Off to the Flynn!

We had a great trip to the Flynn to see three books come to life on stage: Rosie Revere, Engineer, Izzy Peck, Architect, and Ada Twist, Scientist.  These are three wonderful picture books that focus on science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and pursing your dreams.  After our visit to the Flynn, the children worked on their own engineering task. They had to create a tower that was at least 10 inches tall using only index cards and some masking tape.  The tower also has to be able to hold a beanie baby stuffie!  It was quite the engineering task!  Be sure to ask your child about his or her tower...was the challenge met?  Could anything have been changed or modified to improve it?

We also celebrated Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss' birthday this week.  In our Scholastic News magazine, we learned about Dr. Seuss and how he became a writer.  We then spent part of the week reading several of our favorite Seuss stories: Green Eggs in Ham, Fox in Socks, and The Cat in the Hat.  We also watched a great tutorial video on how to draw the Cat in the Hat and the children had fun trying to follow along.  Some even tried to draw Thing 1 and Thing 2!  Dr. Seuss' books are great to read at home with your child.  Look for all the rhyming words!

During Reader's Workshop, we talked about that the books we are reading are becoming bigger and longer.  We sorted some books in the classroom from easier to harder and noted characteristics of books as they get more difficult: more words, smaller print, and longer sentences.  However, we did noticed that many early reader books have patterns.  If we can figure out the patterns in the sentences, then the book becomes easier to read. For example, "Mouse finds a cookie.  Mouse finds a strawberry.  Mouse finds a carrot".  If we do not know the word that changes at the end, we can use the picture to help us figure out the unknown word. See if your child can notice the patterns in the sentences he or she reads.

We have begun a new writing genre during Writer's Workshop: opinion writing.  We are working on stating an opinion and backing it up with reasons.  We first brainstormed some problems in our classroom or school (running in the hallway, marker caps being left off, a messy writing center, etc.) and then used words to write about why it is a problem and how it could be fixed. Some children wrote booklets, letters, or signs.  Be sure to ask your child what he or she wrote about!

In math, we are continuing our study of shapes; however, this time we are focusing on 3-D shapes.  We have discussed the characteristics of spheres and cylinders and have searched around our classroom to find examples. Also, in a new Work Place, the children have had the chance to build
2-D shapes using play dough and toothpicks.  After building each shapes, they have to count and record the number of sides and the number of vertices (corners).

Lastly,  I look forward to meeting with you all next week for Parent Conferences.  Please let me know if you have forgotten when you signed up to meet and I will resend you the time and date.  Have a wonderful weekend!