Getting to Know You

Poem: I Clap My Hands
Sight Words: a, I

Reading:
Comprehension Strategy: We have been practicing Read to Self this week. After completing our I-Chart as a class we practice those expectations. Then we try to build our stamina. On Tuesday we read for 13 minutes!! That is huge!

We also learned about Work on Writing. Students spend this time responding to a story in their book box. After choosing a book they find their favorite part and draw a picture from the story on their paper. If they want a challenge they can write words and the title of the story on their paper as well.

Name Game: We have been taking the names of our friends and saying their name, clapping the syllables, writing their name, counting the letters in their name, and cheering the letters in their name. We finish by writing the beginning letter in their name and then drawing a picture of our friend. We do a new friend each day!

Writing: This week we are learning the fundamentals of writing. We learned how to sit when writing and did some stretches before we got started that keep our posture straight, feet flat on the ground, and shoulders back.

We also learned how to hold a pencil the correct way. We listened to our pencil grip song as we practiced the A-Okay way. We even did our Scribble Wiggle page that helped us practice the correct way to to hold a pencil.

On Wednesday we learned what to do with BOTH of our hands. We learned that we have a helping hand and a writing hand. The helping hand stays on the paper to keep it in place while we write. Students were able to remember which hand was their writing hand by smelling their hand and using the one I had marked with peppermint chapstick.

On Thursday we practiced with dry erase boards to make straight lines. They practiced starting at the smiley face and writing from the top to the bottom.

Math: This week in math we are learning about numbers 1-6. We are recognizing different ways to show each number and adding it to our circle map. This goes along with the idea of subitizing; seeing something and knowing right away what it is. We also started completing calendar journal as a class too!

Content: This week we took time learning about each other! Each day a few friends shared their All About Me bags. We also rolled a dice and shared information about the topic we rolled. Students shared things like their favorite food, TV show, recess activity, sport, and candy. We also got our pictures taken to add to our birthday wall!

SEL (Social Emotional Learning): Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

This week students started learning about the parts of the brain. When they understand how their brain works, they can better understand their emotions and control their decisions. Each day we watched a video about a different part of the brain, then colored it on our brain map. These were the parts we learned:

• Hippocampus: This part helps us remember. 
• Pre-Frontal Cortex: The part where learning and thinking takes place.
• Amygdala: This is where we have emotional responses. Where we feel any and all of our emotions. 

We're starting to learn that when our amygdala is going off (like an alarm) we can use coping strategies to help calm ourselves. One of those ways is the calm corner. Here we have a kiddo who is using the calm corner to be able to come back to our whole group lesson calm and relaxed.