Read Across America and St. Patrick's Day

We have had two full and busy weeks since we got back from Winter Break.  The first week back was Read Across America week.  We began the week with an assembly by Judy Pancoast, a local children's songwriter and performer.  The students enjoyed the song about stinky pickle feet and the one big eyeball.  She talked about how to write the lyrics for songs and where ideas came from.  During Writers Workshop, we wrote our own songs.  Some were even brave enough to perform their original hits.  During Read Alouds we read books from across the country and made a map to show the setting.

  

We have started my favorite reading unit of the year, We Are Avid Readers.  We are talking about how readers read all the time.  They bring books to appointments and in the car.  They read the cereal box.  They just love to read. 

We also started a unit of Opinion Writing.  We began by talking about how words have the power to change the world.  We can change things in our classroom, school, home, and neighborhood.  Some students have made signs about the bathroom (flush the toilet) or around the room (organize supplies). 

In math, we are working on teen numbers.  Students should be able to count to 20, identify numerals to 20, write numerals, and count 20 objects.  You can practice at home by counting steps, finding fun counting songs, writing in the snow with a stick, or counting small snack foods like goldfish. 

Report cards go home Friday, March 23, 2018.  Remember, you can keep the report card, just return the signed envelope.

Miss Jackson is doing her "solo" week so she is running the classroom this week.  I am in and out of the classroom, but she is in charge.  We are so lucky to have her.