Newsletter - 3/18/11

READING
This week we read a rhyming Big Book – Vroom, Chugga, Vroom-Vroom. The story was about a noisy sports car race with many determined drivers and enthusiastic fans – all animal characters. We paid special attention to what happened in the story and why by using the terms “cause and effect.” The nonfiction Big Book was Cool Wheels. Read by ourselves books were Tan Van and Going for a Ride. Zelda Zebra was our new alphafriend. Our new word wall word – have.

MATH
Counting as a way to measure and compare time was introduced. The students tried different ways to cross the room and counted as they went. The recorded and then discussed their findings. The dime was introduced this week. We explored the characteristics of the dime and learned about its value. Working in pairs the children took turns acting as a banker and as a customer. They could trade 10 pennies for a dime when they earned that much. Later in the week they practiced with exchanging pennies, nickels and dimes. They LOVE to work with money!

SOCIAL STUDIES/SCIENCE/HEALTH
We completed a chapter in Health on Staying Well. The study covers how germs cause illness, ways to control the spread of germs, and other ways to stay well.

St. Patrick’s Day led to some map study again to find Ireland. We listened to a story telling the history of St. Patrick’s Day and then did some activities centered on this holiday. The K-A Kids especially enjoyed finding clues all day that led to the treasure.

Newsletter - 3/4/11

We had a great week celebrating books and reading with Wellman Elementary “Wild about Reading” theme. We began the week with a favorite book “Where the Wild Things Are” and then we created wild thing paper bag puppets to use on our front door. We are sure that our door should win the contest! If we do we get a pizza party. If not, well, we are very proud of our door. It says, “K-A is WILD about Reading” and we really are.

To fit in with the W. E. reading week I created activities around a nighttime theme for the students this week. It’s always good to break out of the usual curriculum from time to time to re-energize. We read big books and our own small books “Nighttime” and “Sleeping Out”

We had guest readers on Wednesday. Mr. Showalter brought two of his varsity basketball players and we enjoyed listening to them read to us. Thursday was fun in our pajamas and we had a “read and feed” time. On Friday we did a “stop, drop, and read” throughout the day and finished with an all school assembly.

And the winning door......

The K-A Kids won the door decorating contest for reading week. We were rewarded with a snack time of pizza and cupcakes. Way to go, K-A Kids. You are very creative!

Reading Week at W. E.

We decorated our door to reflect the theme "Wild About Reading". After reading the book "Where the Wild Things Are" each student created a "wild thing" paper bag puppet holding a book with his/her favorite book.



"Read and Feed" time in pajamas!










Guest readers included some of the Mid-Prairie boys' basketball team.

We celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday by reading many of his stories, decorating cupcakes and watching a movie.