Weekly Update

Dear Families,
We have library time on Wednesdays.  We go every week and the children can select 2 books to take home.  As the school year progresses, we encourage the children to select one "free choice" book and one "just right" book.  We will talk more about "just right" books next week, but for now, these books are on the child's independent reading level, a level that allows the child to feel successful and enjoy the reading process rather than feeling frustrated and discouraged by a book that is too hard.  Please help your child to remember to bring our library books back on Wednesdays so he/she can choose 2 more books.  Thank you.
This week, the children learned how to use our school computers to search for books effectively, how to be good reading partners and how to read independently in our library.
Here are some pictures.

This week, we met with our Reading Buddies as well.  Our Reading Buddies are Kindergarteners in Sharon Davison's class.  We will meet with them bi-weekly.  Sometimes we will visit their classroom, and sometimes, they will come to ours.  We will even skype with them and do collaborative learning online.  Because Ms. Davison and I do so much learning together, we sometimes call our friends our "Learning Budddies." Today, the students met their buddies for the first time and shared some good books together.  Here are some pictures from our first meeting.

This week, first grade mathematicians also got a chance to meet their new friends from Ms. Crowley and Ms. Benoit's classes.  I teach all the first graders on Harmony.  Second graders have math with either Ms. Crowley or Ms. Benoit.  This week, first graders started to work on some number sense games and community-building activities.  For example, we created a Class Contract together, emphasizing the importance of being kind, safe and responsible in our math class.  We pledged to show sportsmanship, respect and kindness in our math class.  Here is a picture of our contract, with buzzing bees decorating it all around.  Each student is represented by a bee, as we promised to "bee" safe, kind and responsible.

We also added our large sign that reads the word, "because" to our classroom wall this week.  This word is very important to us and as you will learn it is my favorite word.  Ask your child why.  Perhaps, it will become your child's favorite word as well?  The word "because" is my favorite word because it allows you to justify your thinking and backing up your statements with facts.  It is also important because it encourages all learners to build confidence in their own abilities to make sense of things and that their opinions matter.  We even have dance that goes with it.....perhaps your child will show you?

 In math, first grade mathematicians started to explore numbers in different ways.  For example we look at today's date in many different ways in our Number Corner section of our math class.  Today, for example, we showed 3 with tally marks, popsicle sticks and tiles in double ten-frames.  We have a great group of first grade mathematicians!

Lastly, we have PE on Tuesdays (until late October), Wednesdays and Fridays.  Your child needs sneakers on those days.  As it is still warm outside and many children prefer sandals, please send a pair of sneakers into school.  Your child can keep these sneakers in her/his locker.  If you and your family need assistance purchasing sneakers, please let me know and I will find your child his/her own pair for the school year.  Thank you so much.

Once again, thanks for sharing your children with me.  Have a great rest of the week!
Regards,
Maria