Weekly Update

Although it was a full week, it seemed very short with a special event and Halloween parties in between. In Math, however, we continue to practice counting and representing numbers. We created a Halloween graph, carefully counted items around the room using connecting cubes to help us out, and played a spinning game. Our focus also has been on writing numbers through 5. Many of us still write them backwards.

In literacy we learned about the letter F. Many of our activities revolved around the season as well as Halloween. We are still practicing hearing and identifying beginning sounds and completed many smart board activities in whole group. We also practiced sounding and stretching out words as we write. We completed our first journal page in our folders and wrote 5 Halloween words. We also practiced rhyming and continue to work on writing our names in lowercase letters.

One Day in the Life of a Marine Biologist

On Tuesday we were visited by a Marine Biologist. We learned about the kinds of sea animals that live in the North Atlantic Ocean. Not only did we learn about them but we were able to see them in real life and have the opportunity to touch them. We saw a sea star, blue crab, lobster, sea urchin, hermit crab, horseshoe crab to mention a few. The children were able to visit some tables that had items from the sea that they could also touch and examine. It was a very exciting hour of fun for both classes.

Go Red Sox!!!

Can't help myself. I am hoping for a WIN............

Weekly Update

This week we spent time learning about our first vowel A. Since A is a vowel it has two sounds. We practiced trying to think of words that begin with the long and short sound of A. When the list was completed we clapped out the syllables in each word. In literacy we also introduced our first group of sight words. They are a, at, am, an. We will be reading and writing these simple words that we see very often when we read books. As we add new words to the list, it is a good idea to practice reading them with your child and identifying them  in books that you read together.

In Math, we continually work on counting. This week we played a grab and counting game and recorded our results on a recording sheet. We also are working on writing our numbers through five. We are putting together a number book and have completed it through number three. When talking about numbers, we want to make sure that each child understands what that number means and how many ways it can be represented. Another skill introduced was graphing. What is a graph? What is a sorting rule? What is a picture graph? What is a bar graph? We are learning about how to gather data and represent our results in graph form. Graphing helps to organize information and helps us to understand the math terms equal, compare, sort, data, more, most. These skills are ongoing and we continually revisit them throughout the school year.

PM Volunteer Needed!

I am still waiting to hear from someone who will coordinate the classroom volunteers for the PM class. This job requires one to keep track of parents coming to the classroom on a monthly basis. Parent volunteers begin starting the month of November. If anyone is interested please let me know. We will not start the process until someone contacts me. Thanks. The AM class is all set.

Just ask me!

If you need to know what to do, just ask me! Throughout the year each person in class will have the opportunity to be the Ask Me person. The Ask Me person is responsible for knowing the directions for our centers. If someone has forgotten or is unsure of what to do, the Ask Me person will help and restate what he/she needs to do at that particular table. Everyone will have a chance to do this. It is a great way to encourage good listening skills as everyone wants to shine and be noticed!

Class Directory

I am still looking for parental approval from some parents who have yet to return the permission form. I will be putting together the class directories next week. If you want to be included please send the form in ASAP.

Go RED SOX!!

We are ALL STARS

Starting next week we will be using the slider in class. As I explained at PIN night this is a tool to keep behavior intact and create a more manageable classroom environment. The most important rule in class is "Following directions for the first time". To explain, that would mean if a child was asked to stop talking to his friend at circle time when the teacher is speaking and trying to teach, he would first receive a "warning". The second time would require a move on the slider. The idea here is to train them to become good listeners.

I decided to use the slider in the most simplistic way. When we come in each day, we are all ALL STARS and start out at green. The slider has three moves.....  strike one (move to yellow), strike two (move to orange), and strike three (move to red - "your're out"). At red a parent would be called and made aware of what is happening.

If a child has moved a slider on a particular day, he would start fresh and come in the next day as an ALL STAR. The moves are not carried over on the slider on a daily basis.

I am confident, however, that we can be ALL STARS everyday!