Curriculum Updates

IB Unit – Let’s Celebrate! – This is a transdisciplinary unit built around a social studies concept. We are learning about customs and traditions. We are discovering that people have many different customs and traditions when it comes to how our households run, how we dress, and even what we eat. These can be special to just one family or to an entire country or region. One of the best ways to compare and contrast these customs and traditions is to look at how and why people celebrate special holidays.   

   As a part of this unit, I ask that families work on the cut-out that was sent home in mid-November and return it to school. If you need another cut-out or another copy of the directions, please let me know.

   I would also love to have more families share their holiday traditions with the class. I sent home some information about this a couple of weeks ago, too. If you do not remember the sheet or have lost the original, once again, please let me know. I will send another one home.

Math Update: Tens in Teens – We spent most of the first part of the year learning about numbers from 0 – 10 and how we can break larger numbers into smaller numbers and vice-versa. We are now looking at the numbers between 10 and 20, sometimes referred to as the “teens” because most of the number words use the suffix “-teen” to show that there is more than a set of ten. We are doing many activities finding the “hiding set of ten” inside the teen numbers. We are also learning how to use dimes and pennies as manipulatives to make teen numbers.

Literacy Update: Daily 5 – We are continuing to learn and master the components of a literacy structure known as the Daily 5. During this time children work on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. While we have learned many of the basic elements of the Daily 5, we are still learning how each child can manage his/her own time and materials. Each day, every child has an opportunity to work on reading and writing skills that are most appropriate for his/her literacy level.

   In January, we will focus on a different IB transdisciplinary unit that will center on reading comprehension skills. We will explore folktales from around the world, and we will compare and contrast the elements of these stories. This will help us lay the groundwork for better comprehension and retelling of stories that we can read independently later in the year.