POSTED AT 08:51 PM
Happy New Year all Room 107 families! I hope you had a wonderful vacation. I enjoyed lots of family time and two movies (thanks for the gift card!!!).
In December, we shared traditions our families have and learned about other traditions and holidays. In Multiage, we have some of our own traditions, like pancake breakfast for Thanksgiving, image-making, and our field trip to Chinatown. We are beginning new traditions as well, such as Brown-Bag-It Fridays and a class play every year.
We read many Patricia Polacco books this month. Patricia writes fiction books, but bases her stories on people, places, and events of her own childhood growing up in Michigan. Her Russian heritage has influenced her life in many ways, and she shares traditions her family had in her books. Some of our favorite books by Patricia Polacco wereMy Rotten Redheaded Older BrotherandAunt Chip and The Great Triple Creek Dam Affair. We will continue to read her stories this year. I recommend them to all families too!
In math, we finished our multi-week unit on measurement with a car roll off. Using metersticks, we measured how far matchbox cars could roll down a ramp. This lab involved a discussion about variables and why keeping everything "fair" gives us more accurate data, finding a median of three measurements, and graphing. Our measurement unit included telling time, using a calendar, measuring with standard (inches, centimeters, meters) and non-standard (links, footsteps, armspans) units of measure, using fractions to write numbers, and ordering numbers on number lines.
Our final math activity of 2011 was the creation of the Salisworthy and Golesbury Toy Shops. Students from each grade were paired up with another student in the same grade in the other multiage classroom. Pairs had to "choose their wares" from the inventory of the classrooms to sell, make a poster advertising their store, create a price list for the items, count out a cash register with coins and bills for making change, and fill out receipts to give to customers. On the Thursday and Friday before vacation, the shops were open for business! Partners took turns "minding the shop" and shopping from other shops. The activity was such a success, we plan on more shopping experiences in 2012!
As we head into 2012, each child is setting goals for him/herself, as we consider the new year a gift of time to learn, improve, change, and grow. Please look for these laminated calendar "gifts" on display in the classroom and coming home later this month.
In January, we will begin a Language Arts unit of fables and legends. Students will be learning about the story elements in folktales. Guest readers (all of you!) will be invited in to read legends from around the world, as we tie in our Social Studies curriculum with mapping and geography. Students will also be writing their very own legends as part of our preparations for our class play in March. We will use retelling as a strategy to comprehend a folktale, and students will practice retelling (orally and in writing) independent reading stories.
In math, we will be working on volume (both grades) and building cube models to better understand volume. Second graders will be practicing double-digit addition and subtraction and applying place value rules to triple-digit and greater addition and subtraction problems. First graders will be using tens to break apart and build numbers to 50 and 100. All students will continue to practice math facts, telling time and counting money.
At the end of the month, we have our winter field experience with the Audubon. We will be learning about winter birds and animal tracking. Stay tuned for more information! I wish you all a great start to the New Year!
