Monday, November 14, 2011

Hi Families,
This week we will engage in the following learning experiences:

Math

• Continue to count by tens
• Do addition story problems
• Use a large number line for addition story problems (children walk on the number line)
• Play Top It  (a game which focuses on who has more
• Play Addition Top It
• Explore patterns using the pattern block template
• Create and discuss a graph: How many people in your family?

Writing
This week we will again focus on:

•  Reading the words we are writing (as we write) so that we don't leave out word
• Leaving a three finger space between each word
• Stretching the word we want to write to hear the sounds and then writing them down
• Using the word wall to copy special words (a few high frequency words that are used in writing)
• Adding to our writing
• Reading our writing to the crew (if we can read what we wrote)

We continue to say, act out, read lots of rhymes and some songs.

Reading

We are learning lots of phonics games, and reading from our book boxes every day. Children meet with me in small reading groups according to what they can do and what their next learning step will be. We continue to say, act out, read lots of rhymes and some songs.

Expedition

Every day we learn about more families in our crew.  Children really enjoy our Mystery Family activity. We are also talking and writing about what chores we do at home. This week we will brainstorm all the chores we have in our classroom and create a chore chart so that everyone has a crew chore.

This week writing is connected with our expedition content. We are discussing how we are crew at home. How we all have chores and help out. Every child wrote about what he does to help you at home. We will make this into a book soon.
If you can volunteer to come in and help type up pages for our crew chores book, please email me. This type of project is very time consuming but well worth the effort.


Climbing in the Gym
What an exciting week. We are climbing in the gym during the P.E. time. Last week a number of children were rather nervous about climbing. On Monday I watched a few children be very cautious about attempting to climb. Today every child felt more confident and it was so wonderful to see children decide to challenge themselves (this was initiated by the child by watching peers and independently wanting to do more). 
Enjoy the photos of our budding mountaineers!

Checking harnesses 

Engaged in climbing

Ms. Lisa supports children when they attempt the slack line

Sydney climbing up the wall

Phoebe makes it to the top of the wall