Pictures from this week

Wow! It has been a busy week! We've started going to the computer lab (the children get better and better at logging themselves in... Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete is no easy task when you have tiny hands and are just learning your letters!) and the library.  We had school pictures yesterday and had our first substitute teacher this morning! (Mrs. Taylor was wonderful! Thank you, Mrs. Taylor!)

In addition to all those things, we also began our true "literacy block." That's just fancy teacher talk for reading. Did you know that between reading and writing, your child is receiving 120 minutes of daily literacy instruction? Impressive, right? 

This week, I phased out the "play" centers during out reading center time. (Play centers, like blocks, home living, etc., are still available during free time- they are five, after all!). You'd think the kids would be bummed, but they didn't even notice! The children were so excited to try out their new centers- no one said a word about the missing play centers!  During center time, the children have the time and space to work on activities that will help them become better readers. They may choose to work in small groups or individually. During this time, I work with small groups at my "teacher table" to practice reading new books and  learn/use reading strategies. Here are a few quick pictures I snapped this week of the kids working in literacy centers: 

Presley, Sawyer, and Elli take turns reading this week's poem together at "Read the Room."

Elena and Katie work at the computers.

Brian at Sight Word Work

Clayton stopped to check out what Scott was up to. This week our Great Expectation for living was that "We will cheer each other on to success." Good job practicing Great Expectations, Clayton!

Soona and Trevor work together at the Pocket Chart center. We are looking at Environmental Print this week. It's shocking how even young children that can't read will recognize logos and associate it with the product! We are using a poem this week to practice sight words, but the children get to fill it in with the logos of things they like.

Paige works at the rhyming center, sorting pictures into the different rhyming "houses." 

Karson and Cameron read "Splat the Cat" at the listening center, then fill out a reading response page.

Sully practices writing her friend's names at the dry erase center.

Deakon works on beginning sounds with the letter stamps.

Clayton works on sight words at "Say it, Build it, Write it."

Brooklyn practices letter recognition and alphabetical order at the ABC stamps.

The kiddos are doing so great! With pictures yesterday, and me being out today, our schedule has been funky! Sawyer asked me after a story today, "Can we do some more work?" We are back to business as usual tomorrow!

Here are some important announcements and upcoming events:

We have parent teacher conferences starting next week. I can't wait to meet with everyone!

Our class will go to the book fair on Tuesday from 8:40-9:10. I have sent home information about available books in Thursday Folders. 

Today the children checked out their first book from the library. Please remind your child to be careful with the book and keep it in their special book pocket when they aren't looking at it. Books are due back on next Thursday.  The children were so excited to pick out their own book!  It was adorable.

Calling for all box tops! I am turning them in on the 3rd. We have tons, I'm hopeful we will in! (If we don't, my dad has already committed to a pizza party. I haven't told the children- shhhh!)

If you ordered scholastic books, they should be here any day! Next  time I will set a deadline on orders so that I can get them to the children faster. I'm sorry it's taken so long! 

Homework books are starting tomorrow! The children are super excited to read to their families! Please take a few minutes and read the sheet titled "Emergent Reading" that is in the homework folder. I hope it will help you! 

One last thing- we have a wish list of items for the class. I would like to make the students a class tshirt before the Walkathon. The students will get to keep the tshirts! I need the following items:

-White cotton tshirts (children's sizes)

     - 7 small

     -10 medium

     -4 large
-Blue tie dye.  This is available at walmart- Here's a link to what I am going to buy:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tulip-3-Color-Moody-Blues-Tie-Dye-Kit/17299925  I'm going to use the turquoise and navy blue. It says that it makes 8 shirts but the directions lie.  This is not my first tie dying rodeo.  I will need 5 of these kits.  If a few people could pick up one or two, it would help lessen the load tremendously! 
 

If any grown ups want matching shirts for our field trip at the end of the year, feel free to send in a white cotton tshirt, too! They are going to be awesome. You'll want one. :) I'll update the list as I get shirts so we don't end up with 50! 

Thank you for all you do! You have such great kiddos- that doesn't happen by chance :)