Open House

Hello everyone,
This week we learned about the different ways you can write an addition sentence ( 1+2=3, 2+1=3, 3=1+2, 3=2+1 ) in math class. In phonics class we reviewed word recognition ( bat, lamp, cap, ram, etc..) In reading we read the stories " A Fox and a Kit", and " Get the Egg". In Tops we began learning about ( I'm, he's, she's they're ). In science we continued to talk about living and non living things, and finally in grammar we did more work practicing writing proper sentences.

Just a reminder that tonight is the Tree House Open House. I look forward to seeing everyone tonight !

Take care,
Teacher Scott

Hello,
On Monday of this week we started subtraction review in math class. Most of the work we've been doing in math class so far has been review in order to prepare the kids for new material we should be learning in the coming weeks ( two digit addition and subtraction ). In the afternoon we read the story "Pig in a Wig" which uses blended sounds -ig, -ick, and -ip. I really like the new stories we've been reading because they are great for reviewing some of the same phonic sounds we've been learning in our phonics books. It's a great chance for the kids to use what they've learned.
On Tuesday I was sick so Teacher Sandy was a HUGE help and taught the kids while I was away. In the afternoon the kids had Chinese class.
On Wednesday we did more subtraction in math class, followed by social studies. We've been learning about communities and street address in Taiwan.We tried to put it all together this week and learn how to say where the kids live in English using street names, districts, building numbers, etc...It's actually been very difficult to get the kids to say their street names because of the Chinese. Kids are funny, they say Taipei and Taiwan all the time, but when I ask them the street they live on they get VERY quiet and say; " Teacher, that's Chinese! "
On Thursday we reviewed the 5 senses in science and then learned new material about living and non living things. After doing the reading in the science book we followed that up with a little written work in the workbook. I the afternoon we started the Tops book and learned about classroom objects and then played "I Spy" to review classroom objects.
On Friday morning we finished the robot collages we started a few weeks ago. In the afternoon we reviewed sentence structures and then practiced writing sentences about what each person was going to do this weekend.

Estella is getting better at writing sentences. I think the work we've been doing is starting to show.

Nicole has been a little slow at writing. She's very neat at writing but she's been taking a little too long to write. I hope she can get a little faster at writing.

Claire has been very interested in reading books. she always enjoys taking the time to read the books we have in class.

Jerry made a great robot picture this week in art class.

Albert has gotten very good at writing sentences. Recently he's been able to write his own sentences in class.

Hanna has settled into class very well. She's very good at reading, writing, and phonics.

I think 1st grade has made Devon more focused and able to pay attention more in class.

Kyle's hand writing is getting very good. He's been trying hard to write more neatly.

Rain is doing very well in reading. I'm impressed with how well he can read!

Irvin is very smart, but he has a little problem paying attention in class. I hope he can try to focus a little more in class.

Welcome back to another installment of the Polar Bear blog!

On Monday we started working in the math book. The new book starts where the old one left off with one digit addition. It’s pretty easy for all the kids so far, but I’m sure it will become a little more challenging once we begin working on two digit addition and subtraction. In the afternoon we started the new reading books by reading the story “Sam, Come Back!”, a story about a feisty cat.

On Tuesday we went to Shangri La Farm. It’s always great to get out of the city from time to time, and the trip proved to be a fun, eventful experience. We first had a nice tour of the farm. Afterwards, we all colored paper mache bugs. After that we had a nice lunch, and finally we made beach theme candle holders. All in all it was a fun time!

On Wednesday we learned about the 5 senses in science class. I was pleasantly surprised when most students remembered all the 5 senses from the story “You Can’t Smell a Flower with Your Ear” which we read last semester. In the afternoon we did more reading and phonics.

On Thursday we did math in the morning ( addition ) and then we talked more about neighborhoods in social studies. To make it a little more personal the kids have been doing drawings of their neighborhoods as well as a a written description of where they live and what’s in their neighborhood.

On Friday we finished the robot collages we started last week in art class. In the afternoon we learned more about writing sentences in grammar and then practiced writing in writing class.

Kyle was great as usual! He’s become very good at math, and has also shown tremendous growth with his handwriting and reading.

Claire did great in writing class. She’s also shown a knack for English grammar, and is always eager to volunteer to answer questions in class.

Albert has been making improvements in math. He’s become a little faster at solving math problems and seems more interested in learning about numbers.

Jerry has done very well adjusting to class. He’s a great student to have in class!

I hope Nicole is having a nice vacation. We all miss you, and look forward to hearing about your trip when you come back next week.

Rain has been doing very good in reading class. He’s also been getting much better at writing.

Estella has been doing very good in class! she’s very smart and eager to learn.

Hanna is very good at both phonics and writing. We’ve been working on

It’s nice to have Irvin in our class. He’s done a good job so far. He’s made friends quickly with everyone in class , and has followed along with the class work nicely.

Devon seems much more mature and focused recently. It’s very rewarding to see how much he’s improved over the past few months.

Some Photos From Last Week....

September 4th, 2009

Hello everyone,
We've had a fun filled week this week at Tree House. I'd like to welcome three new students to the Polar Bear class; Hanna, Rain and Jerry. So far the three of them have been doing an excellent job in our class, and I'm sure they will continue to do just as well....

On Monday we practiced addition in math class. All the kids are getting very good at one digit addition so we've been working on lining up numbers in a neat, vertical line. With any luck we should move on to two digit addition within the next week or two. In the afternoon we read the story " You Can't Smell a Flower With Your Ear ".

On Tuesday morning we did more addition. After math class we started the first science lesson of the year and learned about the skills a scientist needs (a scientist needs to : observe, compare, measure, classify, make models, communicate, infer, put things in order, predict, investigate, and draw conclusions ).

On Wednesday we learned about what a community is in social studies. We talked about the different things we can find in a community ( stores, houses, schools, etc. ) and afterward we made drawings of our own communities. In the afternoon we did phonics where we've been reviewing beginning and ending phonic sounds.

On Thursday we did more math in the morning and phonics in the afternoon; for a little fun we played a phonic game in the afternoon to reinforce blended phonic sounds ( at, et, ug, ig, at, etc..)

On Friday morning we made robots in art class, and in the afternoon we studied grammar. In grammar we learned about writing complete sentences ( every sentence starts with a capitol letter, ends with a period, and must make sense ) and followed that up with writing short stories about ourselves.

Comments:

Estella has been very good this week. She's done tremendously in all her classes and has adjusted well to being in the Polar Bear class.

Nicole has also adjusted very well to class. She's very sweet and thoughtful, and always respectful of her peers.

Albert has done very well this week. He's been making steady progress and has done an exceptional job on his written work recently.

Kyle made a great robot in art class on Friday. He's become a very talented artist!

I've missed Devon in the mornings this week. I hope he's doing well in his Chinese school. Keep up the good work, Devon!

Jerry has only been in class a few days, but he's adjusted very well. His speaking and vocabulary are very high, and he's very capable of expressing himself. I think he should do a very good job this year.

Claire has been doing great this week. I'm very pleased with how well she has gotten at reading.

Hanna was very funny this week. She was hungry one day when I asked her if Andy ( her brother ) was nice to her...she looked at the peanuts sitting on my desk and answered... " Andy is always nice to me... if you give me some peanuts. "

Rain was doing very good at the beginning of the week. Unfortunately, by the end of the week he's been having a very difficult time following directions. I've had to ask him many times to do something or I'll tell him to do something and he'll do the complete opposite of what I asked.