This week during Reading Workshop we:

• reviewed and practiced using Stretchy Snake.
• reviewed and practiced using Skippy Frog.
• reviewed and practiced using Chunky Monkey.
• sorted pictures by the short e or long e sound.
• read words with short a and long a.

This week during Writing Workshop we wrapped up our small moment unit.  We:

• learned that writers include itty-bitty details.
• learned that writers of small moment stories end the story in the moment instead of leading into another story.
• talked about where letters should be placed on the lines (tall, small, and descending).
• learned that writers include when the story happened.
• learned to write "inside story" details (details about how we were feeling in the moment).
• chose a story to fancy-up and share with the class.

Next week, we will begin our "how-to" writing unit.  Students will write to teach others how to do something.

This week during Math we:

• reviewed the characteristics of squares, triangles, rectangles, and circles and went on a shape hunt in our classroom.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• reviewed what the addition symbol means and practiced solving addition problems.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• played Roll and Record, a game to help us practice addition facts.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• started making number scrolls to help us practice writing numbers.  Children will continue to work on these when they have extra time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• made shape robots.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Have a nice weekend!

Katie

Fun in the Snow!

The children have been enjoying our snowy playground!  Every day they are becoming more independent with getting their snow gear on.

This week during Reading Workshop we:

• learned about Martin Luther King Jr.
• learned different ways to reread (reread a sentence or page to get better at reading a tricky word or reread a whole book to improve fluency).
• learned that when we use strategies to figure out a tricky word, we can then share those strategies with our reading buddy. 

This week during Writing Workshop we:

• learned that writers include who, where, and what in their small moment stories.  
• reviewed that writers leave spaces between words.
• discussed ways to make our illustrations look realistic.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

This week during Math we:

• practiced solving addition and subtraction number stories.
• learned about the equal symbol and worked with a partner to create balanced equations.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• played the Growing Train Game to help us practice adding one, two, and three more.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

If you haven't already, please sign-up for a winter conference.  Please email me if you need information about how to do that.

Have a nice weekend.  I'm glad this storm will miss us!

Katie

This week during Reading Workshop and Word Work we:

• named the items in pictures then sorted them by the short e and long e sounds.
• learned that buddies talk about books, ask questions, and make predictions. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• reviewed that "reading is thinking," and readers need to think and talk about books as they read.
• reviewed that readers get ready to read a new book by doing a picture walk, thinking about what is happening, and making predictions.
• learned that readers ask questions during picture walks and think about how all the pages are connected.

This week during Writing Workshop we continued small moment writing.  We:

• learned that writers reread what they've written and think about/add any information that might be missing.
  
  
  
  
• listened to beginnings of stories in our classroom library, then made a list of ways we can begin our stories.
• learned that writers think of a "one place, one time" moment to write about.
• reviewed that writers make their writing readable by saying words slowly then writing a letter for each sound they hear.

This week during Math we:

working on combinations of 6

• reviewed teen numbers as being a group of ten plus some extra ones.
• compared teen numbers.
• practiced writing numbers 1-20.
• spent two days working on solving and proving number stories.

It's that time of year when many children are out sick.  I hope all the children have a restful, healthy weekend.  I look forward to seeing all the children again on Tuesday.

Katie

Happy New Year!

Welcome back, Families!  The children had a great first week of 2016.  They came back rested and ready to learn.

During Reading Workshop and Word Work we:

• reviewed the vowels then focused on the short and long sounds for "a."  We learned that when "a" is the only vowel in a word and it is in the middle of the word, it usually makes the short sound. We learned that when "a" is in a word with an "e" at the end of the word, the "super e" tells the "a" to say its name, so it makes the long sound and the "e" becomes silent.
  
  
  
• learned that readers get ready to read a new book by looking at the cover, reading the title, and predicting what the book will be about.  We can also do a picture walk for even more information, especially if we need help reading the title.
• learned to make sure our reading makes sense.  If something doesn't make sense and doesn't sound the way it should sound, we need to stop and think more about that word/sentence.
• reviewed that buddies act as coaches, giving us kind, helpful reminders when we get stuck.
  
  
  
  
• learned that the words tell part of the story, but the pictures tell an important part of the story, too.  Readers pay attention to both words and pictures to fully understand what is happening in a story.

This week during Writing Workshop we worked on our midyear writing prompt.  Without help from me, the children wrote a story about something they've done.  At winter conferences next month (information will be coming soon) we'll compare your child's midyear prompt to his/her beginning-of-the-year prompt.  I bet you'll be impressed with the growth your child has made!  In addition to our prompt, we also spent time reviewing what a small moment is, thinking of ideas, and telling a story before writing it so we can recall as many details as possible.   

During Math we:

• played a number grid game with a partner.  This game helped us practice moving on a number grid and also encouraged us to start/continue noticing patterns on the number grid.
• played Roll and Record, a game to help us practice adding.  Children roll two dice then add the dots.  Children are encouraged to subitize, to recall facts from their memory, and to start with the larger number and count on when adding.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• completed a number grid mystery picture.
• played Ten Bears on a Bus, a game to help us learn combinations of ten.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

As you can see, the children were very productive this week.  They deserve a weekend to play and relax.

Best,

Katie