Tom's Language Group
On Wednesday the students in Tom’s language group were divided into small groups and given the task to observe either a bowl of large crystals, a beaver skull (kindly lent to us by Lulu who had shared it earlier in the day), or a fossil. They used magnifying glasses to closely study the objects. Then in their science journals, they carefully made scientific observational drawings. The students were asked to make them as realistic as they could and then label various parts of their drawings. This activity was based on the book Starting With Science, Strategies for Introducing Young Children to Inquiry by Marcia Talhem Edson.
Natasha's Language Group
We have been busy in Natasha's language group these past two weeks. Students have been memorizing a rhyme called There is No a In They to help them remember how to spell the word they. I have been impressed with how quickly they have been able to memorize it. You might ask them to share it with you. On Wednesday, the students practiced telling a partner a story about something that happened to them this summer, including details such as the characters and setting. Then they began writing and illustrating this story in writing workshop. We took advantage of the beautiful fall day last Tuesday and went outside to the stone circle with our journals and practiced soul writing. We each found a spot to sit quietly while we wrote about the things that we heard, saw, felt and smelled at that very moment. Before we returned to class everyone had an opportunity to share what they wrote with the group. Thanks for helping your child remember to bring their homework back to school today. We are off to a great start.
Joan's Language Group
Joan’s group has been working hard on writing their books as they do a Unit of Study on Where Do Writers Get Ideas? This week we also began doing Word Study 5 Ways (from Katie Wood Ray and Lisa Cleaveland’s About the Authors: Writing Workshop with our Youngest Writers). I draw the words I use from Patricia M. Cunningham’s What Really Matters in Spelling: Research-Based Strategies and Activities. The words are basically frequently used words, though some are chosen in order to be sure a range of consonants, blends, and vowel patterns are represented. We add five words to the Word Wall most weeks, and those are the words we practice. We work to make them words that we can read easily and spell correctly without needing to think or break them down.
