This has been such a busy week!  I am so glad to be back at school and working with all of the children again.  Miss Lewis’ last day was today and I know that the children will miss her.  She will be back for our train trip next week and then will drop by from time to time.

I am so glad that so many of you came to hear the children sing at the Christmas show this morning.   The children did a great job!!!

SHARED JOURNAL

We really concentrated on our negotiation skills this week.  We are working on listening and responding to each other’s comments and ideas.  This is very hard for the children because they each have their own ideas and want everyone to hear what they think! 

With their writing, I have noticed amazing growth.  Many children are writing several sentences that tell the story’s details.  Others are starting to sound out their words, while some friends have begun to write the beginning sounds for their words.  I am so excited because every child in our classroom has grown!!!!!

THEME

We are making the final preparations for our train trip to the circus that will be next week.  The engine car is almost completed and the children have been working to research the different jobs that people who work at train stations and on trains do.  In addition, we have talked about the things that we need and want to pack in our suitcases.  The children have earned money for each of the things that they have done to get ready for their trip.  They are keeping track of the money earned in their math journals and will use this money to purchase their train ticket on the day of our trip. 

SHARED READING

We read many Christmas stories this week.  With these stories, we practiced sounding out words and matching these sounds to letters.  We also reviewed some of the sounds we have been working on.  The children are really getting good at remembering the sh & ch sounds.   

Center Time

This is fast becoming our busiest time of the day.  This week, we started making and painting our suitcases.  We also continued our train job research and finished our engine car.  While these things were being done, several of the children wrote books and made great block castles, made cards for their family and Miss Lewis.  We could work in centers all day long!

IMPORTANT DATES AND NOTES

December 14^th: Train Trip (more information to follow)

December 15: Holiday Meal

If you did not order a school lunch, you are still welcome to come and eat lunch with your child in the classroom.

December 19:  Christmas Breakfast  One of my room mom’s will contact you about the party.

Abby presents her job research to the class.