News From Room 254           December 4, 2009

 
 
Monday – We wrote and shared our Journal thoughts.  We went over our new spelling words for the week.  We discovered that “sh” is a digraph and can come at the beginning or end of a word.  In Phonics, we also recognized the “sh” digraph and generated our own list of words that begin with the “sh” digraph.  We identified blends and short vowel sounds in words as well.We re-read An Egg Is an Egg and discussed the different things that changed as the story was read.  We recognized the only thing that didn’t change… the love a mother has for her child.  Math had us completing a math review of the following concepts: identifying the related subtraction facts, finding the sum for an addition fact and then to show the related subtraction fact, finding the difference for a subtraction fact and then to show the related addition fact, and then working with fact families.

Tuesday – We worked on both our handwriting and spelling words by writing out our spelling sentences.  In Phonics, we identified initial and final consonants in words containing the short o sound and selecting the correct short o word to complete sentences.  During English, we reviewed the concept of a sentence by identifying the naming and action part of a sentence.  In Math, we worked with both addition and subtraction facts as we picked out the facts that belonged to the fact family.  We enjoyed measuring the length of our pumpkin stems.  Kyle’s plant had the longest stem.  Mrs. Cantagallo said we’re doing “great” as we fine tune our Advent Musical “Starry Night, Noisy Night”.  With cold weather/snow peeking around the corner, we made Snowmen to be used as decorations during the Christmas Bazaar next week.

Wednesday – In reading, we previewed our next anthology story, Who’s in a Family?  In Phonics, we spelled words containing the short o sound.  We completed sentences by choosing the correct short o word as well.  Spelling words were illustrated.  In English, we identified the group of words containing both the naming and action part.  Mrs. Zueck had us making the poinsettia in different sizes for Art.  Math had us doing some problem solving.  During Religion, we discussed how Advent is the season in which we get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas.  We set-up our Advent wreath in the classroom.  We read an informational article on Sunflower Helpers as well.

Thursday – We practiced putting our Spelling words in ABC Order.  We even learned how to go to the second letter if two words begin with the same letter.  We read the story Who’s in a Family?  Our reading activities included working with our story words as well as our words to master.  A comprehension check of the story was completed.  We worked with some short o activities.  A writing activity was coming up with a conclusion to two previous sentences read.  Our English activity was completing either a missing name or action part to a sentence.  We completed an Advent activity as we count the weeks to Christmas.  We completed a math check on comparing, identifying the missing addend, and identifying facts in a fact family.

Friday – We completed our spelling test prior to attending an all-school liturgy.  During our Religion time, we learned about St. Nicholas.  We read what the children in Holland do the night before the feast of St. Nicholas.  In English, we identified the correctly written telling sentence.  In Phonics, we continue to work with the sound of short o.  Our next story had us reading from our Big Book.  It was called the Secret Code.  Math found us completing a chapter test on subtraction. 

 

Spelling words:  the  this  them  that  math  bath

Bonus word:  reindeer  Challenge word:  ornaments

Next reading story:  The Best Pet

Sight words to master:  friend  girl  know  play  read  she  today  write  best  Peg  pet  swell  ten  bell  knock slim wrist

Reminders:

·         Children are bringing home the part they have in the play.  If they can come up with an action as their part is read that will be terrific.

·         Children’s costumes need to be brought to school on Wednesday, December 9th.

·         Friday, December 11th, the 1st/2nd grade Advent Musical “Starry Night, Noisy Night” will be in the New Church at 1PM.

·         Sunday is the feast of St. Nicholas (also the 2nd Sunday of Advent).  We will be putting something out on our desks before leaving school on Friday in hopes that Saint Nicholas will visit our classroom.  Don’t forget to have your child put out a shoe before going to bed Saturday evening in anticipation of a Saint Nicholas visit to your home.

·         Tuesday, December 8th is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day.  The children will be attending Mass at 8:30.

·         Only one Book Report in December.  It is due on December 17th.  The plot should be at least 4-5 sentences.  The best part 2-3 sentences.

·         Student Council collecting Change for Charity throughout the month of December.

·         With snow coming and children outside for recess, it will be a good idea to have an extra pair of socks in your child’s backpack to change into so your child won’t be sitting in the classroom with wet feet after recess.

·         Children should not bring a Christmas gift to either their massmates or 3rd grade buddies.  We make Christmas cards for them.  I include a little something with the cards the children present to them.

 

Mrs. Stehling