ask me about Wednesday and Thursday, September 9 and 10

Hello Families!  It was good to see so many families at Back to School NIght. I am going to catch you up on what we've done the past couple days!  We enjoyed Hat Day on Wednesday.  We used what we had learned in math using the words exactly the same, the same but different and different to talk about a collection of hats.  Using precise language in math is important, so this was great practice, and fun too!  Ask me to tell you about the hats! 

In Language Arts we have been learning about syllables.  We are using an Orton-Gillingham strategy to pound the syllables with the opposite hand that is used for writing.  We do this so they can break words apart as they are writing later on as they spell longer words.  I have asked them to pound gently on a table, so I hope that's going well on your end!  This is a developing skill so we will be practicing this over time.  We used some of our favorite superheroes, princesses and Pixar characters to help us practice pounding syllables.  Ask me to show you how I can pound out the syllables.

We are continuing to learn about sorting in Math.  We are sorting items into groups in different ways by attributes, but also by number in the collection.  So today, we colored groups of 2, 3 and 4 different colors.  You can find this paper in their math folder if you would like to see how they did.  This is reinforced in tonight's homework as well.
Our Picture Talk today was to study a collage of photographs to see how they all go together.  I asked the students to think of two words that describe all the photographs.  Play and friends were what came to my mind.  Ask me to tell you what I notice about these photographs.

The children are really trying hard to focus and pay attention the whole time.  We try and take Brain Breaks, and when necessary, I just stop and read a story or give them time to relax.  We are working on building stamina, but also on establishing expectations of learning online that will carry-over into the classroom when we return.  Being able to sit up during lessons and not play with school supplies or their study buddy is important.  Sitting up so we see the faces and feet is important, and being focused and not dancing around or making faces is important.  I know they are just learning, so this is expected!  It's also expected that it will improve!  We have talked about Zoom Rules, now we'll work together to create classroom expectations that we will print and send to you so you can see what we have agreed on as a class.  They are doing great!  I really am enjoying them so much.  Today they made me so happy to see how they respond so well to music.  
Thank-you for your continued support, patience and kind words.  It means so much to me!
Have a nice evening!
​Miss Wolfe