I hope everyone had a wonderful, restful holiday. The time certainly flew! The children are settling back into the classroom routines and quickly getting back into school mode.
The next few weeks are busy ones. At the end of the month we will be starting our "read-a-thon." The children will be asked to read as many books as possible over a 2 week period. With parent support they will track their daily reading. Each child will track their progress on a graph and we will do a daily class total. More information will follow.
In reading we are learning to do retells. I am reading simple chapter books to the children. Last week I read "Flat Stanley," and this week I will be reading "Invisible Stanley." Before we begin each chapter we review the characters, setting, problem and the events that have happened. Whenever the children read to me I expect them to be able to retell the story. In order to move levels in the classroom reading bins the children must be able to do a retell at their "just right level." Some children decode without demonstrating understanding. Comprehension is key in all reading activities so be sure to have your child practice retelling at home. Encourage them to be involved as they, or you, are reading!
In writing the children are learning to add more details to their writing. They are learning to use their senses and to use questions to add more details to their sentences. This month I will be encouraging the children to set individual goals for improving their writing. The biggies would be capitals, punctuation, space between words and letter formation.
In math we are finishing up our activities in patterning. The children are able to make and extend simple patterns. They are learning to use math language (ab, aab, abb, abc) to describe their patterns. We are also working on adding and subtracting. The children are learning to use counting up, counting back, drawing a picture, using a 10-frame and a variety of other strategies to show their understanding. They are learning to explain their thinking when answering math questions.
In gym we are working on basketball skills. The children are learning to dribble and pass the ball. They love shooting baskets. It is amazing how many children can score! We continue to work on fitness and developing stamina in the gym.
This week in art the children will learning how to make secondary colours (orange, purple, green) by combining primary colours. Big thank you to our parent volunteers, Natalie Boucher and Jonna Costantini, for helping the children develop their art skills. It can be a very messy job!
I hope you have a wonderful week. Hopefully this miserable rain will not turn to ice.
Have a great week,
Mrs. O'Callaghan.
The next few weeks are busy ones. At the end of the month we will be starting our "read-a-thon." The children will be asked to read as many books as possible over a 2 week period. With parent support they will track their daily reading. Each child will track their progress on a graph and we will do a daily class total. More information will follow.
In reading we are learning to do retells. I am reading simple chapter books to the children. Last week I read "Flat Stanley," and this week I will be reading "Invisible Stanley." Before we begin each chapter we review the characters, setting, problem and the events that have happened. Whenever the children read to me I expect them to be able to retell the story. In order to move levels in the classroom reading bins the children must be able to do a retell at their "just right level." Some children decode without demonstrating understanding. Comprehension is key in all reading activities so be sure to have your child practice retelling at home. Encourage them to be involved as they, or you, are reading!
In writing the children are learning to add more details to their writing. They are learning to use their senses and to use questions to add more details to their sentences. This month I will be encouraging the children to set individual goals for improving their writing. The biggies would be capitals, punctuation, space between words and letter formation.
In math we are finishing up our activities in patterning. The children are able to make and extend simple patterns. They are learning to use math language (ab, aab, abb, abc) to describe their patterns. We are also working on adding and subtracting. The children are learning to use counting up, counting back, drawing a picture, using a 10-frame and a variety of other strategies to show their understanding. They are learning to explain their thinking when answering math questions.
In gym we are working on basketball skills. The children are learning to dribble and pass the ball. They love shooting baskets. It is amazing how many children can score! We continue to work on fitness and developing stamina in the gym.
This week in art the children will learning how to make secondary colours (orange, purple, green) by combining primary colours. Big thank you to our parent volunteers, Natalie Boucher and Jonna Costantini, for helping the children develop their art skills. It can be a very messy job!
I hope you have a wonderful week. Hopefully this miserable rain will not turn to ice.
Have a great week,
Mrs. O'Callaghan.