November Fun

As we are finishing up the month of November, here is a look at some special things we have enjoyed in the classroom recently.

Reader's Workshop:
The focus of the lessons for our Reader's Workshop unit the past few weeks have been about reading with a friend.  I've found that for our classroom, the skills the children are learning from these lessons are actually functional skills.  It has been challenging for the students to learn to sit beside a classmate (Elbow to Elbow, Knee to Knee) and to share one book.  They are continuing to make progress, but this is something they have had to work extra hard to accomplish!

Social Skills Group:
In preparation for Thanksgiving, our social skills group with Ms. Weston (School Social Worker) and Mrs. Frazee (Speech and Language Therapist) focused on table manners.  The students practiced saying "please" and "thank you" as well as asking for items on the table ("please pass the potatoes").  We continued to practice this skill throughout the week.  We also talked about the importance of using utensils for eating, and waiting our turn.  Mrs. Frazee even brought some cranberry sauce for brave students to try!

Pumpkin Pie:
As a group we followed a recipe to bake a pumpkin pie.  The students were practicing taking turns, stirring, saying the names of different ingredients, and most of all having fun!  Later in the day, students had a chance to have a slice of their pie.  The pie smelled delicious, but among the students the Cool-Whip on top was loved the most!  :)

 

 

 

Turkey Art:
Miss Minto planned a fun turkey art project for art class last week too.  Each feather of the turkey had a different material and the students rotated from station to station adding the items to their turkeys.  She did an outstanding job of incorporation fine motor practice and sensory needs into one project!

 

Word Study:
We are working on a set of new words during our word study time and centers. We are learning to sound out words in the _ot family as well as continue our sight word practice.

hot
got
pot
spot
and
go
to
the

There are a series of videos on youtube that sing sight words and letters.  We occasionally watch the sight word videos for words we are working on, and the students also love the Alphabet Phonics Song.  You can find the videos at this link.
 

I hope everyone has had a nice Thanksgiving break!