Classroom
News
Ms.
Maxwell K-117
January
2010
Happy
New Year! I hope you all had a very restful vacation and were
able to spend time with family and friends. Our work this month
will focus around looking back at the work the children have done so
far, noting the progress they have made, and working to increase that
level of achievement even more.
Reading:
This month the children will
be shopping for “just right” books to read during reading
workshop. They have their own book baggies full of many books,
poems, and songs that we have read together but now they will begin
to choose from books they have not read before. As this process
begins, we will focus on strategies to help them read these just
right books, including look at the picture, noticing words they
already know, and using the beginning letters to help them stretch
out words. Reading groups will also begin again this month and your
child will bring home a reading group book on the day we meet to read
to you at home.
Writing:
Just as we are reading “just
right” books in reading, we are working on creating our own stories
that are “just right” for our readers. The children will be
asked to focus on making their stories easier for readers to read.
They will focus on sketching clear, concise picture, using spaces
between their words, and hearing more sounds in each word.
Math:
January will be a month for
children to increase their understanding of number sense. We will
work with some concrete tools to help children see the value of each
numeral and understand how to manipulate and compare numbers. We
will be working with more two-digit numbers and using the 100s chart
to help us understand their values. If your child is still having
difficulty with the numbers 1-20, please practice at home with number
identification.
Science:
To continue our work with
observation and looking closely at items in our science center, we
will be revamping our hermit crab tank and buying new hermit crabs!
The students have been very patient with our empty tank. Our work
will involve studying hermit crabs specifically through careful
observation as well as research. Children will be encouraged to
wonder about the hermit crab and develop questions to study and learn
about. We will also be visiting the library to do some additional
research.
Reminders:
Friday, January 8th
1pm – Visit to pet store to buy hermit crabs! Families welcome.
Just let me know!
January 14th
– Paper Bag Players 9:30 – 12:30 92nd
Street Y
January 18th
– MLK Day No School
January 22nd
– Visit to Columbus Branch Library 1pm. Families welcome!
At
Home:
Remember to update your
child’s word wall with each new word of the week. Place the word
wall in a special place in your home so your child can refer to it.
Make flashcards with the word wall words on them to give your child
extra practice. If you need an extra word wall sheet, please see me
and I will get you another one.