January 10, 2014

Happy New Year!

This week my math group began to learn how to tell time. I was so impressed at how quickly all of the students picked up the new concepts. It took them only one day to go from reading time to the hour to time by the minute! The students were even able to start answering elapsed time word problems.

My grammar group learned all about synonyms and antonyms this week. Next, we'll move on to homonyms.

For immigration we read three wonderful stories. First, we shared I Hate English by Ellen Levine. Mei Mei is afraid to speak English now that she is in America because she fears she will forget how to speak in Chinese. To Mei Mei, her language was the most special thing she had from China. Afterwards, the students were asked to think of four items that they would bring with them if they were to immigrate to a different country. Next, we shared Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say and we learned about Venn Diagrams so we were able to compare Japan (where Grandfather was born) and America. We also had a little fun and compared ourselves to our parents. And, finally, we read The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco and we created our own class "quilt." Patricia's family quilt was made of a dress that her great grandmother had from Russia. Our class "quilt" is made up of pictures of our most special possessions.

And, from our Guest Blogger, Ella:
"Math was really fun this week because we did telling time. And, in immigration, we read a good story. We worked on our stories in Writer's Workshop."


Shabbat Shalom,

Hamorah Caren