Classroom update, Calendar of Events, and Gingerbread House Pictures!

Hello families!

First, I wanted to apologize for my lack of communication via our blog here!  I have every intentions of updating it more regularly, but time seems to fly away.  With all of our new curriculum this year, there's lots more time devoted to planning and prep than I expected.  I will do my best to update the blog as frequently as possible!

I wanted to give a brief update on all of our academic subjects.

In Reader's Workshop, we are beginning our new unit of studying informational books.  We will be reading lots of nonfiction and talking about the different ways we can learn things through our books, and we'll really focus on comprehending nonfiction!  We did this unit last year, and the kids LOVED getting to read and talk about nonfiction books.  Keep encouraging your child to read at home every night.  It's important to keep the reading habit going, even throughout out longer breaks from school!  Thanks for your support at home in helping your child develop a life-long love of reading!

In Writer's Workshop, we are finishing up our unit of writing informational books.  Your child may have already bragged about writing chapter books!  They have been working so hard and are learning all about organizing our writing and making books for others to read.  I can't wait for the next few weeks to see their final projects and to send them home for you to enjoy, too!

We are starting Topic 5 in math, and will be working on addition strategies for adding numbers up to 20.  We will really be focusing on doubles, double plus 1, and double plus 2 facts.  These strategies are a little tricky, but they are helping your child really deepen his or her understanding of overall math concepts.

In science, we are learning about the seasons, weather, the water cycle, and types of precipitation.  We will be working on these topics up until our winter break.  In social studies, we are learning about winter holidays by traveling to the other first grade teachers' rooms.  We have or will be learning about Christmas in Germany, Christmas in Mexico, Christmas in Italy, and Hanukkah.

Please check out the top of the blog for a new page--Calendar.  Here is where I will post special days and celebrations we have planned (for example, Stuffed Animal Day).  We will try to remember to send home a note before each of these days as well, but know it will be posted here as your main source of information.

And last but not least, thanks to everyone for donating supplies for our Gingerbread houses.  The kids LOVED making them last week, and I loved having all of the parent volunteers and help!  Thanks to all involved in this fun project!  Check out our pictures below :)