This week in reading workshop we worked on retelling familiar stories including key details. We read the story of the Three Bears and practiced retelling as a whole group.  We learned storytelling words such as: first, next, then, last, and finally to show sequence in the retelling.  The children had a chance to practice retelling the familiar story of the Three Bears with their elbow partner using storytelling words.  We discussed how retelling can help you understand what is happening in a story.  We also talked about using a storytelling voice. and how changing your voice to sound like

different characters makes the retelling much more interesting.  We sat in a circle and practiced retelling the story using both storytelling

words and a storytelling voice.  Each child had a chance to add a 

sentence to the retell. It was great practice for both active listening 

and retelling.

In writing workshop we practiced bringing our writing to life by adding dialogue with speech bubbles. We discussed how the story tells the reader about who the characters are, where it takes place, and what happened.  The speech bubbles tell what the people in the story are saying.  This was very exciting for the children!  We ended our week talking about editing and using everything we have learned to make our writing pieces the best that they can be.  It is very exciting for me to see what tremendous growth your children have made since the beginning of the year!

 

In Math we worked on counting, reading, and writing 10.  We sorted objects into groups of 10 and used 2-sided counters to make different combinations that equal 10.  We reviewed counting and sorting numbers 6-9 by sorting toothpicks into groups of a certain number, then using that number of toothpicks to create a shape.

This week in reading workshop we focused on making a plan to share during share time with their partners.  Last week we talked about what they could share, this week we worked on marking the place  they wanted to share.  The children practiced using a single sticky note to mark one place they wanted to share, then had a chance to discuss it with their elbow partner.  We reviewed some of the things that they can share, then introduced the folder, "My sticky notes."  It will give the children four sticky notes to mark places that they want to share.  It has the same icons that are on our anchor chart so that the children are able to discuss four different things to share.

In writing workshop we worked on writing true stories.  We told a story about a common experience-our last fire drill. I told a very basic version first, then asked the children if it was interesting. It was not.  We talked about what we were doing before the fire drill, how everyone behaved, what the day was like, and things we heard.  We added details each time, then judged our story. We planned how we could write that story and what would be on each page.  The children had a chance to think of something that they have done/experienced then share that with their partner.  We talked about how details make a story more interesting and help the reader get a good mental image.  The children started working on their own stories with illustrations and words.                In math we continued practicing more/fewer using ten frames.  We reviewed counting and writing numbers 1-5, then started with numbers 6-10.  The children played a memory game that they had to count objects 6-10, then find a corresponding number of objects.  We worked on addition and subtraction skills using a five frame and a die.  Given the number on the die, the children had to either add or subtract cubes from their five frame to get to that number.  The children also had to verbalize what they did using mathematical language.

Thank you to everyone who came in or donated items to our Halloween party.