Friday, October 9th
Thank you for taking time out of your schedule on Friday to join me on Zoom to attend our first PTC. The students did a wonderful job sharing their strengths and goals with their parents! If you have additional questions or concerns you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to email me.
Thank you for your continued support!
- Ms. Allison
Holiday Books
1,000 yen
To help the students celebrate the holiday season our class parents, Ms. Keay and Ms. Ward, will order books that will be wrapped and given to the students when Santa visits UST in December. As usual, the books are funded by the parents. The cost is ¥1,000 per child. When you have a moment, please send 1,000 yen to school in an envelope with your child's name on it. Thank you for your help!
Math
Subtraction Facts to 10
This week students reviewed subtracting by taking away and using number bonds. We also practiced subtracting by counting on and counting back. Students played a game with addition and subtraction sentences (numbers to 10) all mixed up to help them pay close attention to math symbols when solving number sentences (+ plus, - minus). When a student shared the answer, their math partner asked, "How do you know?" They practiced explaining the strategy they used to get the answer.
Example:
10 - 5 = ?
"I made a number train with 10 connecting cubes, then I took away 5."
"I counted on from 5 to get to 10."
"I counted back 5 from 10."
"I know 5+5=10, so 10-5=5"
Ways to Subtract
- take away
- count on
- count back
- number bonds
Reading
Readers Build Good Reading Habits
Our reading focus this week was talking with our reading partners to help us understand the stories we read. Students practiced asking and answering thoughtful questions during reading time.
Social Studies
Why do schools have rules?
This week we finished our social studies chapter all about rules. We reviewed classroom rules and talked about why we have rules in our classroom and who makes the rules at school. Afterwards, the class learned that there are different ways to make rules and we practiced two ways of voting: sometimes everyone votes, sometimes only the leaders vote. The students also thought of an example of voting that we do in class: choosing a new GoNoodle champ. They told how we know which champ has won and why voting is a fair way to decide something. I introduced the students to the word laws and shared that countries, states/prefectures, and cities have rules and these rules are called laws. I shared a photo of a road sign and we discussed these questions: What law do you see here? Why do you think this law was made? Who do you think made this law? How do you think this law was made?
Who works at your school?
The class was also introduced to a new social studies question, "Who works in your school?" We made a list of grown-ups at UST that help the students. This includes office staff, homeroom teachers, specialist teachers (art, music, P.E., guidance), bus drivers, bus monitors, and more! Students drew pictures of 2 people that help them at school and wrote about how they help.
Writing
PTC - Student Strengths and Goals
During writing this week students spent time revising, editing, and publishing their strengths and goals (academic, behavior, social). Students shared their work at the beginning of the PTC. It has also been uploaded to your child's Seesaw journal. These writing pieces will be on display in the classroom to help remind students of their goals throughout the term.
Recess
Have a wonderful weekend!
- Ms. Allison