Tomorrow 11/1 / PJ Day!

Hi! 
Mr. Spencer mentioned that if we would like our class to wear their PJ's tomorrow, it is ok. Of course I forgot to mention this to the class today and there was no time for a letter to be sent home. So, if you want your child to wear their PJ's tomorrow, that is perfectly fine! Just make sure that if they wear a nightgown that there are leggings underneath. Thank you!

Ipads in the Classroom!

Today we began a little literacy project that integrates technology. We are working on a fact book about spiders, bats, and owls using the iPads. Mrs. Winsper came in today and worked with small groups to use an iPad app to illustrate their animal. Next we will record a fact to go along with it. We hope to get this cute project up on our blog so stay tuned! I wish we had iPads in the classroom all year long!

I will post a challenge at some point this week so keep your eyes peeled! One note about reading homework this week - if your child's story does not have a big idea or central message, it can be left blank. We only just started to talk about central messages in a story so you may certainly guide your child to understand what it is if there is one, but my guess is that most of the little readers will not have one.

Bats/Spiders

Spread the Word!

If anyone is on Facebook, there is a photo being shared from Clay Chick! I am entering to win a chance at an ornament painting party for the classroom, but the teacher with the most "likes" will win. The contest runs only until October 31st. I would be so appreciative if you could log onto FB, search for Clay Chick's photo about the contest, scroll down until you see my comment and click "like". Then, share it on your fb page and tell people to do the same. Maybe we can have a shot at winning! The kids would love it. Thank you!!!

Book Fair, Spiders, and Fall Craft Workshops!

Hi everyone!
Last week we had so much fun learning about bats! I have some pictures I hope to post soon. This week we are learning all about...

Spiders!

 

 

Today we wrote down the schema that we already have about spiders. Most students already know that they have eight legs and can spin webs! We read two nonfiction books about spiders and then charted some new learning. We will continue to do some fun spider activities this week including graphing whether we think a spider would be a good pet, learning fact and opinion and applying our learning to spider statements, drawing a spider, writing facts about spiders, and more!

This Thursday our class will go to the book fair. If you wish to purchase books for your child, please be sure to send money in an envelope marked with your child's name and "book fair money". It would help if your child already has an idea of what books he/she may like to purchase, as well as how many books you are allowing to be bought. Of course, I will be there to assist your child with appropriate book choices along with other volunteers.

I will be emailing parents tonight or tomorrow that are able to help with conducting a fall craft workshop on Halloween! I appreciate the offer from the people that have already sent in the form. I would love to have one more volunteer if possible. If you think you might be that person, please send me an email! This would help to make sure the groups aren't too large.

Thank you so much!

FYI

Hello!
I know that there is some concern in the building regarding students wearing the headphones while on the computers due to lice. I do clean them with lysol wipes but am not able to do this in between every student's use while I am teaching. If you would like to send in earbuds/headphones for your own child, you may do so. However, please make sure that your child knows exactly how to use them before sending them in. They must be labeled and sent in a zippered plastic bag. Please try to keep them small in size so that they can fit in their cubbies each day along with their binder and other belongings. You can get earbuds at the Dollar Tree I believe. Otherwise, keep in mind they do get cleaned but just not multiple times a day. Thank you!
 

A Batty Challenge!

This week we are learning all about bats! The students are so interested in this animal! We have been reading nonfiction books about this animal and thinking about all of the new learning that is happening. We have charted some information for our "Can, Have, Are" charts and looked at important vocabulary words related to this animal. We have a lot more to do tomorrow and Friday with bats but for now, I thought I would post a little challenge question. Please email me your child's answers and 2/3 correct earn a prize. Thank you!

1. What kind of an animal is a bat?
2. How do bats help people?
3. There are over ____________ types of bats. (number)

Fire Safety Week!

This past week was Fire Safety week! We read a book about the life of a firefighter and learned some important facts about this challenging job! After reading, students worked with partners to come up with ideas to go along with the categories of Firefighters Can, Have, Need. After they worked on these, we then came together as a class and listed some of these ideas on our class anchor chart. We also met with our third grade Big Friends in Ms. Leach's classroom. The students were so excited! We put together cute little fire safety tip booklets with the big friends. Here are some pictures!

Words Their Way

This week, we began our routines for Words Their Way. In September I assessed students with a spelling inventory to determine spelling groups. There are several different groups in the room, however all students will learn the routines and activities together. On Mondays during Writing Workshop time, I will meet with each small group on the rug and introduce their new word sort. We talk about the spelling patterns/word families in the sort, and match the words or pictures in the correct columns together. Then, students will go back to their seats and practice their sort independently. Their sorts will be practiced all week, and it is an activity that stays in the Word Work center for literacy center time as well.  We will be learning activities such as blind sort, blind writing sort, speed sort, and open sort in the coming weeks. They will also have a sort notebook in which they will do various writing activities such as "word hunts" in which they are finding words in books that go with their spelling sort for the week. Soon I will send home their weekly sort to practice with an adult as homework. I assess students with the assessments in the Words Their Way program that come up at the end of different units every few weeks, this will help me to determine whether they need more practice or can move ahead. We will also do another formal assessment in January. Here are some pictures of students sorting their words and pictures.

Reading Response Homework

Hi everyone! 
I just wanted to write a quick post to ask that your child keeps his/her reading log folder and baggie of books in a safe and clean spot at home until it is due on Thursday. The kids are keeping them in their binders and in the morning rush and afternoon rush of getting things in and out, students are dropping them or crushing them in their binders. I would ask that they stay at home until Thursday. Books can/should be reread throughout the week at home for extra practice. If you need to keep the folder in the binder for a specific reason, please make sure it is securely tucked inside the front plastic pouch.  Please check your child's book baggie before they return on Thursday to make sure that all three books are in there. Thank you so much!

Picture Day Tuesday!

Just a reminder that Tuesday morning will be our class pictures! If your child is having his/her picture taken, please send your forms in by this day. Thank you!

Math Workshop!

Math Workshop is up and running and I have to say, so far, so good! The students are learning the routines and how to look at the pocket chart to find which station they are at and when. The students move through four different rotations in our Math Workshop block. One station is always meeting with me. When the students meet with me, they are working on skills and concepts at their level. They bring white boards (slates) and markers, or their math journals and pencils, and we do a lot of work on my large white board together. While one group is meeting with me, another is working on math facts at the Math Fact station (the computers), one is doing a hands-on activity (working with math materials-sometimes it is a game) and another is doing seat work (usually an independent activity that involves pencil and paper). Here are some pictures of one day in Math Workshop. 

Teacher station, working with the 100's chart!

 

Seat Work!

Hands On!

15 Minutes of Fame

We had another star share her 15 minutes of fame this week! This star plays offense in hockey! She came to share some of her equipment and trophies and talk about playing the game! Here are some pictures. Ask your child about this star!

 

New Poll Question

Please take a second to answer my latest poll. Thank you!

Challenge!

Time for a challenge!
Please ask your child the following questions and email me their exact answers. 2/3 earns a little prize. Thank you!

1.  What are the three categories of nouns?
2. When looking on the 100 chart, numbers going down a column are adding by ________.
3. Name one way we can get our minds ready to read!

Don't forget, book baggies and folders are due tomorrow! They will go back home on Friday with a fresh set of books and a new response log. Thank you for your support!