What a busy, happy week.  Here’s what’s in store for next week…

READING-We begin Unit 1, Week 2 of Families.  I have read with each child and they are in Reading Groups, which will change, according to different skill needs and focus/emphasis.

COMPREHENSION:

STRATEGY-Story Structure

SKILL- Identify Setting (where did the story take place)

WORD-The   the

LETTER-A  a

WRITING-We will continue with our Narrative Writing ( a real story). They are doing quite well with their writing.  It’s a lot to

choose something that happened to you,

draw the pictures to go with the idea,

write some letters or words to go with your picture    This is the tricky step because, although they can say the word, they need to “push through” the word and listen to the sounds that their mouth is making.  THEN, they need to figure out HOW to write that letter that matches the sound from their mouth!  It’s quite a process and we’re only on Day #23.  🙂  In the beginning they will hear the beginning sound.  Next comes the ENDING sound.  Last comes the median sounds.  Practice “pushing through” some words together.  Go lightly with the vowels right now, especially the short vowels.

MATH-Number awareness and vocabulary continues    Use can use the calendar at home to work with this.  Also check out PATTERNS…10,11,12,13,…

20,21,22,23…

Practice reading numbers on the calendar.  For example, read all of the “dates” on Monday.

SCIENCE-We will begin a Science Journal next week in which we will record our “discoveries.”  Since we will be observing, making an hypothesis, predicting, recording, observing again, and drawing conclusions, we should probably dress like a Scientist!  So, if you have an old white T-shirt you could send in next week, they will be our “Lab Coats.”  (I have already bought them some safety glasses!)

On the health front news, we have 2 more reported cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Virus being shared in here. I am constantly stressing and requiring them to wash their hands, especially after using the bathroom.  I appreciate any help on the home front with that.  Also, please remind them to FLUSH !!  Whenever a student is in the bathroom, my ear is always tuned to hear the flush sound, the water running, and paper towels.  I also squirt some Hand Sanitizer in their hands before going to lunch.

Enjoy this beautiful weather.  Head to a Cider Mill, go for a drive along Edward Hines, play outside, go for a family bike ride, …they’ll have some good possibilities for their Narrative Writing next week.

Someone sent me this the other day…

Teaching

You laugh.  You cry.  You work harder than you ever thought you could.

Some days you try to change the world.

Other days you just try to make it through the day.

Your wallet is empty.

Your heart is full.

And your mind is packed with memories of kids who’ve changed your life.

And I wouldn’t change a day in my life with “my kids” for anything!  Thanks for sharing your child with me.

Mrs. Smith