How Do We Learn?

     During the course of the year, we will integrate skills through theme study. Our theme this year is the rainforest. We will begin in our year learning about each child, family, and then their hometown of Auburn.  We will then further our study to rainforests in general and learn about the layers and what makes a certain place a rainforest.  Then we will learn about all the different places in the world that have rainforests and which types of plants and animals live in them.  We will then investigate the plant life of the rainforest and change our classroom into a rainforest with bromeliads, rafflesia, strangler figs, trees, and vines.  After this the children will decide which animal they would like to learn about first and we will study the animal and make one for our rainforest.  We will continue to do this until the end of the year when we will decide how we would like to travel to a rainforest.  There we will have a market and make items to sale that we have learned about this year.

     Reading skills will be developed through shared book experience, guided reading, and independent reading, the children will be working at an individual pace. My goal is to conference with each child on a daily basis.

     Math skills will be developed primarily through the use of math games and problem solving activities. These methods help children develop their logical thinking skills and problem solving skills much more effectively than a math workbook. The games and problem solving activities will provide an opportunity for the development of these skills at an individual pace.  We will also be using math journals that incorporate problems from stories we have read or math investigations.  We will also use math as needed to figure our measurements and things we are building during theme development.  We also use daily math in calendar and attendance activities. 

     Writing and spelling will be developed through the writing process and shared journals. Both of the processes allow the children to develop many different types of skills. They allow children to develop on and individual basis by using inventive spelling and eventually conventional spelling. In addition to writing and spelling skills, it promotes speech, storytelling, math(through dating and a sense of the passage of time), art (through the drawing or illustration of the story) and a sense of community.

     Science and Social Studies are developed through our themes of study. It is through this format that we learn general and specific information about our theme of choice. The children will also learn to choose projects to further enhance this study. Before long, they will be researching topics that interest them as they relate to our themes. This will also promote in developing of math, reading, writing, spelling and art skills.

     Checklists, teacher observations, anecdotal records, running reading records, and conferences will be used to assess the children. There will be two opportunities during the year for conferences to discuss their progress. If you feel that you need a conference at any time during the year, please contact me and schedule one. I will do the same.