Yeah! We successfully made it through our first full week of school. I am amazed every day at how fast the kids are picking up on routines. We have already learned four sight words (we, will, I, see) and have started playing "The Great Word Race", a sight word game that gives the children lots of practice reading sight words. We are very fortunate to have a helper come in every morning from the middle school. With his help, we are able to practice math and reading concepts in groups of two. On average he seems to be able to work with each child about every three days. We are still working on position word concepts in math. We should be finishing up the chapter next week and moving on to patterns.
Last week we started centers by exploring the manipulatives that go along with them. This week we took it up a notch and starting the "learning" part of centers. We are now going through rotations of math, listening, art, magnetic letters, read the room, and writing centers. Each center has tasks to complete before moving to the next center. I am really stressing how important being trustworthy is during centers because ultimately this time will be used by me to work with small groups of children on individual needs. To do this, I need to rely on the children to be self sufficiet, hard workers that are honest about completing their work so I'm not policing them. This is an ongoing process that will take a few months, but the kids are catching on fast. They are a great group of kids that I know will amaze me throughout the year.
Next week we are going to really be focusing on apples for science. Don't forget to send an apple in with your child next Wednesday. I plan on having the kids graph the different kinds of apples they bring in, looking at the inside of some apples, talking about the lifecycle of the apple tree, and making applesauce...yum!
Have a wonderful weekend.
