David the Shepherd, Olive Octopus, and Giving Thanks!

This week we will be learning about David when he was a shepherd boy.  David had a true heart for God.  He was the youngest son of Jesse, and spent his youth tending his father's sheep. This week we will be focusing on how much David loved and trusted God, and wanted to please Him. 

We will be using the flannel board again for our Bible story - the students really enjoyed it last week. (Maybe after Thanksgiving, I'll go 'high tech' and do a power point presentation on the computer for the Bible story lesson - but right now, the kids are loving holding the pictures and putting them up on the flannel board!)
 
What happened this past week? I'm glad you asked...

On Monday, we did the math assessment for the second chapter, and the students all did an excellent job!  The unit on sequencing was mastered - by each and every one!  Whoo - hoo! (These are some smart kiddos I get to work with!)

For math, we still need egg cartons - these are for sorting things to make one to one correspondences, and for matching activities.  We worked on this concept last week and the children used unifix cubes (interlocking plastic blocks) and some plastic farm animals as manipulatives to 'play' with matching things up one to one.  They had a great time doing it, didn't realize it was even math, and when we did the worksheet afterwards, everyone demonstrated that they knew what they were doing!  We're off to a great start on Chapter 3!

In reading, we emphasized Missy Mouse and Nigel Night Owl. We practiced sounding out 2 and 3 letter words with the short vowels a, e, and i. We also worked on 3 letter rhyming words - or 'word families'. The children surprised themselves with how well they did!

Last week, on Friday, we put the Zoo Phonics 'Large Animal Alphabet Cards' in ABC order across the floor of the classroom, and the kids formed a line and paraded around doing the sounds and signals - spontaneously running back to the Allie Alligator as soon as they were done with Zeke the Zebra!  They had way too much fun, and showed me that they are really internalizing the sounds!  I was thrilled, to say the least! (Probably the best moment in my 32 year teaching career!)

This week, we are up to Olive Octopus and Pee Wee (but, we usually call him Pete!) Penguin in Zoophonics.  This week we will be reading the Ox Cart Man, by Donald Hall, and A Penguin Pup for Pinkerton, by Steven Kellogg, for our literature segments. (Steven Kellogg is one of my favorite illustrators for children's books - great pictures!)

In handwriting, we are still struggling to hold the pencil correctly.  I am working on helping the kids to establish good habits now, since bad ones are so hard to break!  So, if  you happen to see your child holding a pencil, marker, or crayon in a strange way - gently correct them.  I can use the reinforcement!


We are also learning about the First Thanksgiving and how 102 Pilgrims sailed across the Atantic Ocean in a tiny ship named the Mayflower so they could have religious freedom. We have read several stories about the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, and how they befriended the Native Americans, learned to plant crops, and become good hunters. 

It has been fun to hear all the stories of family traditions that the children have been sharing. We are also talking about what it is we are thankful for, and their responses are all very reflective. My favorite answer was from one little boy who said that he was 'Thankful that I know Jesus.' That was another special moment for me this past week!

I hope you all have had a restful weekend, and pray that you will have a blessed week preparing for the holiday. If you are traveling, I pray that God will protect you on the road, and bring you home safely after the holiday.

Bible Lessons

Last week, we learned about Daniel in the Lion's Den.  Most of the students knew the story, so we brought it to life in class by acting it out.  There were dangerous lions growling and prowling all around the classroom!  It was really scary!  Luckily, Daniel prayed to God and angels came to protect him (and me!) 

This week we will be learning the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  No, I don't think we will start any fires in the classroom, but we will be using an old-fashioned flannel board to help tell the story! Be sure to ask your child what the three Old Testament characters did to anger King Nebuchadnezzar enough that he threw them into the fiery furnace!

This week, we will be finishing our math unit on sequencing. The children have done a good job of identifying sequential patterns, and replicating them.  I expect that they will all do well on the assessment on Wednesday!

In reading, we have progressed in ZooPhonics through the letter /l/.  This week we will be stressing /m/ and /n/.  We will be reading some Mother Goose rhymes this week, and some poetry by Jack Prelutsky, stressing the sounds of /m/ and /n/ when we find them! We'll also re-read The Napping House, by Audrey Wood. (One of my personal favorites!)

We will also be learning about the Pilgrims' journey across the Atlantic on the Mayflower, and the story behind our celebration of Thanksgiving.  (Many of the children have already said how much they love this holiday - second only to Christmas!)

Have a great week.  I enjoyed talking to each of you at conferences.  Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any concerns or questions. I love teaching your children, and look forward to each new school day!