Friday, December 20, 2013

It is so hard to believe that the first semester of school is over already! Where has the time gone?

I was so very impressed with the book reports from my literacy group. It was clear that everyone worked really hard. The students presented their reports to one another and were allowed to share positive comments and questions. The next report will be assigned after break.

We are also getting quite a collection of books written by our classroom authors. Stop by and read!

Character bags and books written by famous Se'orah and Hitah authors.

And, from Grades 1 and 2,  did you know that:

Zach: the guy who created The Statue of Liberty, the face was of his mother?

Gabrielle: The Statue of Liberty welcomes people to America?

Dafna: The Statue of Liberty tells you that you're safe in America?

Jillian: The Statue of Liberty represents freedom and it has a poem written by Emma Lazarus who was Jewish?

Ella: people came to America to be free?

Yafa: people came to America to get more money?

Clara: when people come to America they are called immigrants and they see The Statue of Liberty as a sign that they are free?

Will: The Statue of Liberty's face is that of the designer's mother? (Frederic Bartholdi)

Zalmen: The Statue of Liberty has a lot of symbols on it?

Ben: people come to America to be safe?

Samuel: there is a poem inside The Statue of Liberty?

Josh: The Statue of Liberty came from France in parts (214 crates)?

From our Guest Blogger Zach: "We finished some of our stories and we built a snow igloo. "

Wishing everyone a wonderful winter break and a Happy New Year!

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren

Friday, December 13, 2013

What a fun time the first and second graders had working on their immigration posters! They will be displayed in the front of the school next week. Please check them out! This is only the start of a very exciting and interesting unit!

Creating a poster about "Rosa" from Mexico.

Preparing to share about "Maria" from Italy.

"Chang" came to America because Chinese government wouldn't allow his father to keep his shop.

This week my literacy group learned about pronouns. In addition, we continued to review dictionary skills. During writer's workshop, the students are now expected to locate two misspelled words from their drafts in the dictionary. They also use the dictionary during our weekly spelling work as well.

My math group reviewed the calendar this week (days of week, months, days in a month, days in a year, and seasons). Next week we will be looking at calendars and answering questions as well as creating and labeling calendars.

Reminder:  the book report is due next week.

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren

Friday, December 5, 2013

Dear Families,

This week grades 1 and 2 started to learn about immigration. We discussed all the reasons why someone might immigrate to the United States and we read a wonderful story about four different children who all immigrated from different countries for various reasons. Next week the students will work in groups to present what they learned about their character to the rest of the class.

Grade 1 joined Grade 2 for Writer's Workshop this week. Students were encouraged to write a story about something from their own lives or they could create a fictional story. Some began with a picture and then wrote about it and others began with words. All of our stories will be "published" and eventually sent home.

Next week my math group will be moving on to reading and using a calendar and after vacation we will learn how to tell time. We will also learn how to answer elapsed time word problems.

Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren