The New Year is going SO fast!!

We've been quite busy since coming back in the new year.  Here are some highlights:

Math:
There have been LOTS of number combinations created - How can I decompose numbers less than or equal to 10?  You can help your child create number combinations by putting out two different objects (ie. spoons & forks, cars & trucks, 2 colors of M & Ms...).  Say a number.  Your child will use the objects to create different combinations (i.e. The number is 6.  Your child puts out 2 cars & 4 trucks, 3 cars & 3 trucks, 1 car and 5 trucks).

We have also been comparing items using measurement - How can we use measurement to describe and compare objects?  At home, use words like length (longer/shorter) & height (taller/shorter), weight (heavier/lighter), capacity (holds more/holds less).  Look around your house and ask your child, "How can I compare you, the table, and me?"  Your child should use words like "taller/shorter" - "I am taller than the table."  "I am shorter than you."

Language Arts:
Two big questions that we've been thinking about are:  How can asking and answering questions about important parts of the story help us understand the books we read?  How can we actively participate in reading activities with our teacher and classmates?  At home, you can continue to ask questions about the books you read to make sure that your child is actively listening to what you read.  One CAFE strategy that will help you is "Use Prior Knowledge to Connect with Text".  Asking your child "Does this remind you of anything you've read or heard before?" can be a great conversation starter when you share books together.

Social Studies: 
To integrate our Social Studies & Language Arts, we are studying important people.  We have encouraged the kids to always remember how they're important and especially why their learning in school is important.  Learning about why some important people even have National Holidays named after them has guided our study.  We have explored the important work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how he worked to make it possible for us to all go to school together.

We have also been learning about where in the world we live.  Thank you to those of you who have been helping your child practice his/her address as well as the city, county, state, country and continent in which we live.  That is huge information for 5 & 6 year olds to learn!!

WOW...and that is just the first month of 2013.  We have so many more important things to learn before the end of the year.  Thank you so much for participating in all of this learning with us!