Welcome to Mrs. Witham's Classroom
Room 135
Mrs. Kara Witham's Classroom
email: kwitham@mpsk12.net
231-720-2248
MRS. WITHAM
Mrs. Kara Witham is married to Rick Witham and has three children, two boys and a girl. She has been teaching for Muskegon Public Schools since 1989. She likes to work alongside families to help their children achieve the best schooling experience possible. If you would like to contact her, please e-mail kwitham@mpsk12.net or call her at work (231-720-2248) or at home before 9:00 p.m. (231-766-3602).
MORNING MEETING
We begin every morning with a morning meeting, per our training with The Responsive Classroom. The meeting is a way to welcome each child to the new day, and prepare him/her for the learning ahead.
The four components of each Morning Meeting are:
1. Greeting (Each child gets a chance to feel welcomed.)
2. Sharing (We learn more about each other.)
3. Activity (We practice something that we have learned and/or begin the day on a positive note.)
4. News and Announcements (We learn something that is going to happen that day. We also go around the circle, responding to a question of the day. We focus on using complete sentences and on listening to others.)
Being at school on time (8:30) is very important so that the children get to participate in this positive transition to the school day.
READING
We use the Harcourt reading program, which encourges children to learn letter names and sounds as well as to begin using them in their reading and writing.
WRITING
We use the program Writing Units of Study. The children learn to 1) think of their story, 2) draw/illustrate their story, 3) and then try their best to write their story. As the year progresses, their ability to actually "write" their stories increases immensely!
MATH
For math, we use the Investigations programs as well as Math Their Way.
Some of the objectives for the end of the year are to:
*Count up to 100 (they MAY look at a 100s chart while counting)
*Count backwards from 10-0
*Count objects from 0-30
*Recognize numbers from 0-30
*Write numbers fro 0-30
*Sort by color, shape, and size
*Recognize four basic shapes: circle, square, rectangle, and traingle
*Count by 10s to 100
*Count by 5s to 30
*Make patterns (AB, ABC, and ABB)
*Measure (with objects)
*Use graphs (using the terms more, less, and same/equal)
*Problem solve (including acting out and illustrating math story problems as well as explaining how they solved the problems)
SCIENCE
For science, we use the Houghton Mifflin Science program: Discovery Works.
The five major themes are:
1. The body
2. The Five Senses
3. Pushes and Pulls
4. The Earth
5. Living Things
SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Studies focuses mainly on helping children learn how to get along with others. Children are also expected to learn personal information (name, phone number, address, city, state, country).
HANDWRITING
We use the program Handwriting Without Tears. To find out more about this program developed by Jan Z. Olsen, visit their website JanOlsen@hwtears.com.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are always welcome in our classroom! The more adults to give attention to our children, the better!
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Witham (kwitham@mpsk12.net; W 231-720-2248; H: 231-766-3602) or the school office (231-720-2200).
View our classroom pictures.
