Happy Thanksgiving!

There is so much to be thankful for this time of year! I am thankful for this great group of children! They are so kind and helpful and full of energy for learning. You can't beat that combination.

The last few weeks we've focused on math strategies for problem solving with numbers up to 20, learned about glued sounds for reading and spelling, and explored solids in science! Here's a glimpse of what all that looks like in the class.

Science

Our first science unit introduces children to the concept of solids and liquids. As an introduction, children learned how to compare 2 solids; a metal ball and a plastic spoon. They worked in small groups to brainstorm ways these 2 solids were alike and different.

Glued Sounds in Phonics

Children learned the "glued" sounds of  all, an, and , am this week. We learned that when we have a nasal sound like m or n it can change the way we say the vowel-namely a. We learned to tap out these sounds with "welded" or glued fingers (meaning our middle and index fingers together). We built words with letter cards, with magnet letters, and on dry erase boards.

Math

We learned some strategies for adding numbers all the way up to 20. This week children learned about how to use doubles, doubles plus 1, and doubles plus 2. We also learned how to use a 10 frame to decompose numbers to make 10 to add. Children are learning many different strategies in order to be efficient with their strategy use. Efficiency in math refers to the ability to be accurate, flexible, and effective when solving problems.

These 2 girls did a great job explaining how they solved a doubles plus 2 equation, (i.e 6+6=12 can help you solve 6+8=?.) Both girls had equally efficient strategies and did a great job explaining their thinking!

Hope you enjoyed learning a bit about our last few weeks! 

Veteran's Day Assembly and A Few Good Reads

We had a special treat last Thursday! Chief Wilson and her son Cadet Wilson (AKA Noah) came to our school to teach us all about the sacrifices that our veteran's make for our freedom. We learned about the branches of the military, sang Patriotic songs, and saw lots of photographs of military helpers.

We learned that there are 5 branches of the military and many jobs among each branch. You could be a helicopter pilot, a nurse or doctor, drive a tank, work on a submarine, or even be in a band! All of the different jobs are part of being a helper and fighting for our freedom! Ask your child if they can remember the 5 branches? (Hints below)

  Army

Air Force

Marines

Coast Guard

Navy

Boot Camp

We even got to have a try at boot camp. We learned commands like attention, about face, march in place, and at ease. This was a favorite by far!

Think Aloud

Ms. Tori read aloud a great story about friendship called Beekle. As she read she stopped often to ask children to make a connection to the story. This comprehension strategy is called a "think aloud" and encourages children to make connections to a text to better understand the story and  characters. Children can make connections to themselves or to other books they've read! You can help your child make connections as they read or listen to a story by asking them "What does this part make you think of? or Has this ever happened to you? Or have you ever felt the way this character is feeling?"

Writer's Workshop Share

As we get closer to the end of our small moments unit children are combining writer's craft with mechanics to better their pieces. Often, I have 1 or 2 students come up and share a work in progress with the class. We become their editing partner and help them edit on the go. Here are a few friends that came up to share their writing.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about our week! Check back soon for more updates!