Friday, November, 16 2012

            Time keeps flying by and we have already begun to practice our Christmas performance.  It will be December 14^th at 6:30pm.  If anyone cannot attend could you please let me know A.S.A.P because I will have to adjust the performance accordingly. 

            This week we have begun to speak only English during our literacy and math centres.  This is the first step in our goal to only speak only English when inside the classroom.  It has been very easy for the students to accomplish this goal and even throughout the entire day I rarely hear any Chinese spoken.  

            I have started word rings in the class.  They are all of the sight words that the students learn put onto a metal ring.  Since we learn one or two new words every week the word ring will grow and grow.  On occasion these word rings will go home and could you please quiz your child on the words.  High frequency words are essential to know and use in both reading and writing.   When children have a number of high frequency words under control they can read them in text and then focus their attention on solving new words.  The same occurs in writing.  Please return the word rings after a few days at home so we can add more words to them.  Also, each word has a corresponding hand signal I do for them.  If you child gets stuck on a particular word you can come and see me and I can show you the corresponding hand signal.

Reading Tips

Read Every Day

Children love routine, and reading is something that you and your child can look forward to every day. By taking the time to read with your child, you show him or her that reading is important and fun to do.

Try to read with your child as often as possible. It's the best thing you can do to help him or her learn at school! It also allows you to spend time together in an enjoyable way and to build a strong and healthy relationship.

·                       Start reading with your child when he or she is very young.

·                       Set aside a special time each day when you can give your full attention to reading with your child.

·                       Choose a comfortable spot to read, where you can be close to your child. Make it your "reading place"! Set aside a special shelf in that area for your child's books.

·                       Choose a variety of books.

·                       Vary the length of reading time according to your child's age and interests. For young children, several short sessions (of 10 minutes each) may be better than one long session (of 30 minutes).

·                       Read slowly so that your child can form a mental picture of what is happening in the story.

·                       Praise your child for his or her ideas and participation!

·                       When you and your child are away from home, take along books, magazines, and books-on-tape for your child to read and listen to.

·                       Keep reading to your child even after he or she has learned to read. By reading stories that will interest your child but that are above his or her reading level, you can stretch your child's understanding and keep alive the magic of shared reading.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.      Computer story “Little Red Riding Hood”

2.      Roll and say board game

3.      Phonics book Ii

4.      Acting out the story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”

Math Centres

1.      Goldilocks and the Three Bears board game

2.      Computer:  Geometry Game

3.      Making block towers and then drawing them

4.      Shape monster booklet

Word of the week:  an

Student of the week

The student of the week is Winston.  Recently Winston has emerged as a strong leader within the Pre-K class.  He is speaking a lot more English and was able to do Treasure Bag this week without any help!  Ms. Vicky and I are very pleased to see this outstanding growth.

Reminders and Notices

1.      Please return the word rings after a few days

2.      November 22  American Thanksgiving lunch at school

3.      November 29^th Field trip to Story Paradise

4.      November 30^th Monthly assembly

5.      December 4-7 Literacy week

6.      December 4 School book sale

7.       December 6^th Caves book sale

8.      December 14^th Christmas concert

9.      December Monthly assembly

10. December 18^th Half day and start of Christmas vacation

As 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

Vicky and Braedon

                          Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere

Chinese Proverb