December 5th-9th

Hi families,

Your child is coming home with a set of lime green "10 frame" flash cards today. These are excellent and will really help your child progress in math. The first video shows an example of how you will review these flash cards with your child. They should not be counting the dots after a couple weeks of repeated practice. The goal is for them to quickly recognize how many dots are shown without counting. Simply add these to your weekly homework routine. 

After they master this, they will use the cards to work on math facts to 10. The second video below shows that. They can say "1 plus 9 equals 10." OR "1 and 9 make 10." We use both phrases and both are correct. Sorry for the noise and a couple of upside down cards in the second video. 

Reader's Workshop:

This week everyone received their guided reading book. We reviewed making connections to stories (text to text, text to self and text to world). We also worked on word study words, sight words and word sorts (blends and short vowels).

Writer's Workshop:

This month's theme is "how-to" writing. Many children are writing about some of their favorite activities: how to ride a bike, how to score a goal, how to brush your teeth etc.

Math Workshop:

We worked on filling out December calendars this week, more number bonds and recognizing dots on ten frames. I was was surprised at how well the kids did on writing numbers this week. We are getting fewer and fewer reversals. 

Thematic Centers:

This week we studied Amelia Earhart. She was the first woman to fly! She was also the first person to fly across the ocean. We did several activities. 

1. Compare and contrast the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart. What was similar about these heroes? What was different? We did this as a class. 

2. With your table, come up with a skit that tells the story of Amelia Earhart. These skits were awesome and really showed all the information that the kids have leaned about what it means to be a hero and all about Amelia's life. I am sad I did not film these. 

3. Using what you know about paper air planes from last week, create a paper airplane that can carry cargo. See who's plane can fly the farthest with the most cargo (we are doing this tomorrow).

4. Play the airplane pilot version of "Simon Says". These directions came home in the red folders so you can repeat the game another time. It was great to get to know some of the flight terminology. 

**We also had a guest speaker that came to Mrs. James' class that we were invited to listen to. Sam's dad (student in Mrs. James' class) is a pilot and works for American Airlines. He came to teach us about what all it takes to fly. It was so neat.

Announcements:

Gingerbread House Decorating: December 15th at 11:00 in our classroom. We invite all parents to come in and join us! Unfortunately we do not have enough supplies for siblings. I will be sending out a sign up genius for icing and candy. Thank you to everyone who has helped glue so far! We are about half way done gluing. 

We are in need of clorox wipes, paper towels and washable markers. If you are able to send in any of these supplies, we are so thankful.

Have a happy weekend, 

Mrs. Schultz