Monday, September 29th

This Week!

Fall is here!  And, we will use the wonderful sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of fall to frame our learning.  We will spend as much time outdoors as we can observing changes in our surroundings. Wednesday, we will walk to the pond that is located right down the street.  We will make this walk regularly as we learn to document our observations as new scientists.  Please sign and return the one-time permission slip at the bottom of the newsletter allowing your child to make this walk with us whenever we go.  If you would like to be a part of these or any other experiences, please complete a Volunteer Application form.

Daily Five

We are becoming independent readers and writers as we practice the elements of Daily Five.  We are REALLY good at Reading to Self and are learning how to select Good Fit Books. We had our first Writer’s Circle today as part of Work on Writing, and these first graders confidently shared their writing with their classmates and answered to questions and comments as authors do.  We are still working on Read To Someone.  This component is a little harder to master because of the tendency to socialize instead of read to the Reading Buddy.  But, we are building stamina and Read to Someone for 10 minutes today!  Next week, I will introduce the Word Work component of Daily Five.  This will include practice on sight words, building words, letter patterns and more.

Math

As we complete our first math unit exploring number partners and shapes, we will move into what numbers mean in equations and operations.  While it is very important for your child to learn math facts, it is equally important for your child to build and solve problems using manipulatives and drawings.  It is perfectly OK for your child to use counters and/or fingers during these early experiences with equations and operations. Look for these number explorations in the weeks to come. We will also be using math language to explain our thinking and how we solve problems and why we get the answers we do.

And, is it a Pebble, Sand, or Silt? We are exploring the materials of the earth. You may notice an interest in collecting rocks or looking/playing in the dirt. Not to worry:)

And, please don't forget to sign up for Parent Conferences.  You may sign up on line at:

http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Elm_Creek_Elementary