This week was a practice week before we start getting our own word study lists. We all had the same words for practicing. We went over how to sort the words into the correct categories, what oddballs are (exceptions to the rules), and some activities they can do to practice their words throughout the week. After we get back from Thanksgiving, your children will be dividing up among the first grade classrooms and everyone will be practicing words that are just right for them. I will be posting optional homework that the students can do with their words on the website. I will also be posting how you can use technology to practice under the terrific technology page on the website. The students were VERY excited to be practicing on the ipads. We were actually able to project 4 iPads of students working on word study to see what activities they were doing all at the same time!
This week we also continued writer's workshop. We are writing informational texts to teach people things that we know a lot about. This week we added nonfiction features such as a table of contents, bold words, a glossary, and diagrams. These really enhanced the books and the students are doing such a great job adding these features. After the students have a few books to choose from, they will pick one book to take through the writer's workshop process and eventually publish it.
The students have been doing a great job during their Team Literacy time. I am so proud to see their reading growth because of this extra small group time. We will be reconfiguring the groups based on their needs and starting new groups after we get back from Thanksgiving.
We just finished our patterning unit in math on Friday. Our next unit is types of measurement.
This week we also had a goodbye party for Darin. Darin is moving and we wanted to show him how special he was to our class. We made him a poster that he can take with him and we played BINGO. It was a lot of fun, but I know we are going to miss him a lot.
Here are some things to ask your child about:
What is your favorite word study activity?
What nonfiction features did you put into your book during writer's workshop?
What cafe strategies do you use while you are reading?
Reminders:
-Conferences are Monday and Tuesday! I am excited to meet with all of you. Please check the schedule so you know when we are meeting. If you didn't schedule a conference yet, you will have to call the Sprague office and schedule it with them. Thanks!
-We are going on a field trip to the Raupp Museum on December 14 in the morning.
-Let me know if you would like to be a mystery reader or would like to volunteer in the classroom during math. Mr. Schreurs and I have been discussing having volunteers during our math block and would love to have parents in to work with the students during that time. We will meet with anyone who is interested after Thanksgiving so we can start getting you involved!