Maplewood SchoolNewsletter For November 9, 2011
News From Room 113
We have had a short but great week. We have been refocusing on friendship and how to treat others kindly. We have worked with the conflict resolution wheel and using “I” messages. I have attached a copy of the conflict resolution wheel for you to use at home and to have conversations around.
Our current reading unit has a focus on many different animals and their habitats. I encourage you to check out fiction and non-fiction books over the next few months on different types of animals. Compare and contrast animal fantasy and animal non-fiction. Notice the types of structures in the books and the type of vocabulary. Compare and contrast habitats and diets of different animals. Talk about coverings, camouflage, and how they handle changes in the seasons. Make connections to other texts you read and to any experience you have had with the animals. We have turned our “housekeeping” area into a pet shop to go along with our animal theme.
In math we are focusing on counting, using the counting on strategy, using directional words (for example: up, down, below, under), writing numerals and numeral identification, patterning, recognizing and naming shapes (triangle, square, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon), comparing sets, and comparing and estimating length and weight as equal, longer, shorter, heavier or lighter. Please work on these skills at home too!
It is very exciting that almost all the students are writing their names in correct form. If your child is still writing their name with more than one capital letter, please have them practice it one or two times a day at home. The more they write their name incorrectly, the harder it is to change.
I will send home a copy of my conference schedule next week. If you find you are unable to attend the conference please contact Kathy, in the office, and she will let me know. You would be surprised how much I could get done in an extra 25 minutes!
Calendar
November 10 and 11 No school
November 14-22 Book Fair
Nov. 17 Picture retakes
November 21 and 22 Parent Teacher Conferences-No school
November 23-25 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 8 PTA meeting
December 14 Late Opening-9:50
December 16 Winter Solstice Celebration 10:00
December 19-30 Winter Break
January 2 School is back in session!
Ask Your Child…
*Tell me about what ocean reading center(s) you worked on
*Tell me about the story of The Best Pumpkin
*Tell me about the new math game Hungry Caterpillar
*Tell me about the conflict wheel-what have you used to help solve conflicts
*Tell me three or more things you know about armadillos
*Show me your Let’s Find Out-tell me what you did for Marcela’s dad, Wayne
*Tell me about the butterfly quilt the class made
*Tell me about what you wrote in your journal this week
November 9, 2011
Dear Families,We have had a short but great week. We have been refocusing on friendship and how to treat others kindly. We have worked with the conflict resolution wheel and using “I” messages. I have attached a copy of the conflict resolution wheel for you to use at home and to have conversations around.
Our current reading unit has a focus on many different animals and their habitats. I encourage you to check out fiction and non-fiction books over the next few months on different types of animals. Compare and contrast animal fantasy and animal non-fiction. Notice the types of structures in the books and the type of vocabulary. Compare and contrast habitats and diets of different animals. Talk about coverings, camouflage, and how they handle changes in the seasons. Make connections to other texts you read and to any experience you have had with the animals. We have turned our “housekeeping” area into a pet shop to go along with our animal theme.
In math we are focusing on counting, using the counting on strategy, using directional words (for example: up, down, below, under), writing numerals and numeral identification, patterning, recognizing and naming shapes (triangle, square, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon), comparing sets, and comparing and estimating length and weight as equal, longer, shorter, heavier or lighter. Please work on these skills at home too!
It is very exciting that almost all the students are writing their names in correct form. If your child is still writing their name with more than one capital letter, please have them practice it one or two times a day at home. The more they write their name incorrectly, the harder it is to change.
I will send home a copy of my conference schedule next week. If you find you are unable to attend the conference please contact Kathy, in the office, and she will let me know. You would be surprised how much I could get done in an extra 25 minutes!
Calendar
November 10 and 11 No school
November 14-22 Book Fair
Nov. 17 Picture retakes
November 21 and 22 Parent Teacher Conferences-No school
November 23-25 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 8 PTA meeting
December 14 Late Opening-9:50
December 16 Winter Solstice Celebration 10:00
December 19-30 Winter Break
January 2 School is back in session!
Ask Your Child…
*Tell me about what ocean reading center(s) you worked on
*Tell me about the story of The Best Pumpkin
*Tell me about the new math game Hungry Caterpillar
*Tell me about the conflict wheel-what have you used to help solve conflicts
*Tell me three or more things you know about armadillos
*Show me your Let’s Find Out-tell me what you did for Marcela’s dad, Wayne
*Tell me about the butterfly quilt the class made
*Tell me about what you wrote in your journal this week
