October 3rd

Reading:

We started working on Ask and Answer Questions in reading this week. The kids looked at a magazine about spiders and wrote lists of questions that they had about spiders. They then read through the magazine (using words and the photographs) and wrote things they learned. We also discussed misconceptions and how thinking changes as people read texts.

Discuss: While reading (or after reading) ask your child what questions they asked themselves why they were reading, and what answers they came up with.

The phonics focus this week was on compound words and synonyms. We continued to search for compound words in books and the kids started creating a list of synonyms.

Listening to the VIP reading

Sharing our community helpers with Kindergarten students!

Writing:

       The class wrote silly animal stories this week. We read Dogs Don’t Wear Sneakers by Laura Numeroff, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, and My Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman. The students created lists of silly things that animals do, and then chose one to base a story off of. It was fun to read all of their imaginative stories!

          Ask: What was your silly animal story about?

Science:

          We started our unit about force and motion. The kids did their first science investigation with strong and light force and push and pull. We also read about levers and ramps. We’re all looking forward to more science investigations and learning about gravity and magnets!

          Ask: What happens if you use a light force to pull a cart instead of a strong force? What if we were on a gravel road, how would that change it?

Exploring force with cars and balls

More force investigations using blocks and rubber bands

Math:

          We continued addition strategies with learning about turn-around facts (3+5=8, 5+3=8) in addition. We applied that learning to subtraction and did an investigation to see if we could do turn-around facts for subtraction. The discussion that students had was great! I really want the kids to focus on explaining their thinking using I agree because…, or  I got a different answer, here’s how I did it. A big part of our math curriculum is teaching kids to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. I love hearing the math conversations among kids, and they will only get more amazing as we practice throughout the year!

          Discuss: What are turn-around facts? How can you use them to help you solve addition problems?

Other Fun:

          We had a great week celebrating Centennial’s Homecoming! The kids dressed up all week, and were amazingly creative. We also had an assembly with the Centennial marching band, cheerleaders, football players, and other athletes. They talked about the importance of school in sports and good sportsmanship.