Wondering about Polygons and Home Reading on Wednesday

Dear Parents:

Today we were wondering about shapes in our world with our Kindergarten buddies.  What a great opportunity to be mentors by learning with our little buddies in Mr. Straiton's class, we used the iPads to go on a scavenger hunt throughout the school to take photos of different shapes (polygons).

Introducing ourselves.  

The different shapes in Kindergarten

beginning the exploration

reviewing the photos

cross checking the pictures to see if they have met the criteria

teamwork!

Home Reading:  Connecting Literacy between school and home.  

Home Reading folders were sent home today.  Inside the colored folder you will find a parent letter explaining our program.  A book at their just right reading level.   There is also a list of strategies that are really powerful for practicing "thinking reading". You will find definitions of each of the reading powers for your reference.  We have included the Alphabox graphic organizer to write down important vocabulary which includes:  both new words and words that are connected in the book.  This Alphabox will help you talk about the connections that were made as you read the book together.   It is important that home reading be done with parents so that students can practice their oral reading skills and fluency but more importantly so that they can build their background knowledge and comprehension skills through the important thinking conversations you have together with them.  Reading out loud with your child is important at all grade levels.  It is recommended that students in grade four read for about 20 minutes each day.    All good readers visualize, connect, ask questions and make inferences to transform their thinking.

Alphabox graphic organizer - great for building vocabulary and connections to main idea of books and concpets

These books are non-fiction and seem short but the conversation that you have while reading the books together should take some time.  It is recommended that a few pages are read each evening.  

Normally books will come home Monday and Students will return the books either Friday or the following Monday and choose a new book to begin the cycle again.