Studying the letter G

We use Saxon Phonics and this week we're learning all about Gg. We'll begin by using Dr. Jean's songs "Who let the Letters Out" and "Lettercise" and use our alphabet strips to point to the letters. We'll discuss it's sound, whether it is a consonant or vowel, things that begin with the /g/ sound, and how to write it. We'll use WBT to practice our class rules and use the teach-okay method. This week we will blend our first word: log. We've been blending as I model or have the students model, but by the end of this week, everyone should be able to read log and hog. One center that we'll continue each week is using paint dotters to make the letter. I found it at Tot School. The students love this center! We'll read Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Mr. Grumpy's Outing, My G Sound Book, and  Giggle, Giggle, Quack. I found a great (Mr. Gumpy's Outing) emergent reader at www.makinglearning fun.com! I've printed it and I'll have it cut, stapled, and ready for their hands tomorrow morning!!!

In math, we'll review sorting and work on positional words. We'll also work on numbers, counting,  graphing, identifying coins, months of the year, days of the week, and five frames on our calendar wall. We'll continue working on color words and incorporate graphing by using gummy bears to graph. One center we'll use is the Magnetic Pattern Blocks Alpahabet  G sheet. Another center we will use this week:
Goldilocks Sorting Activity
I got this sorting idea from making learning fun and modified it because I don't have purple bears. Students will use a sheet to record their findings and share with the group. Recording has been especially difficult this year, but we'll get it eventually.

Name Sorting Activity

We're continuing to work on our names. There are a few students who need practice, so, I combined it with a sorting activity. We can all use sorting practice too!

I see this activity other places, so it's nothing new.

This is the site where I located the letters: Webbing Into Literacy. I pulled up the CCBB lesson and the letters are on the last page. Then I typed up the headings: letters in my name and letters not in my name.

name sort 1

This is the finished project: 

Sight Words, Sight Word Queen, and Clap-outs!

We are working extremely hard on learning sight words!!!! Our first list was the color word list. This week I assessed my class on the list and 6 of them know all 11 of the color words!!! they will get to run in the first clap-out of the year. I'm so excited. Keep up the great effort!!!

Our big class news is that one of the students is a Sight Word Queen!!!! She is very pleased and will receive a sight word queen crown and get to run in our school's clap-out. At her desk, she will have a Sight Word Queen chair pocket for the day. I'll present her with an award and treat for her accomplishments!

Our clap-outs allow the students to run through the school's hallways while everyone claps and cheers them on! Students really look forward to this!! Students can run in the clap-outs for mastering each sight word list, getting a VIP for doing something great, or great bus behavior.

Below are the checklist (color words in an earlier post) and Red 1 words that we learn first. I use the snap word cards from child-1st to introduce and practice in class. They get a partner and use the flashcards to practice after I've assessed each student. It is differentiated based on sight word knowledge. I'll soon post where I keep the words so that students get to use them daily!

Sightword Checklist Color-number




Red 1
I run these on card stock and laminate them. Then, I punch holes in the top left corner and put a ring through them. I write the list name on the back and it corresponds to the label on a peg board where it belongs. The students learn where each set belongs and they are in control!!

News

This is our third week of school and we're rolling right along! Below is our class newsletter. Don't forget to clean out the agendas and sign them daily!
August 19, 2011

Also, we have begun to track print. Some students already have some background knowledge about tracking and students will use different books to practice reading skills. Below is one of the early readers I created to practice tracking print and using the pictures to help figure out unknown words. We are working on so many skills like letters, words, and sentences, that it's difficult to list everything we are learning! The other books are coming from reading a to z. When I cannot find exactly what I want, I just make it!

Second Week of School

This week, we'll be focusing on the letter Ll and it's sound. We'll write it using tablet paper and discuss it at the beginning of words. We're also working on reviewing shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, diamond/rhombus, oval/ellipse and we'll touch on the pentagon and hexagon). The students will keep learning the color words and writing their names. Please practice writing names at home by only capitalizing the first letter of your child's name. I will begin assessing students on their personal information (name, address, and phone number).

During centers tomorrow the students will use this graph to practice shapes. My previous students enjoyed doing these graphing games! (I have no idea what's up with the words at the bottom!) They loved using the clear spinners to play this! A Kissing Hand graph went home last Friday that was very similar to this shape game.
Shape Spin and Graph


You have a new homework calendar coming home tomorrow. Please let me know if there's anything that needs to be explained. Also, we need volunteers to send in the Oo and Gg snack this month. Please let me know if you would like to help out.


Aug2011 hw