What are the kids up to this week?

Well, I'm glad you asked!

For literacy, our students are focusing on environmental print. That is, print/writing that the kids can recognize just by looking at it ("Walmart", "Crocs", "Fruit Loops"). Thank you to everyone who sent in examples to share. We are continuing with our print concepts including parts of a book (front cover, back cover, title page, reading left to right from the top of the page down) and rhyming words. At home you can look for 'teachable moments' with any of the above concepts. For example, when you are going to Target, ask if your child can read the sign (environmental print). When you are reading a story together, hold the book upside down or start at the last page and see if they correct you (print concepts). Play the 'name game' song at home, to review rhyming words.

In "Fundations" (our phonics program), we have added the letters "Mm" and "Nn" (in addition to "Ff", "Bb", "Tt"). We have been practicing not only what sound these letters make, but also how to write these letters.  In writing, we have continued to practice drawing pictures to represent a story. Students have been encouraged to add details to their drawings that help make it easier for others to understand what our story is about. Lastly, we have been learning about how to label our pictures with consonant sounds (for example, if a student drew a house, they would sound out the word and write the sounds they hear "H,S")

In math, we continue to work on our understanding of numbers. In addition, we have introduced graphing this week. We have have analyzed our graphs by asking  questions such as "Which has more?" or "Which has less?" Ask your child about the "M&M" graphing activity we did!

Scholastic Book Orders
Scholastic Book Order forms went home in your child's Friday folder. For those of you not familiar with scholastic books, it is an excellent opportunity to get great books at a discounted price. Flyers will go home 4 times this year with the first orders needing to be completed by Friday, September 28th. The order process is easy and doesn't require you to send anything back to school! AND...each order you place earns books for our classroom : -)
*Scholastic orders will ONLY be completed online AT HOME*

1. Preview the scholastic flyer with your child and pick out a book (or three!)
2. click on the link below
https://orders.scholastic.com/L684
3. Register using YOUR name and email address
4. Search for the books you previewed OR look for other books
5. "add to cart" and pay online
6. Books will come to Mrs.McGarry's classroom in about 2 weeks

Wish List
2 gallon plastic bags (24) to use for library books,  24 pairs of ear buds for use of I-PODS, etc.. (can be purchased at the dollar store), scented markers, magnetic tape, (24) *8quart dish pan/racks for under chair storage (can be purchased at the dollar store), wikki sticks, pipe cleaners, 24 single subject notebooks, protective sleeve covers, 2 packs of CLEAR spoons, 2 packs of WHITE spoons, and extra snacks for those days when a student forgets to bring one.*Must be an 8quart dish pan/rack, as they are the only ones that will fit securely under student chairs.