Weekly News Nov 14-18

Here are a few pictures from our very fun Friday!  We loved meeting Mr. Hixon and visiting with him.  We asked great questions about his job as a solider and were respectful listeners. 

We also wrapped up our science writing unit with a sparkling cider toast to all of our hard work!

Important Dates and Reminders:

November 15: Conferences 4-7:30pm
November 17: 1/2 day- 11:30 dismissal
November 18: Wisconsin Badger Day
November 22: Twin Day
November 23-25: NO SCHOOL

Here is a peek at our week!

Reading: We are continuing to get stronger as readers each day now that we have learned about our reading super powers!  This week (after conferences) your child will bring home a book each night to read to you!  This week we will learn more about rereading books to make them sound smooth and begin to sound more like grown-ups as we read! 

Writing: This week we will launch a new writing unit called "Writing for Readers."  The focus of this unit will be to tell true stories from our lives and then to write them one page at a time.  We will really focus on making sure our pictures and words are easy for others to read.  This will also help us to grow stronger at rereading our own writing.

Math: We will continue to work with the counting mat this week as we explore the operations of +1 and -1.  We will look at how numbers increase and decrease by 1 as we count forward or backward and will work to write equations that reflect this.  We will learn two poems that will help us to become more automatic in solving +1 and -1 equations.  We will also work to identify and create hexagons.  Our math centers will be:

• sorting pictures to help us classify shapes correctly
• using math chips to tell and solve subtraction equations
• working with a 5 frame and dice to master partners of (numbers that work together to make) 5
• playing a card game called "Garbage" to practice number order and look for structure on a 10 frame

Science: We will begin our first Science unit this year: Fur, Feathers, Skin, and Scales.  In this unit we will learn about various animal body coverings and the purpose of each.  This week we will build some background knowledge on the different types of body coverings and then begin by learning about and examining our skin.  We will use magnifying glasses to look closely at our skin and our fingerprints!

Word Work: We will continue focusing on the words: see, in, you, big little.  Looking for them in the books your child brings home is a great way to practice reading them with automaticity.