Here's what we were working on in the classroom last week:
Reading : We spent the whole week talking about 'just right' books. Just right books are books that are not too easy and not too hard, but they're just right. 'Just right' can be applied towards a child's ability to decode a text or a child's ability to comprehend a text. While I would never want to squelch a child's curiously or interest in a book that is too easy of too hard for them, the goal is for children to be reading just right books for the majority of the time they spend reading. This will lead to the greatest development in your child as a reader.
On that note, reading homework starts next week. A detailed letter will go home explaining exactly what your child must do. Your child will be selecting his/her own book from his/her book bin at school to take home to read each night. These books should be 'just right' books. Please keep in mind that a just right book may be a book that your child can decode quite easily, but may be working on his/her comprehension with instead.
Last week the students added a sheet, describing all the animal decoding strategies we learned about, to the reading section of their binders. Check it out and remind your child to use those strategies when he/she gets stuck on a tricky word.
Writing : We continued learning about how to add details to our writing pieces last week. The students are suddenly realizing how much more information they can give the reader so that their stories make more sense. So far, we've talked about including names, describing the setting, and using color words.
Math : Last week was a big week in math - we learned about how to tell time to the hour and all about frames and arrows problems! If you ever happen to notice an analog clock that is near "o'clock" or "half-past," ask your child what time it is.
Phonics : We added to our knowledge about short vowels last week by studying the short u. (We've already learned about the short a and the short i.) We also had some fun with word ladders. You should have come across a few of those in the returned work that came home on Friday. The students love manipulating the letters in words to make new words.
Odds and Ends : We celebrated our November birthdays on Friday by having a dance party. The students had a lot of fun and I learned that my iPhone doesn't take great pictures of children in fast motion. Sorry! I've included some of the blurry pictures below.