First Week of School

We had a great first week of school.  The focus this week was on learning procedures and routines and getting to know each other.  We read "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn, "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendack, "Bear's Bargain" by Frank Ash, "Hattie and the Fox" by Mem Fox, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" by Eric Carle and many more.   We began our Reader's Workshop by learning about our classroom library and how to take care of books.  We talked a lot about reading the pictures and retelling stories.  We also spent time reading each other's names with the following poem, "___________ is at school today.  We're so glad, we'll shout HOORAY!"  We inserted each child's name and chanted the letters in each name.  Children made self-portraits after learning the poem, "There are millions of people all over the place, but nobody else with exactly your face."  In math we began calendar, and explored many of our math materials.  The students met Mrs. Stack in the computer lab and spent time on Starfall.com.  They also met Mr. Hickey, our art teacher, and got to use a variety of stamps with paint using the concept of symmetry.  They were introduced to our librarian, Mrs. Suthers and listened to the book, "Tacky the Penguin".  Book check-out will begin next week.  A very busy first week.  I am looking forward to next week!  I am so impressed with this new class!