January 2012 Newsletter
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and a restful break. It is good to be back. As the New Year begins, our children may experience some transitional issues returning to school. They may show reluctance or have difficulty reentering their routines. This is normal and to be expected. It was a long break and will take some time to readjust back to “real life.”
Even though December seems so long ago, we spent the month learning about the Gingerbread Men and Christmas. We read many different versions of the Gingerbread Man, even one about a Gingerbread Cowboy. We compared and contrasted the different versions. The children really enjoyed reading and listening to all the different versions and picking their favorite one.
We spent the rest of the month learning about the First Christmas. We discussed the beginning, middle and end of the story and what our Greatest Gift is- Jesus Christ. The children also practiced their songs everyday and they sang them so beautifully at our Christmas presentation. I was so impressed with them!
This month we will be learning the following:
Themes- New Year, Author Study on Ezra Jack Keats, Five Senses, and Winter
Writing- This month we will continue to focus on the mechanics of writing more readable stories. We will also learn how to partner with our peers to aid each other in writing more readable stories. We will also pick one story to edit and revise and work through that process. We will then finish the month with beginning our unit on the craft of revision.
Handwriting- Q, G, S, A, I, T, J, Review of all capitals and numbers
Reading-This month we will begin work on summarizing and finding the main idea in stories. We will summarize the beginning, middle and end of stories. We will also continue working on graphic organizers to aid us in comprehension of stories. Children will also study an author (Ezra Jack Keats) and become familiar with a variety of his stories, compare and contrast them, and extend them.
Phonics/Word Work: -at, -ash, -am, -op, -ot, -ob word families
Math- Identify and describe attributes of shapes, compare shapes, realize that shapes remain the same even if their position is changed, model and solve subtraction number stories using manipulatives, learn about the – symbol, recognize and write numbers, compare and order numbers, sort blocks acrroding to different attributes, identifying addition and subtraction stories, using the +, -, = symbols, and reading, representing and writing 2-digit numbers, increase awareness of the passage of time and order of events, reinforce patterning skills, introduce counting forward and backward on the calculator, develop and extend measurement skills and introduce and review tally marks as a way to count and record groups of 5
Verses- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8, Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Psalm 34:13, Love is patient, love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
Important Dates to Remember:
Monday, January 16, 2012-No School
Wednesday, January 25, 2012-Choir begins at6:30pm(If you would like to sign up for the Spring, it’s free! Choir runs from6:30-7:30pmevery Wednesday and is led by our music teacher, Ms. Marilyn.)
Thank you! It has been such a joy teaching your children!! I can’t believe how fast this year is moving.
Blessings,
Ms. Donna