Week 12

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Here is what we were up to before we left, and then after we returned from the holiday.

Thanksgiving Day Thanks by Laura Malone Elliott

Read to: Pre-K

Skills: Thinking about what are we thankful for.

Thanksgiving Rules by Laurie Friedman

Read to: Kinder and Primer

Skills:  Thankfulness and sequencing

Both of these stories are fun to read before Thanksgiving. After reading we all shared what we were thankful for as well as traditions we enjoyed.    

Lester's Dreadful Sweaters by K.G. Campbell

Read to: 3rd and 4th grade

Skills: Bluebonnet book nominee and learning how to write a summary for a fiction book.

With Bluebonnet voting getting near, I wanted to have a chance to read a Bluebonnet nominee to the kids so we could discuss it together, and also so everyone could count another book towards their five book goal. The kids have to read five books in order to be eligible to vote for their favorite in January. Each time the kids read a book, I ask them to write a summary of the book so that they can remember what the books are about at voting time, and to practice writing a summary. I noticed that many of the kids were struggling with the concept of writing a summary, so after reading the book our next lesson was to learn how to write a summary for a fiction book. We used the graphic organizer below to organize our thinking and then write our summary together. The kids did a great job and they are going to continue practicing this skill as they write their other summaries.   

Late Start Day with Second Grade

When we returned from the Thanksgiving holidays our first day back was a late start day and we were paired up with second grade. With it being the holiday season we decided it would be fun to have the kids create or decorate holiday cards and ornaments to give to someone special. We discussed that it could be someone that they knew, like a friend or a family member, but it could also be someone in their community who would really appreciate it this time of year. 

Card making station. 

Stained glass ornaments station.

 

Scratch off Dreidel ornament station. 

Scratch off Christmas tree ornament station.

It was a fun time had by all!

And last but not least, I just had to share. We finally got Brian Floca's beautiful drawing framed and hung on the wall in the Lower School Learning Commons. Doesn't it look great?! Such a neat way to remember this special author visit. Thank you Mr. Floca!