Oct 15

Friday, October, 15, 2010

            

The Pre-K class has been busy this week with apples, leaves and Halloween activities.  We have now finished our apple unit and have started our leaves and Halloween theme.  During the week of October 25^th the Kindergarten class will be having a Halloween party.  Details will follow shortly but now is a good time to start making or go out and start looking for a Halloween costume for your children.  Homework is going really well and the students are very eager to tell me how they love completing it.  Also Treasure Bag has been a big success and its something that we all look forward to during the day.

Reading Tips

What tips can I use to help my child learn to read?

Tip 1 –  Talk to Your Child

Oral language is the foundation for reading. Listening and speaking are a child's first introduction to language. Talking and singing teach your child the sounds of language, making it easier for him or her to learn how to read.

Here are some things you can do to help your child build an appreciation for words and language:

·         Tell family stories about yourself, your child's grandparents, and other relatives.

·         Talk to your child as much as possible about things you are doing and thinking.

·         Ask your child lots of questions.

·         Encourage your child to tell you what he or she thinks or feels.

·         Ask your child to tell you about his or her day – about activities and games played.

·         Be patient! Give your child time to find the words he or she wants to use.

·         Sing songs, such as the alphabet song, and recite nursery rhymes, encouraging your child to join in.

·         Play rhyming and riddle games.

Reminders and Notices

1. Library books need to be returned to school by Wednesday.
2.  “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.
3. There will be a Halloween party the week of the 25^th.
4. On Monday I will send home some pattern sheets; please review and this can stay at home.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Guided reading with our letter books.
2.  Halloween activity books.
3. Computer story “Tooth Fairy Witch.”
4. Sequencing, seeds to apple trees.

Math Centres

1. 1-10 ordering with objects.
2. Making pattern necklaces with string and paper.
3. Sorting pasta by shape, size and numbers.
4. Making pattern necklaces.

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

Learn from the masses, and then teach them. 
Mao Tse-Tung 

Kristopher's Birthday Party

Oct 7 with Pictures

Friday, October, 8 2010

            

          Another exciting week in the Pre-K class has passed.  Last Friday we had a great time making our apple crisp and it was fun to see the students in the class that have a sweet tooth!  This week we did more activities with apples.  We used apples and carrots to decorate a big apple for our classroom and we also learned and labeled the inside and outside of an apple. 

I hope the homework is going is going smoothly.  Just a reminder that you can keep the homework package during the week and it only has to be returned by Friday.  Also library books only have to be returned by Wednesday.  Children at this age love re-reading books over and over again.  The repetition helps with comprehension and overall enjoyment of the book.  I could read some books every day for the entire year and the students will never get tired of them. 

Starting this Monday we will be starting Treasure Bag.  Treasure bag is a version of show and tell.  Every night the treasure bag will go home with a student and they will have a chance to bring something special to them to school the next day.  Instructions will be enclosed in the bag and they are in English and Chinese. 

Reading Tips

How can I help my child?

As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. When you help your child learn to read, you are opening the door to a world of books and learning.

Reading aloud to children is the best way to get them interested in reading. Before long they will grow to love stories and books. Eventually they will want to read on their own.

With the help of parents, children can learn how to read and can practice reading until they can read for their own enjoyment. Then they will have a whole world of information and knowledge at their fingertips!

Reading can be a family activity. Spending time with word games, stories, and books will help your child to:

·         gather information and learn about the world

·         learn how stories and books work – that they have beginnings, endings, characters,     and themes

·         build a rich vocabulary by reading and talking about new words

·         learn how to listen and how to think

·         learn the sounds of language and language patterns

·         fall in love with books

It's natural to want to compare your child's reading abilities with those of other children of the same age, but not all children develop reading skills at the same pace. What's important is that you are aware of your child's reading level so that you can choose books and activities that will help him or her improve.

Reminders and Notices

1. Library books need to be returned to school by Wednesday.
2. Keep brining in those white t-shirts for our fall leaves project.
3. “Aa, Bb” books also need to be brought back to school.
4. There is no school this Monday October 11^th as it is a professional development day for teachers.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Guided reading with our letter books.
2. Play dough recreating scenes from the story “10 Apples Up On Top”.
3. Computer story “Tooth Fairy Witch.”
4. A-Z floor puzzle

Math Centres

1. Finishing Math apple books.
2. Making patterns using toys in the classroom.
3. Sorting pasta by shape and size.
4. Making pattern necklaces.

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

Braedon

We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. 
B. F. Skinner 

Oct 1st Pictures, Apples Apples Apples!

Special Note

In a few weeks the Pre-K class is planning to do an activity with t-shirts.  Could you please send in a white or light coloured t-shirt for us to use.  We will be painting on it so be aware that when it comes back it will be different.  We are going to be painting leaves on them.

Thanks for your help
cheers
Braedon

October 1st

Friday, October, 1 2010

            

            Wow!  October is already here.  I am very pleased with how far the Pre-K’s have come in a very short time.  The students are already surprising me with how much they can do now.  Every Friday we do “Writers Workshop” which is weekly writing about what we did that week.  It is posted on the wall in the classroom and you are more than welcome to come in and see what your child is writing about.   

As discussed earlier October will be the first month of the homework packages.  It will go home on Monday with a letter explaining it.  If you are confused or need some clarification come by and we can discuss it.  As I mentioned, it is voluntary and I will never grade it.  I will look at it and now and then write some tips but that is all.

Also this week library books went home with your child.  Can you please return your child’s book by the following Wednesday when we go back to the library.  Since library books and our Aa, Bb books are going home regularly I will now include some tips and suggestions on this blog every week to help you read with your child.

 

How will my child learn to read?

Learning to read does not happen all at once. It involves a series of stages that lead, over time, to independent reading and to fluency.  The best time for children to start learning to read is when they are very young, usually at the preschool level. This is when they are best able to start developing basic reading skills.

1.  The pre-reader and the beginning reader:

·         likes to look at books and likes to be read to

·         likes to behave like a reader – for example, holds books and pretends to read them 

·         learns about words by looking at picture books and playing with blocks that have letters   on them, magnetic letters, and so on

·         learns about words from songs, rhymes, traffic signs, and logos on packages of food

·         learns how text works – for example, where a story starts and finishes and which way the print proceeds

·         begins to understand that his or her own thoughts can be put into print

·         uses pictures and memory to tell and retell a story

Reminders and Notices

1.  Library books need to be returned to school by Wednesday.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Guided reading with our letter books.
2. Play dough recreating apples and apple trees.
3. Computer story “Only a Witch Can Fly.”
4. Finishing “All About Me” book

Math Centres

1. Math apple books.
2. Making patterns.
3. Sorting pasta by shape and size.
4. Patterning sheets.

 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

You teach best what you most need to learn. 
Richard Bach 

September 24 Pictures