This Week in Room 108 ~ Sept. 26- 30th

Nine cheeseburgers fully loaded.

Hello Families,

I'd like welcome our new Grade 2 students and their families to our classroom. Although a classroom reorganization is never easy, I will do everything in my power to make the transition as smooth and happy as possible. As we greet our new students, we say goodbye to several Grade 1 students who are moving to Ms. Moledina's classroom. We are next door neighbours, so we can feel good knowing that we're not that far away. Good luck to you all!

Here's what we're working on this week:

Language: Reading - Retelling continued. Our Grade 1s are very close to completing their Knuffle Bunny books that retell this funny tale. Students worked with me in shared writing activities to write assorted sentences retelling the story. The children then chose sentences that applied to their illustrations and copied them as picture captions. This week, Grade 1s will move into retelling Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree through stick puppetry. We'll see how far we get.
Grade 2s will also work with The Giving Tree, constructing their own sentences (with teacher guidance), to create their own booklet retelling the story. I will also begin meeting with the 2s throughout the week to have them retell The Giving Tree orally.
* Guided Reading groups will commence once my reading assessments of the Grade 2s are completed (hopefully beginning next week).

Writing: Recount writing will begin this week as I model this writing form and students contribute to shared/interactive recount writing lessons. Depending on readiness, Grade 2s may begin writing simple recounts towards the end of the week.

Media Literacy: Last week, we began discussing the news, with special attention to news about the drought in East Africa. This week, we will begin looking at text features of the Toronto Star.

Math: We will wrap up patterning this week with a few final assessments and we will move into Number Sense and Numeracy. The Grade 1s will begin reading and printing whole numbers to 10 by making number books. The 2s will do the same, but with numbres to 20. Our calendar routine in the morning will begin to incorporate money and place value. As well, we will begin counting forward and back from different numbers.

I will hold off reporting on Science and Social Studies for now due to the possibility of Ms. Moledina and myself sharing instruction between the grades. I'll keep you posted. In the meanwhile, both grades will compare plant and animal life in our class for Science. Students will propagate plants through seed and cuttings and we will talk about survival needs.

Homework: Always goes home on Mondays and is returned on Fridays. Thanks to the majority of Grade 1s who returned their homework on time last Friday.

Grade 1s
1. Students will complete the letters C and D on the printing sheet. Please check to make sure your child is printing the letters neatly and copying the examples. Students should aim to do a little bit of great work than a whole lot of messy work. Please support your child and pay attention to his/her pencil grip. If you think they would benefit from a triangular pencil at home, drop me a note and I'll send one home.
2. Number hunt: Grade 1s will look for things around the home that show 1-5. They will draw and write in the boxes on the paper coming home. For example: One dog, two cats, three cans... Let your child be creative and really search the home for ideas. Students are asked to spell the number (a spelling help sheet will come home). Try to let your child spell the other words on their own, even if they make mistakes. Please make sure they only do the first five. Next week they can complete the other five.
3. Students will read a book every night using a book from our classroom library. Most students are now eager to borrow a new book every day. Please remind your child to bring their book back each day so they don't feel left behind.

Grade 2s
1. Grade 2s will have a larger number hunt. This week they will draw and fill out ten boxes of assorted things around the home from 1-10. They will do 11-20 next week. They are asked to spell out the number and write a short sentence for each one e.g. One runny nose, Two lazy feet... I will send home a number sheet for spelling, but students are strongly encouraged to sound out the words and do their best, even if there are some spelling mistakes. We'll work on spelling in class.
2. Students will be given a reading log and a book that hopefully will be at a level they can read with minimal assistance. You should still read with your child and be their for backup. They write down the date, title, and whether or not the book was easy, hard or JR (just right).

Hopefully the math homework will not be too time consuming. Stay in touch with me and let me know if there are any problems that I can help.

Have a wonderful week!
Erin Hawkins

Here's your cup of fun for the week. Enjoy!