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Classroom News |
November 21, 2009
Dear K3 Families,
I enjoyed meeting with parents on Thursday for our conference day. I hope I was able to answer your questions and convey to you the progress your child has made since September. I am very pleased with the growth I have seen in all of the students!
In Reader's Workshop, we learned about Julia Donaldson who is an author, singer, and songwriter. The books by this talented author have delightful rhymes and were thoroughly enjoyed by the class. We read The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Room on the Broom, Where's My Mom?, Stick Man, and A Squash and a Squeeze. We continued working with partners this week to practice choral reading, echo reading, and reading by taking turns. Our classroom readers used their Song and Poem Binders to discuss their favorite songs and poems. They also used wordless picture books to practice sharing a book with a partner and reading by taking turns.
In Guided Reading groups, the children variously practiced identifying the initial and medial "i" sounds, reading and spelling our sight words, and the appropriate use of capital letters.
In Writer's Workshop, our classroom authors reviewed characteristics of writing that make a story easier to read (many sounds in words, spaces between words, detail in illustrations). We also discussed the importance of using capital and lower-case letters appropriately in personal writing. Additionally, our classroom writers began telling two-part stories within their Drawing and Writing Journals. I modeled the process first. Then we discussed the importance of consistency in illustrations across the two pages of a story. Next the children met with a teacher to plan their two-part stories. Finally, they began using illustrations and words to tell their stories across two pages of their Journals.
In Religion, the children learned about St. Rose of Lima whose feast day is August 23. St. Rose was a friend and contemporary of St. Martin de Porres. She spent her time in prayer and needlework. She sold her embroidery to support her family and help the poor. St. Rose was the first saint of the Americas. Our Promise magazine focused on God always being with us. We discussed the beauty of nature which reminds us of God's love for us. We also learned about prayers of contrition, adoration, petition, and thanksgiving. The children prayed each of these types of prayer when we went to Adoration in the chapel on Friday.
We completed a rotation of Math and Science Centers. At the Art Center, the children practiced identifying and ordering the numbers from 1 to 20 when we they played "Swat the Number." At the Alphabet Center, the children practiced identifying the numbers from 1 to 20. They also compared two numbers to determine which was the bigger number when they completed the activity, "Clothespin Comparisons." At the Math Center, the children learned about even and odd numbers using ice cube trays and pom-poms. The children identified numbers as "even" or "odd" and we created a hundred-chart graph that illustrates the pattern of even and odd numbers. At the Writing Center, the children learned about the differences between plants and animals. They then sorted plants and animals into appropriate categories. A shortened rotation of Thanksgiving Centers will begin on Monday.
Kae Lin was our Star of the Week. She shared information regarding her favorite things and her photos with the class. Kae Lin filled our Estimation Jar with 3 Musketeers candybars. We will be solving Kae Lin's Mystery Bag mystery in this upcoming short week.
On Friday, the children enjoyed a BMX bike show which the school earned through its participation in our fall fundraiser. The riders were amazing! The next time you see Mrs. Lasch ask her about her role in the show--she was very brave!
On Tuesday, November 24, we have our annual Prayer and Share Day. We begin our day with Mass at 9:00. St. Pius is collecting baked goods to share on that day. Many of those baked goods will also be shared with Equinox for their Thanksgiving feast. Baked goods may be dropped off in the gym on Tuesday morning. Please join us if you are able.
On Wednesday, November 25, Bishop Hubbard will be leading a prayer service to bless our new classrooms. This prayer service begins at 10:00.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call me at school or send in a note. Have a great week!
Meg Smith
Mrs. Smith's Kindergarten
St. Pius X
