For November...

In keeping with the season, the last couple weeks were spent learning about the pilgrims and their journey across the ocean to make a new home in a strange land, as well as the role the Native Americans played in their transition.  We read may books on this topic, such as The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern, and learned songs (on subjects that include turkeys, Pilgrims, and Native Americans) that we all enjoyed singing again and again!  We also spent a morning doing some fun turkey activities such as graphing flannel turkey feathers, making an edible turkey out of an Oreo, and fashioning a turkey hat to wear home.  What fun we had!

In other things, we've been working on some new sight words and practicing them in our Take-Home Readers and writing them in our journals.  Words to add to your sight word list are: yes, no, this, brown, five, six.  I have also been sending home a phonics word list each week so that your child can practice using the sounds we've studied to form words.  I'm sure you are impressed with your child's progress in reading!

For math, we've been working on beginning addition, counting (the goal is 130!), and ordering numbers 0-20.  I sent home numbers 0-10 for students to practice putting in order.  We are also working on recognizing coins (names of coins and their value) and have started counting pennies.  The children are learning a song about the penny that they enjoy singing--you will have to ask them for the tune!

Abe Lincoln had a big long beard,
He wore a big tall hat,
He was our 16th president,
Now what do you think of that?

If you want to see his face,
This is what you do,
Just find a penny, pick it up,
His face will look at you!

Next week we begin thinking about the Christmas holidays.  It's difficult to believe the season is already upon us!