Thanks to all the parents that came to have snacks with students last week.  The kids really enjoyed seeing their parents and visiting the book fair!
We have been talking about problem solving.  We have read several stories and identified the problem in the book and how the characters solved that problem.  We have also talked about having a problem at school and how we could solve it ourselves.
 We have continued our talk about measurement.  I introduced the students to a scale or balance.  We explored by putting Santa counters into the cups on each side and saw how the heavier side goes down and the lighter side went up.  This was expanding their vocabulary.  You can use these words at home. You can describe the weight of Christmas presents.
I have asked for families to share with me what holidays they celebrate during the month of December.  I want to be considerate to all families.  If you do not want your child learning about the December Holidays; Christmas,  Hanukah, and Kwanza please let me know.  We will be discussing each one.  I will  not be going into detail of the religious views of each holiday but I want to introduce them all so our kids understand not everyone has the same traditions at their house and to be open minded to everyone.
I have also sent home a new scholastic catalog to shop.  Please get your orders in prior to winter break  These would make great holiday gifts! There are various reading levels available if you are shopping for other family members.
Next week we will be having our Holiday Spirit Week with fun dress up days.  They are posted below.
Monday-Candy Cane Day
Tuesday-Pajama Day 
Wednesday-Holiday Sweater Day
Thursday-Holiday Socks 
Friday-Holiday Character
Mr. Daniel will be visiting next week on Monday!
Butter Braid pick up is next Tuesday!

I wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to those parents that volunteered during the Fall Parties last week.  We would not have been able to have them without you! The kids really enjoyed themselves!
The kids have been learning about Compound Words.  We have been identifying two words when put together make one word.  Some examples are: Sunglasses,  cupcake, and fishbowl.  We have taken compound words apart,  and created them using picture cards.  We have also tried making silly compound words like ; mouse-key.  The students thought this was very funny.  

We have several events coming up including Snacks with Students on November 30th at 11:00 and 3:00.  Anyone coming to have snack with a student must have a background check on file.  If you are unsure,  you can check with Ms. Kelly in the front office.  

The Book Fair will also be at BECC November 27th-December 1st. If you are coming for Snacks with Students,  you are welcome to shop the Book Fair at that time.  

Last Month was our Pup Strut Fundraiser and we had an amazing turnout! The PSG is awarding the students with pajama day for tomorrow and Wednesday! We will also be having a short movie and a bubble party in the gym during Gross Motor time! 

Remember these is NO SCHOOL Thursday or Friday! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Today during large group, we read Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano.  The students always enjoy the book that takes place on a farm around Thanksgiving time.  The turkey overhears that he will be dinner for Thanksgiving and comes up with various disguises to escape the table!

Throughout the story, we talk about things we see on the farm, what turkey uses for his disguises as well as answering the question what do you think will happen next. 

Here is a link to the story on you tube.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GAxCEPHEAo Turkey Trouble

After the book, we did the Tommy The Turkey Dance to get a movement and following directions break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpo8obvdUG8

We also discussed how a turkey is different from people, what sound they make and where they live.  You could do this at home with various stuffed animals or toy farm animals. 

We also played a positional game with potatoes.  Each student has a potato and I tell him or her to put the potato behind your back and ask, “Is it mashed yet?”  We do other locations with the potato and at the end they place the potato under their bottoms and wiggle. I ask, “Is it mashed yet?” and lots of giggling and loud yeses ensue.

I am sending home a worksheet about farm animals and what they eat, that you can do with your child. 

Have a great week!

Miss Lorraine BECC SLPA

 

This week we are starting to dive deeper into writing!
We will practice writing numbers 1-5 each day this week.  In correspondence with our Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, students will work on identifying , counting,  and writing the numbers individually each day.  In a small group,  students listen to teacher directions as we discuss the numbers.  We talk about counting to that number,  identifying what the number looks like or the lines that make the number,  such as big line, little curve, etc.  Students  practice making the lines as well as finding the number in words.
We will also be starting a new unit on measurement this week.  Students will be learning new vocabulary words such as bigger, shorter, and longer.  We will start by measuring our shoe length and comparing with a partner.  Students will also be searching for objects around the room to measure and compare.  We will learn that when measuring, it is important to remember to line up the end or edges.  You can practice this at home as well. Show your kiddos items that we use to measure such as a ruler or measuring tape. I will be sending home information on other ways to practice measuring at home.
Friday are our Fall Parties! Please follow the link below if you would like to volunteer to help with these.  Please make sure you have a background check on file with Kelly at the front desk.
Next week is a short week with Thanksgiving.  We will only be in school for Monday, Tuesday,  and Wednesday!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4ea5aa28a5fd0-becc1
Please follow the link if you would like to volunteer to help with the Fall Parties next Friday!

This week we have been learning about words! We have daily vocabulary words that we learn at the beginning of each class.  We call them our Squawker Words. Squawker is the name of the parrot puppet that introduces our words. We have also been talking about how letters together make words and words together make sentences.  This week we have been counting the words in simple sentences. This is a great way to incorporate a math skill.
We have also been learning about graphs.  Students have had the opportunity to put information into groups and compare the results.  We first made a graph on the types of shoes we were wearing.  We created portraits of ourselves and put them onto a graph depicting the number of boys and girls in our class.  Today, we completed a graph showing how we came to school,  by bus or by car.
We have also continued our topic of feelings.  Students have learned some new feelings like disappointed,  excited,  shy, etc.  These are new words they may be unfamiliar with.  We want them to have as many tools in their "emotional tool belt" to be able to describe how they are feelings so we can help in certain situations.
I have sent home new scholastic catalogues.  The new due date is November 21st. This should give you time to get an order in before Thanksgiving break.  This would be a great time to have some books on hand if you are doing some traveling over the holidays!
We will be selling the Butter Braid® pastry from LaBraid, Inc. Fundraising.  Butter Braid® pastries are delicious premium frozen foods that buyers will truly enjoy!  The order forms will be sent home the week of November 13th. Money and order forms are due back November 28th. Checks can be made out to the BECC PSG. You must pick up your butter braid from the BECC. The pick up will take place on December 12^th from 4 to 5:30.

Welcome Back!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Fall Break! The students have adjusted well to coming back to school, even with Halloween yesterday!
With the weather change,  please make sure you send your child to school with proper attire.  We will still be going outside to the playground daily.  The temperature cut off is 32 degrees.  You are welcome to dress them in coats, hats, gloves, scarves, etc.  We will also be encouraging students to put them on themselves! This is an important skill to practice independence.
I will also be sending home any extra "summer" clothes that we have at school.  Please send in extra clothes to be kept at school in case of accidents that are appropriate for colder weather.
This week,  we have continued to talk about Halloween and Fall.  We have played several counting games with candy corns and leaves.
Today,  we talked about more and less.  Students were placing leaves on top of a tree and at the bottom and had to identify which group had more and which group had less.
We have also been creating books! This encourages students to learn concepts of print in more detail.  Such as,  pictures,  words,  and book orientation.  The students have loved being the author and making the books special to them.
Yankee Candle Pick up is November 7th from 3-8pm and November 8th from 1:30-8 pm at the BCSC Maintenance Facility- next to bus barn- 550 East Airport Road.