Happy New Year! It was great to see so many smiling faces welcoming me back after break.
For the next 2 weeks we will be learning about winter during science. We are also working on measurement in math. We are not using a ruler to measure, we are using non-standard forms of measurement such as how many paperclips long is an object, how many unifix cubes go around an object, etc. We have already learned terms such as longest, shortest, tallest, and the same. We also estimated objects around the room that were one unifix cube, five unifix cubes, and ten unifix cubes long.
We are starting to move away from Zoo Phonics, since the kids really are picking up capital and lowercase letter names. I even had the children try to write a sentence on their own this week and between their really good pictures they drew and the way they are already able to piece sounds together, I could read most of the sentences written!
We are starting to focus more and more on handwriting and letter formation. I found a great DVD and CD that teaches songs for each letter. Each song has motions that explain how to write both the capital and lowercase letters. I am using this as a fun way to teach letter formation and then after each lesson, the children practice writing the letter that was introduced that day. Right now I am planning on teaching one song daily Tuesdays through Thursdays, we will be finished focusing on all of the letters by the end of February at the latest. The DVD and CD also has most of our sight words put into songs with motions. We may be learning some of these songs as well.
We are now having reading groups during center time. This gives me the opportunity to pull kids back and work with them in small groups at their level. This will help children that need a little boost as well as children that need a challenge.
Thank you to the parents that are sending in Campbells Soup labels, Box Tops for Education, and empty ink cartridges. The money earned on each one really adds up by the end of the year.
Our Valentine Party will be on February 11th, since there will be no school on February 12th or 15th. I will be sending out a list of all of the students in the classroom by the end of January or early February so children can start filling out their Valentine cards. Please keep sending in empty cereal boxes. We need at least 20 and have 2 right now.
100's Day I believe will be on Febrary 10th, but that is always subject to change. More details to come soon.
The end of the semester is towards the end of January. Report cards will come home soon after. It will be exciting to see the progress made.
