The kiddos are really getting the hang of our routines and procedures from coming and sitting on the carpet to walking in the hallway. In fact, we received a compliment today about what a great job we were doing in the hallway!
Now that we have the above under our belts, we are able to dig into our objectives/goals....
Language Arts
In Letterland, we have just introduced Walter Walrus (w) and Fix-It Max (x) and the sounds each character makes. Ask your child to show you the gesture and sound for these characters.
Quick side note* You tube has some fun Letterland videos that your kiddos might have fun watching. So, if they want to watch some TV, at least it reinforces what we do here at school:-)
In reading, we continue to work on:
-understanding print concepts (front cover, back cover, title page, one-to-one correspondence while reading, starting to read from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page)
-recognizing the following uppercase/lowercase letters c, m, a, h, d, g, n, o, s, i, p, and t.
You can support these objectives at home simply by reading a book together. Let your child take the lead. Ask them where you should start reading. When you get to the end of a line, have them tell you where you should go. Finished the page? Ask them where to go next. Ask them to point to a letter that they know and tell you it's name. Want to bump it up? Have them tell you what sound the letter makes. However you do it, make sure it is fun. The more fun they have learning, the better!
We have also been slowly working on integrating literacy centers (Daily 5), as well. For those of you who are new to Daily 5, it is simply a structure that is created in class so students can be exposed daily to activities that help the kids be better readers. These are:
-Word work
Students work with words (right now they are working with their names, later on they will work with sight words) in various ways. For example, the students may write their name with play dough or in a rainbow with markers
-Listen to reading
Students listen to a pre-recorded story that is read fluently. Listening to stories being read fluently helps the little guys and girls understand how their reading should sound.
-Read to self
Reading daily helps the kiddos work on implementing their reading strategies that we work on in guided reading. At this point in the year, I have only introduced how to 'read the pictures', where students use the pictures from the book to tell the stories. Although looking at the pictures to tell a story sounds easy, it will be a key strategy we will focus on when we begin to read. As students begin to read the words in a book, we encourage them to use the picture to help them see if it matches what they are reading.
The other Daily 5 centers will be introduced in the next few weeks. They are writing and technology.
Writing
In writing, we are continuing to work on:
-using a combination of drawing and dictating to relay an idea or thought
-label our pictures with the first sound (or more) of a word
Math
In math, we are continuing to work on:
-identifying numbers 1-10
-making groups that represent the numbers 1-10
-using one to one correspondence to count objects up to 10
-orally counting from 1-10
NEW this week:
-comparing groups of numbers 1-10
We are using the words 'more' and 'less' to compare groups of objects. Ask your child to share with you the gesture for these vocabulary words.
Want to reinforce this concept at home? Ask your kiddo to make a group of their Barbies (a blond group and brunet group). Have them use one to one correspondence to determine which group is more and which is less.
Science
In science, we are delving into our 'Physical Properties' unit (ask your kiddo to show you the gesture). That is, using an objects' physical properties (what it sounds like, looks like, smells like, feels like, and tastes like) to describe it. Last week, we went on a mini-field trip outside on the recess area and picked an object that fit in a small bag. Students were asked to describe their object using the object's physical properties. Later on in the week, we sorted the objects according to their physical properties. Want to support these objectives at home? Send your little one on a treasure hunt. Ask them to find something interesting (inside or outside). Or, have them help to make their favorite dessert or dinner. Have them describe it using it's physical properties.
On a side note... As a culminating activity, I would like to use one of those old fashion popcorn poppers to make popcorn (the kids will discuss what is sounds like, looks like, smells like, feels like, and lastly tastes like). If you have one that you'd be willing to let me borrow, please email me ASAP :-)
On a side note... As a culminating activity, I would like to use one of those old fashion popcorn poppers to make popcorn (the kids will discuss what is sounds like, looks like, smells like, feels like, and lastly tastes like). If you have one that you'd be willing to let me borrow, please email me ASAP :-)
Homework
Homework is coming soon. Please expect homework in your child's Daily folder next Friday. You will receive a BINGO-like homework form, where your child can choose one activity each night (Mon-Thurs) in addition to reading 10 minutes a night.. Please mark off the activity that your child has chosen to do. You will turn in the BINGO- like homework form the following Friday. The activities that are not completed will be available for your child to complete the following week until a new month comes up. You will receive a new BINGO-like homework form with new activities the following month.
Please know that the homework is intended only as a way to reinforce what we are doing at school. Please let me know if it becomes more than that for your family.
Please know that the homework is intended only as a way to reinforce what we are doing at school. Please let me know if it becomes more than that for your family.
FYIs and other Important Reminders
-No school Monday, September 1st
-Early Release, Friday September 5th
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