James’
Junction
August
18, 2006
THIS
WEEK WE…
spent
time getting to know each other and learning how to make good choices.
Our Theme time focused on recognizing and writing our names.
We sang songs and chants, read many books and made our own Class
Names book using letter stamps in the Writing Center.
Some of the books we read about names were, A Porcupine Named
Fluffy, Chrysanthemum, and My Name is Johari.
We also made a name graph by cutting the letters of our names apart
and putting them back together in order.
During Shared Reading, we read several books about making good
choices, such as, Eight Keys to a Better Me, Oops, Clifford, and
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. The
children began to learn how to share stories about themselves during
Shared Journal time. We shared and wrote about what we like to do, what we can do
best, about our favorite food, the people we live with, and our favorite
thing to do at school. This
also helps the children get to know more about each other.
The children also had a chance to go to the Music room, the Media
Center, the Computer Lab, and of course, P.E.
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS…
We
will be focusing on colors, shapes and homes for our Theme time.
Our Shared Reading time will focus on listening, repetition, and
rhyme. Beginning on Monday,
Aug. 21st for Shared Journal, the children will start to sign
up to share a story each day (1 child will share daily right now).
When the children have gotten used to listening and remembering the
facts about the story they’ve heard, we will have 2 or 3 children share
each day). Also, on Monday,
our student computers should have sound and be up and running for the
children at Centers.
YOU
CAN HELP YOUR CHILD AT HOME BY…
*helping
him/her to practice tracing and/or writing his/her name using uppercase
and lowercase letters (i.e. Steven, not STEVEN) (hint: try using
fun things like writing in shaving cream on the table, using letter cookie
cutters with playdough, writing letters of his/her name, cutting them
apart and putting them together like a puzzle)
*playing
“I Spy” by looking for colors or shapes in your home or environment
& pointing out different shapes as you read books to your child
*reading
a book to your child, talking about the story, and asking questions about
the story every day such as, “What do you think this story is going to
be about?” “How do you think he/she feels…?” “Why do you think
that happened?”
*discussing
appropriate behavior at school (you may want to refer to the rules in your
blue folder from Open House
Night)
DATES TO REMEMBER…
Wednesday,
August 23rd-Friday, September 1st we
will be administering our first of four rounds of DIBELS (Dynamic
Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) testing.
Tuesday,
August 29th
is Chick-Fil-A Night (W. Magnolia Avenue).
Thursday,
August 31st
is STAR Night from 5:00-7:00pm at AEEC.
This is a night for parents and children to participate in math and
science games and to help raise money for our school!
Monday,
September 4th is
Labor Day. School will be
closed.