Literacy:
We started our Reading Wonders curriculum this week with Unit 1 Week 1. The children will receive a purple sheet with their spelling and vocabulary words at the beginning of each week. They will have opportunities at school to practice and learn these words and will be tested on them at the end of the week. They have online access to Spelling City if they would like to practice more at home. The children also have a fast and fluent reading packet in their three ring binder. We will do our best to find time to read these in school to help build fluency. They can also be practiced at home. There is a timer on the Math Google Classroom page. Please contact me if you have any questions. Our essential question this week was "What can stories teach you?" Reading can inspire us to learn about others and help us discover different places. Stories help us discover new ideas and learn how to do new things. They can also inspire us to learn about other people. The texts we read this week included "Three Pigs, a Wolf, and a Book", "Bruno's New Home", "Wolf!", "Jennie and the Wolf", and our guided reading story "Duck's Discovery". We worked on the comprehension strategy: visualize, the comprehension skill: character, the genre: fantasy, and the vocabulary strategy: synonyms. Our grammar lessons focused on sentences, fragments, statements, and questions. Our spelling words had the short vowel sounds of a and i. The students have all been given an A.R. goal for first trimester. This, along with a reading record sheet, can be found in their 3 ring binder. Please encourage your child to read a minimum of 20 minutes at home each evening whenever possible and remember to initial his/her Buggy For Books sheet once per day.
We started our Reading Wonders curriculum this week with Unit 1 Week 1. The children will receive a purple sheet with their spelling and vocabulary words at the beginning of each week. They will have opportunities at school to practice and learn these words and will be tested on them at the end of the week. They have online access to Spelling City if they would like to practice more at home. The children also have a fast and fluent reading packet in their three ring binder. We will do our best to find time to read these in school to help build fluency. They can also be practiced at home. There is a timer on the Math Google Classroom page. Please contact me if you have any questions. Our essential question this week was "What can stories teach you?" Reading can inspire us to learn about others and help us discover different places. Stories help us discover new ideas and learn how to do new things. They can also inspire us to learn about other people. The texts we read this week included "Three Pigs, a Wolf, and a Book", "Bruno's New Home", "Wolf!", "Jennie and the Wolf", and our guided reading story "Duck's Discovery". We worked on the comprehension strategy: visualize, the comprehension skill: character, the genre: fantasy, and the vocabulary strategy: synonyms. Our grammar lessons focused on sentences, fragments, statements, and questions. Our spelling words had the short vowel sounds of a and i. The students have all been given an A.R. goal for first trimester. This, along with a reading record sheet, can be found in their 3 ring binder. Please encourage your child to read a minimum of 20 minutes at home each evening whenever possible and remember to initial his/her Buggy For Books sheet once per day.
Math:
We have worked on numbers and number sequences, practiced finding numbers on a number grid and in number grid puzzles, learned how to locate information in the Student Reference Book, practiced using math tools, made a tally chart and transferred the information to a bar graph, practiced finding equivalent names for numbers using name collection boxes, and discussed the likelihood of chance events. We learned and played two games in the classroom. We also practiced our math skills online using Moby Max, Sumdog, and Prodigy. These websites are available for the students to use at home as well.
We have worked on numbers and number sequences, practiced finding numbers on a number grid and in number grid puzzles, learned how to locate information in the Student Reference Book, practiced using math tools, made a tally chart and transferred the information to a bar graph, practiced finding equivalent names for numbers using name collection boxes, and discussed the likelihood of chance events. We learned and played two games in the classroom. We also practiced our math skills online using Moby Max, Sumdog, and Prodigy. These websites are available for the students to use at home as well.
Health:
Our first unit is called "Things You Might Catch". We talked about germs, the difference between bacteria and viruses, communicable and noncommunicable illnesses, symptoms of illnesses, and ways to stay healthy. We learned that our blood is our most important body defense system. Our blood contains antibodies which work to fight germs that get into our bodies. We talked about immunizations which can help prevent certain illnesses and medicines which can help cure some illnesses. The children practiced some note taking and also received a study guide to prepare for the quiz on this unit. We will be taking this quiz in school next Tuesday, September 29th.
Our first unit is called "Things You Might Catch". We talked about germs, the difference between bacteria and viruses, communicable and noncommunicable illnesses, symptoms of illnesses, and ways to stay healthy. We learned that our blood is our most important body defense system. Our blood contains antibodies which work to fight germs that get into our bodies. We talked about immunizations which can help prevent certain illnesses and medicines which can help cure some illnesses. The children practiced some note taking and also received a study guide to prepare for the quiz on this unit. We will be taking this quiz in school next Tuesday, September 29th.
We spent the first week of school establishing our new routines and reading many stories to help with our character development and social responsibilities. We discussed our "Pawsitive Pride" expectations. We also learned how to navigate Google Classroom to find the classes we need, and practiced completing and submitting assignments through Google Classroom. The children should be able to independently use Google Classroom in the event they need to do so from home. We are off to a great start!! Let the adventure begin!
As a result of spacing our desks apart, we are working on creative ways to stretch our brains during our morning time before classes start. Each child has a baggie of Legos, and a Puzzle Squares challenge as well as a folder of activities and a Chromebook. The puzzle square challenges are difficult, so we celebrate the completion of one with a photo of the accomplishment! Luke and Natalya have each completed one puzzle! Yay!!
Thank you to those who have returned their "Future World Changer" - All About Me poster to school. If you have not done this yet, please do so at your earliest convenience.
A note regarding yearbooks:
Yearbooks: If you want to share with your parents (via email if you send one out), that they can order the elementary yearbook. They can order online at JostensYearbooks.com or turn in money to the Albany Elem School office with their order. Make sure they have the students’ name and grade on it. They are $15.00 each. This information is also listed on our district website, under the Albany Elementary tab.
A note regarding yearbooks:
Yearbooks: If you want to share with your parents (via email if you send one out), that they can order the elementary yearbook. They can order online at JostensYearbooks.com or turn in money to the Albany Elem School office with their order. Make sure they have the students’ name and grade on it. They are $15.00 each. This information is also listed on our district website, under the Albany Elementary tab.