Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the long weekend:)

REMINDERS:

Due to conferences, we will have early dismissal days Tuesday - Friday.  Please plan accordingly!  Pick-Ups will be dismissed to the conference room at 1:15 and students will begin boarding buses at 1:25.

THANK YOU!!

Reading Workshop...

• Use all their "Super Powers" to say words that they know.
• Make predictions about what will happen next.
• Use their prediction to think about what the words will say.
• Read about and discuss Thanksgiving.

Writing Workshop...

• Use non-fiction texts for support.
• Think "what can I teach?"
• Use patterns in their teaching books.
• Write what they see and know.

Math - We began a unit on Measurement.  We made a measuring rod (10 connecting cubes) to measure and compare classroom items.  We made predictions about items would be shorter or longer than our measuring rod.  We recorded our finding!  

Social Studies: Thanksgiving!

REMINDERS:  

Wednesday is an early dismissal day!  Pick-ups will be dismissed at 1:15 and bus riders will begin boarding at 1:25.

During reading we learned that readers...

• Get ready to read by using the cover and title to think about what the words will say inside the book.
• Look closely at the pictures and think "what do the words in this page probably say?"
• Point to the pictures and say the words for what they see and the actions that are happening.  
• Check to see if any of the words they thought about are written on the page.

During writing we learned that writers...

• Get ready to write by planning with their buddy.
• Add fancy labels to their writing by including a sight word.
• Stretch out the sounds that they hear in words,
• Use vowels in each word that they write - we learned some new songs to help us remember the sounds each vowel makes.  

During math we counted the marbles in our Marble Jar!  We earned 69 marbles.  We continued to compare number values and explain our counting strategies.  Everyone worked on double-checking their count to make sure it was accurate.  

Social Studies - Our 2nd Steps lesson focused on being assertive when you need help.  Rather than getting upset, you should look at someone, state what you need help with, and use a respectful tone.  We completed a five senses sorting activity.  We talked about what we should be thankful for during the holiday season and completed an activity with our 4th grade buddies!

REMINDER:  Marble celebration FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd - Pajamas and shaving cream!

During reading we learned that readers...

• Point under each word (with their finger or pointer).
• Say the words that they know (sight words, word families, etc.).
• Use sticky notes to mark the places where they find words that they know.
• Look at the picture to try to solve the words they don't know.
• Use letter sounds to try to solve the words that they don't know.

** New sight words went home earlier this week.  Everyone is doing a fantastic job with their words!

During writing we learned that writers...

• Are like scientists - they notice details in the world around them.
• Take nature walks and collect items to look closely at and write about.
• Look closely at items and draw all the details - shape, color, even the tiny hole in a leaf.
• Label like a scientist using words like; pointy, bumpy, flat, thick.

During math the class helped me take inventory of our classroom supplies.  We completed an activity called Inventory Bags. Students counted materials in a bag with a partner.  They drew the contents of their bag and wrote how much was inside.  We also continued our math centers routine - The Counting Jar, Grab and Count, Button Match-Up, Counting Book, Pattern blocks and Geoblocks.  We discussed our November calendar and special holidays/birthdays.  

Science/Social Studies - We continued to talk about our 5 senses and how they help us write like scientists. We talked about body bubbles and how it makes others uncomfortable when you enter their personal space.

REMINDERS:

• As the weather gets colder, please remember to send your child to school with a jacket.  Also, please pack a hat/gloves.
• Please pack a nutritious and filling snack for your child each day.
• Thank you to our MYSTERY READERS!  Please make sure to check the schedule!

No School for students on Tuesday, November 5th!

I hope you all enjoyed the Halloween Share and parade as much as we did!  What a fun way to celebrate Halloween:)

Reminders:

• Please remember to send in a seasonally appropriate change of clothes for your child - you may need to switch out the change of clothes he/she currently has at school.
• Picture Retakes are scheduled for November 7th.  Please let me know if your child is having his/her picture retake.

During Reading we worked on ...

• Retelling the story - beginning, middle and end
• Independent Reading
• Halloween stories
• Buddy reading with our 2nd grade buddies

During Writing we worked on...

• Fixing and fancying up our true stories
• Adding to the words
• Adding to the pictures
• Celebrating our success
• Spacing out words with our new writing tool - "the space-man!"

During Math we worked on...

• Our Counting books - numbers up to 12
• Grab and Count and Button Match Up
• Halloween math - patterns and counting
• Noticing changes in the calendar - new month, new holidays, etc.