Week of Nov. 2, 2009

The kids did a great job with their Literature Sets.  I was impressed with how well each group worked together.  It was fun for me to watch how nicely they helped each other out with sounding out a word that someone in the group didn't know or how they helped explain directions to each other in order to complete their project or activity.  There were a few instances where a group needed a little extra help from me, but for the most part they were able to accomplish the goals for each day on their own or with the help of their group members.  It was exciting for me to just observe and listen to their discussions!  Since it was such a success, I'm going to try to do Literature Sets one week a month.  We'll see how it goes, but I'm certain the kids enjoyed it! This coming week we will go back to Centers. 

Last Friday the children brought home their Reading books.  We just completed the book, and we'll start the second book in the series on Monday.  The children can keep their reading books at home all of this week.  They should bring them back to school by Friday, Nov. 6.  I would like for them to read at least three stories from the boook out loud to you.  This is a good way for you to see how they are doing with their oral reading. 

Plans for this week:

Reading- This week our story is realistic fiction.  Realistic fiction are stories about things that could really happen.

The high frequency words are:  day, every, her, said, was, with.

The children will learn about setting, which is where a story takes place.  We will also learn about the short sound of "e".

Spelling- The spelling words are:  hen, pen, men, end, send, set, all, call, very, that.  The test will be Friday, Nov. 6.

Handwriting- This week we will start learning how to correctly make the capital letters.  We have completed all the lower-case letters and numerals.  We will learn how to make a capital "C" and "G". 

Math- We will be making flash cards for the addition double facts.  Please be sure you are helping your child memorize their double facts up to 18.  We will also be weighing objects this week using a balance to determine which object is heavier. 

The class will have an assessment this week on solving addition story problems, ordinal position to sixth, and writing addition problems. 

Religion- This week will be a review of Unit 1.  We have just completed our first unit in our Religion books.  We will review all the concepts from Unit 1.  We will spend one or two days preparing for Unit 2.  This "getting ready" time allows the children to share prior knowledge they may have about the liturgy and the sacraments of the Church. 

Social Studies- We will begin a unit on bread and wheat.  The children will learn how wheat is planted and harvested.  They will learn that the kernels from the wheat plant are brought to a mill and crushed to be used to make flour at a bakery. 

The kids will discover that wheat is the world's most important food crop.  Millions of people throughout the world depend on foods made from the kernels of the wheat plant.  The kernels are ground into flour to make breads, cakes, cookies, crackers, macaroni, spaghetti, and other foods.

We'll spend the next two weeks on this unit.  We will conclude the unit by baking bread at school!

Important Dates:

Tuesday, Nov.3- Reading Parent: Mrs. Sprague 1:30-2:00

Monday, Nov. 9- Picture Retake Day  

Weekly Schedule:

Daily- Morning recess and snack 9:30-9:45, Lunch and recess 12:00-12:40

Monday- Music 10:00-10:40

Tuesday- Art/Computer 8:00-8:40, Library 8:45-9:15, Reading Parent 1:30-2:00

Wednesday- P.E. 10:40-11:20, Church Music 2:00-2:30

Thursday- Mass 8:45-9:30, Music 10:00-10:40, P.E. 10:40-11:20

Friday- Spanish 8:00-8:40, Art/Computer 1:20-2:00