I hope everyone stayed safe during Sandy! Tomorrow is Halloween and we have some fun activities planned after lunch. A big thank you to parents that could donate their time/materials to help make this happen! Tomorrow I am letting the students know that we will be videotaped in the morning. This is very exciting for our class. I am hopeful that even though it is Halloween, the students can focus and do their very best. I hope that all the kids get a great night of sleep and are ready to show off their great learning tomorrow! I am also hoping for lots of clips moved to purple for not only behaving/listening, but also really participating during the lesson.
I am in the process of getting a new battery charger for my camera so that is the reason behind the lack of pictures lately!
We had our first Mystery Reader on Friday! Ms. Phillips, our librarian, came and read a fun book called "Bats in the Library". I am still looking for more parents willing to become a mystery reader. Or maybe you know someone in a specific line of work that would love to come in and read a book and share a bit about their job. Please let me know! In the past I've had firefighters, bee keepers, boat captains, nurses,etc.
Last week we spent a lot of time learning about bats. Here are some challenge questions for your child! You may email me their answers and 2/3 correct earn a little prize. :)
1. What kind of animal is a bat?
2. What are the names of the two groups of bats?
3. What is a baby bat called?
Good luck!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Halloween and the Book Fair
Hi Everyone,
I sent a notice home on Friday regarding Halloween and hoping to have a fun Halloween craft day with your help. Unfortunately I did not get any volunteers so I will not be able to do this. Maybe families didn't all have a chance to check the folders so I am still holding out some hope! I guess I just thought I would have some since I had a lot of parents that checked off that they could be there for the field trip. I will most definitely do some Halloween fun activities in the classroom anyway, I just had thought this would be a fun way to celebrate this crazy day with no candy or party. :) If anything changes and anyone can still participate, that would be fantastic!
Our class will go to the Book Fair onWednesday (also a half day). If you are sending money in with your child please at least have a conversation with him/her about what books you are hoping to see come home. Also please have a conversation about things such as pencils, posters, etc. and whether any money is to be used for that. A note attached with the money would be even better and such a help! For example, "Here is 10.00. Sam should get two appropriate books and if there is any extra money he can get a pencil." Thank you for your help!! The kids love the book fair and it can be overwhelming to them when they come in without any idea as to what they can get.
I sent a notice home on Friday regarding Halloween and hoping to have a fun Halloween craft day with your help. Unfortunately I did not get any volunteers so I will not be able to do this. Maybe families didn't all have a chance to check the folders so I am still holding out some hope! I guess I just thought I would have some since I had a lot of parents that checked off that they could be there for the field trip. I will most definitely do some Halloween fun activities in the classroom anyway, I just had thought this would be a fun way to celebrate this crazy day with no candy or party. :) If anything changes and anyone can still participate, that would be fantastic!
Our class will go to the Book Fair onWednesday (also a half day). If you are sending money in with your child please at least have a conversation with him/her about what books you are hoping to see come home. Also please have a conversation about things such as pencils, posters, etc. and whether any money is to be used for that. A note attached with the money would be even better and such a help! For example, "Here is 10.00. Sam should get two appropriate books and if there is any extra money he can get a pencil." Thank you for your help!! The kids love the book fair and it can be overwhelming to them when they come in without any idea as to what they can get.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Spiders!
This week part of our learning has been all about spiders!!! We started the week by creating a schema/new learning chart using thoughts on post-its. Then we read some nonfiction books and worked in pairs to write down some facts about spiders. Students also learned about fact vs opinion and we identified statements about spiders as either fact or opinion. Students wrote down one fact and one opinion and then attached it to a directed drawing of a spider. They are adorable. Here are a few pictures of the learning, I apologize for the blurry photos from my camera on my phone.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sight Word Homework
Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a nice weekend. This week we will begin sight word homework. Each week (unless for some reason I do not assign it) students will come home with a sight word packet and about 5 new sight words on cardstock. We will have gone over these words in class already and practiced putting them in ABC order.
The homework packet has a cover sheet that outlines which part of the packet should be completed each night. The homework should not take more than 10 minutes to complete each night. If for some reason you have a hectic night, you can always put that night's assignment to the side for the next night but the key is to always be practicing these words and to have all activities complete by Friday. On Fridays I will collect the whole packet.
Each night you will notice I ask the students to do a quick practice of the words. This can be done in a variety of ways and I encourage you to mix it up for your child so he/she is not bored with the practicing. You can write the words on a piece of paper, tape index cards with the words around the house and have the students go on a word hunt for the words by checking off when they can find each one, you can have your child practice saying and spelling the sight words using white boards or magnetic letters, you can clap out the letters and say the words, use play-dough to form the letters of the words, make two sets and play memory, and much more. Some of these practice activities are things that can be done while you are making dinner or packing lunches. I do know how hard it is to find extra time on school nights but I also know how beneficial it is to practice, particularly those words that your child demonstrates difficulty with.
You might say that your child knows all of the words and doesn't need to practice - I would encourage you to have your child practice spelling them anyway in various ways as they may know how to read the words automatically but may have trouble spelling them correctly. Sight words will go on the word wall and students are encouraged to spell these words correctly in their everyday writing. The students will also accumulate their words onto a silver ring to keep in their binders. The ring can be used and read at home, in the car, on the plane, etc. Maybe your child is writing in a journal and having trouble with a word - tell him/her to take out their word ring and see if the word is there! I encourage students to use their resources! :)
Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the sight word homework! Thank you for your support.
I hope you all had a nice weekend. This week we will begin sight word homework. Each week (unless for some reason I do not assign it) students will come home with a sight word packet and about 5 new sight words on cardstock. We will have gone over these words in class already and practiced putting them in ABC order.
The homework packet has a cover sheet that outlines which part of the packet should be completed each night. The homework should not take more than 10 minutes to complete each night. If for some reason you have a hectic night, you can always put that night's assignment to the side for the next night but the key is to always be practicing these words and to have all activities complete by Friday. On Fridays I will collect the whole packet.
Each night you will notice I ask the students to do a quick practice of the words. This can be done in a variety of ways and I encourage you to mix it up for your child so he/she is not bored with the practicing. You can write the words on a piece of paper, tape index cards with the words around the house and have the students go on a word hunt for the words by checking off when they can find each one, you can have your child practice saying and spelling the sight words using white boards or magnetic letters, you can clap out the letters and say the words, use play-dough to form the letters of the words, make two sets and play memory, and much more. Some of these practice activities are things that can be done while you are making dinner or packing lunches. I do know how hard it is to find extra time on school nights but I also know how beneficial it is to practice, particularly those words that your child demonstrates difficulty with.
You might say that your child knows all of the words and doesn't need to practice - I would encourage you to have your child practice spelling them anyway in various ways as they may know how to read the words automatically but may have trouble spelling them correctly. Sight words will go on the word wall and students are encouraged to spell these words correctly in their everyday writing. The students will also accumulate their words onto a silver ring to keep in their binders. The ring can be used and read at home, in the car, on the plane, etc. Maybe your child is writing in a journal and having trouble with a word - tell him/her to take out their word ring and see if the word is there! I encourage students to use their resources! :)
Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the sight word homework! Thank you for your support.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Buddy Reading
In Reading Workshop we have been working hard at learning to be good buddy readers. The students are paired with a buddy to read with and will do so a couple times a week during this time. They are learning that they can plan out how they want to read and that they should talk about the books that they are reading. Buddies are paired together based on reading abilities and can choose to choral read, echo read, one buddy reads one page and then they switch, or one buddy reads the whole book and then they switch. They love having options and are doing a fantastic job! Here are a few pictures!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Picture Day!
Hi everyone!
Sorry for this last minute post - I hope everyone is able to check this tonight! I thought that a memo went home from the office regarding class picture day but apparently that did not happen and I was not in school on Friday due to my daughter being sick. We have our fall pictures tomorrow morning, October 9, luckily before lunch. I apologize for any confusion. I thought something would have went home. Thank you. :)
Sorry for this last minute post - I hope everyone is able to check this tonight! I thought that a memo went home from the office regarding class picture day but apparently that did not happen and I was not in school on Friday due to my daughter being sick. We have our fall pictures tomorrow morning, October 9, luckily before lunch. I apologize for any confusion. I thought something would have went home. Thank you. :)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Apple Picking!
Despite today's weather the children had a great time! The students had so much fun picking their huge Honeycrisp apples! Here are some pictures from our little field trip.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Reading Homework, Word Sorts and More...
Hello,
Tonight your child came home with a "just right" book and nightly reader pack. The books your child comes home with are books of their choice from their "just right" boxes. These books will be one level lower than the level I am reading with them during our Guided Reading groups so they may seem "easy". Each week your child (on a rotating weekly schedule) will browse for their own books for their book bags. They will choose 4-5 "just right" books and then 2 "interest" books from my classroom library. The interest books are books that the students may not be able to read independently and that is ok. They may choose nonfiction animal books, books about space, or a favorite picture book we read in class. These 6/7 books are in their bags for one week and are read during Reader's Workshop and "read to self" literacy station.
I am just now finishing up with assessments and will be seeing students during Guided Reading starting this week. As your child moves up in reading levels they will be given new baskets to choose from for their book bags.
We are starting Words Their Way word sorts this week. This week is just an introductory week where each child has the same sort. We are simply using the same sort so that we can learn the routines of how sort work will take place in our classroom. Next week your child will be sorting pictures or words based on their needs and spelling level. You will see these words come home at the end of the week that they should be able to sort for you and explain how they are sorting. I may begin Word Sort homework but this will not happen for a little while. Word Sort work will take place in class during a designated time as well as an option during Word Work station. Students will be able to practice these words in many ways and buddy sort with partners as well as do sort work in their Word Sort notebooks. I will assess students on words at different periods but they will not have a formal spelling test each week.
Math Homework will come home roughly two times per week and is due the next day. Students will begin sight word packets next week.
Awesome job to everyone that took part in the first challenge question! I am impressed!
As of now it is looking like rain for Wednesday!! I am not sure of what will be happening as of yet. Stay tuned.
Time for some pictures of students hard at work!
Tonight your child came home with a "just right" book and nightly reader pack. The books your child comes home with are books of their choice from their "just right" boxes. These books will be one level lower than the level I am reading with them during our Guided Reading groups so they may seem "easy". Each week your child (on a rotating weekly schedule) will browse for their own books for their book bags. They will choose 4-5 "just right" books and then 2 "interest" books from my classroom library. The interest books are books that the students may not be able to read independently and that is ok. They may choose nonfiction animal books, books about space, or a favorite picture book we read in class. These 6/7 books are in their bags for one week and are read during Reader's Workshop and "read to self" literacy station.
I am just now finishing up with assessments and will be seeing students during Guided Reading starting this week. As your child moves up in reading levels they will be given new baskets to choose from for their book bags.
We are starting Words Their Way word sorts this week. This week is just an introductory week where each child has the same sort. We are simply using the same sort so that we can learn the routines of how sort work will take place in our classroom. Next week your child will be sorting pictures or words based on their needs and spelling level. You will see these words come home at the end of the week that they should be able to sort for you and explain how they are sorting. I may begin Word Sort homework but this will not happen for a little while. Word Sort work will take place in class during a designated time as well as an option during Word Work station. Students will be able to practice these words in many ways and buddy sort with partners as well as do sort work in their Word Sort notebooks. I will assess students on words at different periods but they will not have a formal spelling test each week.
Math Homework will come home roughly two times per week and is due the next day. Students will begin sight word packets next week.
Awesome job to everyone that took part in the first challenge question! I am impressed!
As of now it is looking like rain for Wednesday!! I am not sure of what will be happening as of yet. Stay tuned.
Time for some pictures of students hard at work!
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