February 21st-24th

Hello!

Another short yet bust week.

Thematic Centers:

This week we continued our author's study of Helen Lester and started studying Ezra Keats. Our centers this week:
1. Torn Paper Penguin: Each child has been learning lots about penguins. We have been reading lots of non fiction literature about penguins because Helen as written so many Tacky books about penguins. Each child tore tiny pieces of paper (great fine motor exercise) and created a penguin and write a fact about penguins. These are hanging in the hall and look adorable.
2. Wrinkled Heart: We read Hurty Feelings and discussed how you can say sorry after you are unkind but it still leaves a wrinkle in your heart. Saying kind things to people is so important.
3. Collages: Ezra Keats has illustrations that are full of vibrant colors and lots of different art supplies. Each child chose a scene out of Peter's Chair to re-create using paint, foam, felt, paper, crayons and markers. We discussed how this art looked similar to Eric Carle's illustrations and required a lot of extra work compared to just coloring a picture.

Math Workshop:

We practiced playing make 10 (the game you can play at home with your child) and added two new games to our tubs.

1. Number combo: draw 2 cards and either add or subtract to get an answer. Cover up all the numbers as quickly as you can. We played this last week too.
2. Memory: Match the ten frame, the number spelled out and the actually numeral in order to get a match. This was hard because you had to remember where 3 cards were to get a match.

Writer's Workshop:

We discussed author's as mentors which perfectly ties into our unit. How can we be inspired by other author's around us? Can we use their ideas? Style of art?

We also went over details about the passion project and started brainstorming topics for children who had not picked yet. Don't forget to start gathering supplies!


Reader's Workshop:

Everyone received a leveled reader and we focused on comprehending the characters, main event and setting while we read. Even though we had another short week, we did get new spelling words this week. If the spell check does not go well tomorrow we can always repeat the words next week.

Science: No sci fri last week as we had conferences but we cannot wait to see what Ms. Rachel comes up with this week!

Auction: Thank you Heather for leading up the auction. I am so excited about the class book basket! Have your child start brainstorming which book they want to pick.

Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Schultz