Word Work

This week the children were introduced to Word Work, which will be one of the options they have during our Reading Workshop while I am reading with small groups and individuals. This activity is developed based on the Daily 5. During Word Work, the children will be using various manipulatives including magnetic letters, sand, shells, clay, playdough, whiteboards, etc. to practice their spelling words for the week.

Scientific Observations

This week the children observed their wheat for the last time. We discovered that the roots had grown longer and the leaves as well. The leaves also grew thicker and another leaf may have sprouted. We recorded observations in our science notebooks and the children got to take their wheat home.

Spelling for Writers

Our Spelling program involves pretesting the children to determine prior knowledge regarding a particular pattern or rule. Children then self-correct their own pretests and have the opportunity to replace words spelled correctly with more challenging words from a "Shopping List". This means that each child has different words on his or her spelling list, but they are all based on the same generalization. We spend time working with these words and studying the pattern throughout the week and the children are pretested on Friday.

Comparing Numbers

In Math this week we worked on comparing numbers using Greater Than, Less Than, and Equal To. This is a skill that is reviewed from first grade, so to make it more fun, we created some little alligator mouths from popsicle sticks and used them to compare the numbers on our whiteboards. The children created problems for each other and moved around the room to place the symbol correctly.

In Reading this week we began learning a strategy that good readers use to help increase their comprehension. Making Connections allows children to connect something in their book to an experience they have had (Text to Self), another book they've read (Text to Text) or something going on in the world (Text to World). We practiced together using mentor texts in our room and then the children practiced independently by placing a sticky note on their books, coding their connection, and explaining it.

Mowing the Lawn at School?

We've been observing our lawns for several days, and just like real scientists, we are recording our findings in our Science Notebooks. We discovered that the rye grass grew faster and longer than the alfalfa. This week we decided that our lawns were getting a little out of control, so we knew we were ready to mow them! Students used scissors to mow and we are anxious to find out what happens after they've been cut. We even saved some clippings to see what will happen to them without soil.

Listen to Reading

During our literacy block, students have the option to Listen to Reading. They will use a personal Mp3 player to listen to pre-selected stories. We've spent time practicing this activity and the children enjoy being able to listen independently. Boy did they know a lot about the Mp3 player already! They are so technology savvy!