Mrs. Perrone’s kindergarten students have been working very hard at practicing their sight words through a variety of hands-on activities. We have also identified rhyming words as well as short and long vowel sounds. Students studied a unit on seasonal changes in winter that involved using technology to decode weather sentences, make predictions, and acquire new vocabulary words. Both my kindergarten and first grade students have enjoyed a variety of cross-curricular activities centered around the text, Sneezy the Snowman. Students learned through a hands-on science experiment how a solid turns into a liquid. Additionally, they explored cause and effect relationships, connecting the events in the story to real-life situations, enhancing both literacy skills and critical thinking.
First graders participated in a creative snowman writing project using the deeper thinking strategy, See, Think, Wonder. Each student was guided through the writing process (plan, draft, edit/revise, publish) and then created a snowman for display! Additionally, we explored The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, delving into themes of new experiences and embracing one's identity. Throughout the unit, students shared personal details and cultural traditions, celebrating their individual uniqueness. I am incredibly proud of their creativity and enthusiasm.
Second graders focused on a variety of grammar skills this month. Students studied singular and plural nouns and learned how they can use adjectives and descriptive details to become better writers. Students engaged in a variety of center activities that facilitated cooperative learning. In addition, we read the multicultural text, Thank You, Omu! and engaged in activities that explored themes of gratitude and generosity, promoting literacy skills and social-emotional learning.
In our recent unit of study for grades 3-5, we delved into the world of friendly letters. We explored essential components such as greetings, closings, and the body of the letter, aiming to enhance my students' writing skills. This unit also covered vital grammar aspects tailored for ESL learners, including sentence structure, vocabulary building, tense usage, and common phrases for effective communication. Students strengthened their writing abilities and built a sense of community through peer review and collaboration.