Mrs. Meier's Newsletter
The “Busy Bees” have certainly lived up to their name. I’d like to give you an update on our classroom activities
Class Activities: Calendar activities have included rhythmic clapping and patterning with our counting and skip counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s. We are graphing our daily weather and learning to read a weather thermometer.
Reading: We have added several words to our word wall, including most of the children’s names. It would be helpful to have your child read the words to you so you will know what they need to practice. The words should be read instantly in order to be considered “mastered”. Instruction has focused on learning basic classroom routines, reading their names and locating them in text, building and writing their names, recognizing the first and last words in print, recognizing rhymes and matching words that rhyme, saying words slowly and identifying some of the sounds, saying the names of the letters in their names, noticing and talking about the similarities and differences among letters, copying words accurately, building words, matching pictures of items that start the same, exploring syllables by clapping words to represent syllable breaks, predicting letter sequence by saying words slowly, and changing the first letter of a word in order to make new words.
During Reader’s Workshop we have learned how to build good reading habits. Good readers read every day, everywhere, and everything. They think and talk about books with others. They take care of books. They know their tastes in reading. They have books that are special to them. They have reading goals to strive toward. They understand that they need to do their best work in order for everyone to stay focused on their reading. We have built our stamina for reading to self and reading to someone else.
Guided reading group instruction has started. PLEASE encourage good finger pointing when the children read to you at home. Also, remember to ask questions about the stories you are reading to help check comprehension skills (who/what is it about, what is happening). When students bring home their reading bags make sure they are practicing their books daily and storing them in their backpack. Do not leave these books around the house.
Writing: Instruction has focused on learning to work independently during our Writing workshop. Students are also learning to use their writing, along with pictures, to tell a story. We are practicing our handwriting – remember to bump those lines and space between words. We have progressed from drawing pictures and writing labels to learning how to write a sentence and attempting to add some details. Watch for our completed stories to be published soon.
Math: We are halfway through our first module of Sums and Differences. Students will be assessed on their learning to date by the next week. We have been learning strategies to use for addition and subtraction. We are working to add/subtract within 20 to solve word problems. We are determining unknown numbers in equations. We are understanding the = sign. We are learning to determine if addition/subtraction equations are true or false. We are practicing to add/subtract within 10 fluently. We practiced our estimating and counting skills with Oreo cookies a few weeks ago. How high can you stack them before they tumble?
Miscellaneous: Special events this month included Celebrity Server night at Big Boy on the 13th, the Hedgehog Fund Run on the 23rd, and our Halloween parade/party on the 30th.
Book orders for this month are due October 23rd. .
Please keep your child’s October reading calendar posted in a prominent location to encourage daily reading at home. Remember to check off the days spent reading. .
It’s been a busy month! I’m enjoying working with your children and hope they are enjoying our classroom just as much. I appreciate all of the support of our parent volunteers who have started to enter our classroom.
As always, please let me know of any concerns that may arise. I am usually here late after school so don’t hesitate to telephone.
