Error Correction...

In a previous post, I wrote that the Math Information Night was December 6.  It is actually December 5 from 6:00 - 7:00!  Sorry for any confusion.

December Dates

December Dates to Know:

 

5 - Parent Math Information Night @ 6:00- 7:00

 

8 - PTG Holiday Marketplace @ 8:30 - 2:00

 

10 - K-2 Rehearsal for Friday's concert

                 (kids, try to be here)

 

11 - Mrs. Pelkey will be out 

 

12 - We will watch the Band/Chorus

                 Concert  @ 1:00

 

14 - K-2 Winter Concert @ 1:00 

        *All families are invited!*

 

19 - K-2 Book Celebration Day -

     Polar Express - Activities all day!

 

21 - Noon Dismissal - Have a happy

            and safe holiday vacation!

 

Mark your calendars!!!

Parent Math Night

There will be a Math Information Night for parents on December 5, 2012 from 6:00 - 7:00, with state consultant Amy Yankee.  All parents interested in learning more about our math program, please join us at Center Drive School that night.  This is for parents only - please make other arrangements for your children.

End of November Update

It was great seeing many of you at Parent/Teacher conferences!  I am very pleased with the communication and support of our classroom families.  I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a relaxing time spent with family and friends.

Here's a little update about the happenings in our classroom:

In science we are continuing to investigate magnets; learning vocabulary such as attract, repel, north and south poles, and magnetic field.  Students have already worked through a variety of inquiry-based experiments as they build an understanding for how exactly magnets work, and will continue to explore more in the next couple of weeks.

Following our magnet unit, we will enter a social studies unit around wants/needs and good/services.  Students will understand the difference between a want and a need, as well as understand part of our economic world of workers who provide goods and workers who provide services. 

In Writing Workshop, students continue to discover ways to write with "voice".  We will also begin thinking about using quality word choices in our writing - such as "vigorous verbs" and words that imitate sounds (onomatopoeia).

In math, students have been working on finding simple math facts within longer cominations of numbers (number strings) in order to quickly solve addition problems in their heads.  This way of manipulating numbers gives students a firm foundation for later, more difficult math equations.  An example of solving a number string looks like this:

4 + 7 + 6 + 6 =

The student will look for combinations of 10, doubles, and near doubles to help.

4 + 7 + 6 + 6 =

4+6=10  (combination of 10)   7+6=13 (near double; 6+6+1)

 

Now we have...   10 + 13

13 is really 10+3, so 10 + 10 + 3 =  (thinking 10,20,23)  23

 

 

Also in math, we are revisiting story problems with two digit addition and subtraction.  Our new understanding of how numbers work has positively influenced our approach to solving these types of problems, as compared to the beginning of the year.  Together we have shared (and will continue to share) different strategies to solve these types of problems.  Many approaches that students use enable them to actually solve two-digit problems in their heads!

 

Telling time is revisited often throughout the year.  At this point of the year, students should be able to tell time to the half hour.  Learning groups will be formed to help students who need more support in telling time.  We are constantly assessing, reassessing, and forming flexible groups, according to student's needs.  This is true in all areas of the classroom, not just math.

 

We will next move into data analysis, as we collect data and use graphic organizers such as line plots and Venn diagrams to organize the data.

 

December will be here before we know it!  I will do my best to keep you updated on all the events that take place in December.  Don't forget to also check the school website, and read the school's December Newsletter for more information.

 



Halloween, Volunteers, Conferences...and School Work!

Halloween

Storm, full moon, Halloween - oh my!  We made it through the week with craziness in the air.  I was able to stir up some magic in my cauldron though; and Halloween Day was a success!  Thank you to all those who donated time and/or treats. 

Halloween BINGO (and no, Brayden, we will not play Thanksgiving BINGO!)

Something is amiss!  Great Yankee fan Mr. Dale has made a new friend!
It looks like a treat - but I think it's a trick!

Mr. Apsega came to read a couple of Halloween stories.
He held the student's attention while Mrs. Tourtillotte and I
set up for the party.

 

Volunteers Needed for At Home Work

I am looking for a volunteer or two to help me with some additional time consuming projects.  Many students in my room this year really enjoy word searches and crossword puzzles.  I would like to have a supply of these (and other) word games for use as appropriate time fillers.  If you are a Google-savvy parent who likes a good search, please see me for details.

The other job I have is for someone who likes doing "mindless tasks" while watching TV (and is looking for an excuse to ignore the unfolded laundry).  I would like the letters for the words of our Core Values traced from my stencils and cut out.  I will provide the paper and the stencils.  If you are trained to use our Cricut machine, or have other ideas, please feel free to share them with me.

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Don't forget to sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Remember, we are now using an online scheduling system.  If you have any questions on how to sign up, please call the office and Mrs. Gray will help you.

I look forward to seeing you all in the next couple of weeks!

 

...Oh Yeah, We Do School Work, Too!

In math we are continuing to work on Geometry, as we explore rectangles that look different, but have the same area.  We will wrap up our Geometry unit in time for the first quarter to end. 

In reading, we have begun a new theme called "Nature Walk".  We are exploring both fiction and nonfiction as we read stories about camping, park rangers, exploring nature, and owling.  One of our reading strategies that we are working on is asking questions.  This could be questions that may be answered in the reading, questions that you would ask the story characters if you could, or questions that make you wonder something that is not answered in the text.  We are also focusing on fact versus opinion.

In writing, we spent much time learning how to get ideas for what to write, we looked at mentor texts to show us examples of how to organize our writing, and now we are going to practice putting our voice into our writing.  Voice in writing is the personality of the piece.  Voice can be done through illustrations (for example: I know that when shown, our students will know the difference between a piece of art from Eric Carle vs. Jan Brett) and through words.  Voice is using your own humor, "catch phrases", strong feelings, or other words that evoke emotion in the reader.  When a student uses voice in writing, a teacher can usually tell who wrote the piece without looking at a name or the handwriting.

We wrapped up our map unit with final projects.  Students were offered three project ideas to choose from, all demonstrating the same skills but in a variety of interests.  All of the students chose the same project - creating a map!  Students were asked to create a map (of a real or made-up place), including features such as symbols, map key, compass rose, and title.  These projects were shared with the class last week, and are on display in our room. 

We will move on to a science unit next, as we explore magnets.

**** If you haven't already done so, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this page to enter and submit your email address.  This will allow you to receive email notifications whenever there is an update on the blog. ****