In this page, I will try and put up  as much information about the current unit of study as possible. I will include the books we are reading and the different writing assignments so that families have  a better day to day understanding of what is going on in the classroom. Additionally, a newsletter will be sent home at the beginning of each month letting you know what to look forward to in the following month.  

 

September Unit: Families 

In this unit students will learn how special and unique they really are! When the unit is complete, students will have their own All About Me book, which will include self-portraits and many writing pieces about what makes them and their family special. In addition to the writing involved in this unit, students will also begin to learn how to organize data into graphs and compromise when working in a group dynamic.

 End of September-Mid-October: Launching the Writing Workshop

In this unit we will review all the essentials of writing such as collecting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. In addition to introducing practical strategies for finding topics and generating writing, this unit also will help create a community of writers where students feel safe sharing their work constructively with the class. At the end of the unit, we will have an author's breakfast.

 

November: 

 

December: Holidays

 In this unit, students will compare and contrast the different holidays that take place during December. We will discuss Kwanzaa, Chanukah and Christmas.  Children will also create art projects that represent each holiday. At the end of the unit, we will have a holiday celebration and share our traditional and favorite recipes.

 

 

January: Community Helpers

 In this unit, members throughout the community will come into the classroom and discuss their job and how they help out in the community.  Children will also practice writing 5 sentences including an introduction, 3 details and a concluding sentence. Some individuals coming into the class are: Police Officer, Firefighter, Artists, Fisherman, Athletic Coaches, Principal, Guidance Counselors, Nurses, Doctors, Dentists, Painters, Postal Workers etc. At the end of the unit, we will have a future job celebration where students will dress up as what they want to be when they grow up.

 

February:  Black History Month

 In this unit we will learn about different African Americans who have made a difference in our society. We will discuss the importance of equality, respect and Civil Rights. Students will continue to build on the skills from the previous unit, by writing at least 5 sentences in the formal structure taught in January. At the end of the unit, students will select their own African American to teach the class about. We will also be creating portraits of these individuals during art class.

 

March:

In this unit student will be enriched daily by the wealth of an outstanding author whose words and pictures can engage, motivate and inspire all children. Each day we will hear different Dr. Suess stories and apply the message either to their own lives or another story. In Reader's Workshop we call this connection "Text to Self." In addition, children will be able to independently read the stories to one another. At the end of the unit, we will have a celebration where the children will dress up as their favorite Dr. Seuss character.