This afternoon I managed to take photos of some of our crew very safely and thoroughly enjoying archery with Mr. Doug. Sorry I didn't get more photos! I went in a little early, saw the children, and ran and got the iPad.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Archery Photos
Hi Families,
This afternoon I managed to take photos of some of our crew very safely and thoroughly enjoying archery with Mr. Doug. Sorry I didn't get more photos! I went in a little early, saw the children, and ran and got the iPad.
This afternoon I managed to take photos of some of our crew very safely and thoroughly enjoying archery with Mr. Doug. Sorry I didn't get more photos! I went in a little early, saw the children, and ran and got the iPad.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Week of February 20, 2012
Hi Families!
Thank you for sending your children to school so well prepared for the weather! We have a large group every day who happily put on snow gear to go out to recess after lunch. They have so much fun outside!
Special Events
Last week we had Valentine's Day.
The children were thrilled to deliver the valentines they made and equally thrilled to receive valentines from crew members! Ms. Lisa and I loved making special valentines for the children. Thank you for supporting your child in making both the valentines and the wonderful boxes to hold the cards!
Ashlyn's Birthday was also February 14th
We had our regular birthday celebration and yummy, healthy treats too. Thank you Ashlyn!
Thank you for sending your children to school so well prepared for the weather! We have a large group every day who happily put on snow gear to go out to recess after lunch. They have so much fun outside!
Special Events
Last week we had Valentine's Day.
The children were thrilled to deliver the valentines they made and equally thrilled to receive valentines from crew members! Ms. Lisa and I loved making special valentines for the children. Thank you for supporting your child in making both the valentines and the wonderful boxes to hold the cards!
Ashlyn's Birthday was also February 14th
We had our regular birthday celebration and yummy, healthy treats too. Thank you Ashlyn!
Expedition Activities
For the past few weeks we have been busy taking care of our bulbs, documenting growth and changes, and even measuring and comparing the size of different plants. Do pop in and see the work which is displayed on the wall opposite the door. Your children are sooo proud of their work as scientists!
You may see that some of your child's words are spelled incorrectly. This is totally normal at this age. The children are developing their spelling skills by spelling most words phonetically at this time. Please praise your child's efforts.
This week the crew also made How To directions for taking care of their bulbs. The expedition work will be placed in the children's portfolios later in the year.
Children read to their plants every day
Today we capitalized on the fresh new snow and did an experiment to find out which melts faster: snow on a plate or snow which has been packed into a snowball shape. This generated lots of lively discussion and predictions. When the children examined their plates after P.E. and found that the snow melted before the snowballs, they had another discussion, and shared their thinking about the results. Wow! We have lots of great thinkers in our room. If your child wants to do a snow experiment with you, it is an extension of our work at school.
Writing
Daily writing activities have included:
*descriptive writing about the bulbs
*note writing
* stories from the children's lives
*How To instructions
Reading
Reading activities have included:
*independent reading from book boxes
*buddy reading with a friend
* daily reading of big books - at this time we read a book together. The children read the book with me for a number of days. Reading simple text together helps children to know what fluent reading sounds and feels like. Fluency is important for the child to comprehend the text. When children have to keep sounding out words they don't remember what they are reading. This is one of the reasons why your child brings home reading books which he can read easily.
Math
In addition to measuring and recording the growth of our bulbs we continue to learn coin amounts through money games e.g., Collect Ten, Collect Five.
Children are learning correct number formation by saying a simple rhyme and writing the number.
They enjoy the number/rhyme combination e.g., "Around a tree, and around a tree. That is how you make a three."
The children enjoy Minute Math activities. This is a time when I pose a problem and children figure it out quickly, in any way they want.
An Exciting Week in P.E.
This week the children have been learning about archery.
Wow! They are excited and enthusiastic.
Maddie's Birthday
Yesterday we celebrated Maddie's birthday (Tuesday was Maddie's sixth birthday).
We celebrated using the sun and globe. Maddie brought healthy fruit kabobs.
Thank You Maddie!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Week of February 13, 2012
Hi Families,
Thank you for sending your children to school each day with their snow gear! Although it is a lot of clothing to send, the children love playing in the snow and they stay warm when dressed appropriately.
Children go outside during every lunchtime (unless the weather is really bad). Thank you also, for sending inside shoes/slippers. It helps keep our classroom floor dry.
Special Events
Valentine's Day:
This Tuesday be sure to send your child with the valentines he/she made for our crew members. Also, please send a box for the valentines that will be given to your child. We DO NOT have a party or food treats. Instead, the children take turns during the day to deliver their valentines to each child's box. Children go to their boxes during the day and read the valentines they have been given. The children LOVE this occasion!
PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY FOOD TREATS E.G., CANDY with valentines. There are two reasons for this request:
1. We have a number of children with severe food allergies.
2. When a few children bring treats the children who didn't bring any feel as though they should have.
Thank you for helping keep our crew community happy and and safe!
Expedition Activities
Our bulbs are growing and changing fast! The children have been observing the changes and recording them through scientific drawings and writing. If you have a chance do come in and look at the incredible bulb drawings (above the children's cubbies). I am also in the process of putting the scientific drawings and writing on the wall by the windows so that everyone can see the wonderful work your children are producing. I think we just may see a few flowers bloom this next week!
Writing
Last week we wrote about the bulbs. In addition, the children started simple note writing. We have a mailbox in the classroom where the children put their written notes. I scan the notes to see if friends can "read the writing" before delivering the notes. I certainly don't expect correct spelling but writers are expected to write with spaces, take time to sound out words (and sometimes use the word wall), and write tidily enough that their writing can be read by others. The children are excited about this new genre of writing.
Reading
The children read to their plants every day in addition to reading with me and reading with buddies. Crew members are increasingly able to choose "independent books"(books they can read and be able to figure out any unknown words easily).
Math
The children have been measuring and recording the growth of their bulbs every few days. Then we make a graph of the results and discuss which bulbs are: tallest, shortest, and what height most bulbs are shown to be. We have also been learning money games and doing simple computation activities on the iPads.
IAs
This week the children go to Music.
Students as Teachers
Recently Rachel came to school with a book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Rachel had carefully covered certain words so that the crew could read the rest of the words and predict what the covered words would be (this is a way to focus on meaning and is a method I use quite often). Rachel got to use the document camera and read the book with our crew. Of course her peers liked Rachel's lesson better than Ms. Kathy's!
See you tomorrow,
Kathy
Thank you for sending your children to school each day with their snow gear! Although it is a lot of clothing to send, the children love playing in the snow and they stay warm when dressed appropriately.
Children go outside during every lunchtime (unless the weather is really bad). Thank you also, for sending inside shoes/slippers. It helps keep our classroom floor dry.
Special Events
Valentine's Day:
This Tuesday be sure to send your child with the valentines he/she made for our crew members. Also, please send a box for the valentines that will be given to your child. We DO NOT have a party or food treats. Instead, the children take turns during the day to deliver their valentines to each child's box. Children go to their boxes during the day and read the valentines they have been given. The children LOVE this occasion!
PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY FOOD TREATS E.G., CANDY with valentines. There are two reasons for this request:
1. We have a number of children with severe food allergies.
2. When a few children bring treats the children who didn't bring any feel as though they should have.
Thank you for helping keep our crew community happy and and safe!
Expedition Activities
Our bulbs are growing and changing fast! The children have been observing the changes and recording them through scientific drawings and writing. If you have a chance do come in and look at the incredible bulb drawings (above the children's cubbies). I am also in the process of putting the scientific drawings and writing on the wall by the windows so that everyone can see the wonderful work your children are producing. I think we just may see a few flowers bloom this next week!
Writing
Last week we wrote about the bulbs. In addition, the children started simple note writing. We have a mailbox in the classroom where the children put their written notes. I scan the notes to see if friends can "read the writing" before delivering the notes. I certainly don't expect correct spelling but writers are expected to write with spaces, take time to sound out words (and sometimes use the word wall), and write tidily enough that their writing can be read by others. The children are excited about this new genre of writing.
Reading
The children read to their plants every day in addition to reading with me and reading with buddies. Crew members are increasingly able to choose "independent books"(books they can read and be able to figure out any unknown words easily).
Math
The children have been measuring and recording the growth of their bulbs every few days. Then we make a graph of the results and discuss which bulbs are: tallest, shortest, and what height most bulbs are shown to be. We have also been learning money games and doing simple computation activities on the iPads.
IAs
This week the children go to Music.
Students as Teachers
See you tomorrow,
Kathy
Monday, February 6, 2012
Week of February 6, 2012
Hi Families,
I hope you were able to enjoy the snow day on Friday and that children had a glorious time playing outside!
Special Events
I hope you were able to enjoy the snow day on Friday and that children had a glorious time playing outside!
Special Events
- (Last Wednesday) performance of Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. This took place instead of the All School Meeting. The children were enthralled by the performance! If your child has suddenly started talking about a career as a singer and actor it is a result of seeing Renaissance children in this performance.
- Last Friday - Snow Day
- Monday, February 6, 2012 - 100th Day of School (to be continued on Tuesday)
Due to the fact that last week was cut short we are continuing with a number of the activities posted on the blog
last week.
Expedition Activities
last week.
Expedition Activities
Bulb Experiments
Upside down bulb - this experiment will start this week
Bulb in the dark - this experiment will start this week
Hydroponics
Hydroponics
Seed Investigations
Seed observations and sorting
Growth and comparison of different seedlings
Plant Propagation - we have started this with cuttings from a house plant
Plant Propagation - we have started this with cuttings from a house plant
In addition, the plants are starting to grow so children are measuring their plants and will each be creating
a graph of the growth of his/her plant.
play a money game where children exchange pennies for dimes
play a money game where children exchange pennies for nickels
we are practicing writing numbers the correct way (many children still reverse numbers when they write them)
continue 100th Day of School math activities
IAs
This week the children go to Art with Ms. Pam
Enjoy your week!
a graph of the growth of his/her plant.
Writing Focus
Children are learning how to make How To books. Last week each child created the plans for
a How To book which shows how the child planted his bulb.
This week we are writing about our plants, what they look like, the changes we are seeing etc. Children are also
recording what the plants look like and how they are changing through scientific drawings.
This week we are writing about our plants, what they look like, the changes we are seeing etc. Children are also
recording what the plants look like and how they are changing through scientific drawings.
Reading
We are listening to and reading lots of nonfiction, short books connected with our expedition e.g., The
We are listening to and reading lots of nonfiction, short books connected with our expedition e.g., The
Life Cycle of a Pine Tree. In addition, I meet with small groups for reading every day.
Math
Last week we:
compared foot sizes (longer/shorter)
measured a variety of items using feet and using rulers
counted by fives (please practice this at home, in the car etc.
This week we will:
measure our bulbs using cubes (today and every 4 days)play a money game where children exchange pennies for dimes
play a money game where children exchange pennies for nickels
we are practicing writing numbers the correct way (many children still reverse numbers when they write them)
continue 100th Day of School math activities
IAs
This week the children go to Art with Ms. Pam
Our computers and iPads are being used by the children every day. We have math activities on the iPads,
and we have phonics activities on the computers.
and we have phonics activities on the computers.
Enjoy your week!
Kathy
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