Weekly Updates!
Mrs. Reynolds' Class, August 17-21
Important Dates
*Back to School Night, Tuesday August 18th, 6-7:30pm
*ABC Book due, Friday August 28th
*NWEA Reading test, August 26 & 27, 12:15pm
*NWEA Math test, August 31 & September 1, 12:15pm
Mrs. Thompson, school counselor
Letter Practice
A Visit From Ms. Eileen
NWEA Testing
Reading Workshop
Students will be encouraged to:
*choose books that are a "good fit" for them (interest and reading level)
*use the front cover, title, and blurb on the back to determine if they are interested in reading a book
*identify details within illustrations (characters, emotions, setting, events, etc.)
*identify story ingredients
*retell stories with a partner that include story ingredients
*use stringing words to connect each part of their retelling (then, next, first, finally, last, etc.)
Word Work
Students will continue to work with each others names this week during word work as well. Building a foundation of literacy starts with making connections to what kids already know and we will use our names as a tool for this scaffolding.
Students will be encouraged to:
*distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters in reading and writing
*write letters using appropriate spacing on lined paper
*recognize similarities and differences between students' names
*understand that letters can be put together to make up words
Writing Workshop
It was very interesting to begin the process of book making last week in Writing Workshop. Watching students have ownership of their writing and use their creativity to solve problems that arose was fantastic. To encourage all writers we will explore a variety of books and look deeply into what makes them interesting. Students are welcome to draw pictures that tell a story and add labels or letter sounds instead of writing complete sentences (see illustration above).
Students will be encouraged to:
*take risks in their writing
*make pages with pictures and words that go together
*write down as many sounds as they hear in a word (it doesn't need to be perfect)
*use correct letter formation
*make all the pages of their story go together with the same theme
*create a title for their story
*add their name as the author
Math Workshop
This week during math workshop students will become acquainted with a variety of math manipulatives. We will establish procedures as a class that ensure everyone has a positive learning experience when using these tools. We will introduce the concept of a math journal and brainstorm a variety of ways that students could show their thinking in a math journal (pictures, numbers, words, etc.). Students will also be asked to work with a math partner during certain activities and begin using "math talk" in their conversations.
Students will be encouraged to:
*refer to themselves as mathematicians
*explore various tools and materials
*explain how a manipulative could be used as a tool for math learning
*verbalize their math ideas to a partner
*record their thinking in a math journal using pictures and/or words