The Weber Weekly

Wow, wow, WOW!  What an amazing week!!  I had so much fun teaching the kiddos this week.  We covered a lot of new concepts and I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the little light bulbs going off all week.

In reading, we began my absolute favorite comprehension strategy, INFERRING!  We can make inferences using our own schema (prior knowledge) plus clues from the pictures and the text.  It's such an incredible sight to see and hear the children inferring.  We will continue working on this higher-level comprehension strategy throughout the year.

Guided math groups will soon be up and running.  We really worked hard on learning the procedures and routines for guided math this week.  Every day the children will have a whole-class lesson followed by Math with Self, Math with Someone, and Math with Teacher.  This format will allow me to work with small groups of students at a level that is "just-right" for their learning.  When we return from Thanksgiving Break, we will start a geometry unit using this approach.

The children have learned to write many different types of responses to reading this week.  We've been reading Thanksgiving books and responding to the text by writing letters, creating quizzes, sharing connections, and retelling.  The class has been working unbelievably hard on their writing!

Miss Tsevas has been working hard on our matter unit in science.  The kids have learned about the properties of matter, the states of matter, the differences between mixtures and solutions, and the changes in matter through heating/cooling.  We have a few experiments coming up that we will need many supplies for.  If you're willing and able to donate any of the following, please let me know.  We will need:  cornstarch, Styrofoam bowls, plastic cups, root beer and orange soda, plastic spoons, and vanilla ice cream.  I know I've been asking for a lot lately, so please don't feel like you have to donate anything.  I will be happy to pick up whatever supplies we still need.  I am extremely grateful for all of your donations and I hope you all know how much your generosity is appreciated!

I also want to express my thanks to the following:

• Thank you to all of our November volunteers!  The kids are really enjoying the time spent working with parents during centers.
• Thanks to Mrs. Fedmasu for being our Mystery Reader this week!  Thanks also to Molly, Marty's big sister, for being our Mystery Reader last Friday.  Please check the "Mystery Reader" tab if you'd like to sign up for a date to surprise your child by reading to our class.
• Thanks to the families of Ethan C. and Carrick for being our Snazzy Snack shoppers for the month of November.  We will be creating "Squanto's Snack" on Monday.  
• Many, many GIANT thank yous to all of you who were able to pick an apple and donate supplies to our classroom.  Your donations of markers, plastic utensils, plates, napkins, batteries, paper, and more will help out TREMENDOUSLY.  I am so fortunate to have an amazing bunch of kiddos and families this school year.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 

Please take note of the following upcoming events:

• Tuesday is our Thanksgiving Feast.  Don't forget to send your food items in a disposable container.  
• We do not have school next Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  Have an enjoyable Thanksgiving!
• Second graders will take their second round of Discovery tests after Thanksgiving Break.