Class Syllabus

We would like to start including a weekly syllabus of what we do in class. Hopefully, this will stimulate more interest in what we are doing, and perhaps lead to more volunteer hours in the classroom (hint hint)! Here is an explanation of how our daily centers break down:

MON/WED/FRI: 845-1000 am, 1245-200 pm

1) Math

2) Spelling

3) Journals

4) Phonemic Awareness

5) Phonics

TUES/THURS: 845-1000 am, 1245-200 pm

1) Math

2) Phonemic Awareness

3) Phonics

4) Reading

5) open

Here is a basic explanation of the above schedule:

MATH includes math concepts, special awareness, number sense, patterning, sorting, classifying, comparing, graphs, number ordering, estimation, coins, 1-to-1 correspondance, addition, subtraction. Our math program is based on Math Their Way.

SPELLING: On Monday we get our new words, we prepare one classroom set and take another set home. On Wednesday, we practice our words, sorting them by letter attribute, and working on writing our targets. On Friday, we take our tests. Our spelling program is based on Words Their Way.

JOURNALS: Three days a week we write journals. The children are given a subject or a question, and they write. Our journal topics are based on our current IB unit.

PHONEMIC AWARENESS: Phonemic Awareness (P.A.) is the ability to recognize that a spoken word is made of a sequence of individual sounds (phonemes). Children who are unaware that words consist of individual sounds will have difficulty in decoding (beginnings of reading). P.A. enables children to use letter-sound correspondences to read and spell words. This awareness is happens gradually through experiences with spoken and written language. In class, we work with rhyme, alliteration, syllables, onset-rime units, blending, segmenting, replacing, etc. Each center presents a lesson appropriate for the learning of each group.

PHONICS: Phonics is the study of letters and the sounds that they represent. In class we cover phonics ranging from single-letter (b, d, f, etc.) to consonant digraphs (ch, sh, etc.). Each center will present a lesson appropriate for the learning of each group.

READING: This is our guided reading program. Each child reads a learning-appropriate level book by him/herself. As they read, the teacher “makes the rounds”, reading for a few minutes with each child. This allow us to discern where there are trouble spots, and teach each individual child decoding methods appropriate to the child’s learning level.

BLANK: There are two centers a week that are blank. These are used for IB-related projects (crafts, videos, chats, etc.), or for seasonal crafts (Valentine boxes, etc.), or for blocks/legos/playhouse time for the children.