Weekly News (Apr. 25-29)

Take a peek to see what we have been learning this week!

Math

This week we revisited coins and introduced the quarter. We practiced naming each coin and counting a small collection of coins. We also reviewed how to solve addition number stories. Students rolled two dice and counted the dots to find the sum. Then students drew a picture to match their number sentence.

We also spent some time reviewing 2-D and 3-D shapes this week as we created prisms and cubes using toothpicks and marshmallows. Some students loved this activity so much that they made some 3-D creations of their own at home!

We played a game called "Dice Addition" where students rolled two dice--one regular die and one die labeled with the numbers 1, 2, and 3. Students rolled both dice. Then they named the number they rolled (either 1, 2, or 3) and then practiced counting on from that number using the dots from the second die. The player with the larger total earned a chip, and the first one to get 5 chips was the winner. The class LOVED this game, and it was a great way to help prepare them for using the counting on strategy for addition!

Reading Workshop

This week we wrapped up our poetry unit and practiced finding the "big" idea or the message of a poem. After reading the poem My Bed, we used the strategies shown below to help us figure out the real meaning of the poem. We learned that the poem wasn't just about a boy pretending his bed was a race car or a rocket ship. It was about being lost in our thoughts and using our imaginations to create dreams for ourselves and our lives.

Writing Workshop

The children continue to do a great job adding writing pieces to their writing folders during Writing Workshop time and using our rubrics to reflect on their writing. It's great to see so many of the students choosing to write during our "free choice" time!

All About Me

The class loved learning all about Izabela this week! We learned that Izabela is a great ice skater, and she has earned several badges for the levels she has completed. Her favorite color is red, and she loves to do crafts, play with her dolls, and cuddle with her stuffed animals. Izabela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and she LOVES to ski!