Wow... one week before the Winter Break. We are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at our Author's Celebration from 9:30 to 10:00. We will begin on time since the children have a library lesson promptly at 10am.
We will share out voice thread of Senses Poems with you as well as the video of our Poetry in the Park participation. The children will share their personal narratives and also show you other writings around the room and in the hallway. If you are unable to come, please know that your child will not be alone. We will pair children with other groups so that they have a chance to read their work.
There will not be a spelling test this week. However, the children do have a Reading Comprehension sheet about Thomas Jefferson and his gift of cheese. The children are to read the passage and highlight a few vocabulary words. They are to write their own definitions of these words by using their context clues.
We will begin our unit in math on decimals as well as continue our work with multiplication and division facts.
Our grade level winter celebration is Thursday from 2 to 2:45. Parents are welcomed and we may need a few more helping hands.
Please help me to emphasize that we do have academic responsibilities this week. I am expecting the children to continue to do their best work.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Merry Monday!
Wow! Can you believe how time is flying? We have two more weeks until the Winter Break. There is right much hustling and bustling of my sweet elves. We are excited about your visit on December 13, but have much to prepare for your arrival.
We are "fine tuning" our personal narratives and completing our first big essay about our Hopes and Dreams for ourselves and the world. The children have some definite views as to what they would like to change about the world.
We will have a spelling list this week with a test on Friday. The words this week focus on three important prefixes, un, re, pre. The children have a prefix and suffix chart in their spelling notebook. It is my goal to use these charts as a strategy to help with words in their reading that they may find difficult to understand. Tonight they just have to write the base word on the blank next to the definition of the prefix.
We began our book, The History of Us. Some of the questions that are posed in the book and did spark some class discussion were: What's the point of studying history? Who cares what happened long ago? Tomorrow we will get in our time capsule and going back to the Ice Age.
I have asked the children to study and prepare for the 5's and 6's and 7's multiplication quizzes this week. We will plan on having our math test on Thursday.
Thank you to all who brought in a canned good for the food drive! Don't forget about our holiday gift drive. We all appreciate all that you do for the community within and outside of Shorecrest.
We are "fine tuning" our personal narratives and completing our first big essay about our Hopes and Dreams for ourselves and the world. The children have some definite views as to what they would like to change about the world.
We will have a spelling list this week with a test on Friday. The words this week focus on three important prefixes, un, re, pre. The children have a prefix and suffix chart in their spelling notebook. It is my goal to use these charts as a strategy to help with words in their reading that they may find difficult to understand. Tonight they just have to write the base word on the blank next to the definition of the prefix.
We began our book, The History of Us. Some of the questions that are posed in the book and did spark some class discussion were: What's the point of studying history? Who cares what happened long ago? Tomorrow we will get in our time capsule and going back to the Ice Age.
I have asked the children to study and prepare for the 5's and 6's and 7's multiplication quizzes this week. We will plan on having our math test on Thursday.
Thank you to all who brought in a canned good for the food drive! Don't forget about our holiday gift drive. We all appreciate all that you do for the community within and outside of Shorecrest.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Merry Marvelous Monday!
I do hope that everyone enjoyed family and friends and had some time to relax! I returned to Virginia to be with my family. I was able to see beautiful leaves of many colors and actually wear a sweater. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I am very thankful for today. The children were well rested and focused. We accomplished a great deal. I will hope the rest of the week will prove to be the same!
Tonight's responsibilities are as follows:
Math... workbook page 90 and study 6's and 7's
Spelling...abc order on the sheet with the list of words
Geography.. study Waterways Map for a quiz on Wednesday.. they should have this map in their homework folder
Wordly Wise... page 52
Reading Comprehension...The Hickory Toothpick due on Friday
Scholastic Book Order due tomorrow
We began Lesson 6 of Wordly Wise. The words are as follows: schedule, chasm, continent, credit, enable, foul, gust, ordeal, plateau, rig. Please make sure that the children review the definitions each time they bring home the workbook for homework,
Our Spelling list this week is a group of words with a double consonant ff, ll, and ss. The words are as follows: difficult, gruff, squall, success, stress, staff, press, floss, thrill, stroll, sniff, scroll, classic, stuffy, massive, messy, willing, blissful, passing, skillful.
We are continuing with out study of Unit 4 in Math. We will be doing a great deal of work with Multiplication and Division fact families. Please make sure your child is studying the basic math facts nightly. We will use arrays to help with math facts. The children also learned a new game today, Baseball Multiplication. They seemed to really enjoy this game. I will show them a challenging option for this game tomorrow and then they can bring these games home to play with you. We are working towards having a test on this unit by the end of next week.
We took some time today to play "The Great American History Race". The children had a study buddy and they attempted to complete a Native American History match as quickly as they can. I was thrilled to see and hear just how much they did retain from our study. I will be discussing a project with the children tomorrow and will then send home an email giving you more details.
We are completing our study of Charlotte's Web. I will provide some pictures for you to see in my next email. Your child and their first grade story buddy did a fabulous job creating a scene from the story. They had to identify if the scene represented an event from the beginning, the middle, and the end. They also had to discuss the characters in that scene and what the role of the characters were in the story.We are continuing with our new class novel, A Lion To Guard Us. The children really seem to enjoy this historical fiction book and have been very curious about this time period in history.
My goal is to complete introducing and practicing all the capital letter in cursive by Winter Break. You may see more cursive practice coming home for homework.
We are looking forward to our Author's Celebration on December 13 from 9:30 to 10:00 am.We will have a couple of personal narrative, a couple of essays, and some journal response entries to share with you. A couple of our writer's lessons this week include the use of repetition, sound effect words, similes, and metaphors
The children are becoming quite the expert at technical drawing as a result of our first 2 lessons in Motion and Design. Today they completed their first build by following a side view and top view of a technical drawing that they has not seen before. It was a huge success!!!
Please make sure you child is completing a book log at home and bringing it in to me for credit. I love to see that each child is reading at least 15 minutes nightly. They are allowed to choose their own book. Please find time to ask them questions about the book they are reading. The children love to talk about what they are reading!
Don't forget our Holiday Gift Drive. Our holiday container is beautifully decorated and waiting for your sweet donations. Thank you!
I am very thankful for today. The children were well rested and focused. We accomplished a great deal. I will hope the rest of the week will prove to be the same!
Tonight's responsibilities are as follows:
Math... workbook page 90 and study 6's and 7's
Spelling...abc order on the sheet with the list of words
Geography.. study Waterways Map for a quiz on Wednesday.. they should have this map in their homework folder
Wordly Wise... page 52
Reading Comprehension...The Hickory Toothpick due on Friday
Scholastic Book Order due tomorrow
We began Lesson 6 of Wordly Wise. The words are as follows: schedule, chasm, continent, credit, enable, foul, gust, ordeal, plateau, rig. Please make sure that the children review the definitions each time they bring home the workbook for homework,
Our Spelling list this week is a group of words with a double consonant ff, ll, and ss. The words are as follows: difficult, gruff, squall, success, stress, staff, press, floss, thrill, stroll, sniff, scroll, classic, stuffy, massive, messy, willing, blissful, passing, skillful.
We are continuing with out study of Unit 4 in Math. We will be doing a great deal of work with Multiplication and Division fact families. Please make sure your child is studying the basic math facts nightly. We will use arrays to help with math facts. The children also learned a new game today, Baseball Multiplication. They seemed to really enjoy this game. I will show them a challenging option for this game tomorrow and then they can bring these games home to play with you. We are working towards having a test on this unit by the end of next week.
We took some time today to play "The Great American History Race". The children had a study buddy and they attempted to complete a Native American History match as quickly as they can. I was thrilled to see and hear just how much they did retain from our study. I will be discussing a project with the children tomorrow and will then send home an email giving you more details.
We are completing our study of Charlotte's Web. I will provide some pictures for you to see in my next email. Your child and their first grade story buddy did a fabulous job creating a scene from the story. They had to identify if the scene represented an event from the beginning, the middle, and the end. They also had to discuss the characters in that scene and what the role of the characters were in the story.We are continuing with our new class novel, A Lion To Guard Us. The children really seem to enjoy this historical fiction book and have been very curious about this time period in history.
My goal is to complete introducing and practicing all the capital letter in cursive by Winter Break. You may see more cursive practice coming home for homework.
We are looking forward to our Author's Celebration on December 13 from 9:30 to 10:00 am.We will have a couple of personal narrative, a couple of essays, and some journal response entries to share with you. A couple of our writer's lessons this week include the use of repetition, sound effect words, similes, and metaphors
The children are becoming quite the expert at technical drawing as a result of our first 2 lessons in Motion and Design. Today they completed their first build by following a side view and top view of a technical drawing that they has not seen before. It was a huge success!!!
Please make sure you child is completing a book log at home and bringing it in to me for credit. I love to see that each child is reading at least 15 minutes nightly. They are allowed to choose their own book. Please find time to ask them questions about the book they are reading. The children love to talk about what they are reading!
Don't forget our Holiday Gift Drive. Our holiday container is beautifully decorated and waiting for your sweet donations. Thank you!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Gobble Gobble Monday!
It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is upon us. Today the children wrote about three things they are thankful for. From what I read thus far, parents are tops on the list. I myself am thankful for supportive parents. I do hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Report cards will be coming home soon. If you have any questions or concerns after reading the report card, please don't hesitate to contact me. Knowing that we are in the second reporting period, I am expecting each child to focus more on the quality of their work. The children have a phrase on their desk written by Howard Newton that reads..."People forget how fast you did a job-but they remember how well you did it."
By the end of the week, we will conclude our study of Floridian Native Americans and begin working on a group culminating project that demonstrates what they have learned. I am not sure that everyone saw the poems that were outside the classroom. But the children also wrote a Diamante poem comparing and contrasting two Native American groups. I will save them and we can celebrate them in December when we have our Author Celebration.
We do have a spelling list this week of compound words. I would like the children to do at least one Spelling City activity before Friday. Tonight's spelling homework doesn't relate to compound words. It is a challenge abc order activity. There are six lists of words that have similar beginning letters.
We are moving on to Unit 4 in math. This unit covers skills such as: multiples of equal groups, multiplication arrays,word problems demonstrating equal sharing, division ties to multiplication, division fact families, estimating distances with a map scale, and a review or perimeter and area. Tonight they are coming home with a parent letter that I am sure you are going to want to read. Please continue to review multiplication facts nightly. I am going to give the children a little check up on 0's -6's by the end of the week. Then the children will know which facts they possibly struggle with and then can focus on just those facts.
This weeks at home reading comprehension activity includes two poems. The children must compare and contrast the two poems. They only have to turn in the sheet that has the questions on the back. Please make sure that you sign the reading paper as well.
In Writing Workshop, we will do a couple of lessons on using repetitive words and phrases as a strategy to emphasize something that is really important. We are using a few books such as Saturdays and Teacakes, In November, and The Other Side as examples of this author's craft.
I am hopeful that the children will consider these strategies when writing the second personal narrative or with any other story that they may write.
We have completed our first lesson of Motion and Design. My plan is that in the next couple of days, the children as a group reflect and share with the entire class the easy or difficult aspects of designing a vehicle. As the lesson progress, the objective will be more specific as to what pieces they can use to build the vehicle and how far the vehicle must travel.
The children did a wonderful job at Poetry in the Park. Several of you have already shared pictures. I am collecting any and all pictures that I can. So please feel free to share!
Report cards will be coming home soon. If you have any questions or concerns after reading the report card, please don't hesitate to contact me. Knowing that we are in the second reporting period, I am expecting each child to focus more on the quality of their work. The children have a phrase on their desk written by Howard Newton that reads..."People forget how fast you did a job-but they remember how well you did it."
By the end of the week, we will conclude our study of Floridian Native Americans and begin working on a group culminating project that demonstrates what they have learned. I am not sure that everyone saw the poems that were outside the classroom. But the children also wrote a Diamante poem comparing and contrasting two Native American groups. I will save them and we can celebrate them in December when we have our Author Celebration.
We do have a spelling list this week of compound words. I would like the children to do at least one Spelling City activity before Friday. Tonight's spelling homework doesn't relate to compound words. It is a challenge abc order activity. There are six lists of words that have similar beginning letters.
We are moving on to Unit 4 in math. This unit covers skills such as: multiples of equal groups, multiplication arrays,word problems demonstrating equal sharing, division ties to multiplication, division fact families, estimating distances with a map scale, and a review or perimeter and area. Tonight they are coming home with a parent letter that I am sure you are going to want to read. Please continue to review multiplication facts nightly. I am going to give the children a little check up on 0's -6's by the end of the week. Then the children will know which facts they possibly struggle with and then can focus on just those facts.
This weeks at home reading comprehension activity includes two poems. The children must compare and contrast the two poems. They only have to turn in the sheet that has the questions on the back. Please make sure that you sign the reading paper as well.
In Writing Workshop, we will do a couple of lessons on using repetitive words and phrases as a strategy to emphasize something that is really important. We are using a few books such as Saturdays and Teacakes, In November, and The Other Side as examples of this author's craft.
I am hopeful that the children will consider these strategies when writing the second personal narrative or with any other story that they may write.
We have completed our first lesson of Motion and Design. My plan is that in the next couple of days, the children as a group reflect and share with the entire class the easy or difficult aspects of designing a vehicle. As the lesson progress, the objective will be more specific as to what pieces they can use to build the vehicle and how far the vehicle must travel.
The children did a wonderful job at Poetry in the Park. Several of you have already shared pictures. I am collecting any and all pictures that I can. So please feel free to share!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Trip to the Book Fair Tuesday!
We had a very busy day today! One of the highlights of our day was out trip to the Book Fair. All the children have a "Wish List" coming home today. We will return to the Book Fair tomorrow morning to make purchases. After tomorrow morning, there will not be another time during the day for the children to purchase. However, the Book Fair has after school hours so that you and your child could come and make your purchases as well. There are some terrific books!!!
There will not be a spelling list this week, thus no test! I am sure the children are very upset by this decision! There is a reading comprehension activity, Ice Can Scream, is due on Friday. This reading activity focuses on verbs.
The children and their teacher has a Spanish assignment due tomorrow. We are to write a 4 line verse where the second and fourth line rhymes using the Spanish word first and the English word second. The children were given this assignment on Friday. For example:
Pollito chicken
Gallina hen
Lapiz pencil
y pluma pen
Also included in the homework folder tonight, you will find a letter for you regarding multiplication. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. One of the children brought in a Math Rap CD. We listen to one multiplication table in the morning and practice our facts before we begin the day. It is always amazing how quickly the children pick up on songs and the lyrics.
Please take some time to look over the papers that are coming home today, particularly the Math Test. I was very proud of everyone, but still discovered that many continued to have some difficulty in making measurement conversions. Even if your child got those questions correct, please try and find time to have them calculate feet to inches.. etc.. it is a good mental math practice.
We are publishing our Free Verse poetry this week along with our Diamante poems about the Floridian Native Americans. We will use out T-Charts that we created last week and turn them into poems about the lives of two Native American tribes.
You will want to ask your child about out Picture Lady today and the subject of our picture. The children were very interested and asked a lot of great questions that reflected their interest.
In Science, we are now beginning our hands-on portion of or Motion and Design unit. We have been reading and discussing what each of thinks of motion and design. The children devised two great charts that now hang in the room and should help them with the next steps of our study. Tomorrow they will be exploring the various pieces to create a vehicle/cart that can travel 100cm (39 inches). As the lessons progress, the requirements get more specific and as they are doing in the computer lab, they will make reflections on what works and what doesn't. What they learn from one lesson, they should be able to apply to the next lesson without much teacher direction.
At some point, we may have to have a Show and Tell for parents.
We will be completing our Charlotte's Web book study. We have been using this text to fine tune our skills on how to respond to literature by using sticky notes. We may be increasing the sales of sticky notes, but the children are learning how to think and respond to literature in the following way. Does the book make you:
* feel something
*ask yourself questions
*make connections( to self, to text, to the world)
*make predictions
*can you read between the lines(knowing the point the author is making without he/she really saying it)
I look forward to seeing you at Poetry in the Park. A notice will come home tomorrow regarding the time and sequence of the poets. However, please realize that we have no control over how fast or slow the day progresses. It would be great if you would come and enjoy the entire morning with us. The kids love having you here! I will provide a tarp for the children to sit on. But you feel free to bring your own beach/lounge chairs for your sitting pleasure.
There will not be a spelling list this week, thus no test! I am sure the children are very upset by this decision! There is a reading comprehension activity, Ice Can Scream, is due on Friday. This reading activity focuses on verbs.
The children and their teacher has a Spanish assignment due tomorrow. We are to write a 4 line verse where the second and fourth line rhymes using the Spanish word first and the English word second. The children were given this assignment on Friday. For example:
Pollito chicken
Gallina hen
Lapiz pencil
y pluma pen
Also included in the homework folder tonight, you will find a letter for you regarding multiplication. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. One of the children brought in a Math Rap CD. We listen to one multiplication table in the morning and practice our facts before we begin the day. It is always amazing how quickly the children pick up on songs and the lyrics.
Please take some time to look over the papers that are coming home today, particularly the Math Test. I was very proud of everyone, but still discovered that many continued to have some difficulty in making measurement conversions. Even if your child got those questions correct, please try and find time to have them calculate feet to inches.. etc.. it is a good mental math practice.
We are publishing our Free Verse poetry this week along with our Diamante poems about the Floridian Native Americans. We will use out T-Charts that we created last week and turn them into poems about the lives of two Native American tribes.
You will want to ask your child about out Picture Lady today and the subject of our picture. The children were very interested and asked a lot of great questions that reflected their interest.
In Science, we are now beginning our hands-on portion of or Motion and Design unit. We have been reading and discussing what each of thinks of motion and design. The children devised two great charts that now hang in the room and should help them with the next steps of our study. Tomorrow they will be exploring the various pieces to create a vehicle/cart that can travel 100cm (39 inches). As the lessons progress, the requirements get more specific and as they are doing in the computer lab, they will make reflections on what works and what doesn't. What they learn from one lesson, they should be able to apply to the next lesson without much teacher direction.
At some point, we may have to have a Show and Tell for parents.
We will be completing our Charlotte's Web book study. We have been using this text to fine tune our skills on how to respond to literature by using sticky notes. We may be increasing the sales of sticky notes, but the children are learning how to think and respond to literature in the following way. Does the book make you:
* feel something
*ask yourself questions
*make connections( to self, to text, to the world)
*make predictions
*can you read between the lines(knowing the point the author is making without he/she really saying it)
I look forward to seeing you at Poetry in the Park. A notice will come home tomorrow regarding the time and sequence of the poets. However, please realize that we have no control over how fast or slow the day progresses. It would be great if you would come and enjoy the entire morning with us. The kids love having you here! I will provide a tarp for the children to sit on. But you feel free to bring your own beach/lounge chairs for your sitting pleasure.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! I am sure all my little ghosts and goblin trick-or-treaters will have a fun night! I told them they could bring in one small piece of candy tomorrow.
I did ask the children to begin learning the first two stanzas of the poem, My Doggy Ate My Homework. This is our poem for Poetry in the Park. I also asked the children to begin looking for a white chef's hat, a wooden cooking spoon, and a white apron if possible. If a white apron is difficult to find, then have them bring in an another apron for me to see ahead of time.
We are publishing our first personal narratives this week complete with illustrated cover. Today we wrote poems about witches complete with a designer magic hat. The poem included adjectives, verbs and a phrase to describe their topic, witches. We will continue the study of poetry by looking at various styles of poetry, but focusing on free verse poetry. The children will write at least two poems based on two objects that they choose and complete the poem without the use of rhyming yet full of sensory language. We will practice this style of poetry as a class by focusing on a banana. How appropriate since their teacher eats one every morning.
I sent a multiplication table chart home today. We discussed how this could be used at home. I did make a request that though it is good to learn the tables in order, that once they become more comfortable with the process, they should practice the tables out of order. They really need to begin practicing all the multiplication tables now. But I am hopeful that they will have mastered 0-6's by Thanksgiving.
You should also see a notice about the Book Fair in your child's homework folder. I am going to try and take the children to view the books on Tuesday, Nov 8 and then take them on Wednesday to make purchases. However, as you will notice in the letter, everyone is allowed to go in the afternoons after school. This is always a great book fair with multitudes of good books to add to the reading shelf at home or to give as gifts.
We began Lesson 5 in Wordly Wise. The words include: amaze, amazing, arctic, Arctic, court, elect, interval, league, limit, milestone, recreation, and tackle.
This week in math we will be working on circumference, diameter, and radius. We will also review perimeter, area, and practice making conversions as a review for our test on Friday.
You will want to ask your child about the book we read in math today entitled, Sir Cumference and The First Round Table. Ask about their child, Radius.
We are continuing our work with our first grade buddies. My boys and girls reviewed the art of dialogue and narration and created a skit using paper bags disguised as Wilbur. Our first grade buddies used their "stick characters" to talk about their most and least favorite parts of the story. During our next visit, the groups will use plan and begin creating a tri-aroma illustrating the major scenes from the beginning, middle and end of the story, Charlotte's Web.
We have completed our study of the Calusa, Timucua, and Tocobaga. We have outlined information using outline style or other graphic organizers.After we will learn about the Tequesta this week, the children will complete and compare and contrast activity by choosing two groups to discuss. They will make their own decisions as to which groups to compare and contrast and the main topics they will use to base their comparisons.(ie. food, clothing, housing,etc)
Friday is Spirit Day and also the beginning of Homecoming weekend. We will have our Pep Rally on Friday beginning at 1:30. So.. lots of yellow and green!!!
Please check you child's supplies. There may a need for new sharpened pencils, red marking pencils, or loose leaf notebook paper.
Again, I do hope everyone has a "Spooky Halloween" evening! Don't get tricked!!!
I did ask the children to begin learning the first two stanzas of the poem, My Doggy Ate My Homework. This is our poem for Poetry in the Park. I also asked the children to begin looking for a white chef's hat, a wooden cooking spoon, and a white apron if possible. If a white apron is difficult to find, then have them bring in an another apron for me to see ahead of time.
We are publishing our first personal narratives this week complete with illustrated cover. Today we wrote poems about witches complete with a designer magic hat. The poem included adjectives, verbs and a phrase to describe their topic, witches. We will continue the study of poetry by looking at various styles of poetry, but focusing on free verse poetry. The children will write at least two poems based on two objects that they choose and complete the poem without the use of rhyming yet full of sensory language. We will practice this style of poetry as a class by focusing on a banana. How appropriate since their teacher eats one every morning.
I sent a multiplication table chart home today. We discussed how this could be used at home. I did make a request that though it is good to learn the tables in order, that once they become more comfortable with the process, they should practice the tables out of order. They really need to begin practicing all the multiplication tables now. But I am hopeful that they will have mastered 0-6's by Thanksgiving.
You should also see a notice about the Book Fair in your child's homework folder. I am going to try and take the children to view the books on Tuesday, Nov 8 and then take them on Wednesday to make purchases. However, as you will notice in the letter, everyone is allowed to go in the afternoons after school. This is always a great book fair with multitudes of good books to add to the reading shelf at home or to give as gifts.
We began Lesson 5 in Wordly Wise. The words include: amaze, amazing, arctic, Arctic, court, elect, interval, league, limit, milestone, recreation, and tackle.
This week in math we will be working on circumference, diameter, and radius. We will also review perimeter, area, and practice making conversions as a review for our test on Friday.
You will want to ask your child about the book we read in math today entitled, Sir Cumference and The First Round Table. Ask about their child, Radius.
We are continuing our work with our first grade buddies. My boys and girls reviewed the art of dialogue and narration and created a skit using paper bags disguised as Wilbur. Our first grade buddies used their "stick characters" to talk about their most and least favorite parts of the story. During our next visit, the groups will use plan and begin creating a tri-aroma illustrating the major scenes from the beginning, middle and end of the story, Charlotte's Web.
We have completed our study of the Calusa, Timucua, and Tocobaga. We have outlined information using outline style or other graphic organizers.After we will learn about the Tequesta this week, the children will complete and compare and contrast activity by choosing two groups to discuss. They will make their own decisions as to which groups to compare and contrast and the main topics they will use to base their comparisons.(ie. food, clothing, housing,etc)
Friday is Spirit Day and also the beginning of Homecoming weekend. We will have our Pep Rally on Friday beginning at 1:30. So.. lots of yellow and green!!!
Please check you child's supplies. There may a need for new sharpened pencils, red marking pencils, or loose leaf notebook paper.
Again, I do hope everyone has a "Spooky Halloween" evening! Don't get tricked!!!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Marvelous Monday!
I do hope that everyone had a fun and relaxing long weekend! The teachers were involved in a professional development workshop that focused on reading and how better to help your child. We discussed how important it is for our children to enjoy reading and to make sure that have a good amount of time to focus on their individual reading.
This week we are beginning our study of Floridian Native Americans. Our first group are the Calusa. You should be a informational sheet and a question sheet in their homework folder tonight. I explained to the children that question #1 is supposed to be written in paragraph form. The paragraph should be at least 3 to 5 sentences long.
Our Spelling words this week are examples of the doubling consonant rule. Please have the children read these words to you at least twice this week. There is a big difference in saying a hopping bunny and not a hoping bunny.Tonight the children are to put the words in alphabetical order and practice the dictation. Also, take a look at the pumpkin letter the attached sheet of words.
Dictation this week is:
1) The fattest dog ate the biggest bone.
2) He skipped and fell on the grassy bank.
3) She dimmed the lamp in the dimly lit room.
4) The shrill cry of the baby will bring the parents running.
This week they have two long range reading assignments. The first one, Senor Coyote, the Judge is due on Friday and should be signed by both you and your child. The second reading assignment, A Halloween Scene is due on Friday as well. This reading work is a little more involved and I have explained to the children not to wait till Thursday to begin. I would also like the children to read the poem to you aloud as well. Please don't forget to send in the home book logs as they are completed.
In Math, we are continuing our study of standard and metric measurement. Today we used tape measures to explore items around the room and in the hall that were about an inch, a foot, a yard and a centimeter. It certainly puts things in a better "size" perspective. Tonight they should complete pages 59 and 62 in the workbook. I did give them some class time to complete a portion of the work.
We are winding up our class novel, 7*9= Trouble. We will begin an independent novel, Charlotte's Web. We will spend some time with Mrs. Owen's class buddies to complete a couple of comprehension/artistic projects.
I will be choosing a poem for our Poetry in the Park and sending a copy for the children to practice every night. Thank you for your help and support in advance.
You may want to check on your child's supplies. The pencils seem to be dwindling down and eraser non existent. Thanks!
This week we are beginning our study of Floridian Native Americans. Our first group are the Calusa. You should be a informational sheet and a question sheet in their homework folder tonight. I explained to the children that question #1 is supposed to be written in paragraph form. The paragraph should be at least 3 to 5 sentences long.
Our Spelling words this week are examples of the doubling consonant rule. Please have the children read these words to you at least twice this week. There is a big difference in saying a hopping bunny and not a hoping bunny.Tonight the children are to put the words in alphabetical order and practice the dictation. Also, take a look at the pumpkin letter the attached sheet of words.
Dictation this week is:
1) The fattest dog ate the biggest bone.
2) He skipped and fell on the grassy bank.
3) She dimmed the lamp in the dimly lit room.
4) The shrill cry of the baby will bring the parents running.
This week they have two long range reading assignments. The first one, Senor Coyote, the Judge is due on Friday and should be signed by both you and your child. The second reading assignment, A Halloween Scene is due on Friday as well. This reading work is a little more involved and I have explained to the children not to wait till Thursday to begin. I would also like the children to read the poem to you aloud as well. Please don't forget to send in the home book logs as they are completed.
In Math, we are continuing our study of standard and metric measurement. Today we used tape measures to explore items around the room and in the hall that were about an inch, a foot, a yard and a centimeter. It certainly puts things in a better "size" perspective. Tonight they should complete pages 59 and 62 in the workbook. I did give them some class time to complete a portion of the work.
We are winding up our class novel, 7*9= Trouble. We will begin an independent novel, Charlotte's Web. We will spend some time with Mrs. Owen's class buddies to complete a couple of comprehension/artistic projects.
I will be choosing a poem for our Poetry in the Park and sending a copy for the children to practice every night. Thank you for your help and support in advance.
You may want to check on your child's supplies. The pencils seem to be dwindling down and eraser non existent. Thanks!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Short Week Adventure
The Simple Machines Project was a tremendous success. The kids loved all the ideas that were created. Each child had to give at least a three minutes presentation about what simple machine their creation represented, how they made it, and how it could help mankind. Each presentation was recorded and will become a part of their electronic portfolio. We are also taking our projects down to the library today to go on display for a few days. Mrs. Smay loves to have children's work around the library as well.
There will be a spelling test this week on Thursday. The children are writing the dictation sentences full of homophones today. They will need to practice writing these sentences beginning tonight. As a class, we will be collecting homophones over the next two weeks and making a master list of all the homophones that we find... well anywhere!
Dictation this week is:
1) The two boys wanted to go swimming but it was too cold,
2) It's too hot to play more than two running games.
3) There are too many pencils in that pencil holder.
4) They're going to put on their play in her backyard.
5) They hung their patched trousers over there near their closet.
They also have a Reading Comprehension activity, How Big Is A Foot?, due on Thursday as well. This week as part of the comprehension strategy, they have to identify two repetitive phrases and describe two repetitive events in the story. Please make sure that you have signed these reading activities. It lets me know that you have heard your child read these reading passages aloud.
We are beginning our new Math unit. In this unit the children will be introduced to various measurement units, both standard linear and metric. We will also explore perimeter, area, diameter, and circumference. The reading comprehension activity this week actually introduces the math unit as well. I love it when it all ties in together!!!!!!
I will be sending home various challenge activities this month. As much as I want to encourage each child to work on them, please have them concentrate on the homework, assigned projects, and reading first. They do have a poster about themselves due anytime the month of October. As soon as they complete the poster project, they can turn it in to me for safe keeping.
In Reading, we are reading stories about customs and traditions from other cultures and learning that though there are many differences, there are similarities as well. These stories also emphasizes the character trait of tolerance and acceptance of others. Today will be reading about birthdays from three different countries and use the strategy of comparing and contrasting as our comprehension strategy.
I hope everyone has a great week. Enjoy your long weekend!!!
There will be a spelling test this week on Thursday. The children are writing the dictation sentences full of homophones today. They will need to practice writing these sentences beginning tonight. As a class, we will be collecting homophones over the next two weeks and making a master list of all the homophones that we find... well anywhere!
Dictation this week is:
1) The two boys wanted to go swimming but it was too cold,
2) It's too hot to play more than two running games.
3) There are too many pencils in that pencil holder.
4) They're going to put on their play in her backyard.
5) They hung their patched trousers over there near their closet.
They also have a Reading Comprehension activity, How Big Is A Foot?, due on Thursday as well. This week as part of the comprehension strategy, they have to identify two repetitive phrases and describe two repetitive events in the story. Please make sure that you have signed these reading activities. It lets me know that you have heard your child read these reading passages aloud.
We are beginning our new Math unit. In this unit the children will be introduced to various measurement units, both standard linear and metric. We will also explore perimeter, area, diameter, and circumference. The reading comprehension activity this week actually introduces the math unit as well. I love it when it all ties in together!!!!!!
I will be sending home various challenge activities this month. As much as I want to encourage each child to work on them, please have them concentrate on the homework, assigned projects, and reading first. They do have a poster about themselves due anytime the month of October. As soon as they complete the poster project, they can turn it in to me for safe keeping.
In Reading, we are reading stories about customs and traditions from other cultures and learning that though there are many differences, there are similarities as well. These stories also emphasizes the character trait of tolerance and acceptance of others. Today will be reading about birthdays from three different countries and use the strategy of comparing and contrasting as our comprehension strategy.
I hope everyone has a great week. Enjoy your long weekend!!!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Love This Weather Monday!
What a marvelous weekend! I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy the incredible weather!
I know the children are excited about not having school on Thursday. And to top it off... the Rays are in town!!! I have told the children that if the Rays win tonight, they will not have any written work for homework on Tuesday night. They are also allowed to wear their Rays shirts but with uniform bottoms to school on Tuesday as well. Go Rays!
We are continuing our study of simple machines. The simple machine creations are due this Friday. They are to make sure they have followed the directions of the project. Included with their creation should be a written portion on loose leaf that explains the following:
1) Statement of the problem ( what kind of work is made easier by this simple machine)
2) How the problem was solved ( steps on how the simple machine was created)
3) Conclusion ( does the machine work and how does it function to make the work easier)
I told the children that the creation should be no bigger than a shoe box.
As with every week, we have a new list of spelling words. However, this week I am giving the dictation to them ahead of time. They will write these sentences into their notebooks tomorrow morning. The sentences are to be reviewed each night. You may want the children to practice writing these sentences on loose leaf paper prior to the test on Friday. They are as follows:
1) Isn't it awful that they put garbage in the bushes?
2) I don't see who's going to take care of the children.
3) You've got to stretch your legs before you play in the game.
4) They've matched the bows to the costumes.
We are completing our Math unit. Tonight the children are to complete pages 48 and 49 as a review. We will review all skills and complete a practice test tomorrow. The Unit 2 Math test will be on Wednesday.
We are continuing our study of Simple Machines this week and should be winding up our project in the computer lab. I am going to give the children time in class to make flash cards using the key words for simple machines with definitions included. I will ask the children to bring the flash cards home to study. They will have a quiz on these words on Friday.
Today they are bringing home a VERY important letter about Fall Festival. There are several forms that require reading and signing. I have explained to the children that is VERY important that they have a plan for dismissal on that day and they will have to stay with me if they do not bring back the form filled out and signed by you. Believe me, that is not a wonderful consequence for them on a day like Fall Festival. Smiles!!! I was joking, but they got the message!
I look forward to meeting with you all on Thursday. I will focus on work and study habits, relationships with classmates and certain subject areas that may need additional support. Thank you for sending me such eager learners!!!
The children are allowed to wear their Ray spirit shirts tomorrow but with the uniform bottoms. Also, I have informed the children that if the Rays do win tonight, that there will be no written homework, but obviously there are study type responsibilities.
I know the children are excited about not having school on Thursday. And to top it off... the Rays are in town!!! I have told the children that if the Rays win tonight, they will not have any written work for homework on Tuesday night. They are also allowed to wear their Rays shirts but with uniform bottoms to school on Tuesday as well. Go Rays!
We are continuing our study of simple machines. The simple machine creations are due this Friday. They are to make sure they have followed the directions of the project. Included with their creation should be a written portion on loose leaf that explains the following:
1) Statement of the problem ( what kind of work is made easier by this simple machine)
2) How the problem was solved ( steps on how the simple machine was created)
3) Conclusion ( does the machine work and how does it function to make the work easier)
I told the children that the creation should be no bigger than a shoe box.
As with every week, we have a new list of spelling words. However, this week I am giving the dictation to them ahead of time. They will write these sentences into their notebooks tomorrow morning. The sentences are to be reviewed each night. You may want the children to practice writing these sentences on loose leaf paper prior to the test on Friday. They are as follows:
1) Isn't it awful that they put garbage in the bushes?
2) I don't see who's going to take care of the children.
3) You've got to stretch your legs before you play in the game.
4) They've matched the bows to the costumes.
We are completing our Math unit. Tonight the children are to complete pages 48 and 49 as a review. We will review all skills and complete a practice test tomorrow. The Unit 2 Math test will be on Wednesday.
We are continuing our study of Simple Machines this week and should be winding up our project in the computer lab. I am going to give the children time in class to make flash cards using the key words for simple machines with definitions included. I will ask the children to bring the flash cards home to study. They will have a quiz on these words on Friday.
Today they are bringing home a VERY important letter about Fall Festival. There are several forms that require reading and signing. I have explained to the children that is VERY important that they have a plan for dismissal on that day and they will have to stay with me if they do not bring back the form filled out and signed by you. Believe me, that is not a wonderful consequence for them on a day like Fall Festival. Smiles!!! I was joking, but they got the message!
I look forward to meeting with you all on Thursday. I will focus on work and study habits, relationships with classmates and certain subject areas that may need additional support. Thank you for sending me such eager learners!!!
The children are allowed to wear their Ray spirit shirts tomorrow but with the uniform bottoms. Also, I have informed the children that if the Rays do win tonight, that there will be no written homework, but obviously there are study type responsibilities.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Mighty Monday!
We began our week by introducing Simple Machines. The children did various activities today that provided a good foundation for work that they will complete in the computer lab on Wednesday and Thursday. We read about Simple Machines in our science book and used a guideline to look for specific information. Learning how to locate information within a text is very important. Then we watched a wonderful Brainpop, and interactive video, on simple machines and then completed a web using a website provided by Mrs. Baralt. The children are allowed to go to this website at home and show you what they have learned. I have also showed them another website that they are allowed to go to and explore the various simple machines that one can find in and around the house. The websites are as follows:
www.ittybittyurl.com/13x and http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/
Our spelling words this week demonstrate the use of consonant blends. I would like the children to complete one Spelling City activity this week using these words.
The children are coming home with a reading comprehension activity that is due on Friday entitled The Golden Touch. This week they are working on vocabulary that they may not recognize. They are write their own definition depending on how the word is used in the passage, giving them practice with using context clues to help with understanding. They are not to look up these words in a dictionary. Please make sure they read this passage aloud to you and then read again independently. Make sure you sign the paper when they are finished. Thank you!
The children will also come home with their paper envelope tomorrow. If your child has not turned theirs in, please make sure they return it to school tomorrow. Also, they are to turn in the Responsible Use Policy Form signed by both you and your child.
In Math, we are working on word problems and learn three styles of strategies that help the children organize the information to help solve the word problems successfully. We will also
practice organizing information on a chart according to high and low temperature. You will want to be on the lookout for this chart coming home soon.
In reading, we are beginning a new unit on Ancestors. I asked the children to go home tonight and see if they had a picture of an ancestor that they were allowed to bring to school. The older the picture the better. Later on this week, after reading a couple of stories, the children will come home with a family tree to complete. This is always a fun learning experience and a way for the children to get to know more about their relatives. We will also begin our new class novel, 7*9= Trouble about a character that is apprehensive and has some difficulty with learning his multiplication tables. We have completed Muggie Maggie in class and are now working in groups to outline the major events in each chapter to present to the class. Our objective this week is to continue with main idea and supporting details.
Our Wordly Wise words for the new lesson are as follows: ambition, auction, coast, current, frail, intelligent, novel, resident, starve, volunteer
We are completing our study of Florida and will begin our study of the Native American groups indigenous to Florida. The children completed a great web in compute lab last week expressed certain facts that they had learned along with graphics. You will see these in the hallway when you come for our parent conference on October 6.
So that we have a focus for Parent Conference Day, I will be addressing your child's strengths and areas of weakness in work habits in regard to working independently and certain skills that need to be reviewed more diligently at home. If you have any questions or concerns, please jot them down prior to your visit. It never fails, but our time will go by very quickly and I want to make sure that we utilize every second.
Homework tonight is as follows:
Science... complete the simple machines crossword puzzle
Math...Home Link 2.3 and2.5
Reading Comprehension Activity... due Friday
Study spelling words and complete a Spelling City activity by Friday
www.ittybittyurl.com/13x and http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/
Our spelling words this week demonstrate the use of consonant blends. I would like the children to complete one Spelling City activity this week using these words.
The children are coming home with a reading comprehension activity that is due on Friday entitled The Golden Touch. This week they are working on vocabulary that they may not recognize. They are write their own definition depending on how the word is used in the passage, giving them practice with using context clues to help with understanding. They are not to look up these words in a dictionary. Please make sure they read this passage aloud to you and then read again independently. Make sure you sign the paper when they are finished. Thank you!
The children will also come home with their paper envelope tomorrow. If your child has not turned theirs in, please make sure they return it to school tomorrow. Also, they are to turn in the Responsible Use Policy Form signed by both you and your child.
In Math, we are working on word problems and learn three styles of strategies that help the children organize the information to help solve the word problems successfully. We will also
practice organizing information on a chart according to high and low temperature. You will want to be on the lookout for this chart coming home soon.
In reading, we are beginning a new unit on Ancestors. I asked the children to go home tonight and see if they had a picture of an ancestor that they were allowed to bring to school. The older the picture the better. Later on this week, after reading a couple of stories, the children will come home with a family tree to complete. This is always a fun learning experience and a way for the children to get to know more about their relatives. We will also begin our new class novel, 7*9= Trouble about a character that is apprehensive and has some difficulty with learning his multiplication tables. We have completed Muggie Maggie in class and are now working in groups to outline the major events in each chapter to present to the class. Our objective this week is to continue with main idea and supporting details.
Our Wordly Wise words for the new lesson are as follows: ambition, auction, coast, current, frail, intelligent, novel, resident, starve, volunteer
We are completing our study of Florida and will begin our study of the Native American groups indigenous to Florida. The children completed a great web in compute lab last week expressed certain facts that they had learned along with graphics. You will see these in the hallway when you come for our parent conference on October 6.
So that we have a focus for Parent Conference Day, I will be addressing your child's strengths and areas of weakness in work habits in regard to working independently and certain skills that need to be reviewed more diligently at home. If you have any questions or concerns, please jot them down prior to your visit. It never fails, but our time will go by very quickly and I want to make sure that we utilize every second.
Homework tonight is as follows:
Science... complete the simple machines crossword puzzle
Math...Home Link 2.3 and2.5
Reading Comprehension Activity... due Friday
Study spelling words and complete a Spelling City activity by Friday
Monday, September 19, 2011
Miracle Monday!
We did it! Everything I planned to happen today got completed including initial sharing of the Geography projects. YEA!
The projects were fantastic! We had our class museum today where we all got to stroll around the room and see everyone's hard work. Tomorrow, each child will share their project to the class. I will ask the children to consider these things while sharing:
1) How they decided the land form terms to use.
2) What they learned from completing this project.
3) How this project can help them with other learning and real life.
We have begun our new unit in math. The skills that we will focus on are fact families, fact extensions, completing "What's My Rule" tables, number sense, number stories, and partial sums algorithm. You will find in your child's homework folder a Do-Anytime Activities letter. These are some ideas of how to extend the skills at home in a real world setting. It's important for the children to see that what they are learning is applicable to their every day life. You will notice that the activity sheet goes all the way to unit 5. Don't worry if your child doesn't understand some of it yet. Just wait till we are actually in that unit. Tonight they have page 31 in their workbook. We began our work on fact families today. If you take a look at page 30, you will see that they are learning how to format these fact families and how the number sentences can be written differently.
Please continue your work at home with Dance Mat. I would really like the children to work to stage 9 or 10 by the end of this week. I did notice last week that many children were able to find the letters with more ease as a result of this practice. As soon as they complete the chart, please sign it and have them bring it back to me as well as any printed certificates.
This week in Science, we will continue our study of the scientific process by completing a new experiment. This experiment, using bouncing balls, will introduce the idea of a variable in an experiment. I have also sent home an experiment project that is due on Friday. We reviewed this in class this morning. As the letter indicates, they are to complete two of their choice. However, if they want to do more than 2 for extra credit, I applaud their efforts. If you have any questions about the format, please don't hesitate to let me know. In our discussion, I did encourage the children to think of another way to approach the experiment using their knowledge of an hypothesis and now a variable.
Please don't forget to turn in the Book Logs from home. Once your child turns in the book log, I will give them another one to bring home. The children are also keeping one at school. They get credit for all the reading that they do whether in a structured lesson or independently. We are still working on how to choose a "just right" book.
We will complete our Wordly Wise Lesson 2 work this week. There will be a quiz on Friday. I will have the children complete the comprehension questions and then bring home their flash cards to use when reviewing.
We are working this week on finding interesting facts about Florida. Our computer time this week will be spent categorizing these facts(people, tourism, economy, etc) and preparing a mind map using the program, Inspiration to share what we have learned.
If your child did not return their signed paper envelope, please do so tomorrow. There will be more papers that need to come home on Friday. Also, please remember to sign the reading comprehension activities that come home . I will be sending another one home tomorrow and that one is due on Friday as well. Thank you very much!
Check the spelling list on the blog. Our words this week are R-Combination Syllables. Tonight the children are to put the words in abc order. You will see that the words have an r sound but spelled either with er, ar, ur, ir, er, or.
Wednesday is International Peace Day. The children have written lovely Peace poems complete with illustrations. These will be on display on Wednesday. The children are allowed to wear a shirt that either has the word peace on it or display a peace sign. However, the "bottom half" needs to follow uniform guidelines.
The projects were fantastic! We had our class museum today where we all got to stroll around the room and see everyone's hard work. Tomorrow, each child will share their project to the class. I will ask the children to consider these things while sharing:
1) How they decided the land form terms to use.
2) What they learned from completing this project.
3) How this project can help them with other learning and real life.
We have begun our new unit in math. The skills that we will focus on are fact families, fact extensions, completing "What's My Rule" tables, number sense, number stories, and partial sums algorithm. You will find in your child's homework folder a Do-Anytime Activities letter. These are some ideas of how to extend the skills at home in a real world setting. It's important for the children to see that what they are learning is applicable to their every day life. You will notice that the activity sheet goes all the way to unit 5. Don't worry if your child doesn't understand some of it yet. Just wait till we are actually in that unit. Tonight they have page 31 in their workbook. We began our work on fact families today. If you take a look at page 30, you will see that they are learning how to format these fact families and how the number sentences can be written differently.
Please continue your work at home with Dance Mat. I would really like the children to work to stage 9 or 10 by the end of this week. I did notice last week that many children were able to find the letters with more ease as a result of this practice. As soon as they complete the chart, please sign it and have them bring it back to me as well as any printed certificates.
This week in Science, we will continue our study of the scientific process by completing a new experiment. This experiment, using bouncing balls, will introduce the idea of a variable in an experiment. I have also sent home an experiment project that is due on Friday. We reviewed this in class this morning. As the letter indicates, they are to complete two of their choice. However, if they want to do more than 2 for extra credit, I applaud their efforts. If you have any questions about the format, please don't hesitate to let me know. In our discussion, I did encourage the children to think of another way to approach the experiment using their knowledge of an hypothesis and now a variable.
Please don't forget to turn in the Book Logs from home. Once your child turns in the book log, I will give them another one to bring home. The children are also keeping one at school. They get credit for all the reading that they do whether in a structured lesson or independently. We are still working on how to choose a "just right" book.
We will complete our Wordly Wise Lesson 2 work this week. There will be a quiz on Friday. I will have the children complete the comprehension questions and then bring home their flash cards to use when reviewing.
We are working this week on finding interesting facts about Florida. Our computer time this week will be spent categorizing these facts(people, tourism, economy, etc) and preparing a mind map using the program, Inspiration to share what we have learned.
If your child did not return their signed paper envelope, please do so tomorrow. There will be more papers that need to come home on Friday. Also, please remember to sign the reading comprehension activities that come home . I will be sending another one home tomorrow and that one is due on Friday as well. Thank you very much!
Check the spelling list on the blog. Our words this week are R-Combination Syllables. Tonight the children are to put the words in abc order. You will see that the words have an r sound but spelled either with er, ar, ur, ir, er, or.
Wednesday is International Peace Day. The children have written lovely Peace poems complete with illustrations. These will be on display on Wednesday. The children are allowed to wear a shirt that either has the word peace on it or display a peace sign. However, the "bottom half" needs to follow uniform guidelines.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Terrific Tuesday!
We are off to a great start this week. We are finishing up our Friendship essays and have begun our Personal Narrative study. As I may have stated before, my goal is to have the children publish at least two Personal Narratives before we conclude this unit of study over the next month or so. We will be writing Senses Poems this week as well.
We began Lesson 2 of Wordly Wise. Our words include: attract, attractive, attraction, crew, dangle, drift, event, launch, opposite, reverse, signal, steer. We are currently working on the comprehension questions that relate to the story about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Please make sure when they have homework related to the questions, that they are taking the facts from the story and just not making assumptions as to what the answer might be. Some of the questions do require responses that are geared towards asking opinions. But for the most part, the questions are asked so that the reader has to remember specific facts from the story.
This week in Spelling, we have a list of words that follow the Diphthong Syllable Rule. This rule states: 1) a diphthong syllable usually has two vowels together that have one sound and 2) the diphthong syllable has a special sound. It will be expected that the children include these rules with the dictation on the spelling test on Friday. Last night the children were to put the words in alphabetical order and tonight I am going to ask them to go to Spelling City to complete and try to print out one activity of their choice.
In Science, we are continuing our study of Scientific Method. One goal this week is for each child to complete a flow chart using Inspiration outlining the 5 steps of the Scientific Process. I exposed the children to a more indepth outline using 9 steps. But for the activity, they will choose the 5 steps that all scientists use to complete an experiment. We discovered today that there is an average of 7 seeds in a Washington Red Apple. We are now trying to see if we can get our seeds to sprout creating another avenue to write an hypothesis. Tomorrow, we will complete an experiment with salt and baking soda.
This week our purpose in reading is to identify main characters and assign character traits based on the actions in a story. We began today by using the story Dandelions by Eve Bunting. My goal is also to complete the class novel, Muggie Maggie and respond in our journal by Friday. Also, a new activity came home this week that is due on Friday. From time to time, I will send home a reading comprehension activity for the children to complete within the week. The objective is for them to read the passage orally to you once and then to read it to themselves once. The questions or activities vary. This week they have to compare and contrast how their lives are the same and yet different from that of a pioneer boy or girl. Please make sure that you sign the reading sheet before it is returned to class on Friday. That is my way of knowing that you have not only seen the work, but that you have listened to your child read aloud.
We are working our way through the Florida Book. Today, we will be reading about the history of Florida. We discussed yesterday about the role of trains and how important they were to the economy and population of Florida. Today, we will read about the environment and how important it is to preserve our coral reefs. Once we have familiarized ourselves with our book, the children will go on one last scavenger hunt to answer such questions as:
1)What is Florida's oldest city?
2) How large are the Florida Everglades?
3) List five animals in the Florida Everglades that are endangered.
4) What are the five countries that have owned Florida?
5) List Florida's 5 main crops.
If you are having trouble with the answers yourself, you may want to ask your child by Friday what they discovered.
The children should be working on their Geography project as well. I have shared with the children that as long as they follow the core directions and guidelines, they can add additional information and ideas of their own. We have discussed in class how that works and even generated some ideas. However, I am leaving that motivation to the children and letting them decide for themselves.
Also, I just wanted you to know that I do write the assignments down on my own agenda to show the children every day. At the end of the day, they are responsible for getting all of their belongings together to go home. However, I do go over the homework one more time before they leave the room to pack their book bags. For some, it is a time to socialize which makes if more difficult to focus on what they are doing. I am all for having fun and chatting with friends, but please help me to emphasize that one can socialize after the book bag is packed. Thanks for your help! This can and does eliminate disappointment and frustration the next day when one doesn't have an assignment completed.
We began Lesson 2 of Wordly Wise. Our words include: attract, attractive, attraction, crew, dangle, drift, event, launch, opposite, reverse, signal, steer. We are currently working on the comprehension questions that relate to the story about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Please make sure when they have homework related to the questions, that they are taking the facts from the story and just not making assumptions as to what the answer might be. Some of the questions do require responses that are geared towards asking opinions. But for the most part, the questions are asked so that the reader has to remember specific facts from the story.
This week in Spelling, we have a list of words that follow the Diphthong Syllable Rule. This rule states: 1) a diphthong syllable usually has two vowels together that have one sound and 2) the diphthong syllable has a special sound. It will be expected that the children include these rules with the dictation on the spelling test on Friday. Last night the children were to put the words in alphabetical order and tonight I am going to ask them to go to Spelling City to complete and try to print out one activity of their choice.
In Science, we are continuing our study of Scientific Method. One goal this week is for each child to complete a flow chart using Inspiration outlining the 5 steps of the Scientific Process. I exposed the children to a more indepth outline using 9 steps. But for the activity, they will choose the 5 steps that all scientists use to complete an experiment. We discovered today that there is an average of 7 seeds in a Washington Red Apple. We are now trying to see if we can get our seeds to sprout creating another avenue to write an hypothesis. Tomorrow, we will complete an experiment with salt and baking soda.
This week our purpose in reading is to identify main characters and assign character traits based on the actions in a story. We began today by using the story Dandelions by Eve Bunting. My goal is also to complete the class novel, Muggie Maggie and respond in our journal by Friday. Also, a new activity came home this week that is due on Friday. From time to time, I will send home a reading comprehension activity for the children to complete within the week. The objective is for them to read the passage orally to you once and then to read it to themselves once. The questions or activities vary. This week they have to compare and contrast how their lives are the same and yet different from that of a pioneer boy or girl. Please make sure that you sign the reading sheet before it is returned to class on Friday. That is my way of knowing that you have not only seen the work, but that you have listened to your child read aloud.
We are working our way through the Florida Book. Today, we will be reading about the history of Florida. We discussed yesterday about the role of trains and how important they were to the economy and population of Florida. Today, we will read about the environment and how important it is to preserve our coral reefs. Once we have familiarized ourselves with our book, the children will go on one last scavenger hunt to answer such questions as:
1)What is Florida's oldest city?
2) How large are the Florida Everglades?
3) List five animals in the Florida Everglades that are endangered.
4) What are the five countries that have owned Florida?
5) List Florida's 5 main crops.
If you are having trouble with the answers yourself, you may want to ask your child by Friday what they discovered.
The children should be working on their Geography project as well. I have shared with the children that as long as they follow the core directions and guidelines, they can add additional information and ideas of their own. We have discussed in class how that works and even generated some ideas. However, I am leaving that motivation to the children and letting them decide for themselves.
Also, I just wanted you to know that I do write the assignments down on my own agenda to show the children every day. At the end of the day, they are responsible for getting all of their belongings together to go home. However, I do go over the homework one more time before they leave the room to pack their book bags. For some, it is a time to socialize which makes if more difficult to focus on what they are doing. I am all for having fun and chatting with friends, but please help me to emphasize that one can socialize after the book bag is packed. Thanks for your help! This can and does eliminate disappointment and frustration the next day when one doesn't have an assignment completed.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Terrific Tuesday!
I trust that everyone had a wonderful three day weekend full of relaxation and fun. The children did return ready to work.
Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes last Wednesday. If you go to the parent blog, you can view some pictures and catch up with the room moms and possible volunteer opportunities.
This week we will continue with several skills and begin new skills and activities. I know it is a shorter week, but they do have a spelling list (Silent -e) and will have a test on Friday. Tonight for homework they are to write the words in alphabetical order on the sheet that I provided in class today and practice writing the two rules. Again, this Friday the dictation will be for the children to write the rules of the words.
We will begin a new vocabulary lesson in our Wordly Wise workbook. The words include: attract, attractive, attraction, crew, dangle, drift, event, launch, opposite,reverse, signal, and steer. We will study the definitions as we read the story, Up, Up, and Away. The children will read about riding in a hot air balloon in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
This week we will try to finish practicing our lower and upper case alphabet in manuscript.
Our character trait for the week is respect. I will read a couple of stories that demonstrate respect not only between child and adult but between each other as they work together in small groups or with a buddy.
I will be sending home the first Social Studies project tomorrow on Landforms. I had hoped to get that out today, but ran short of time. I want to make sure that the children understand the objective and expectation before they begin. If you have any questions once you have had a chance to review, please don't hesitate to email me.
We will be completing our first math unit. The goal is to be prepared to test this unit by next Tuesday. Tonight they have page 16 in the workbook.
Please continue the Dance Mat practice. I would like the children to get through Stage 7 by Friday. There will some available time in class, but practicing at home is truly a more focused environment.
We are putting our Scientific Method to practice this week. We are observing potatoes, and making educated guesses about raisins in cereal and seeds in apples. I have challenged the children to learn the 9 categories that we have outlined in our science journal.The categories that we have learned are as follows: Observations, Questions, Research, Hypothesis, Plan and Experiment, Conduct the Experiment, Record the Data, Analyze the Data, Form a Conclusion.
As you have already witnessed, I will send home challenges from time to time My request is that they at least attempt to solve some if not all the challenges. Tomorrow I am sending home a September challenge that your child can choose to do one, two or all of the questions. They have the month of September to complete the questions. But it is always helpful not to wait to the last day of the month. If your child does not wish to complete this challenge, then I hope that they will choose another challenge along the way. I did send them home with some Brain Teasers on Friday.
This week in Reading, we will focus on the setting and mood of the characters and how we can interpret or infer the mood of a character by the words and descriptions the author uses as well as the actions of that character.
We had our first "formal" writers workshop today. We began evaluating our "Memories close out heart" and choosing the one that we wanted to use as our topic for our first Personal Narrative. We worked on different ways to begin the Personal Narrative and then ended the writing time listening to another authors advice on telling ones Life Story. Hopefully your child would be able to tell you at least one "lie" or misconception when writing ones life story. You do NOT have to be a celebrity, do amazing feats, wait until your old and gray, or think that no one will read it, so what's the point! As I told the children when they are writing, that their most important audience is themselves, but not to forget their classmates and their teacher. By beginning with Personal Narratives, they are telling stories that they can hold on to and perhaps even share with their own children someday. We will spend quite a bit of time with this particular unit of writing. The goal is to publish at least two pieces. There will come a time for us to share with you on a Celebration Day where everyone is proud to share their accomplishment of completing the writing process but also their memories.
Graded papers will be coming home this week on Friday. Remember, sign the envelope and return the following Monday, but you keep the papers.
Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes last Wednesday. If you go to the parent blog, you can view some pictures and catch up with the room moms and possible volunteer opportunities.
This week we will continue with several skills and begin new skills and activities. I know it is a shorter week, but they do have a spelling list (Silent -e) and will have a test on Friday. Tonight for homework they are to write the words in alphabetical order on the sheet that I provided in class today and practice writing the two rules. Again, this Friday the dictation will be for the children to write the rules of the words.
We will begin a new vocabulary lesson in our Wordly Wise workbook. The words include: attract, attractive, attraction, crew, dangle, drift, event, launch, opposite,reverse, signal, and steer. We will study the definitions as we read the story, Up, Up, and Away. The children will read about riding in a hot air balloon in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
This week we will try to finish practicing our lower and upper case alphabet in manuscript.
Our character trait for the week is respect. I will read a couple of stories that demonstrate respect not only between child and adult but between each other as they work together in small groups or with a buddy.
I will be sending home the first Social Studies project tomorrow on Landforms. I had hoped to get that out today, but ran short of time. I want to make sure that the children understand the objective and expectation before they begin. If you have any questions once you have had a chance to review, please don't hesitate to email me.
We will be completing our first math unit. The goal is to be prepared to test this unit by next Tuesday. Tonight they have page 16 in the workbook.
Please continue the Dance Mat practice. I would like the children to get through Stage 7 by Friday. There will some available time in class, but practicing at home is truly a more focused environment.
We are putting our Scientific Method to practice this week. We are observing potatoes, and making educated guesses about raisins in cereal and seeds in apples. I have challenged the children to learn the 9 categories that we have outlined in our science journal.The categories that we have learned are as follows: Observations, Questions, Research, Hypothesis, Plan and Experiment, Conduct the Experiment, Record the Data, Analyze the Data, Form a Conclusion.
As you have already witnessed, I will send home challenges from time to time My request is that they at least attempt to solve some if not all the challenges. Tomorrow I am sending home a September challenge that your child can choose to do one, two or all of the questions. They have the month of September to complete the questions. But it is always helpful not to wait to the last day of the month. If your child does not wish to complete this challenge, then I hope that they will choose another challenge along the way. I did send them home with some Brain Teasers on Friday.
This week in Reading, we will focus on the setting and mood of the characters and how we can interpret or infer the mood of a character by the words and descriptions the author uses as well as the actions of that character.
We had our first "formal" writers workshop today. We began evaluating our "Memories close out heart" and choosing the one that we wanted to use as our topic for our first Personal Narrative. We worked on different ways to begin the Personal Narrative and then ended the writing time listening to another authors advice on telling ones Life Story. Hopefully your child would be able to tell you at least one "lie" or misconception when writing ones life story. You do NOT have to be a celebrity, do amazing feats, wait until your old and gray, or think that no one will read it, so what's the point! As I told the children when they are writing, that their most important audience is themselves, but not to forget their classmates and their teacher. By beginning with Personal Narratives, they are telling stories that they can hold on to and perhaps even share with their own children someday. We will spend quite a bit of time with this particular unit of writing. The goal is to publish at least two pieces. There will come a time for us to share with you on a Celebration Day where everyone is proud to share their accomplishment of completing the writing process but also their memories.
Graded papers will be coming home this week on Friday. Remember, sign the envelope and return the following Monday, but you keep the papers.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Magical Monday!
Today was a great start to a new week! We have begun each new subject and already are familiar with the format for spelling words and rules.
This week in Spelling, we have words that follow the open syllable rule. They have a list of words in their homework folder, but need either this blog or their notebook to study the words. This week the dictation is to write the three open syllable rules. They should practice saying and writing these rules every night this week. The rules are as follows:
1. An open syllable ends with a vowel
2.The vowel has a long sound
3. An open syllable can be just one letter if that is a vowel
The spelling words are listed on this blog and I have entered the words into the Spelling City program. I will be sending a letter home tomorrow giving you instructions on how to access this
program.
You will find a poem entitled, Keep A Poem in Your Pocket, in the homework folder. Every month I will have the children learn a poem. This is practice with public speaking as well as exercising the brain with memorization. This poem is due on September 8. The children are to practice this poem every night even if I don't remind them on the agenda.
We gave begun our study of Florida. We began by going on a scavenger hunt in the Florida book, helping us to learn first how the book is organized and where to find certain information. We will begin reading this book this week and answering questions. Today we went on a map scavenger hunt. The questions are designed to help the students learn how to read and interpret information from a map instead of from text in a book. They have designed their own Florida folder and will keep their information organized by using this folder in school.
In Math we worked on completing a bar graph by using the children's first names. We displayed the class information by using tally marks and then using that information to create a bar graph. Tonight the children should be asking you if you are a Tall Rectangle, a Short Rectangle, or just a Square. Get them to explain the reason for this activity. Now I regret not taking pictures of the children making these discoveries themselves today in class. Also, get your child to show you how to play the math game, More Than You. This is a excellent and fun way to review addition facts. This week we will continue our math adventure by exploring equivalent names for a number, the language of chance events, and finding differences.
Today we began our practice of restating questions by using the Wordly Wise questions to the story, Monsters of the Deep. We completed the first 5 in class and tonight all they have to do is answer the first 5 questions on page 8. We discussed in class that they are allowed to go back in to the passage for the answer. I do not want them guessing or putting down information incorrectly. I asked them also read at least the first half of the story orally to you.
We will begin our new class novel, Muggie Maggie. Maggie is a third grader that doesn't think writing in cursive is useful and refuse to learn. The children should find humor in the plan between her teacher and her parents. Hopefully you and I will not have to put this plan to the test.
This week we will begin a word processing program called Dance Mat. The children will practice typing on the computer and will hopefully get through Stage 5 by the end of the week. At some point, I will send this home for the children to do at least 10 minutes every night for homework. Knowing how to word process truly makes many activities that we do much easier and less painful for the kids.
Reminder for the week: Please help me at home to emphasize the importance of listening closely to directions. We are discovering that if we don't listen, we may have a little trouble with the activity. I think that many of us assume that we understand everything because we have seen something similar in second grade. But in third grade it is a little harder and the directions are a little different as well as the expectations.
Also, please make sure that everyone is dressing according the Dress Code. If your child's pants have belt loops, then there needs to be a belt. It is expected that the shirts are tucked in at all times except at PE, lunch and recess. Thank you for your help!
Please note, if you subscribe to the blog via email alert, there will be some delay in receiving the information. So sometimes if it's something you need to know right after school, you may not find out about it till late that night or perhaps the next morning.
Thank you for sending me such sweet children!!!!!
This week in Spelling, we have words that follow the open syllable rule. They have a list of words in their homework folder, but need either this blog or their notebook to study the words. This week the dictation is to write the three open syllable rules. They should practice saying and writing these rules every night this week. The rules are as follows:
1. An open syllable ends with a vowel
2.The vowel has a long sound
3. An open syllable can be just one letter if that is a vowel
The spelling words are listed on this blog and I have entered the words into the Spelling City program. I will be sending a letter home tomorrow giving you instructions on how to access this
program.
You will find a poem entitled, Keep A Poem in Your Pocket, in the homework folder. Every month I will have the children learn a poem. This is practice with public speaking as well as exercising the brain with memorization. This poem is due on September 8. The children are to practice this poem every night even if I don't remind them on the agenda.
We gave begun our study of Florida. We began by going on a scavenger hunt in the Florida book, helping us to learn first how the book is organized and where to find certain information. We will begin reading this book this week and answering questions. Today we went on a map scavenger hunt. The questions are designed to help the students learn how to read and interpret information from a map instead of from text in a book. They have designed their own Florida folder and will keep their information organized by using this folder in school.
In Math we worked on completing a bar graph by using the children's first names. We displayed the class information by using tally marks and then using that information to create a bar graph. Tonight the children should be asking you if you are a Tall Rectangle, a Short Rectangle, or just a Square. Get them to explain the reason for this activity. Now I regret not taking pictures of the children making these discoveries themselves today in class. Also, get your child to show you how to play the math game, More Than You. This is a excellent and fun way to review addition facts. This week we will continue our math adventure by exploring equivalent names for a number, the language of chance events, and finding differences.
Today we began our practice of restating questions by using the Wordly Wise questions to the story, Monsters of the Deep. We completed the first 5 in class and tonight all they have to do is answer the first 5 questions on page 8. We discussed in class that they are allowed to go back in to the passage for the answer. I do not want them guessing or putting down information incorrectly. I asked them also read at least the first half of the story orally to you.
We will begin our new class novel, Muggie Maggie. Maggie is a third grader that doesn't think writing in cursive is useful and refuse to learn. The children should find humor in the plan between her teacher and her parents. Hopefully you and I will not have to put this plan to the test.
This week we will begin a word processing program called Dance Mat. The children will practice typing on the computer and will hopefully get through Stage 5 by the end of the week. At some point, I will send this home for the children to do at least 10 minutes every night for homework. Knowing how to word process truly makes many activities that we do much easier and less painful for the kids.
Reminder for the week: Please help me at home to emphasize the importance of listening closely to directions. We are discovering that if we don't listen, we may have a little trouble with the activity. I think that many of us assume that we understand everything because we have seen something similar in second grade. But in third grade it is a little harder and the directions are a little different as well as the expectations.
Also, please make sure that everyone is dressing according the Dress Code. If your child's pants have belt loops, then there needs to be a belt. It is expected that the shirts are tucked in at all times except at PE, lunch and recess. Thank you for your help!
Please note, if you subscribe to the blog via email alert, there will be some delay in receiving the information. So sometimes if it's something you need to know right after school, you may not find out about it till late that night or perhaps the next morning.
Thank you for sending me such sweet children!!!!!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Marvelous Monday!
What a great way to start the first full week of school! With every day, the children are becoming more familiar with the daily schedule. As always at the beginning of the year, it is taking us longer to get activities completed, but that will improve with time and familiarity.
Please put Thursday, August 25, on your calendar. It is Back-To-School Night. I look forward to seeing everyone. There is a great deal of information to share and I love it when everyone is present. Then everyone can benefit from questions as well.
There will be a letter coming home tomorrow, but I wanted to put out the "all call" for parent volunteers for the library. The library is offering training sessions on August 23 from 8:15-8:45 AND 2:00-2:30 as well as on August 24 from 8:15-8:45. Volunteers are needed to help children check books and and out as well as help locate appropriate books to read. We would need library volunteers for Tuesdays and Thursdays.Every other week we have a lesson in the library, but the children still return books on that day. Sometimes we have the time after our lesson to check out books. If not, we return on Thursday to take care of that. It makes it very difficult for the children to utilize the library without the volunteers. If you are interested in being a library volunteer, please contact Jennifer Pine at 727-421-9861 or at jpine@eventworx.net or Lisa Hahn at 727-480-5183 or nhahn3@verizon.net. Thank you to those who have already expressed an interest.
Tonight the children are coming home with their first spelling list of the year. These words are example of words that follow the Closed Syllable rule. They have the four rules that we will study in their spelling notebook along with the hand written list of the words for this week. Tonight for homework they are to put the words in ABC order on the sheet that is in their homework folder. You will notice that we began the exercise in class so that they would have an example to follow at home. I am going to show the children SpellingCity in class tomorrow Often I will ask them to complete a fun game off this website and print it out as homework.
We didn't get to all the "Me" bags today. We will finish sharing tomorrow. I love this activity in that I learn a little something about each child. It is also a great way for the kids to learn more about their classmates. We definitely have artists, pianists, swimmers, cat lovers, dog lovers, lego builders, baseball enthusiasts, fishermen and women, shell collectors,bike competitors, and children who just love hanging out with you! That's just half of the class! More to follow!
We began our first lesson in Wordly Wise. The words are : cylinder, examine, fatal, feature, grasp, jet, marine, scar, tentacle, vessel. We will take two weeks per lesson. They learn the definitions, how to use the words in sentences, and complete a reading comprehension activity that used the words in the story. We also play other "made up" games that will hopefully enable the children to have these words in conversations and in their writing. You may want to reinforce this vocabulary at home as well. At the end of the two weeks, there is a quiz. I will share the format at Back-To-School Night.
We began our Math Lesson today by reading the book, Once Upon A Dime, by Nancy Allen. The children got a real kick out of this book. Ask your child about how the farmer was able to get his tree to grow money. You will see the children's artwork related to the book hanging on Thursday night. Then we continued the lesson by talking about numbers and patterns. We completed a grid of numbers and had to complete some rather difficult patterns. The class seems to have a grasp of number sense, but it does require a great deal of practice with larger numbers.However, I was very pleased with what they already knew. That way I can build and challenge!
Tonight the children are to prepare a necklace of broccoli. We began reading our class novel, How To Be a Perfect Person In Three Days. You will want to ask your child about Milo and what he hopes to accomplish in just three days. This is a tradition on third grade. We will take a class photo of course wearing our broccoli.
Please don't forget to turn in your email form and handbook form to me ASAP. I need to get the class email list going and the every child needs to sign the handbook form indicating that they understand what is expected of everyone here at Shorecrest. Thank you very much for you help!
Please put Thursday, August 25, on your calendar. It is Back-To-School Night. I look forward to seeing everyone. There is a great deal of information to share and I love it when everyone is present. Then everyone can benefit from questions as well.
There will be a letter coming home tomorrow, but I wanted to put out the "all call" for parent volunteers for the library. The library is offering training sessions on August 23 from 8:15-8:45 AND 2:00-2:30 as well as on August 24 from 8:15-8:45. Volunteers are needed to help children check books and and out as well as help locate appropriate books to read. We would need library volunteers for Tuesdays and Thursdays.Every other week we have a lesson in the library, but the children still return books on that day. Sometimes we have the time after our lesson to check out books. If not, we return on Thursday to take care of that. It makes it very difficult for the children to utilize the library without the volunteers. If you are interested in being a library volunteer, please contact Jennifer Pine at 727-421-9861 or at jpine@eventworx.net or Lisa Hahn at 727-480-5183 or nhahn3@verizon.net. Thank you to those who have already expressed an interest.
Tonight the children are coming home with their first spelling list of the year. These words are example of words that follow the Closed Syllable rule. They have the four rules that we will study in their spelling notebook along with the hand written list of the words for this week. Tonight for homework they are to put the words in ABC order on the sheet that is in their homework folder. You will notice that we began the exercise in class so that they would have an example to follow at home. I am going to show the children SpellingCity in class tomorrow Often I will ask them to complete a fun game off this website and print it out as homework.
We didn't get to all the "Me" bags today. We will finish sharing tomorrow. I love this activity in that I learn a little something about each child. It is also a great way for the kids to learn more about their classmates. We definitely have artists, pianists, swimmers, cat lovers, dog lovers, lego builders, baseball enthusiasts, fishermen and women, shell collectors,bike competitors, and children who just love hanging out with you! That's just half of the class! More to follow!
We began our first lesson in Wordly Wise. The words are : cylinder, examine, fatal, feature, grasp, jet, marine, scar, tentacle, vessel. We will take two weeks per lesson. They learn the definitions, how to use the words in sentences, and complete a reading comprehension activity that used the words in the story. We also play other "made up" games that will hopefully enable the children to have these words in conversations and in their writing. You may want to reinforce this vocabulary at home as well. At the end of the two weeks, there is a quiz. I will share the format at Back-To-School Night.
We began our Math Lesson today by reading the book, Once Upon A Dime, by Nancy Allen. The children got a real kick out of this book. Ask your child about how the farmer was able to get his tree to grow money. You will see the children's artwork related to the book hanging on Thursday night. Then we continued the lesson by talking about numbers and patterns. We completed a grid of numbers and had to complete some rather difficult patterns. The class seems to have a grasp of number sense, but it does require a great deal of practice with larger numbers.However, I was very pleased with what they already knew. That way I can build and challenge!
Tonight the children are to prepare a necklace of broccoli. We began reading our class novel, How To Be a Perfect Person In Three Days. You will want to ask your child about Milo and what he hopes to accomplish in just three days. This is a tradition on third grade. We will take a class photo of course wearing our broccoli.
Please don't forget to turn in your email form and handbook form to me ASAP. I need to get the class email list going and the every child needs to sign the handbook form indicating that they understand what is expected of everyone here at Shorecrest. Thank you very much for you help!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
First Day in Third Grade!
This was a GREAT first day! As anticipated, we didn't get to every rule and procedure. But that will come in the next few days. I am sure you will want to learn about the first day. You may want to ask your child questions about the Mind Reading Game, the Day at the Beach picture and of course the stories that I read. We ended the day with a book entitled, You Are Special, by Max Lucado. Ask your child about the stars and dots and what the lesson of the story was and how it relates to their own life. Of course recess was the most fun as they all got to hug and play with their other classmates from other classrooms.
We did organize our desks with out materials and books today. Some of the supply boxes are too big for the desks so I asked them to take them home and use at home, but to try and get a small plastic rectangular one that fits in the desks or use a soft zipper pouch. The children were to write down anything that they needed to bring. So, please check the agenda!
Thank you to all of you that went to the blog last night and saw the swimming fish. The children were so eager to share their findings. Tonight for homework they are to show you the agenda as well as write a birth date of a relative. They should explain to you that it's for the Mind Reading Game that we played. They are trying to "stump" me. Mr. Murphy even visited our classroom today and he couldn't "stump" me either. I was able to guess his birth date. The children were fascinated that I was even "smarter" than Mr. Murphy. Smiles!
Please make sure that I have the Handbook Form and all your email addresses by tomorrow if at all possible. I would like to go ahead and complete and class list. Many thanks!
I did not go over this with the class but will do so tomorrow. However, we do have a snack time mid-morning. This is not to be more than one item and as I tell the children, it should be a juicy snack or a cracker/pretzel type snack. No candy, no sandwiches, etc. unless there is a special reason for your child to be eating these items. Snack time is meant to be quick and shouldn't require a great deal of preparation in the class. If the fruit or vegetables need to be sliced or cut, please do that at home prior to coming to school. I would like the children to have their snack in a separate ziploc bag so they don't spend a lot of time digging around in the backpack or locker. They are allowed to bring a water bottle that they can take with them out on the playground at recess and at PE.
I did review the rules of dress code. Tomorrow is our first Spirit Day. Just make sure it is all appropriate spirit wear items listed in the handbook.
Today was a lovely first day! Thank you for sending me all the bright smiling faces! We are off to a great start for sure!
We did organize our desks with out materials and books today. Some of the supply boxes are too big for the desks so I asked them to take them home and use at home, but to try and get a small plastic rectangular one that fits in the desks or use a soft zipper pouch. The children were to write down anything that they needed to bring. So, please check the agenda!
Thank you to all of you that went to the blog last night and saw the swimming fish. The children were so eager to share their findings. Tonight for homework they are to show you the agenda as well as write a birth date of a relative. They should explain to you that it's for the Mind Reading Game that we played. They are trying to "stump" me. Mr. Murphy even visited our classroom today and he couldn't "stump" me either. I was able to guess his birth date. The children were fascinated that I was even "smarter" than Mr. Murphy. Smiles!
Please make sure that I have the Handbook Form and all your email addresses by tomorrow if at all possible. I would like to go ahead and complete and class list. Many thanks!
I did not go over this with the class but will do so tomorrow. However, we do have a snack time mid-morning. This is not to be more than one item and as I tell the children, it should be a juicy snack or a cracker/pretzel type snack. No candy, no sandwiches, etc. unless there is a special reason for your child to be eating these items. Snack time is meant to be quick and shouldn't require a great deal of preparation in the class. If the fruit or vegetables need to be sliced or cut, please do that at home prior to coming to school. I would like the children to have their snack in a separate ziploc bag so they don't spend a lot of time digging around in the backpack or locker. They are allowed to bring a water bottle that they can take with them out on the playground at recess and at PE.
I did review the rules of dress code. Tomorrow is our first Spirit Day. Just make sure it is all appropriate spirit wear items listed in the handbook.
Today was a lovely first day! Thank you for sending me all the bright smiling faces! We are off to a great start for sure!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Orientation Day Cheers!
It was wonderful to see so many smiling happy faces today! It was great to meet everyone. I am excited about the year and I know that we will learn lots and have fun! Please make sure you mark your calendar for Back-To-School night on August 25. We will meet as a school in the Janet Root Theater at 7:00am and then we will journey to the classroom where I will review our schedule, curriculum, and expectations for the year.
Tomorrow we will spend out time together organizing our books, notebooks, and supplies. There may be a couple of extra items that I need the children to bring to school, but I will let them practice using their new Agenda to share this information with you. Please make sure that your child knows where to go at dismissal. However, the first couple of days all the teachers are out helping the children get to the proper place to be picked up if needed.
Every Friday is Spirit Day this year. Go Chargers!!! As stated in the Handbook, the children are allowed to wear any shirt that has a Shorecrest logo, specifically Shorecrest Spirit Wear, camp, intramural or uniform shirts. These should be worn with uniform, Spirit Wear or denim bottoms.
I would like the children to view the blog tonight and be prepared to tell me tomorrow the colors of the fish that are swimming somewhere on my blog.
Again, it was so nice to meet everyone. I look forward to a happy and rewarding year with your child!
Tomorrow we will spend out time together organizing our books, notebooks, and supplies. There may be a couple of extra items that I need the children to bring to school, but I will let them practice using their new Agenda to share this information with you. Please make sure that your child knows where to go at dismissal. However, the first couple of days all the teachers are out helping the children get to the proper place to be picked up if needed.
Every Friday is Spirit Day this year. Go Chargers!!! As stated in the Handbook, the children are allowed to wear any shirt that has a Shorecrest logo, specifically Shorecrest Spirit Wear, camp, intramural or uniform shirts. These should be worn with uniform, Spirit Wear or denim bottoms.
I would like the children to view the blog tonight and be prepared to tell me tomorrow the colors of the fish that are swimming somewhere on my blog.
Again, it was so nice to meet everyone. I look forward to a happy and rewarding year with your child!
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