Highlights of Our Week!

Hello families,

We have had a fun-filled week of learning together. We filled our heart jar again and celebrated with a stuffie day. Many children enjoyed having a snuggly friend with them throughout the day. It was fun to play with them at recess too since it was rainy and we were indoors!

In readers workshop we've been reviewing good habits that readers do when they practice reading. This week we practiced: setting goals about how many books we want to read each day, rereading to make our sentences sound smooth like talking, scooping up phrases instead of reading word by word, and rereading a book to see and understand more of what is happening in the story.

This week we read and began writing small moment stories. These are stories of things that happened to us or moments we've lived in which we had a big feeling. When writing this type of story first we zoom into the big feeling. Then we sketch out the story parts in order. Next we write each part on a separate page. After that we add details in our pictures. So far that's what we've been doing. As we continue to progress in this writing style we'll learn more about revising and editing too! To help us understand the concept of small moment stories we read a couple together this week: Night of the Veggie Monster and Dark Night.

We also had a CLiF event on Monday where we met a local author, Tracey Campbell Pearson. We got to see a lot of her work, hear about how she makes books, and ask some questions. It was cool to hear about how long and how many revisions she makes before a book is complete!

We began the next word study unit on CVC (consonant-short vowel-consonant) words. We are practicing tapping out the sounds and then building the words with letter magnet tiles or writing the words on white boards or in notebooks. We are also adding a few more trick words/sight words to our spelling practice. These are words that are commonly used but don't always follow the traditional letter/sound patterns. We are currently working on: the, a, and, is, his, of.

We finished up our first math unit and had a "show what you know" about those math skills: comparing numbers, adding 2 addends under 10, representing numbers in an organized way, adding on the number line, solving addition/subtraction/combination story problems, orally counting to 50, and writing numbers to 50.

We also began our WIN time -- this is a time to do some learning for What I Need. Sometimes this will be everyone doing learning together about new concepts. Sometimes this will be "good fit" learning in small groups to target skills students need to work on. This week we learned about Fact Power. This is a routine that helps students practice addition and subtraction math facts. Students learn and progress at their own pace, working to master each number pattern before moving on. There are a few ways we practice: using flashcards, working in packets, and playing games. 

Thanks to all who returned the Family Conference sheets. I sent back your conference time slot according to the times of day you said you were available. Please keep the top portion of the green note so you know when your time is to meet with me. If the time given doesn't work for you after all please let me know so we can reschedule. Either way please return the bottom portion of the green note so I know if you can make it!

Last chance to order some books through our Scholastic Book Order! There are lots of great deals and books make great gifts! There likely won't be another order until I return from maternity leave in April. Orders are due this upcoming Monday!

Dates to Remember:

• No School, Friday 11/9
• Monday 11/12, Scholastic Book Orders Due
• 12:15 dismissal, Wednesday 11/14
• Family Conferences, 8am-8pm Monday 11/19 (No School for students due to conferences all day.)
• Thanksgiving Break - No School Tuesday 11/20 - Friday 11/23
• Monday 11/26, School resumes

Have a great weekend!
❤ Mrs. Fox