March
Mrs. Hokanson’s March Newsletter
Reader’s Workshop
Our Reader’s Workshop unit is: Nonfiction Reading: Growing Expertise in Little Book. This month we are looking closely at information books; considering how parts fit together, how the ending ties in with the whole of the book, using patterns, background knowledge and illustrations to help us understand the text. We will be comparing books on the same topic and noticing similarities and differences.
Writer’s Workshop
The beginning of this month will be spent continuing on our unit of Persuasive Writing. Students are looking at how to see problems in our classroom, school or their homes, vocalize them in an appropriate way and provide many convincing reasons, suggestions or solution. Toward the second half of the month, our Writer's Workshop unit will be: How To Writing. Students are thinking about how we write for different purposes and one reason we write is to teach others. We are working hard to write step by step procedures. We will build to include warnings, suggestions and tips to our readers. We are also working on the revision process by sharing with partners, acting out our steps and then decided how to revise, re-order, etc. our pages to make our directions more clear.
Math
We are moving on to Section 6 in Everyday Math. As always, we will be covering a wide range of math skills, but there is heavy emphasis on addition and subtraction this month. Our program teaches and gives practice through games and I will be supplementing with more formal worksheets. At conferences, we spoke about students being responsible for answering math problems, but also being expected to explain their thinking and reasoning. “How do you know?,” is the question we use in the classroom to probe students to justify their answers.
Science/Social Studies
Our primary focus this month will be our Project Based Learning unit on Community Helpers. I cannot describe how much our former students enjoyed this project last year and what a wonderful first hand experience it was.
We will also be talking about how a healthy and colorful diet is good for our body. Students may choose to participate in our classroom Rainbow Race by bringing in a food from each color of the rainbow to eat during snack time. Students will color in their rainbow chart (one color per day), as they bring in various foods. I explained that this is a great time for them to try new foods and they only need to try one bite!
Special Dates:
7 – Early Release at 1:05pm
Faculty Feast – please join us for this awesome fundraiser! Let MES staff take care of dinner!
16- Evan’s birthday!
21– Parent Teacher Conferences – Early Release at 1:05pm
29 - When I Grow Up Kindergarten Job Fair 2pm (families are welcome to attend
Reader’s Workshop
Our Reader’s Workshop unit is: Nonfiction Reading: Growing Expertise in Little Book. This month we are looking closely at information books; considering how parts fit together, how the ending ties in with the whole of the book, using patterns, background knowledge and illustrations to help us understand the text. We will be comparing books on the same topic and noticing similarities and differences.
Writer’s Workshop
The beginning of this month will be spent continuing on our unit of Persuasive Writing. Students are looking at how to see problems in our classroom, school or their homes, vocalize them in an appropriate way and provide many convincing reasons, suggestions or solution. Toward the second half of the month, our Writer's Workshop unit will be: How To Writing. Students are thinking about how we write for different purposes and one reason we write is to teach others. We are working hard to write step by step procedures. We will build to include warnings, suggestions and tips to our readers. We are also working on the revision process by sharing with partners, acting out our steps and then decided how to revise, re-order, etc. our pages to make our directions more clear.
Math
We are moving on to Section 6 in Everyday Math. As always, we will be covering a wide range of math skills, but there is heavy emphasis on addition and subtraction this month. Our program teaches and gives practice through games and I will be supplementing with more formal worksheets. At conferences, we spoke about students being responsible for answering math problems, but also being expected to explain their thinking and reasoning. “How do you know?,” is the question we use in the classroom to probe students to justify their answers.
Science/Social Studies
Our primary focus this month will be our Project Based Learning unit on Community Helpers. I cannot describe how much our former students enjoyed this project last year and what a wonderful first hand experience it was.
We will also be talking about how a healthy and colorful diet is good for our body. Students may choose to participate in our classroom Rainbow Race by bringing in a food from each color of the rainbow to eat during snack time. Students will color in their rainbow chart (one color per day), as they bring in various foods. I explained that this is a great time for them to try new foods and they only need to try one bite!
Special Dates:
7 – Early Release at 1:05pm
Faculty Feast – please join us for this awesome fundraiser! Let MES staff take care of dinner!
16- Evan’s birthday!
21– Parent Teacher Conferences – Early Release at 1:05pm
29 - When I Grow Up Kindergarten Job Fair 2pm (families are welcome to attend