Highlights From Our Week
Our Wizard Of Oz Study Continues
We’ve taken a closer look at the characters in this fairytale, especially the Scarecrow and the Tin Man.
Scarecrow
We all know that the Scarecrow needs a brain. In preparation of our discussion of the importance of our brain, we revisited a mojo growth mindset video. Please click below to view Your Brain Is Like A Muscle.
After watching this video, the children provided examples of the significance of the brain, as evidenced below.
Then the children participated in a directed drawing of a scarecrow as they watched this step by step video.
Tin Man
The Tin Man is searching for a heart. We watched Mojo, the Director, as well as a Sesame Street video in order to understand the meaning of empathy. Please click below to view these videos.
These videos led to a discussion of what it means to be empathetic as evidenced below.
The Tin Man STEAM Challenge
Our STEAM challenge was to create the Tin Man out of makerspace materials.
The children worked in groups. Each child chose a specific job in his/her particular group.
The pictures below demonstrate teamwork, creativity, and problem solving while utilizing limited materials.
It’s All About Math
As we continue to explore the concept of addition, the goal is for the children to understand and become familiar with multiple strategies. We have used different manipulatives to accomplish this goal.
Multiple Addition Strategies
The pictures below exemplify the strategies the children have learned thus far.
Read To Self
Read to Self has become a favorite time during our day. The children eagerly get their reading boxes which are filled with books that spark their interest, then they choose a comfortable spot in the classroom, and are ready to begin the wonder of reading. It is truly a magical time!
Writer’s Workshop
Prior to Writer’s Workshop, we gathered around the rug. The children chose an experience from their weekend and shared this experience with the class. We responded by singing “tell me more, tell me more,” in order to encourage the children to provide additional details. When writer’s verbalize their ideas first, they are able to bring clarity to their story. This process enables the children to become detailed writers.
It’s All About Digraphs: /ch/ and /sh/
The children were introduced to Jolly Phonics sounds, /ch/ and /sh/. They listened to the stories and sang songs. Our next activities involved forming the letters using “Handwriting Without Tears” language. We blended words using the new sounds. On Seesaw, your child has recorded the blending process of reading their new words. Please continue to celebrate his/her successful ability to decode.
To further their knowledge of the /ch/ sound, the children engaged in a word sort. They decoded words with /ch/ and then matched these words to the corresponding pictures.
Our week always involves student choice and student interest...
Enjoy the beautiful weekend.