October 23, 2009
Dear First Graders and Families,
Where has the time gone? It seems like it has been a long, long time since
your children first walked through the door of Room 3 in September!!!
I just wanted to touch base with all of you. I have started Guided Reading
with the children. Remember, this is a small group time where children are
being instructed in reading at their own reading level. The rest of the
children are completing their Daily 5 activities during this time. We have
learned and are independent with 4 of the activities(Read to Self, Word Work,
Listen to Reading, Work on Writing.) We are still practicing Read to Someone.
The children are doing quite well with these activities.
For the remainder of the year, you will see guided reading books coming home
from time to time. These are books that your child can read to you. The day
that it comes home, please have your child read it to you and then put it
back in their backpack as soon as they are done. The books will be placed in
each child's book basket at school so that they can read it during our Read
to Self time. Thanks for your attention in this matter.
Word Work sheets have been coming home and will continue for the rest of the
year as well. These are words that your child needs to practice. Everyone has
their own list of words. They practice making these words with stamps,
magnetic letters, playdough, chalk and dry erase boards. Please have your
child read the words to you to help reinforce what they are learning at
school.
In reading we are continuing to practice the strategy of checking for
understanding. We are also making connections to the stories that we are
listening to. We learned a new accuracy strategy called cross checking. This
is when you are reading if you come across a tricky word, you look at the
word, look at the picture, try and solve the word, look at the print to see
if it matches the picture. This strategy will be practiced all year long.
Please use these strategies while you are reading with your child.
In writing the children are busy in Writer's Workshop. They are learning what
writers do. They are thinking, making plans and writing. They are stretching
words and writing down all the sounds that they hear. It is a very
productive time of day in Room 3.
In math we have been learning patterning, solving problems and completing
many class surverys. We are currently learning addition facts to 5.
In science we have learned about bats and the life cycle of a pumpkin. We
discussed how the apple and pumpkin life cycle are the same and different.
In social studies we learned about fire safety.
Our class has listened to 5 chapter books since the first day of school. We
have listened to Magic Tree House books 1-3, a Junie B. Jones book and a
Horrible Harry book. This is a nice, calm way to end our day together. The
children and I look forward to it.
November is a busy month...we will have report card conferences and the Book
Fair. We will be learning about families, squirrels and Thanksgiving.
As always if you have any questions or concerns, please send me an email,
note or call and leave a message for me at the school. I am really enjoying
working with your children! Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kim Nolan
PS Ms. Simoneau, our art teacher needs tissues for her classroom. If you are
shopping this weekend it would be greatly appreciated if you would consider
buying a box to donate for your children's use while they are in the art
room. Thanks!!