Polar Bears

This week we read some fiction and nonfiction about Polar Bears.  We are using our learning to write our own book about polar bears. We also watched informational videos on Polar Bears, including live feeds from Northern Canada!

We finished our subtraction unit.  The students should now be able to solve subtraction word problems by using counters, drawings, or equations.  Now comes the even trickier part, choosing from subtraction and addition to solve the problems.

In Readers Workshop, we are continuing to practice talking about our reading with our partners.  We are learning how to use patterns to predict what comes next, but to pay attention to the words to make sure they match what we are thinking.  We also looked at alphabet books to practice our Sound Power.

We have practiced forming all the uppercase letters.  We are working hard to remember to start at the top.  We are continuing to practice tapping and blending words like map, tot, fig, run, and leg.  Most of us are doing a great job at the tapping for each sound.  Blending is still tricky and we will keep practicing!

February begins next week!  Time flies.  We will be celebrating Groundhog Day, the 100th Day, President's Day, and Valentines Day.  We will be busy having fun!

Here are some books that we read:

       

In Honor of Martin Luther King

In honor of Martin Luther King, we talked about what is fair and not fair.  We read a Let's Find Out magazine to help us with this tricky concept.  We made a portrait of Dr. King and unscrambled the words to write "I have a dream."

We opened a Selfie Center during Readers Workshop.  The students talk about the books they are reading and then we share them.  It is fun, and they are excited to visit the center.  We are also building stronger Reading Muscles to read bigger books.

In math, we continue to work on the concept of subtraction.  We are using the vocabulary minus, difference, take away, and equation.

In Fundations, we are working on writing uppercase letters and sounding out words.  We continue to review letter sounds every day.  Here are some of the songs we use:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtbL3byFa18


   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36IBDpTRVNE


   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2hXa8dbK3o

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1H-LTV4pkU

Here are some books we read this:

       

It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas!

We have lots of excited boys and girls coming in everyday to share where their elves are hiding!  It would be a great idea for your child to keep a journal of the mischief with detailed pictures and their best "sounding out."

Remember our gingerbread houses are going to be decorated on Monday, December 21.  Please send your donations in by next Friday, so that I can see what is missing.

Your gingerbread boys and girls can be returned whenever they are finished.

This week we started an online program using Chromebooks for reading.  The students have an individual plan for learning new skills.  The students have been troopers as they wait patiently for them to be signed in.

We are practicing talking about books we love with our partners.  Reading is supposed to be fun and we want to share the happiness.

In math, we are learning addition!  We can solve problems with manipulatives, counters, drawings and even EQUATIONS!  It amazes me!