What a fun day! And busy!
We began our day talking about the books we read over the weekend. I was excited to hear a few went to the library, too. Be sure and read every day!
We now have our Word Collection Books where we will do some word work, but also where we will list interesting words we find in our reading. This is part of Expanding our Vocabularies.
We made a chart of what readers do and what readers read. We had some kids who really "glowed" today (Bradley and Hayden...did you share with your parents?) We were looking at the books in the book bins and Hayden shared that we can even learn life lessons from books....Way to go, Hayden!
We finished up some beginning of the year activities and then read. We ran out of time for writers' workshop...but that's the way it is in the beginning of the year as we start to settle down into our routines. But literacy will always be in the morning with math and specials in the afternoon.
We went to the library this afternoon. All books are due back on Monday morning. Since next week is a holiday, they have 2 weeks with their 2 books. Enjoy!
In math, after our daily calendar review and daily problem solving, we broke the number 10 apart. We made trains out of 10 snap cubes, then broke them apart. We made addition sentences for the number 10.
And...we had 3 ME box shares!!! Phew!
I'm still waiting for some permission slips before I can post pictures. Please send them in tomorrow. Have a GREAT night...and don't forget to read!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday Fun!
What a wonderful day!
Today we read the book Woolbur and learned that it is ok to be unique...we all learn differently. We wrote our classroom promise:
In Mrs. Stringham's Community of Learners, we promise to work together and help each other learn, just like Swimmy and the red fish. We will show each other that we care by sharing, speaking kindly, and using our manners. We will be "bucket-fillers!"
We will appreciate other people's hard work and remember that mistakes are learning opportunities.
We know it's o.k. to be unique like Woolbur and that our best"ish" work is just fine. We promise to stop when someone says "stop."
That is who we are, even when no one is watching.
We also went to our 1st PBIS celebration in the gym. Mr. Burger read the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today" to the whole school. Our classroom was excited because we knew about how to be a "bucket-filler" and not a "bucket-dipper" already!
We also had P.E. and music this afternoon.
Next week we will BEGIN to get into more academic activities and more into the routine of how our day will run. More on that next week.
If you have not returned the permission slip for work to be posted on the blog, or the student information form, or the email information form, please do so by Monday. Thanks!
I hope to see everyone at the Ice-Cream social. Have a GREAT weekend!
Today we read the book Woolbur and learned that it is ok to be unique...we all learn differently. We wrote our classroom promise:
In Mrs. Stringham's Community of Learners, we promise to work together and help each other learn, just like Swimmy and the red fish. We will show each other that we care by sharing, speaking kindly, and using our manners. We will be "bucket-fillers!"
We will appreciate other people's hard work and remember that mistakes are learning opportunities.
We know it's o.k. to be unique like Woolbur and that our best"ish" work is just fine. We promise to stop when someone says "stop."
That is who we are, even when no one is watching.
We also went to our 1st PBIS celebration in the gym. Mr. Burger read the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today" to the whole school. Our classroom was excited because we knew about how to be a "bucket-filler" and not a "bucket-dipper" already!
We also had P.E. and music this afternoon.
Next week we will BEGIN to get into more academic activities and more into the routine of how our day will run. More on that next week.
If you have not returned the permission slip for work to be posted on the blog, or the student information form, or the email information form, please do so by Monday. Thanks!
I hope to see everyone at the Ice-Cream social. Have a GREAT weekend!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thrills from Thursday!
Another GREAT day! We read the book Swimmy by Leo Lionni and learned that when we all work together we can help each other learn. We also read the book ISH by Peter Reynolds and learned that our best work....our "ish" work is ok. But, we try our best every time. To help us remember we made a puzzle of ourselves and found out that we all fit together.
We also had 3 more PBIS Cool Tool Rotations: Front door Pick up and arrival,(You say goodbye, and I say hello!), Hallway procedures,(Walk this way!) and bathroom procedures, (Quick, Quiet, and Clean.)
After lunch and unfortunately, indoor recess due to the weather, we made a birthday pictograph.
Tomorrow we have P.E. and Music. We are integrated with Mrs. Fishkin's 1st/2nd grade ELL class. My first graders and Mrs. Fishkins will go to music first, while the ALL the 2nd graders from the two classes are in P.E. Then they will switch. Please be sure your child is wearing gym shoes to school or has a pair at school to change into.
Have a GREAT night!
We also had 3 more PBIS Cool Tool Rotations: Front door Pick up and arrival,(You say goodbye, and I say hello!), Hallway procedures,(Walk this way!) and bathroom procedures, (Quick, Quiet, and Clean.)
After lunch and unfortunately, indoor recess due to the weather, we made a birthday pictograph.
Tomorrow we have P.E. and Music. We are integrated with Mrs. Fishkin's 1st/2nd grade ELL class. My first graders and Mrs. Fishkins will go to music first, while the ALL the 2nd graders from the two classes are in P.E. Then they will switch. Please be sure your child is wearing gym shoes to school or has a pair at school to change into.
Have a GREAT night!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
We're BACK! Wednesday!
What a GREAT day! What a WONDERFUL class! Thanks for sending me your BEST and BRIGHTEST....I LOVE them all!
Today, because of the awful weather, we couldn't meet on the playground, but Mr. Burger, other staff members, and parents met the students at the buses and directed them to the correct hallway. EVERYONE found their teachers and greeted their new friends without any problems!
We did an activity called "It's NOT Fair!" I chose one student randomly to tell me where he may have an "owie" or have had one, and I put it on the spot, in this case, the left arm. Then I asked each student the same question, but I put the band aid on the left arm, not where they needed it. We talked about how sometimes we have to be fair and sometimes it's fair when it isn't equal. Fair does not mean equal, but fair does mean you get what you need, when you need it. And that is how it will be in this classroom. We then made "Fair sticks" because sometimes we have to take turns so everyone gets an equal chance. To do that, I pull a "fair stick"...they decorated a Popsicle stick and wrote their name on it and I pull one to choose a student.
Haley was our child of the day and we talked about what that means and how each child will get opportunities to be child of the day. We go in ABC/numerical order. Haley also shared her ME box with us, and so did Gavin. I also shared mine.
In their Liberty Folder, which is inside their STAR Book, you will find the permission slip to post pictures on this blog and other sites. As soon as I have the permission slips back, I will post pictures. Please sign and return tomorrow.
We also learned about three cool tools: "Enjoy the Ride" for bus arrival and dismissal procedures, "Get a seat and eat" for cafeteria procedures and "Stop, Look, and Listen" for playground procedures. This is part of our PBIS showing care for self, care for others, care for our school and care for our community. We will learn tomorrow.
I also read a book called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Everybody carries an "invisible" bucket and we fill each others buckets by following the 4C's, using kind words, listening, being kind, and considerate. You will hear more about this throughout the year as we all try to fill each other's buckets.
We will continue with ME boxes tomorrow. Have a GREAT night and I'll see everyone tomorrow! I can't wait!
Today, because of the awful weather, we couldn't meet on the playground, but Mr. Burger, other staff members, and parents met the students at the buses and directed them to the correct hallway. EVERYONE found their teachers and greeted their new friends without any problems!
We did an activity called "It's NOT Fair!" I chose one student randomly to tell me where he may have an "owie" or have had one, and I put it on the spot, in this case, the left arm. Then I asked each student the same question, but I put the band aid on the left arm, not where they needed it. We talked about how sometimes we have to be fair and sometimes it's fair when it isn't equal. Fair does not mean equal, but fair does mean you get what you need, when you need it. And that is how it will be in this classroom. We then made "Fair sticks" because sometimes we have to take turns so everyone gets an equal chance. To do that, I pull a "fair stick"...they decorated a Popsicle stick and wrote their name on it and I pull one to choose a student.
Haley was our child of the day and we talked about what that means and how each child will get opportunities to be child of the day. We go in ABC/numerical order. Haley also shared her ME box with us, and so did Gavin. I also shared mine.
In their Liberty Folder, which is inside their STAR Book, you will find the permission slip to post pictures on this blog and other sites. As soon as I have the permission slips back, I will post pictures. Please sign and return tomorrow.
We also learned about three cool tools: "Enjoy the Ride" for bus arrival and dismissal procedures, "Get a seat and eat" for cafeteria procedures and "Stop, Look, and Listen" for playground procedures. This is part of our PBIS showing care for self, care for others, care for our school and care for our community. We will learn tomorrow.
I also read a book called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Everybody carries an "invisible" bucket and we fill each others buckets by following the 4C's, using kind words, listening, being kind, and considerate. You will hear more about this throughout the year as we all try to fill each other's buckets.
We will continue with ME boxes tomorrow. Have a GREAT night and I'll see everyone tomorrow! I can't wait!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
One Week and Counting!
It's NOW 8:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 19...in exactly one week, we'll be walking in together to our new classroom! I can't wait to meet our new friends and see returning friends!
There are some EXCITING changes in store for everyone....a new room layout....some different furniture...and MORE!!!!! My camera is ready to go as you all know how I like to take pictures.
Enjoy your last few days of summer. Read some GREAT books and get ready to share. I want to hear all about your summer and all the great books you read, the wonderful writing you did, how you used your math skills, and all the great summer fun activities. Is your ME box ready? Mine is!
Parents, don't forget, we will have an open house tomorrow, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the classroom. See you then!
There are some EXCITING changes in store for everyone....a new room layout....some different furniture...and MORE!!!!! My camera is ready to go as you all know how I like to take pictures.
Enjoy your last few days of summer. Read some GREAT books and get ready to share. I want to hear all about your summer and all the great books you read, the wonderful writing you did, how you used your math skills, and all the great summer fun activities. Is your ME box ready? Mine is!
Parents, don't forget, we will have an open house tomorrow, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the classroom. See you then!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Practice Your Math Skills!
Practice your math skills during these last few days before school begins. I know you are all reading at least 30 minutes a day!!!!!! Work on your ME box and share your reading with the class beginning Aug. 26! I can't wait to see my old friends and to meet new friends!
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