No Book Bags This Week

Just letting parents know that this week students will not be bringing home a read book in a bag. I am meeting with students individually to complete leveled reading tests. I will report progress at the learning team meetings after exhibitions.

This week we are starting work on our first podcast of first grade! We will be reading and illustrating the book, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie." I'll post it up as soon as it is completed.

Below is a great document I received from my teacher in my grad class at Oakland University about the benefits of children spending time engaged in play. I hope you enjoy it. The number of benefits is quite overwhelming!

When I play on large muscle equipment, I learn…

coordination

sharing

new words

taking turns

sequence

time

confidence

how things work

first-last

creativity

imagination

position

direction

When I play with art materials, I learn…

colors

color mixing

properties of matter

creativity

new words

eye-hand coordination

problem solving

cooperation

how things work

shapes

textures

pride in my work

independence

self-reliance

When I play with blocks, I learn…

balance

gravity

position

size

eye-hand coordination

shape

creativity

new words

problem solving

numbers

pride

design

self-confidence

When I play with games and puzzles, I learn…

eye-hand coordination

problem solving

shapes

colors

sizes

sorting

spatial relationships

new words

number

counting

positions

cooperation

sharing

When I Play “Let’s Pretend,” I learn…

new words

sharing

how it feels to be someone else

eye-hand coordination

problem solving

cleaning up

respect for others feelings and property

self-confidence

independence

self-reliance

cooperation

expressive language

When I “read” a book or am read to, I learn…

new words

sentence structure

listening skills

creativity & imagination

a love of books

new information

expressive language

logical thinking

eye-hand coordination

reading readiness

sequence (left-right progression)

When I cook, I learn…

new words

measuring

properties of matter

textures

weights

expressive language

using 5 senses

eye-hand coordination

good nutrition

When I work at social studies, I learn…

about myself

about my country

about other cultures

about careers

When I work with letters, I learn…

fine motor control

name, shape and sound of letters

following directions

eye-hand coordination

When I’m at the listening center, I learn…

to listen attentively

make sense out of what is heard

expand my vocabulary

develop a sense of story

eye-hand coordination