November 07 – November 10, 2022
Celebrating Veterans!
Every November 11th, the nation comes together to remember and honor the service and sacrifices of our military veterans. Birmingham is the home to the oldest and largest celebration in the country. During our discussion about Veterans Day today we found out that almost every student in our class knows someone who served in the military! Our Magic City hosted the 75th Annual Veterans Day parade and hope you were able to attend with your child in downtown Birmingham! Use the website below to learn more.
WE THANK OUR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICES! WE SALUTE YOU, VETERANS!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Please note that our class is participating in the schoolwide food drive by our middle school students. An email from Ms. Chris has been sent to all from admin to give more information and history about the organization we are supporting. Our class has voted to collect box Mac&Cheese and cookies! All contributions should be brought to school by Wednesday, November 16th. Thank you so much for your help!
The return of the Annual Holiday Program!
Please plan to attend the holiday program this year on December 8th at 6:30. All of our students have been practicing and are involved in this musical extravaganza. We will be wearing blue tops and black pants or skirts. (think… Hanukkah colors) More information will follow!
Why we do it…
Our students thrive and depend upon our classroom routines. It is amazing how quickly our young students learned our daily schedule. They can tell you when we go to lunch, P.E., German, music, art, free play, and so on. One of our favorite routines of the day is the time that we spend together in Read-Aloud. This shared experience has many benefits! It’s also a great way to end the day at school or home!
Reading Aloud Builds Vocabulary. When we read aloud, students encounter new words. They also learn to pronounce unfamiliar words, which isn’t something they’d necessarily learn while reading silently. We pause at unfamiliar words to ask for definitions or look them up. This shows students that it’s worth seeking out new information.
Reading Aloud Strengthens Fluency. Reading fluency means reading effortlessly, at the proper rate, accurately, and with appropriate rhythm and expression. Fluency is often considered the bridge between decoding (understanding the relationship between letters and sounds) and comprehension. When we read aloud to our children, we provide a model for fluent reading they can emulate.
Reading Aloud Can Improve Working Memory. Working memory significantly impacts how we learn to read, and reading aloud has been shown to improve memory in multiple studies.
Reading Aloud Improves Comprehension and Active Listening. When reading aloud or listening to others, the mind concentrates on both the sounds words make and their meanings, and this is a hefty cognitive workout that strengthens comprehension.
And Finally, Reading Aloud Reduces Stress and Makes Us Happy! Reading aloud reduces stress and generally makes us feel more appreciative and relaxed. One way it does this is through narrative transport. This is when we become so absorbed in a story that we forget our surroundings and engage in visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and emotional time travel. Not only are we more receptive to deeper learning when in this state, but we’re also practicing empathy and building emotional resilience. Jim Trelease, the author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes that “every time we read aloud to a child we’re sending a “pleasure message’ to their brain.” This reaction is partially sparked by feelings of happiness and self-worth caused by someone else investing time in our enjoyment. This reason alone is enough for me to spend time each day with our children in read-aloud.
If you have not purchased a Honeybaked Hams gift card yet, please click HERE in support of our school. We receive 20% of whatever you purchase! Yum!
NOVEMBER REMINDERS:
The Book Report is due by November 18th.
The Gratitude Writing Assignment is due by November 30th.
All homework should be returned to school by the due date.
