Literacy: We have been reading about caterpillars and the alphabet. We have read Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" in preparation for some related activities next week. We have read several other fiction and non-fiction books about caterpillars and butterflies. We are talking about where on a page to start reading, the difference between letters and words and making predictions. Please reinforce these skills when you read to your child at home. We read "Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom" and will revisit that book next week when we do a related art and math projects.
We have been working on a letter a day. This is a brief introduction to each letter of the alphabet. We talk about the letter name, learn the "key word" which helps us remember the sound and discuss the sound. We hold our hands in front of our mouths as we make the sound to feel for air coming out. We place two fingers on our throats to feel whether or not our throat vibrates when we make the sound. We discuss where our tongue is our mouths and what our teeth and lips are doing. Last, we try making the sound with our noses plugged. Thus far, we have learned: a, apple, /a/; b, bear, /b/; c, cat, /c/. We have also learned the song "Who Let the Letters Out?". If you remember the song "Who Let the Dog Out?", you're halfway there. "Who let the a out? a, a, a, a. Who let the b out? b, b, b, b."
On Friday, the children listened to a story read by Mrs. Kanfer, one of our reading specialists. She will become familiar to the children next week as she and I will begin co-teaching some afternoon literacy activities. Our goal is to target our lessons so that we can provide individual children with the skills they need to advance their reading and writing.
Has your child told you they can read? Everyone in our class is a reader because there are three ways to read a book! One way is to read the words. The second is to "read" the pictures and let them tell you the story. The third way is to read a familiar book that someone else has read to you so many times that you can "read" it in your mind. The children began having a daily quiet reading time this week. It is very brief when it starts and gets longer as the children develop stamina. Please encourage your children to read at home using any of the three ways to read a book.
Math: We have been learning how to use many of our math materials this week. It is important to provide opportunities for the children to explore and play with the materials before we expect them to use them purposefully during math instruction. You can ask your child about Unifix Cubes, Pattern Blocks, counting bears and the "junk trunk". We have also been working on counting activities. On Friday morning, we created squares for our first classroom "quilt" of the year.
Next week, Ms. Kittell and I will co-teach our morning math lessons which will focus on more counting activities related to caterpillars and "Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom".
Cafeteria Money: PLEASE send any money for the cafeteria in an envelope and place it in your child's folder. On the outside of the envelope, please write your "child's name", "ID #" (which is on a sticker inside your child's folder), "Mrs. Maurer" and "cafeteria money". The envelope should be placed in your child's folder. This will save Mrs. Harding and me a LOT of time each day. You do not need to specify which entree your child wants as they choose when they go through the lunch line. Now that we are eating in the cafeteria, you may plan your child's lunch choices based on the menu that went home in Friday's school newsletter.
Toys, Jewelry, Etc.: The children are not to bring toys into our classroom. Unless your child brings a toy to before- or after-school daycare, it is better if toys stay at home. Excess jewelry, hair decorations, etc. have been causing many distractions, so the children have been told they need to either wear these items or place them in their backpacks. Thanks!
Sneakers: It would be quite helpful if your child could wear their sneakers to school on Wednesdays and Fridays. Many children are wearing different pairs shoes and then require help changing into sneakers at PE time. This is very time consuming and takes away from instructional time.
The Best Butterfly Video Ever: No matter how many times I experience the butterfly unit, metamorphosis is still magical to me. We watched this clip in the classroom and everyone was fascinated. If you have the chance, check it out. It is an amazing view of the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly. As you watch, remember that the Monarch caterpillar does not build its chrysalis around it's body. It actually sheds the yellow/black/white skin and the light green is the color of its body under the striped layer of skin. The chrysalis is actually clear---and we find them in our habitat after the butterflies emerge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AUeM8MbaIk
Coming Events:
Sunday, September 9 (1:00pm): The first Patriots game of the season! I can hardly wait!
Monday, Sept. 10: The first day of our first five day week. Library today. Letter of the day: Dd
Tuesday, Sept. 11: "All About Me" Homework and Scholastic Book orders due. Art today. The children will meet our fabulous art teacher, Mrs. C. Letter of the day: Ee.
Wednesday, Sept. 12: PE today. All children must wear sneakers. Mrs. C, our art teacher, and I will also co-teach an integrated art lesson using the book "Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom". Letter of the day: Ff
Thursday, Sept. 13: Music today. Letter of the day: Gg. Ms. Scheidt, our Dean of Students, will visit our classroom to teach a social skills lesson.
Friday, Sept. 14: PE today. All children must wear sneakers. Letter of the Day: Hh
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Tuesday, Sept. 25: Our class and Mrs. VDC's class will go on a morning apple picking field trip. Permission slips and more details will be sent home next week.
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