It was so nice to see so many parents at our Holiday music concert yesterday! The children looked great and I am so proud of them, as I’m sure you are. I don’t think there is anything sweeter than children singing! 

Here is what’s happening next week:

Reading– We continue to talk about comprehension, and one way to help us make sure we are understanding what we read is to create pictures in our minds…visualize! While we read, we can think:

*What pictures do I see?

*What sounds do I hear?

*Is there anything to smell or taste?

*Can I reach out and touch something?

*How do the words or pictures make me feel?

*Can I connect the words to my own experiences?

*Does this text remind me of another text?

When you’re reading at home with your child, try asking your child these questions.

Writing– The children are becoming great writing partners, helping find missing words, misspellings and parts that are just confusing. Next week we finish up our editing so that we can publish our next book right after the holidays!

Spelling- Just for fun…holiday words! Our snap words will be family and which.

Math– 2+2=4   3+5=8    0+6=6    These are examples of addition facts and knowing facts up to 10 will help us have fact power! We will finish up Unit 4 with our assessment, getting us ready to start Unit 5, Place Value, Number Stories, and Basic Facts.

Science- We had a great time making towers with our solid objects! We talked about which objects are good for the base, or bottom of our tower and why. Make sure to check out the pictures here on the blog! What’s up next? Liquids!!

Centers– Our last week of holiday centers, we will make poinsettias, play a Christmas math game and make a Christmas letters book. Our poem, 5 Candles will be the focus of our reading center, we will learn a new game and play on www.northpole.com. Check out the link in the Educational links part of the blog. 

Birthdays- Happy Birthday to Justin and Maia (Dec. 20) and Daniel (Dec. 24)  

 *Dec. 15- Field trip to Li Min School, 8:15-9:30

*Dec. 18- First Grade Holiday Party, 1:00-3:00

*Dec. 19- Early Dismissal, 11:30

*Jan. 5- School resumes

*Jan. 12- ASAs start

*Jan. 16- Report cards go home

*Jan. 26- Feb. 3- Chinese New Year Holiday

*Feb. 4- School resumes 

Solids and Liquids

Last week we began a new unit of study called Solids and Liquids. We will observe the properties of many solids and liquids, comparing how different solids and liquids are alike, and how they are different, organize the results of our inquiries, and communicate both orally and in writing what we discover. These processes (observing, communicating, comparing and organizing) are the basic thinking processes students need at this age to develop a scientific understanding of the world around them. Your child may ask for help finding solids and liquids at home. You’ll want to discuss and compare the characterisitics of those you find. For example, How are salt and sugar the same? How are they different? You may find yourself observing what happens when solid and liquids are put together. Making lemonade or salad dressing with your child can provide interesting observations of what happens when solids and liquids are mixed. Watching an ice cube melt is an interesting way of observing a solid change to a liquid. We look forwrad to lots of fun and learning as we explore a world full of solids and liquids.  

Reading– We continue to talk about comprehension and will learn how to ask questions as we read.

Writing– We will be revising with our partners.

Spelling- Our word study continues with inflectional endings. The hardest of these is –ed, as it makes the ‘d’ sound as in yawned, the ‘t’ sound as in jumped, or the ‘ed’ sound as in lifted. Our snap words are there and because.

Math– I will introduce telling time to the quarter hour and we will begin to make number scrolls. We will also focus on learning addition facts.

Centers– Our centers this week focus on the holidays.  

*Dec. 8-12- Clothing drive for Li Min School

*Dec. 10- We visit Santa’s Workshop

*Dec. 11- Music Concert for parents- 10:30

*Dec. 15- Field trip to Li Min School. Please return the permission form if you have not already. 

*Dec. 18- First Grade Holiday Party, 1:15-3:00

*Dec. 19- Early Dismissal, 11:30

Reading– Our lessons will focus on comprehension…understanding what we read! This is one of the most important things the children will learn. If we don’t understand what we read, our reading work is meaningless.

Writing– Our writing partners are so important! We are learning to be an editor for our partner, looking for missing words, snap words and periods at the ends of our sentences.

Spelling- Our word study focus for the next little while is inflectional suffixes. In grade one we look at adding -s, -ing and -ed to base words in reading, spelling, speaking and writing. This is an introduction, so we are looking at adding endings to base words that do not change in spelling.For example:  look – looks, looked, looking

NOT make – makes, made, making

Our snap words will be saw and would.

Social Studies- We have been studying Needs and Wants in Social Studies. This has tied in nicely with Thanksgiving and the Giving Tree, what do we need (what’s really important to our family), and what are our wants? The children have been discussing what we would need to survive if we were stranded on a deserted island for two weeks, and what we would want. The children had some interesting discussions about what items were the most important. What would you pack in your suitcase?

Math– What fun it is to measure! I will introduce measuring with a 6-inch ruler and measuring tape as well as telling time to the quarter hour. Please practice telling time at home!

Science- We will begin a very fun unit about Solids and Liquids!

Centers– It’s hard to believe that next week starts the month of December! We begin our look at the holidays with our centers: writing a Christmas wish list and decorating gift bags for Li Min School (see important dates below). We will also practice ending blends, create with geoboards and watch a movie about winter! 

Brrr….it’s getting cold outside! Please send your child with a jacket, hat and gloves (each labeled with their name) as our playground gets very cold! Please have your child practice tying shoes, and buttoning and zipping coats! 

There will be a clothing drive the week of December 8-12 (the week of Santa’s Workshop). Boxes will be at the main entrances to school. Clothing will go to Li Min School. The principal said they would be happy to receive winter clothing for their students. He also mentioned that many of their students are from areas affected by the earthquake and adult clothing is needed also.  

*Dec. 1- Giving Tree bags will be collected- thank you for your generosity! Our bags are filled to the top!

*Dec. 4- Treat Day

*Dec. 8-12- Clothing drive for Li Min School

*Dec. 9-12- Santa’s Workshop

*Dec. 11- Music Concert for parents- 10:30

*Dec. 18- First Grade Holiday Party, 1:00-3:00

*Dec. 19- Early Dismissal, 11:30

What a busy week we’ve had! Here is a look at next week! 

Reading– We will spend the week talking about how readers read with fluency. We will talk about reading with phrasing, intonation and expression that reflects the meaning of the story.

Writing– We are getting close to publishing again! This next week, we will learn how to write more clearly, write for partners and revise with partners.

Spelling- Our focus continues to be on blends, however this next week we will look at blends at the ends of words. We will learn about the blends –st, -ft, -lp and –nd, found in words such as best, soft, help and found. Our snap words will be they and many.

Math– We will start Unit 4, Measurement and Basic Facts. I will review reading a thermometer, we will compare lengths using our own feet and a standard foot and introduce the inch.

Centers– Happy Thanksgiving! Although this is an American holiday, we are talking about how blessed we are and how many things we have to be thankful for. Our poem/song this week is called Albuquerque Turkey and it’s a favorite! We will visit www.starfall.com to play with Tom the Turkey, play a math called called First Sum Wins and play a blends Bingo game! A very favorite project is our disguise a turkey center! Be watching our blog for pictures! 

Brrr….it’s getting cold outside! Please send your child with a jacket, hat and gloves (each labeled with their name) as our playground gets very cold! 

*Nov. 28– Early Dismissal

*Dec. 1- Giving Tree bags will be collected

*Dec. 11- Music Concert for parents- 10:30

*Dec. 18- First Grade Holiday Party, 1:00-3:00

*Dec. 19- Early Dismissal, 11:30 

Giving Tree Bags- We only have one more week to fill our bags! Please help if you can!

Snap words are words we need to know without sounding them out…in a snap!  Practice reading and spelling these words at home.

Reading– Leo Lionni is one of our favorite authors! Next week, we will make a graph of our favorite book, written by Mr. Lionni.

Writing– We continue to talk about writing skills and strategies and will focus on writing sight words, focusing our small moments stories even more and using personal word walls.

Spelling- This week we will learn about s-blends, found in words like slippery, swim and skating. Our snap words will be where and are.

Math– Our week begins with Data Day and I will be introducing line plots. We will also use dominos to help us with addition facts and will finish up Unit 3 with our unit assessment.

Centers– Our centers focus on Inch by Inch and It’s Mine by Leo Lionni. We will use inchworms to measure animals from Mr. Lionni’s book, make a hanging timeline, create a blends flip book and make a book award for our favorite books! 

*Nov. 17- House Road Race, 8:15-9:00- Please have your child wear their house shirt!                                              *Nov. 28– Early Dismissal                                                                                                                                                              *Dec. 1- Giving Tree bags will be collected                                                                                                                                *Dec. 11- Music Concert for parents- 10:30                                                                                                                                 *Dec. 18- First Grade Holiday Party, 1:00-3:00                                                                                                                      *Dec. 19- Early Dismissal, 11:30 

Giving Tree Bags- We only have 3 items in each bag and we need your help! We have two more weeks to fill these bags! Each child still needs shoes, a jacket, warm clothes, socks, a hat and mittens. Please consider helping!   

Following our scientific study of rocks in the classroom, we decided to make videos showing our learning. We drew the pictures in KidPix and then imported the image files into Photostory to record our thoughts. Click on our pictures below to bring up the movies we made. Enjoy!

Reading– We are really having fun reading books by Leo Lionni! Next week, we’ll focus on his book Frederick.  

Writing– The children are becomingsuch amazing authors! We have finished our Small Units study and will begin a new unit, Writing for Readers: Teaching Skills and Strategies. We begin with a discussion of writing for readers. We will also look at our writing and talk about what makes it easy or hard to read and will review stretching out and writing words.

Spelling- This week we will learn about l-blends, found in words like flower, clock and blue. Our snap words will be sister and brother.

Math– Frames and arrows can be a difficult concept for children, but the students are doing great! This next week we will continue to use frames and arrows, learn how to count using a calculator and I will introduce dimes.

Centers– Our centers focus on Frederick by Leo Lionni. We will make our own torn paper mouse and write a story to go along with him or her. We will also sequence the Frederick story, play a mouse manners game and make a blends chart for our desks. 

*Nov. 13– Treat Day hosted by Kindergarten, 1st and 4th grades

*Nov. 28– Early Dismissal 

Giving Tree Bags- Today we put our very first item in each of our five bags, but we need your help! Please see the information posted here on our blog. Hats, mittens, socks, shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, and school supplies are great things to add to our bags!

This year, our class is sponsoring five children for the Giving Tree. Their information is below. If you would like to help, please purchase new items (clothing, shoes, small toys and school supplies) and send them to school with your child, who will place the items in a bag for that child. Thank you for helping us fill our bags! If you would like to fill a bag as a family, please let me know and I will send a bag home with your child.

*Lin DanDan, girl 7 years old 

Height: 124 cm 

Weight: 17 kg 

Shoe Size: 22.5cm  

*Zhu HaiLong, boy 8 years old 

Height: 126 cm 

Weight: 23 kg

 Shoe Size: 23cm 

*Li Lang, boy 8 years old 

Height: 121 cm 

Weight: 20 kg 

Shoe Size: 21cm

 *Wang ZhiQiang, boy 7 years old 

Height: 130 cm 

Weight: 24 kg 

Shoe Size: 23cm 

*Cheng Pei Lu, boy 7 years old 

Height: 117 cm 

Weight: 16 kg 

Shoe Size: 21cm

An excerpt from www.keeptimeforchildren.org.uk

With today’s busy lifestyles, many parents and grandparents want to spend more “quality” time with their children or grandchildren. But what is quality time? “Quality time” is time spent doing an activity that is meaningful to the parent and child. It is time when family members really get to know each other. Quality time is spent focusing attention on the other person and sharing thoughts and feelings.

Spending time with our children can be fun and educational for us and for them. Much of the child’s basic learning takes place in the many informal situations that occur daily in the life of the family. These informal occasions for learning include all the times the family members are together doing ordinary things, such as getting dressed, talking over the day’s happenings, dealing with problems, interacting with people outside the family, taking baths, eating, and so forth.The activity does need not be costly, but rather one that satisfies both the parent and the child.Children need to know they are loved unconditionally. The cry of children today is, “Love me for who I am, not what I do. Love me for being who I am, even when I am naughty, not winning, placing, and showing”. That does not mean that you have to approve of everything the child does. What it does mean however, is that even though the child misbehaves, we still love and accept the child and provide support. Children learn about families from the time they spend in their own families. They learn about birth and caring for another person when a new baby comes home from the hospital. They learn about loss when a family member dies. They learn about marriage and relationships by watching their mothers and fathers interact. By living in a family, children learn to share, how to stand up for their own rights, and how to love another person.We help children develop positive self-esteem by communicating the value we feel for the child. Words of encouragement and love help provide children with the courage to try new things without worrying excessively about not being able to do them.Children learn about trust at home from their parents. They learn trust from being trusted. When we trust the child to accomplish a task on his or her own, the child learns that he or she can do the task.To help our children grow and mature well, we should help children learn about life and living in today’s society. The time a parent spends with a child is important. But it can be scary as well. Unstructured time together when the TV is off can be a bit of a shock.