Here are some of the highlights of the past two weeks!
Our biggest news has been the launch of our new Writing Workshop program. A few weeks ago, I attended an excellent workshop on Albany which focused on the writing process, specifically geared for young writers. I was so excited by it I had to begin it with the children the following Monday. Their first books are based on author-illustrator craft studies (think Eric Carle, Don Freeman, Jan Brett…) The children are extremely motivated and are doing a great job so far. We’ll continue with this kind of writing when we return in January. Below are some photos from Writing Workshop:
Finding books in the file box
Hard at work!
Reading a completed book to a friend
Sharing books in progress
Over the last two weeks, we’ve also read books about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. Our bulletin board reflects projects from all their mini-studies – Hanukkah menorahs, kinaras used at Kwanzaa, and couldn’t-be-any-cuter Chrismas reindeer. These will be up through the first week of the new year, so come and take a look.
Everett turned six years old, and joining him for his classroom celebration were his parents as well as second-grade sibs, Esme and Eli. We heard two great books and enjoyed a treat together afterwards. Thank you all for making Everett’s birthday so special.
We finished (just today) learning how to write our last uppercase letter. When we return from break, we’ll begin lowercase formation. In math we continue to review number formation, continue to work on increasing our number sense, are doing addition problems in our heads, and finally, each child is learning to memorize his or her own phone number.
We had a great lunch bunch last week. Thank you to the Benson and Scheible/Hanley family for a delicious meal. The class really enjoyed it! And while we’re on the subject of food, we had a fun holiday party today. Thank you to all parents who sent in food, and an especially big thank you to those who came in and helped. It was a great success.
I hope you all have a wonderful break. See you in 2013!
Andrea