Week of September 9th

Happy Friday Pandas!

General Updates:

1. Please check out the specials teachers update here!

2. I would love to extend open arms and welcome families into our classroom! This year we will be welcoming families in to be a "mystery guest"! This is a fifteen minute time slot that you are able to sign up for to either be a mystery reader or to teach us about your beautiful cultures! Please note, there are only two adults over the age of 18 allowed into the building for this volunteer opportunity at a time. 

   
   

   Some ideas of things you could share related to your culture (but are not limited to) are: photos (holidays, travels, clothing, etc), videos, music, games, stories, puppet show, art project, etc. You are also welcome to bring in any stories and read them to the class for enjoyment! If you are bringing in books, please bring 2-3 books to share during this time.

   
   

   Cultural connections are totally up to you and what you are comfortable with. We can't wait to welcome you into our classroom this year! If your work schedules are tight and the time slots available do not work for you, please reach out and we are able to plan this over Zoom or you are able to send a video in that we can share with the class!

   
   

   Please only sign up for one slot per family. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out :)

Click Here For Mystery Guest Sign Up

1. Willow Grove is in the process of creating a MakerSpace library. MakerSpace is a place during play where students can explore, design, and create. Students have the freedom to build and construct during our play. We are so excited to bring MakerSpace to our classroom, but we need your help! In order to have a successful MakerSpace for students to use, we are in need of donations year round. If you are able, we would so appreciate any donation you are willing provide. Below is a list of different items we would love to add to Willow Grove's MakerSpace library.

This week in literacy...

• Phonics: This week the students continued learning new sounds! The pandas also began learning about blending sounds into words. Phoneme blending is the combining of sounds and it is a very important step for reading and writing! An example of blending is if I say the sounds /b/ /e/ /t/, the students will say the real word 'bet.'

Sound Collection: /m/, /s/, /l/, /n/, /f/, /r/, /v/, /z/, /p/, /g/, /d/, /t/, /k/, /b/

• Reading: As we continued our first cycle of literacy: exploring communities, we introduced two new informational texts, Places in My Community and Neighborhood Walk City.  Informational books teach the reader true information or facts. Using both of these texts, the students were encouraged to share the main topic of the text along with facts learned on each page.

• Writing: This week in writing the pandas worked together to learn and create their own community. First, the pandas had to brainstorm different places in their community. After brainstorming, the pandas are encouraged to share in a full sentence about a place in their community. For example, "in my community there is..." We encourage students to speak in full sentences to help them eventually write in full sentences, too! After brainstorming, each table worked together to draw and create their own community. This included many WOW! pictures!

  
  
  
  

• 
  

This week in math...

• We continued using the 5 frame to help us count along with writing our numerals 1-5. To practice using the 5 frame, the pandas look at how many dots are in a 5 frame and have to match the picture using that many cubes in their own 5 frame. We also learned two new workplaces, Beat you to Five and Which Numeral Will Win. In Beat you to Five, we practice making 5 using different combinations of numbers and in Which Numeral Will Win, we practice recognizing and tracing numerals 1-5.

Reminders

• Please label your child's snack daily and pack this separate from the lunchbox.

• Water bottles stay in the classroom, if you want your child to have a drink for lunch, please send a separate drink.

• If you would like your child to buy a drink at lunch, please make sure there is money in the account for the lunch card.

• Extra clothes and PE shoes should be labeled and stored in your child's cubby.

• Please see Mrs. Smith's Principal's Message for further information about Willow Grove: principal's message

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, September 17th- Early Release

Friday, September 27th- Willow Walk (more information to come)