We have been so busy in room 232 that times has just flown by.
This is the last week for the first term which means I am busy compiling data, administering assessments, and writing report cards already.
- Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday 11/12/13 and conferences start the very next day.
- Don't forget that those three days are early release days so please plan accordingly.
- Children will NOT have lunch at school on those days so it will be important to send them a healthy, satisfying snack that will keep them running until they get home/ after school care.
In Reader's Workshop we have been reviewing and learning strategies that students should use to read. Often they rely heavily on sounding out words but because our written language has so many exceptions and it is very difficult to hold enough sounds in your head when trying to figure out words with many letters, sounding out is NOT the most effective strategy. Instead, we have learned to:
- Look closely at the pictures and think about what it could be.
- Think about the beginning sound (which words from the picture could it be?).
- Think about the ending sound (did your guess match?).
- Skip the word (look for clues after the word) and then go back and reread.
- Look for familiar chunks (little words in big words).
- Look for word families (words that rhyme: if I know ______ then I can read ______).
- Think... Reading is thinking! What makes sense?
In Writer's Workshop we have written SO many stories already. We have learned that writers write for a reason, and that there are different types of writing depending on the purpose. If we are telling a story, we are writing a "narrative" and need paper with a beginning, middle, and end. If we are telling all about something we know, we are writing an "expository" piece and need paper set up for a paragraph. Sometimes we write expository paragraphs about something we are experts on personally, and sometimes we write about something we have become experts on through reading.
We have also learned that no matter which type of writing we are doing, all good writers start by introducing their topic, add juicy & specific details, and close by letting the reader know how we felt about the topic.
In Math Workshop, students are learning all about the foundational knowledge behind addition and subtraction. While in the past we simply wanted children to be able to add and subtract- often through memorization of facts, nowadays we really strive for students to understand how numbers can be manipulated and have a firm understanding of what these processes mean. Some of the big ideas and math vocabulary we are working on are:
- whole numbers are made up of two parts, and there are many different ways to break them into those parts (8 can be made by 4 and 4, 3 and 5, 2 and 6, etc.)
- combinations that make 10 (0 and 10, 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, 5 and 5, 6 and 4, etc.)
- numbers go in order (less than, greater than, in between, fewer, more)
- vertical and horizontal addition and subtraction, symbols of (such as the equal sign)
- we can use subtraction to compare numbers
- adding and subtracting in any order (2+3 or 3+2)
- knowing when to add and when to subtract (word problems- clue words like all together, left, in all)
- fact families- 3 numbers are connected (if 2 and 6 make 8, then 8 take away 2 leaves 6, etc.)
We had a great time at the fire house. The weather held out just long enough for the walk and everyone had such great manners the entire time! They especially enjoyed Sparky!
A BIG thank you to the moms who helped out and made our fall celebration party a success. The kids had a blast and it really was fabulously fun! Great crafts, food, and time to be with friends :)
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