The past couple of weeks have continued to be full of activity, learning, and fun. Last week we had our Harvest Festival and this week we had our first WOW day celebration and two birthdays! Happy Birthday August and Ved!
Highlights
In Writing, the kids have each chosen their final Personal Narrative to take from a seed story and grow into a final, published piece. We worked on telling our stories, adding dynamic beginnings and will move into developing our closings tomorrow.
We began The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Di Camillo, a beautiful book offering ample opportunity for meaningful discussion, written response, and looking beyond the written words. Each student now has a Reading Response journal s/he will use to write in response to what is read. Please look at the questions/prompts and your child's responses. It is a great opportunity for conversation and may help your child develop their thoughts and understandings. We also began the read aloud, The Magician's Elephant, also written by Kate Di Camillo. Reading these books simultaneously will allow us to compare the texts and really look at the author's style of writing. Rather than hurry through these books in order to finish this week, we will continue both after Thanksgiving Break.
Word Study is moving right along. The kids are getting used to it, and enjoying the activities.
In Math, we are stepping back from the traditional methods of solving problems and are exploring non-traditional methods, such as breaking down the numbers. It is a challenge but will have lasting benefit and the kids are taking it in and beginning to apply the strategies. We are also continuing to visit place value, rounding, estimation, and comparing numbers. This week we will extend our math time to an hour and fifteen minutes, spending the first 15 minutes doing a game to practice all of our math facts -- addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We will also be continuing with number operations, primarily through word problems.
The kids are really enjoying Social Studies and are learning so much about Virginia. Several times per day, the kids make connections between something we have read or talked about with what they are learning in Social Studies. I have no doubt that I will learn a lot about this state from their brochures when they are complete. We have talked about a trip to Williamsburg/Jamestown in early December and they are very excited. Mrs. Reed and I should have the details worked out this week.
In Science, the class did an experiment with roots and root hairs. Working in groups, they were given a root and either altered it or left it as is, put it in a cup of water and compared the absorption and what changed with the roots over time. The kids made observations and predictions. As always, they loved the experiment.
Announcements and Reminders
- This week we have our Giving Thanks Feast on Friday at 11. I will keep you posted with the details.
- Prior to the feast, we have our annual Talent Show. The kids who chose to be part of the Talent Show signed up this past week. Ask your child if s/he signed up. The talent show acts need to be practiced outside of school as there will not be time during school hours. The Talent Show is so much fun to watch and is certain to be as wonderful as last year's show.
- On Wednesday, our class will be going to Chroma to see Lindsay Diamond's art exhibit. Following that, we will go to the library to return and check out books. We will leave around 10:30 and will return by 1:30, eating lunch and playing at McGuffey during that time.
- Next week is Thanksgiving Break and there is no school. We will have Kids Camp on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. If you would like to sign your child up, please contact Kim.
- If you are a Black Friday shopper, and want to stock up on SCRIPS prior to break, Elaine will be selling a variety of cards on Friday morning outside of the M.A.C.. This is a great way to give to CDS without spending a penny up and above.
- Please send your child to school every day with a water bottle and tennis shoes. I am telling you, running laps in fur-lined boots is miserable.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions at all.
I hope you all have as wonderful of a week as we in the Sunbear class are sure to have.
Best,
Annelise
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