November 19

Friday, November 19, 2010

            

Time just keeps flying by and soon we will be getting ready for our Christmas break.  We have been busying this week making porridge and acting out Goldilocks and Three Bears.  The students have really enjoyed the nursery rhyme unit so far.  

I have completed my second reading observations and I am so happy with all of the progress that the students have made with regards to literacy.  Keep reading as much as you can to your child and as I said during the parent teacher meetings, it doesn’t matter if you are reading English or Chines; reading is reading.  I prefer English of course but reading in Chinese will transfer over to English.  Also, when reading with your child, try to get them to help you read by saying the sight words they already know.  They love helping and showing how they can read as well. 

            

This week I sent home Ii and Jj books.  I didn’t have time for the students to color them so if you have time at home could you help them complete the coloring.  I also sent home the word rings.  Could you please quiz your child on the sight words and praise them on already knowing so many words.  These word rings took a lot of time to make so try to be kind to them and could you bring them back to school early next week.

Reading Tips

Tip 5 –  Talk About Books

Talking about the books you read is just as important as reading them. Discussing a story or a book with your child helps your child understand it and connect it to his or her own experience of life. It also helps enrich your child's vocabulary with new words and phrases.

Here are some ways to help your child acquire skills in comprehension, reasoning, and critical thinking:

·         Ask your child about the kinds of books he or she would like to read.

·         Talk to your child about your favourite books from childhood, and offer to read them.

·         Encourage your child to ask questions and to comment on the story and pictures in a book – before, during, and after reading it.

·         Look at the cover and the title of a book with your child, and ask your child what he or she thinks might happen in the story.

·         Encourage your child to think critically about the story. Does he or she agree or disagree with the author? Why?

·         Think out loud about the story as you read, and encourage your child to do the same. For example, ask, "Does this make sense? Why or why not?"

·         Give your child time to think about the story, and then ask him or her about it again a few days later.

Reminders and Notices

1. “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.
2. There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November 25 at 11:30 and parents are welcome to join us.
3. Beauty and Beast performance will be December 10^th at 7:00 (more details will follow)
4. Word rings need to be brought back to school early next week.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Cut and Paste sight words game.
2. Pocket chart poems.
3. Computer story “The Paper Bag Princess.”
4. Making sight words using Lego.

Math Centres

1. Little Red Riding Hood board game.
2. Gingerbread Man matching.
3. Gingerbread Man game.
4. Puzzles and dominos.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. 

Chinese Proverb