Happy Holiday Break!! I hope all my students and families have a wonderful, relaxing, and safe break. This first half of the year has gone by SO very quickly. I have truly enjoyed everyday with your students and look forward to working with them in the new year! We have a lot to learn and a lot to accomplish in he next part of the year together. Please remember to try to find a little time to do homework over break and READ everyday!! :)
Other reminders- keep collecting those box tops over break! The school gets back so much $ from these and it is used to purchase materials and support programs for the kids :) Also, please try to practice flashcards and/or handwriting over break (if I asked you to work on these things during conferences).
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, Dec. 16th
Today was a very busy day for us. We are trying to wrap everything up before break and sure is tiring! most of us finished our gingerbread person story today. They will be taking them home to read to you over break :) We also practiced identifying quadrilaterals and line segments. We looked at some 3D shapes and practiced drawing them. After break we will be exploring volume.
Remember to send a dollar in so your students can wear slippers tomorrow (the 5th grade camp fundraiser!) Also, our party will take place from 1-2pm if you wish to attend :)
Remember to send a dollar in so your students can wear slippers tomorrow (the 5th grade camp fundraiser!) Also, our party will take place from 1-2pm if you wish to attend :)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, Dec. 15th
Today in class we talked about the importance of a n interesting setting when writing a fantasy story. We used a graphic organizer to help us plan the 5 different settings for our Gingerbread person stories. Ask your child what the setting of his/her story is going to be!
In reading we read another version of the gingerbread man and took a scholastic reading test. Today was library so the kids got to have a little extra reading time to spend with their new books :)
In math we did a little re-teaching with paralell lines and quadrilaterals. We also did some math boxes to review elapsed time, adding, subtraction, measuring, and in/out machines.
We had inside recess for both recesses again today. We played with games in the classroom for first recess and watched part of Louis' Santa Paws movie (thanks for sending that in!) for the second recess. I think the kids are starting to get restless being inside all day so let's hope it warms up a little so we can go out again!
Reminders: Bring 1 dollar tgo school this week and you can wear slippers to school on Friday! This is a camp fundraiser for the 4th and 5th graders.
Holiday party in the classroom on Friday between 1 and 2 pm. Everyone is welcome :)
Louis won the drawing to take the Guinea Pig home over break- thanks to all of you who offered! I really appreciate your help with this :)
In reading we read another version of the gingerbread man and took a scholastic reading test. Today was library so the kids got to have a little extra reading time to spend with their new books :)
In math we did a little re-teaching with paralell lines and quadrilaterals. We also did some math boxes to review elapsed time, adding, subtraction, measuring, and in/out machines.
We had inside recess for both recesses again today. We played with games in the classroom for first recess and watched part of Louis' Santa Paws movie (thanks for sending that in!) for the second recess. I think the kids are starting to get restless being inside all day so let's hope it warms up a little so we can go out again!
Reminders: Bring 1 dollar tgo school this week and you can wear slippers to school on Friday! This is a camp fundraiser for the 4th and 5th graders.
Holiday party in the classroom on Friday between 1 and 2 pm. Everyone is welcome :)
Louis won the drawing to take the Guinea Pig home over break- thanks to all of you who offered! I really appreciate your help with this :)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, Dec. 14th
Today in class we talked about Character Traits and made a poster of different traits. We then made a character sketch of a gingerbread person for our own individual gingerbread stories. The kids used an outine of a gingerbread person and filled it with describing words that tell about their made-up character. Tomorrow we will work on the setting of our story as well as the plot.
In math we are working on parrell lines. We are also continuing to work on naming line segments.
In math we are working on parrell lines. We are also continuing to work on naming line segments.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, Dec. 13th
Well, today we only had 11 students in class!! This allowed us to work on some fun projects (reindeer writing) and also do some things to get ready for break (clean out our desks, finish up our centers work, etc). Hopefully tomorrow won't be as cold and we will see our friends come to school- or, school will be cancelled if the temp drops too low (check to news in the morning!) I know the roads were BAD out there this morning (it took me 2 hours to drive in to school!!) so please be careful if you have to go out tonight and be sure to bundle up those sweet 2nd graders when bringing them in the morning!
Christmas party- It will be Friday from 1pm-2pm. Everyone is invited to join and help make gingerbread houses and play games with the kids. Our room moms have been organizing and have already sent notes home with those who are assigned to bring food this time. Please let me know if you can't bring your assigned item. Thanks :)
Christmas party- It will be Friday from 1pm-2pm. Everyone is invited to join and help make gingerbread houses and play games with the kids. Our room moms have been organizing and have already sent notes home with those who are assigned to bring food this time. Please let me know if you can't bring your assigned item. Thanks :)
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday, Dec.10th
Happy Friday! Sorry my posts have been a bit sporadic-- this time of year can be so busy, I barely have time to post! Today in class we read another gingerbread Man (fantasy) story and enjoyed some Gingerbread Cookies (thank you!) while practicing some graphing in the process. We added "made-up creatures" to our list of "What makes some books Fantasy books?" and finished making a story map of the Gingerbread man story. We will be making a story map for our own individual Gingerbread man stories next week.
In math we learned about points and line segments. The kids seemed to pick this up pretty quickly. We also did some math boxes which consisted of some review problems. The biggest challenge with the review problems were: telling time and then telling what time it will be in 15 minutes and counting quarters. On Monday we will start learning about parallel lines.
Please note that the New HW came home today (thanks!) and notes about the Holiday party on the 17th. Only those who are assigned to bring something have a note. The note will be in the binder or orange folder. The party will take place from approx. 1-2pm If you have questions, let me know!
Also, the PANCAKE SUPPER is tonight from 6-9pm. My room will be used as the "movie room" so stop in and say hi if you are attending :)
Have a good weekend!
In math we learned about points and line segments. The kids seemed to pick this up pretty quickly. We also did some math boxes which consisted of some review problems. The biggest challenge with the review problems were: telling time and then telling what time it will be in 15 minutes and counting quarters. On Monday we will start learning about parallel lines.
Please note that the New HW came home today (thanks!) and notes about the Holiday party on the 17th. Only those who are assigned to bring something have a note. The note will be in the binder or orange folder. The party will take place from approx. 1-2pm If you have questions, let me know!
Also, the PANCAKE SUPPER is tonight from 6-9pm. My room will be used as the "movie room" so stop in and say hi if you are attending :)
Have a good weekend!
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Tues. Dec 7th
In class we have been talking about Fantasy stories and started our own little poems. I took a few fun pictures of the kids on Friday in their fantasy character to attach to their poem- here are a few cute ones :) Today we published our poems and I hung them up in the hallway with their pictures.
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| If I were Santa... |
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| If I were a Reindeer... |
We also took the Unit 4 test in Math today. The next unit will have a lot of geometry (shapes, 3D shapes, etc.) We will also keep measuring in the next unit in order to get a bit more practice with inches and centimenters.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Friday, Dec. 3rd
Today in class we started our new genre unit: fantasy. So far we have read a fantasy book (the gingerbread baby) and decided that fantasy books are pretend (fiction), and have REALLY unrealistic things in them such as talking animals and magic. We will be reading tons of fantasy books in the next couple weeks and writing our own fantasy story using a gingerbread bog/girl as the main character. To get the kids excited about this, we made gingerbread man-shaped pancakes! They didn't really turn out looking so much like gingerbreadmen, but they still tasted good!
We also wrote a "If I were a ______" poem. We took a fun picture as ourselves dressed up as the character we wrote about to go with the poem. They are TOO cute! You will love them when you see them and it was a great way to get the kids using more details and sensory images in their writing.
In math we worked on more double-digit addition. We made a string of lights with math addition problems on them. I was very impressed with all the students who are starting to have a "lightbulb moment" with this concept and starting to catch on and become confident!! They were very excited to get to write their facts on the lightbulbs- I think they would have done 100 more if I would have let them. Its great to see them so excited but I am really running out of space to put all of our projects on the walls & ceiling in here!
Homework binders went home today. There is new WEEKLY reading log in the binder and a MONTHLY genre tally chart and graph. Please take time to look it over. Learning the different genres is a very important part of the elementary curriculum- as well as graphing. Doing this will help your child internalize both concepts.
Have a good weekend!
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| Here's what the pancakes ended up looking like... |
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| but they still tasted good! |
We also wrote a "If I were a ______" poem. We took a fun picture as ourselves dressed up as the character we wrote about to go with the poem. They are TOO cute! You will love them when you see them and it was a great way to get the kids using more details and sensory images in their writing.
In math we worked on more double-digit addition. We made a string of lights with math addition problems on them. I was very impressed with all the students who are starting to have a "lightbulb moment" with this concept and starting to catch on and become confident!! They were very excited to get to write their facts on the lightbulbs- I think they would have done 100 more if I would have let them. Its great to see them so excited but I am really running out of space to put all of our projects on the walls & ceiling in here!
Homework binders went home today. There is new WEEKLY reading log in the binder and a MONTHLY genre tally chart and graph. Please take time to look it over. Learning the different genres is a very important part of the elementary curriculum- as well as graphing. Doing this will help your child internalize both concepts.
Have a good weekend!
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Wed. Dec 1st
Today the kids had a substitute during the day but I am back in the classroom tonight and tomorrow for conferences. I look forward to seeing everyone :)
Reminders: No school Thursday. Book Exchange Tuesday, Dec. 7th- send a 2nd grade book that you have already read and trade it for a new grade level book to enjoy :)
Reminders: No school Thursday. Book Exchange Tuesday, Dec. 7th- send a 2nd grade book that you have already read and trade it for a new grade level book to enjoy :)
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