Don't forget - World Down Syndrome Day is this Sunday at the New Canaan YMCA from 2:00-4:00.  There will be fun activities for kids of all ages and best of all it's FREE! 

REMINDERS:

There will be a World Down Syndrome Day celebration at the New Canaan YMCA on Sunday, March 24th, from 2:00 to 4:00. There are really fun activities for all ages, and it is FREE!

Please send in a change of clothes for your child.  Please make sure it is seasonally appropriate and everything is clearly labeled in a Ziploc Bag.

 

During Reading Workshop we learned that good readers...

• Use their superpowers to solve tricky words!
• Get their mouth ready.
• Stretch out the letter sounds.
• Use the picture clues and think "what would make sense?"

Sight Words:  New words went home this week.  We added the words - will and who to our word wall.

Shared Reading: We read the -ap family poem and found all the words that ended with -ap.  Like, Zap, snap, lap, nap.

In Writing Workshop we learned that good writers...

• Spell words the best they can by reading room.
• Re-read their writing to make sure it makes sense.
• Add detail and labels to their pictures.

During Math:  We continued or Collecting and Organizing Unit.  We took inventory of items around the classroom.  The students chose their own item to count with a partner(s).  Many students discovered that they could organize and count the items by 2s, 5s, and/or 10s.  The class felt that grouping things by 10 was easier in case they lost count

Social Studies/Science - We continued our unit on Maps by looking at ski, zoo, town, and city maps.  Thank you for your donations.  We learned about St. Patrick's Day and how people celebrate the fun-filled holiday! 

Our 2nd steps lesson continued to focus on feelings and how you can tell a person's feelings by their facial expressions and body language.  We gave examples of what we would say or do to help someone who is feeling scared.

World Down Syndrome Day!

Hello Families!

There will be a World Down Syndrome Day celebration at the New Canaan YMCA on Sunday, March 24th, from 2:00 to 4:00.  There are really fun activities for all ages, and it is FREE! 

If you do come, make sure to sign up right away for a time slot in the "Bouncing Bears" -- which is a soft play gymnastics room. It is very popular -- and fun -- and fills up fast!  

Don't forget Seuss Week!!  Monday is Green Grinch Day, so wear green!!

During Reading Workshop we started a new unit on Non-Fiction!  We learned that good readers...

• Can distinguish between Fiction and Non-Fiction.
• Read Non-Fiction to learn new information.
• Study the cover, take a picture walk and think..."What does the author want to teach me?"

Sight Words:  New sight words were sent home this week.  We added number words to our word wall.

During Writing Workshop we started a new unit on "How To" books.  We learned that good writers...

• Brainstorm and then write about something they know how to do really well.
• Act out the steps of their how to book with a buddy.
• Make sketches of the steps and stretch out the words.
• Use a finger space between each word!

We spent a couple of days working together to interactively write How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich. We acted it out the steps first, then wrote the words, and sketched the illustrations.  This helped the students to see how important it is to include all steps in their writing. Students are now working on writing their own How To books.

During Math we began identifying pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.  We discussed the value of each coin and some of the distinguishing features.  We counted coins and played a game on the Smart Board.  We also started learning number words to ten and added them to our word wall. 

Social Studies/Science - We talked about George Washington and Abe Lincoln.  In science we made predictions about objects that would sink or float.  We tested our predictions and discussed why certain objects float, and why certain objects sink - weight, size, shape, air.


Events/Reminders:

Elementary Community Service Fair: Learn about services available to the Darien community.

Over 20 different community organizations will be in attendance, including agencies geared towards students with special needs.

Also meet the author:  Alan Katz. Signed books will be available for purchase.

Place:    Ox Ridge School

Date:     Thursday, March 21, 2013, 5-7 PM

In order to get into the Seuss spirit we will be having some special days!  

Monday, March 4th - Green Grinch Day …

Wear green!

 Tuesday March, 5^th - Twisted Tuesday...
Wear mixed up clothing - polka dots, stripes, plaid, mis-matched colors…be creative!
Wednesday, March 6^th – Wacky Wednesday …
Wear silly socks!
Should be a fun week!