We Have Arrived.....!

The children were excited upon returning to school Tuesday.....eager to learn which Australian animal they are going to study and research. Needless to say, we have hit the ground running in the land down under!

The children have been reading this week with Mrs. Waller. We have started our book in a bag program back up. We have also started a program called "bucket books". The children have a small blue bucket at the bottom of their cubby and we have decided to use them for the children to store books that they can read independently. Once they have finished a book, they record it on their reading log and return the book to pick out another. They can read these books any time they are finished with their work. They love doing this on their own and recording all the books they are reading!

Later, we discussed the many strategies great readers use to help them better comprehend what they are reading.  We focused on visualization and talked about how the author's words can create vivid pictures in our minds. Mrs. Waller read the book, The Old House by Pamela Edwards. She hid the pictures while the children told of the images that were created in their heads by the words the author used. After we finished the book, the children illustrated their favorite picture; these illustrations are on display in our classroom. They turned out great.

Miss Fate has played Crazy Eights with the children while reviewing vowels that travel in pairs and the silent e.  She has also guided them through the beginning of their Australian theme notebook pages.  They have been learning about the terrain of the continent -where the outback, rain forest, and mountain ranges are located. They have also begun learning about the Aborigines, the first settlers of Australia. On Thursday, they explored all types of Australia books and had fun learning all types of facts.

Independently the students have been listening to recorded books about Australia in the listening center. They played a follow-up cause and effect game to reinforce our If You Give a Mouse A Cookie/cause and effect lesson from a few weeks ago. They continue to review long vowels and have started writing in their Australian journals.

In Math this week the children continue to work on time, while Miss Fate used a hula hoop to create a large clock on the white board.  They also reviewed their coins in a variety of centers. They have visited The Candy Shop and purchased their choice of candy. Once they decide on the type of candy they would like to purchase the children then illustrate it, record the price on the price tag and stamp two different ways to make the amount. While playing Show Me What  You Need, the students drew coin amounts from a pile of cards and colored in the coins to equal the amount on their recording sheets.

Our hula hoop clock....

Show Me What You Need

The Candy Shop

They also got to play Race To Draw with a partner. The student spins a spinner and moves the corresponding spaces on the game board. As they move they collect money in their pot. Once they collect enough money and land on buy, they get to pay the bank for the face, arms, legs, crazy hair, etc for their creative creature! When they have created their creature, they have to pay to color it! The first person to color it wins! They love this game. They don't even know they are learning/reviewing coin recognition.

RACE TO DRAW

In Social Studies, they have begun their journey to the land down under. Miss Fate presented their Australian animals on Tuesday, they were so excited to find out. She has also introduced them to the Aborigines and dreamtime. In TNT on Wednesday, we discussed the Australian flag and the students created their very own.

Friday we had Robert Nieves, the reptile expert visit us, which is always a favorite. The kids enjoy this event, take a look below:

New spelling words:
(focus skill: diagraph /k/ck) pick, pack, tack, back, sack, sick, chick, snack, truck, duck
Challenge words: Australia, Aborigine, continent, outback
Surprise the teacher! Your Australian Animal!!!!

REMINDERS:

• An important note will be coming home today with information on our Australian theme-keep your eyes out.
• We have started our Book In A Bag program back up this week. Please remember to sign off and encourage your child to bring it back the next day. Please remember, these books are meant to be at or below their independent level. We want to positively reinforce their reading abilities, not frustrate them. 
• Next Friday, March 2nd, we will be painting our Australian Animals at school,  you might want to have your child wear older clothes- we will have smocks, but you never know. 
• Spring Break starts March 10th-March 19th--P.D. Day!
• The International Festival will be on March 21st at 9:05am, location TBA  

Have a safe weekend. We look forward to Monday!
Mrs. Waller and Miss Fate