We are back in our routine and everything is going great. We are finally getting to go outside, and the kids could not be happier. I hope the snow and cold weather are gone, and I hope spring weather comes soon! Read below to get an update on some of what we are focusing on in each subject.
Reading: We started working on beginning and ending blends. The boys and girls have to determine the blend, its sound, and be able to write the letters that make the blend. Beginning blends are easier than ending blends. Here are examples: "slide" the blend is /sl/ or "fast" the ending blend is /st/. We are also focusing on comprehension skills such as reality v. fantasy, sequence, main idea, character, cause and effect, classify, and setting.
Math: In math, we introduce most of our concepts early in the year, then reteach them repeatedly as the year progresses. This is called spiralling. So, we generally aren't teaching new concepts in math; instead, we teach them more in-depth as the year progresses. Something new we are practicing is counting by 5 up to 100. Most of the students have mastered this already! Next, we will work on skip counting by 2.
Writing: Every Monday we write to 100. In the past, I have provided the students a guide-- a 100 chart. Starting next Monday, the students will be writing to 100 without a guide. Many of the students can write to 200 and above. I will be working with those students that can not make it to 100 yet. The goal is for all of the children to be able to write to 100 by the end of the year. We can do it!!! But, it will take work. Also, we are still journaling. Our journal prompt for tomorrow will be "Valentine's Day was fun because..." The kids are now writing at least two sentences and drawing more detailed pictures. They still love journaling!
Science: We have finished our Plant Science unit, and we started Animal Science. The kids can talk about animals all day! There won't be as many neat experiments with animal science though. The attached pictures include a current picture of our Chia Pet--I cut his hair this morning. Also, we are watching beans turn into bean sprouts. We have given them water, air, and sun. Hopefully by Friday, more of the beans will have sprouted.
Have a great afternoon!
Chia Pet
Bean Sprouts
