Happy Read Across America Day!

Just some quick items for this week:

• Thank you to the parents that were able to come in as guest readers this week. We enjoyed your stories and the opportunity to have you read to us. 
• Officer Bibeau from the Stratham police department came to read to us today. She read Dr. Seuss' 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.  
• We watched our Dr. Seuss movie and enjoyed some popcorn this afternoon. 
• I have added some photos from today's festivities to our Flickr account. Be sure to check them out!
• Please don't forget to bring a piece of fruit into school on Monday!
• App we liked this week- I LIKE STORIES
• Please sign up for a parent/teacher conference if you haven't already!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Kristen

March 21

Hi Fish Families!

Here is a glimpse of our week in the fish class:

Language Arts: During Readers' Workshop we have been talking about how strong readers make connections when reading. They make text to self connections and text to text connections. The children have been marking parts of their stories that they have connections to and have been talking about books with their partners. This process helps develop comprehension skills, gets readers thinking more deeply about books, and gives them a chance to celebrate reading with friends. We continue to work on writing our 'How To' books. Orally sequencing the steps to activities at home (ie. hand-washing, setting the table) is a great way to help your child practice our current writing genre. 

Math: We continue to review the characteristics of 3D shapes. We are also reviewing positional words (above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to.)  The children have been practicing counting back from 20-0. Our Song of the Week is a fun way to practice this math skill. 

Science:  I hope you have been hearing about the chicks we are hatching!  This week we got our incubator heated up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and set the eggs. The children are helping to turn them each morning. We have been learning what is going on with our embryos each day. It should take about 21 days for the chicks to hatch and the children can't wait! 

Visual Arts: We are making some adorable chick art work to put on display.

Song of the Week:  Counting Down From 20 Song from Have Fun Teaching 

(Here is the link to copy to your browser if interested)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srPktd4k_O8

Up-coming Events:  

• Read Across America-Friday, 3/28 *Dress up as your favorite book character!
• Word of the Week-you
• First Full Wednesday begins- 4/30
• Early Releases For April Conferences- 4/9 & 4/16
• April Vacation- 4/21-4/25

Fondly,

Kristen

March 13

Hi Families!

Here is a glimpse of our week in the fish class:

Language Arts: During Writers' Workshop this week, we brainstormed many things we can teach others how to do. Your writers made the cover pages for 3 "How To" books they will be working on in the weeks to come. During Readers' Workshop we have been practicing using ending punctuation to know how the text should sound. 

Math: We began our study of 3D shapes after reviewing 2D shapes.  The children have been sharing the shapes they found for homework this week. We have been noticing characteristics of 3D shapes and sorting shapes. 

Visual Arts: We made glittery shamrocks this week and drew pictures to help us retell the story The Wind Blew. 

Up-coming Events:  

• Word of the Week-on
• No School TOMORROW- 3/14 Teachers' Workshop
• First Full Wednesday begins- 4/30
• Early Releases For April Conferences- 4/9 & 4/16

Enjoy the 3 day weekend! 

Kristen

March 7

Hi Families!

It was great to be back in the swing of things this week! I would like to thank our parent chaperones for joining us at the Music Hall on Wednesday. We had a great time and the children enjoyed seeing "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."

Here is a glimpse of our week in the fish class:

Language Arts: The children have been listening to and learning about the characteristics of procedural or "how to" books during writers' workshop time. As readers, we began our unit on summarizing and making connections. Your children have been talking about text to self connections(when a book reminds them of their own life)  and text to text connections(when a book reminds them of another book).

Math: I hope the math fact practicing is going well at home. I will be sending the next set (+1 turn around facts) home on Monday along with a new Home Link. We have been doing a lot of work on adding within 5. The children played a fun game reviewing attributes. We also played Yahtzee.  

 

Science:  We planted grass seeds today. We discussed what plants need to live. We will be testing our theories in the weeks to come.

Social Studies:  The class grocery story is open! The children have been busy stocking, organizing and working in our store. Working the check-out line seems to be a favorite!

Song:  "Rainbow 'Round Me" by Ruth Pelham 

Website:  Adventure to Fitness

Book of the Week:  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst 

Up-coming Events:

• School District Meeting- Tonight at 7:00 Babysitting will be provided by the STA in the library. 
• Word of the Week-my
• Voting Day- 3/11
• No School- 3/14 Teachers' Workshop
• First Full Wednesday begins- 4/30

Don't forget to Spring Forward Saturday!

Kristen