We have had a busy week even with our early release day! We covered five more letters in Zoo Phonics (Kk-Oo) and practiced the letter sound for each one. Please reinforce the letter names and sounds using flash cards for each uppercase and lowercase letter separately. The sooner your child masters letter/sound associations the faster they will progress with reading and writing skills. Next week we will cover the letters Pp - Tt.
We also worked and read in our Brown Bear, Brown Bear booklets. We practiced print concepts such as front/back cover; author and illustrator; where to begin reading and moving from left to right/top to bottom; distinguishing the difference between letters, words and sentences; using our reading finger to make a one to one match with each word we read. We even highlighted our new sight words in the story. We also learned that Brown Bear is a "pattern" book because certain phrases are repeated over and over again. Next week we will finish these booklets and send them home.
We have 5 sight words on our word wall now: blue, red, yellow, I, see. We will be adding the words a and me next week. The goal is to be able to read these words instantly. Please make flash cards with these words and practice them at home.
On Friday, we will have fun with the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. We will complete some fun activities with letters by sorting Alpha Bits cereal letters by the letters that are in our name and not in our name. We will make an edible palm tree with green apple slices, grapes, and wafer cookies! Thanks to those who sent in items for this project!!
In Writer's Workshop we are learning how to become good writers. We are learning how to write our names correctly using a capital letter followed by lowercase letters. We are also learning how to use the correct writing conventions when writing a sentence. We use a capital letter to begin the first word in our sentence and then use lowercase letters to complete it. We put a space after each word we write and put an end mark at the ending. We have learned about periods and question marks. We are also practicing our inventive spelling by listening to the sounds we hear in words- especially the beginning and ending sounds at this point. This week we wrote about our weekend and our United States flag. Next week we will continue to work on these same writing rules.
In math we practiced naming and sorting shapes and practiced identifying and writing numerals correctly. Next week we will continue working on numeral writing and identification to 10 and we will have some fun with the book Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.
Both the penny and nickel have been introduced to the boys and girls. They should be able to identify each by name and tell its value. They have also been introduced to the concept of a "fair trade" and we have practiced fair trading 5 pennies for 1 nickel. Please continue to reinforce these skills at home.
We have been learning about Labor Day. A special holiday and day of rest for workers- even boys and girls who work hard in school! The boys and girls will be evaluated on their knowledge of this holiday along with identifying and explaining the United States and Georgia flags. They also need to know that the Pledge of Allegiance is a promise that we are making to be true to our country and to the people who live here. We will continue reviewing all of these skills next week. Please help reinforce these social studies concepts at home.
Thank you for supporting our school fundraiser! You really can and do make a difference!! Also, thanks to our co-room moms Corey Strapp and Selena Binkley for meeting with PTA and then with myself to gather information. They will be getting in touch with those of you who signed up about helping out in centers, helping with special classroom activites, and being a Mystery Reader. They will also contact you from time to time about sending in items we may need for classroom projects. We certainly couldn't do it without your help!!
Upcoming dates:
Friday, September 3rd- Media Center book check out only
Friday, September 3rd- bring your favorite stuffed animal to class to culminate our Brown Bear unit with some fun standards based activities
Monday, September 6th- Labor Day holiday
Wednesday, September 8th- Picture Day
Friday, September 17th- Zoo Phonics Parade 8-9am
Monday, September 20-Friday, September 24- Fall Break
Have a fun and fantastic weekend!!
Blenda Smith and Lynn Dillon
