Friday Fun!

We had two wonderful readers today: Jefferson and Chris! GREAT reading, guys!!!




We began the day learning more about nouns, adjectives and verbs. After we did a word sort, be began our reading lesson. We learned that using our schema to make connections as we read is like spinning a web. Our connections all "connect" to each other.

We learned more about telling more about our characters in our writing. We created an anchor chart: Questioning the Character. We learned that in our writing we have to show the answer to the questions we asked.

This afternoon after P.E. and music, we went to the book fair to make our purchases. When we returned we worked on problem solving, patterns, and math facts.

Have a GREAT weekend and don't forget to read...READ.....READ.....READ!!!!!!

Thursday Thrills!

We had a mystery reader today: Haley's mother! She read My Lucky Day! We LOVED it and Haley was very surprised!




We were so busy today that we didn't get a chance for our child of the day, Jefferson, to read. So tomorrow we will listen to Jefferson and Chris!

In reading we learned that when we make connections, they are tied to our hearts. Our feelings help us to understand the story. In writing we continued working on telling more. We read Shiela Rae the Brave and looked at how the author showed how the character was brave.

In the afternoon we had our ELL enrichment time and art. Tomorrow we have P.E. and Music, so wear appropriate shoes.

Have a GREAT night and don't forget to READ, READ, READ......

Tales of Tuesday

Jason read Super Pig Adventures to the class today. Thanks, Jason...we enjoyed it!


In case you haven't heard yet....I made a BIG mistake. Everywhere I have it down that Nature Dan will be here next Tuesday for Life in a TeePee. But for some reason, when I did my plans for this week, I kept thinking he would be here today! Well....to make the long story short...it IS next Tuesday!!!! I don't know what I was thinking...too much going on I guess. But as I told the kids...now we have it to look forward to again! And since we had one student out sick today, let's hope everyone is here next week. And it IS next Tuesday afternoon!!! I'm so sorry!!!!

We learned in reading how to keep track of our connections on sticky notes and then record them as tracks of our thinking in our response logs. In writing we worked more on telling more by adding details that show...not tell. Take a look at a story Hayden wrote. It's on the WIKI...just click on the wiki link or the student writing link. Once you get to the WIKI it is under STUDENT WRITING. It is called I Like Trains.

We also learned our new vocabulary words. So while you on the WIKI, take a look at those as well.

1st graders worked on odd and even numbers today in math. 2nd graders worked on place value. As a whole class we worked on data analysis, problem solving and measurement. Here are a few pictures of students working today on their math goals. Some are working on money, some on time, some on number sense and more.










Have a GREAT night and day off and don't forget to READ...READ....READ....READ!!!

Monday Marvels!

Matthew read one of our favorites: The Gingerbread Boy! Great reading, Matthew!



We began the day by brainstorming a list of November words that we could add to our word wall and use in our writing. There are no new word wall words this week because of the short week.

Today we learned how making Text to Self (T-S) connections help us as we read. In the book we read today, Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, we learned how connections can help us understand a character.

In writing we continue to write small moment stories but stretching out that small moment by telling more.

We had a change in plans in that we went to preview the book fair today. The book fair is open tomorrow to 7:00 if you would like to come in and purchase books with your child. We will go as a class on Friday.

1st graders worked on visual patterns and 2nd graders reviewed the function machine. We worked as a class on math addition strategies, problem solving and number sense.

Nature Dan will be with us all afternoon tomorrow for Life in a Teepee. Should be a LOT of fun....and a LOT of learning!

Have a GREAT night and don't forget to READ....READ....READ!!!

Friday Fun!

Branden did an outstanding job reading We Eat Dinner in the Bathtub! It was very funny! And Branden helped us hear how funny it was when he changed his rate of reading and his tone of voice. That's fluency! Great reading, Branden!




We learned about adjectives and verbs this morning in our morning message. We know that all sentences have to have a verb (action). We then did a word sort about time words.

In reading we read Aunt Flossies Hats and learned that when we are making connections we are using our memories...our schema.

We used what we learned about adjectives in the morning message and reread our stories to tell more using sensory details. We added descriptive words from our senses: smell, taste, touch, hear, see.

After lunch and recess we went right to P.E. and music. When we returned we took an interactive voyage on the Mayflower using the computer. We learned that life on the Mayflower was not very good!!!!

The book fair is next week, so there is no library on Monday. Check upcoming events on the right to see when we preview the book fair and when we can purchase books as a class.

Have a GREAT weekend and don't forget to READ....READ.....READ.....

Thursday Thrills

Our resident hero, Joshua,as child of the day,did a WONDERFUL job reading ICE CREAM to the class today! We really enjoyed listening to this tale and his fluent reading...thanks, Joshua!!!



The BIG BIG event of the day was going to South Elgin High School to see the play, James and the Giant Peach. It was GREAT! The students really enjoyed it. If you have a chance to see it, the SEHS students are performing this weekend. Check the school website for details. Here are a few pictures of our smiling friends on the bus as we travel down the road!

Wednesday Wonders!

We have a REAL LIVE HERO in our classroom!!!! After school on Monday, Joshua's grandfather collapsed at home. It was just Joshua and his grandfather. Josh heard his cry, ran to see what happened and called 911. They arrived in time to save his grandfather!!! We are soooo proud of you Joshua!!!!



We really enjoyed listening to Mia read an Arthur Story today! She read with fluency and we all were wondering what would happen next! Great reading, Mia!



During word work time, we finished up our unit on our Text Talk Words and will begin a new unit next week.

As readers, today we learned that schema is the bridge between reading words and comprehension. Our next topic will be how making Text to Self connections help the reader.

In writing, we made lists of foods we didn't like and foods we liked. We wrote them in our Daily Pages and then chose one to write a story about. I'm anxious to hear Chris' story about the creamy, smooth chocolate.

After lunch, we celebrated Joshua's heroism, and then began reading a Magic Tree House book: Thanksgiving on Thursday. We are using the research guide that accompanies the book to help us as we learn about the Pilgrims.

1st graders completed a "checking progress" for unit 2. 2nd graders worked on data analysis and problem solving. Here are a few pictures of students working on their math goals during workshop time:







Tomorrow we will go to South Elgin High School for the play James and the Giant Peach. We will have art in the afternoon.

Have a GREAT night and don't forget to READ....READ....READ....