And now, a few scheduling reminders. This week, there is a 12:45 dismissal on Wednesday and no school on Thursday or Friday. Next week, there are 12:45 dismissal days on Tuesday (Nov. 30th) and Thursday (Dec. 2nd) because of parent teacher conferences. You all have received your reminders about your conference times. Please let me know if something comes up and you are unable to meet at your scheduled conference time.
Last Friday afternoon, we planted tulip bulbs by NBC with Ms. Moran's third grade class. Each student was paired up with a third grader and, working together, they planted two bulbs. We can't wait to see the tulips bloom in the spring! (Check below for a few pictures.)
This Wednesday, we are going to get together with Ms. Wendrychowicz's class for a Thanksgiving snack. Since we've learned about how the Pilgrims and Native Americans used corn for many different recipes, we'll be doing the same. From popcorn to corn muffins, we'll eat corn prepared in many different ways!
Reading : Last week, we talked all about just right books. We compared it to riding a bicycle. If a book is too hard, it's like riding a bicycle up hill. (It's a lot of hard work and you get worn out!) If a book is too easy, it's like riding a bicycle down hill. (It's fast and you don't use any muscles.) A just right book is when you riding a back on a relatively flat street. (You use some muscles, but you don't get too worn out. There are some bumps in the road, but not too many.)
This week, we are going to begin focusing on comprehension strategies by talking about retelling.
Phonics/Word Study : Word study homework went well last week. Thank you for your help! There will be no word study homework this week, as it is a shortened week and we'll be reviewing old sight words in class.
This week, we will be doing lots of work with the short e vowel sound. Ask you child about the hand motions we have for the short a, e, i, and u. Here's are a few hints for your child if he/she forgets - grab an apple and take a bite for short a, make big elephant ears for short e, get on your gloves and go inside an igloo for short i, and get out your umbrella for short u. (We'll do short o next week.)
Writing : We've continued learning about how to add details to our writing. (Our ice cream cone display, with a different scoop for each kind of detail, is growing really tall in our classroom!) The students are beginning to make their writing much more detailed now that they are aware of how to do so. We've discussed adding in names, where a story happened, color words, number words, size words, and weather. This week, we'll discuss adding in sound words, mood, and background description.
Math : We are going to do a little more work with frames and arrows this week, as well as learning how to use a calculator to help us count. Along with this, we'll keep reviewing time and money.
Social Studies : We've talked about the historical background of Thanksgiving, and gone into Colonial life in America a little bit. (The students were VERY amused to learn that little boys wore dresses in Colonial America.) This week, we'll discuss more about Colonial life in America.
Odds and Ends : Please make sure your child dresses appropriately for the weather each day. Students go outside for recess and must have a coat now that it's getting cooler outside.
Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you have a great week!
Here are some recent pictures of 1-Bu :