Christmas Concert Song

Well it is that time of year again! We are starting to get ready for our Christmas concert. This year our class will be performing Nat King Cole's "I'm The Happiest Christmas Tree." We have just started to learn our song, but will be ready by our show! Below are the lyrics so you can practice singing it at home (unfortunately I couldn't upload the music - the Nat King Cole version on youtube is a little different than what we will be doing).

I’m the happiest Christmas tree

Ho-Ho-Ho, Hee-hee-hee

Someone came and they found me

And took me home with them

Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas tree

Ho-ho-ho, he-he-he

Look how pretty they dressed me

Oh, lucky, lucky me

I got shiny bells that jingle

And tiny little lights that tingle

Whenever anyone passes by

I blink my lights and I wink my eye

Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas tree

Christmas day, wait and see

I’ll be laughing happily

With a ho-ho-ho, he-he!

Pattern Bracelets

Today our class finished up with repeating patterns by making pattern bracelets. They had so much fun coming up with unique patterns. No two were the same!

Just a reminder to practice reading on Raz-Kids!

Name ten frames and chalk art pumpkins

Last week the grade one and two students practiced using ten frames by putting their names on a ten frame! The followed the rules filling the ten frame from left to right and filling the top row before the bottom row. Next, they found out how many letters are in their names and compares them to the number ten by writing how many more letters they would need to fill up the ten frame. They look great!

We have also been studying all things pumpkin. For our art centre students created chalk art pumpkins. Thy started by drawing their pumpkins in black paper. Then they traced over their lines with white glue. Once the glue dried, the students used a chalk rubbing technique to fill their picture with colour. The results look amazing! Good work on our pumpkin patch grade 1 and 2's!

Odd/Even numbers and pumpkins!

This week we have been learning all about odd and even numbers. We have been practicing them through some games on the smart board, a pocket chart sort, some cut and paste activities and even a game of scoot! Be sure to ask your child how to tell if a number is odd or even! 

We have also started learning all about pumpkins. We started with describing the way a pumpkin looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. Over the next few days we will be learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin and even counting how many seeds are inside. It will be a lot of fun!

Ways to support literacy at home

Hello!

Many parents ask the question, "How can I support my child's reading at home?" So, I have put together a short list of some ways your can help support your child's reading at home. 

·        Read together everyday

·        Read cereal boxes together; find letters, letter sounds, and words on cereal boxes

·        Have your child write a shopping list

·        Look through magazines and the newspaper together

·        Practice writing greeting cards

·        Look for letters or letter sounds on licence plates while driving

·        Read names on signs (eg. McDonalds, Stop)

·        Use flash cards to practice letter sounds or sight words (these can be done by putting them on the     floor and saying a letter sound or word, then having your child hop on the letter/word)

·        Write in a diary or journal

·        Write notes to each other

·        Listen to books online (eg. www.storylineonline.net)

·        Practice the sight words from the planner pages (look for them in books, practice spelling them,        etc)

·        Play letter sound Pictionary  or regular pictionary

      These are only some ways to support your child at home. I encourage parents to create a pro-literacy environment by making books available in the home and making reading a part of your routine. Take a trip to the library and help your child find something they enjoy - you child is more likely to read something they are interested in! Feel free to post some ways you help to encourage reading at home.

Online Resource: Starfall

Looking for some good websites to practice letter sounds and help with reading? Try going to www.starfall.com. This website has lots of letter sound and stories for your child to practice their reading skills.

E-mail update

My e-mail address has been changes, so if you are trying to reach me by e-mail please use: emily.johnston@sd5.bc.ca

Leaves are falling!

Over the past week our class has been learning about leaves! We went on a fun leaf walk, did some beautiful leaf rubbings, found out the difference between simple and compound leaves,  and learned about why leaves change colour in the autumn. It was piles of fun! Be sure you ask your child what they learned about leaves and see if they can find a simple and compound leaf to show you. 

This week we will be continuing our Autumn explorations and will be learning about turkeys.  

Word work and Bucket Fillers

We have started our literacy centres this week and the students have been practicing their spelling and word wall words. The favourite way to practice making their words has been with the Wikki-Stix. They have also been using play dough, stamps, and have been reading and writing the room!

We have also been talking about Bucket Fillers and Bucket Dippers. We read the book "How Full Is Your Bucket" and talked about how we can do nice things for others to keep our buckets full. Our class is full of "Bucket Fillers"!

Picking a "Just Right" Book

Recently we have been talking about picking a "just right" book - one that is not too hard or too easy.

To pick a book, students are using IPICK to help guide their choices. We have also practiced using the five finger rule. To use the five finger rule, pick a book you want to read, open to any page and read it. If you have trouble with 0-1 words then it is too easy. If you have trouble with 2-3 words it is just right. If you have trouble with 4,5 or more words then it is too hard.

Continue to practice these skills at home to find good books your child can read!

Welcome!

Welcome to room 103's classroom blog! Here you will find updates about classroom activities and special events. Keep checking in regularly for pictures of our projects and ways to help your child excel. I look forward to your visits!

-Mrs. Johnston