retelling, plot, and beginning, middle, end. We will be reviewing visualization.

Phonics
Consonant blends and the H brothers (wh, ch, sh, th).

Writing
We will be learning to write letters and say kind words to each other. VALENTINES!

Math
We will wrap up skip counting by making a skip counting book that students can practice with at home. We will be moving on to numbers through 79. Students should start seeing/understanding double digit numbers as tens (towers of cubes) and ones (individual cubes). Practice this will pennies, beans, or anything at home. It is a difficult and VERY IMPORTANT skill.

Social Studies
Feelings. Kindness.

Science
Motion

Mr. E