Weekly Report

We've had lots of sniffles and coughs this past week in our classroom, but we're still working hard! Today we're ready to start a new week with everyone being well! Last week, we used the Froggy books by Jonathon London to talk about the habit, Put First Things First. Froggy is so silly; at some point in his books, he's in his underwear (having forgotten to put his pants on)!

In our Shared Reading lessons, we've been reading big books together. We loved Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? It's very predictable with lots of repetition, and has words we know! Several of the boys and girls have been reading it during center time. They point to each word as they read. During our workshop mini lessons, we're retelling storybooks that we know. This past week, we talked about using the same words each time we read the book. (The words don't change.) When we know parts of a story, we can use what we know about letters and sounds to be sure the words match what we say. (For example, we can find the "trip trap, trip trap" part of Three Billy Goats Gruff.)

At home, please continue working on sight words. The children should know:

the   a   I   can   see   my   me

This week, we'll be adding:

is   he   she

The children who know all 10 of these "Level 1" sight words can work on Bonus List 1, and Level 2!

It was a BIG week in Writer's Workshop! We started using what we know about letters and sounds to put words with our stories! At the beginning of the week, we started thinking about an idea that could go on the page. The children each kept their idea in mind and practiced it, so that when I wrote it on the page, they could easily read it back. (That's a little different than if I would ask, "Tell me about your story," and they just talked as I wrote. The idea is to practice exactly what the page should say.) It was great to have me write the sentence on the page, but it's also hard to wait a long time for your turn! So we decided that we could start stretching words to write the sounds we hear, and write our sentences all by ourselves! You have to be very brave to try that, but we ARE very brave!

"Number 5 has a big fat tummy; with his hat he looks SO funny!" That's the rhyme we learned when we practiced writing number 5. We know how to show five in many different ways. We've learned all about trapezoids, too! We've explored making numbers and designs out of pattern blocks, too! This week, we'll be learning about number 6, and hexagons!

We met Jumper Rabbit, a puppet to represent Habit #4: Put First Things First. In his story, Jumper Rabbit can't play basketball with his friends, because he can't find where he put his tennis shoes. Putting things in their place when you take them off is part of "putting first things first." Take a minute to put things away, and it's easier to find things next time! We talked about other ways to put first things first, too...we practice every day when we unpack and turn in our binders!

We've also talked about ways to keep from spreading germs, and how to stay well! In our "Let's Find Out" magazine, we even talked about all of the tools that doctors use when we go for a check up.



Monday is A Day - Art

Tuesday is B Day - Music
Please return all fundraiser envelopes today, if you have not already.
(I'll be at a training session for Reading Workshop in the morning. The children will have a sub. I'll be back in the afternoon.)

Wednesday is C Day - P.E./Health Be sure to wear tennis shoes!
Picture Day!

Thursday is D Day - Library/Technology Be sure to wear tennis shoes!

Friday is E Day - Library/Technology Remember to put your library book in your backpack!

Click here to view our lunch menu.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

Friday, October 14: Half-Day of School (Record Day for teachers)

Wednesday, October 19: Early Release Day--that means it's Show and Tell Day for the Peeps!

Monday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 26: Parent/Teacher Conferences (more information will be coming home soon)

Sunday, October 30, 4-6 pm: Trunk or Treat

Monday, October 31: Halloween Parade (1:40), Halloween Party (2:00-3:00)

Have a great evening!