December 15 - 19

This week we measured length using different body parts, standard feet and inches.  A few students needed reminders to line up the edge of the ruler with the edge of what they were measuring.  If you have a thermometer at home, please help your child practice reading the temperature (in Farenheit) over winter break.  We will study measurement more in the beginning of January, too. 

In reading we reviewed strategies we use to figure out unknown words: sounding out each letter, and thinking about what makes sense with the picture and in the sentence/story pattern.  Next month we will practice rereading the sentence/page to find clues that will help us infer the unknown words, making connections between the story and our live or other stories, and thinking about words that look similar (spelling patterns/rhymes).  We will also study letters with two sounds (a, e, i, o, u, c, g) and look at spelling patterns that give clues about which sound the letters will make (e.g. a: cap and cape, g: rag and rage).

 

In continuing our study of balance and motion in science, we made zoomers: a two-holed disc on a loop of string.  We experimented how to make it continue to spin, finding that the heavier, plastic discs worked better than the lighter, cardboard versions. We discussed how a twisting force (torque) is similar but different from pushing or pulling force. Students enjoyed drawing designs on their discs and seeing how the images looked when spinning both directions.  In January we will do some experiments with balance and counterbalance, make crystals out of borax, and we will look at different properties of water (solid/liquid/gas, structure of snowflakes, and saturation point).

 

 This week we made mitten-shaped books about what we like to do in the snow, which will be on display in the classroom for a few weeks before they come home.  The students did a great job brainstorming ideas to write about, using their word wall lists (most recent hardcopy sent home this week), and remembering to start each sentence with a capital letter and end it with proper punctuation.  Next we will try writing for different purposes (lists, instructions, reports, poems, comics, plays, and more...) in addition to editing our writing more formally (looking for misspelled sight words and missing details, sounds, spaces, punctuation or capital/lowercase letters).

 

Sharing at Morning Meeting this week slipped into a more traditional "show and tell."  Please remind your child that this is a story telling time and that bringing in 1-2 small pictures or props to support the story is OK but that he/she needs to do more than merely describe the object(s).  Again, the goal is to become a better reader, writer, and listener.  I recognize this is a bit of a departure from the expectation many children have and that this will take time to develop.  You can help your child rehearse ahead of time, encouraging them to include details such as who, what, where, why, when, how and their feelings. Let me know if you need another copy of the sharing schedule (see last week's post).  Thanks for your support!

 

Please send in healthy snacks for the class on your child's snack day (see live calendar to right and hardcopy sent home this week).  Popular options include: clementines, crackers, carrots, apples, cheese sticks, grapes, yogurt (go-gurts), chex mix, rice cakes, fruit roll-ups, cereal bars, and muffins.  Let's branch out from Cheez-its and cookies!  Sending in napkins is really helpful, too. 

I give all students an opportunity to try the snack that is served and they can finish any leftover food from their lunch.  As a fairly picky eater myself, I really respect children's dietary choices, but I also expect them to try new things and respect their peers' preferences.  I appreciate your help with this.   Thanks.

 

Thursday and Friday afternoons we had a lot of fun reading multi-step directions on how to make some winter-themed crafts: gingerbread houses (out of paper/milk cartons), snowball structures (with mini marshmallows and toothpicks) and snowflake art (yarn and popsicle stick decorations).  I hope these masterpieces made it home in one piece!

 

Finally, I am looking for new games for choice (e.g. Connect Four, Checkers, Boggle, Uno, Ravensburger games...).  Playing board games and card games with classmates is a great way to practice taking turns and good sportsmanship.  Please think of us as you clean out your household  collection or if you go to any yard sales.  We would really appreciate any donations or loaners.

 

We will spend the first week in January reviewing ALL of our current sight words.
 

Have a fun, safe, and restful winter break. 
See you in 2009!