KA Classroom Update
Friday, November 13, 2015
What's happening in KA?
We have been certainly been busy since our last newsletter. Our IB study of Community has led us to conversations about the differences and similarities in a variety of communities, including our classroom, our school, and our neighborhood. We have been exploring the similarities and differences of these communities, and how we can be helpful members of all.
In Math we have been playing games that help deepen our number sense. Check your child's green take home folder for a game sheet for How Many Am I Hiding. You can use unifix cubes, legos, marbles, anything small and easy to hold.
Check out our photos below to learn more about what we are doing in Reading, Writing, Math and IB.
Math Games
We learned a new game called "one more, one less" and "two more, two less" and we worked with a partner taking turns to add on from 5.
Math Games
In addition to this game, we also like to play "How Many am I Hiding?" Check your child's back pack for a copy of the game to play at home.
Math Games
We are also working on finding the best way to count objects. And ask us what will happen on the 39th and 40th day of school!
IB Centers
We are working in our IB unit on Community to create our neighborhood in a variety of ways! We cannot wait to reveal it to you at our curriculum share!
Ten Frame Practice
We are exploring different ways to count larger numbers using multiple tens frames. We have a chance to share our counting strategy with a partner and with the whole class.
Recess at Metrotech
KA and KB friendships are in full swing! We love playing with our friends in KB.
Reader's Workshop
In Reader's Workshop we have been working on finding moments in books that are exciting or interesting and talking with a partner about them.
Neighborhood Planning
As part of our IB unit we have been mapping out our neighborhood with a partner. Swing by the classroom to get a better look at our work.
Neighborhood Planning
We started by generating a list of places in our neighborhood. Then we challenged ourselves to include them in our mapping, and to label them so everyone would be able to read our maps.
Writer's Workshop
Our work in Writer's workshop has made such amazing progress since the beginning of the year. We have been writing true life stories and turning them into books.
Writer's Workshop
We have learned that writers include lots of details in their drawings, include lots of sounds for every word, and use finger spaces to make our writing clearer. Ask us to show you how to stretch out a word.
Writer's Workshop
Our Phonics and Sounds in Motion has been helping us stretch out our words to make writing that is readable to readers. Ask us what sound a D makes.
IB-palooza
Community!
Working hard to create one of our final IB projects to culminate how much we have learned about our community.
Community!
Planning, cutting, gluing, taping, and mapping. We were busy.
Community!
We used painted paper we made with Ms. Walsh and Ms. Drew in Art to build our project.
Community!
We had to think about size, placement, and what to include in our work.
Community!
So much of what we have been learning in KA is about how to be a successful part of the community. It's about teamwork, compromise, listening to our friends, and encouraging others.
Dance with Ms. Siby
Greetings KA Families! Our dancers have been learning that shapes are not just for art class. As dance artists, we mold our bodies into different shapes that create images that help us to express thoughts and ideas without using words. Ask your dancers to show you their angular, straight, curvy and twisted shapes! They'll be happy to do so. We've also been enjoying building our improvisation skills, with our freestyle circle dances. I must say, KA has some very talented movers and groovers, but don't take my word for it! Check out the video below. Until next time. (vimeo password to view video: kaclassroom)
8 count dancing with Ms. Siby
8 count dancing with Ms. Siby
Science With Ms. Rosabal
The KA Dendrologists are taking their study of trees to the next level! In partnership with our fabulous art teacher, Ms. Walsh, we are learning about why leaves change color and fall off trees--all while giving the BPCS Elementary School lobby tree a seasonal--and scientific--update. Students have been able to attend to the structural features of leaves (noticing their different shapes and vein structure, for example), and have used this knowledge to draw, paint, and cut out leaves. Ok, fine; the glitter on our leaves is not exactly scientific, but otherwise, they are the real deal! Next up in Science: more leaf rubbings, leaf puzzles, and even an experiment with roots!
Amazon Wish Lists
We have created an Amazon Wish List for books and games. If you would like to contribute to our classroom, please select an item from the wish list to donate. Thanks in advance!
BPCS Food Policy
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School believes that no student should go hungry throughout the school day. As such, if a student requests any meal (breakfast, snack, and/or lunch), that student will be served and their meal account will be charged with the expectation that all charges be paid in full by the student's family each billing cycle. To stay apprised of your student's meal account, families may log into TeacherEase to obtain up-to-date information. We strongly encourage families to prepay for meals and/or provide students with meals each day to avoid any unexpected charges. In addition, if you believe that you qualify for free or reduced meal status, please complete and submit an application as soon as possible. To request an application, contact our main number at 718-722-7634.
Important Information
- Follow us on Instagram @kaclassroom for more pictures of our daily life in KA (www.instagram.com/kaclassroom)
- We will send home your child's green take home folder every Friday with their work in it. Please make sure to take student work from this folder and return this folder each Monday.
- Park days to Fort Greene are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the park- including wearing rubber soled shoes.
- Please clearly label your child's belongings. If you child is missing something, check out the lost and found on the 10th floor!
Dates to take note of:
- Early dismissal at 1:30pm Wednesday, November 25th. No ASP.
- Thanksgiving Holiday- No School: Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27th.
Ms. Anita and Ms. Lawrence
Ms. Siby
We have Dance every Tuesday with Ms. Siby. We love moving our bodies!
Mrs. Rosabal
We have Science with Mrs. Rosabal every Wednesday. We are becoming quite the tree experts.