 |
 |
| Create a free slideshow |
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Polar Express Readers Theater
Enjoy Lily, Caitlyn, Nadia, Patrick and Daniel in their rendition of The Polar Express:
The performers took their show on the road and read in Mrs. Karsbaek's classroom, Mrs. Walkosz, and in the office for Mr. Burger and the office staff.
 |
|
| Digital greeting card personalized with Smilebox |
The performers took their show on the road and read in Mrs. Karsbaek's classroom, Mrs. Walkosz, and in the office for Mr. Burger and the office staff.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Bringing us up to date!
I know I am behind in posting, but I have misplaced my USB cord for my camera. So, until my new one arrives...no pictures or videos. Soon, I hope!
Reading: We have been learning about the text features of non fiction and using it to write opinion pieces. We are learning how we have to support our opinions with evidence from the text. This will continue for a few more days and then we will work on reading with fluency by using readers' theater. More on that later!
Writing: we have been working on researching the life of Amelia Earhart. We have learned how to take notes and organize our research. We have also learned to take our notes and write sentences in our own words. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will take our sentences and begin drafting our biography.
After that, we will take a break from writing biographies until after holiday break. We will then do a quick review and then write our own biographies. I don't want to rush writing the biographies before break as we have so much to get in, it makes sense to take a break.
In math we continue to learn about 2D and 3D shapes. We will finish up unit 5 before holiday break.
We also made holiday cards as part of our online project with schools around the country. The cards went in the mail today to 29 schools across the United States and Canada. We also sent one to Caitlyn's dad who is stationed in Africa. When we start to receive cards from those same schools, we will learn about United States geography. We also learning about geography and maps across the world with help from our "Elf on a Shelf" Rudy!
Yes, yesterday we received a VERY COLD package from the North Pole and inside was a book called Elf on a Shelf, our elf that we named Rudy, and a TOP SECRET envelope. Inside the envelope we learned about our mission: to help Rudy as he travels around the world to learn about holiday customs in the United States and countries in all the continents. We collect facts about the customs, compare and contrast them with our own customs, as well as locate the country on the map of the world. Rudy takes our facts back to Santa each night and returns the next day with a new assignment and new country to visit. We will also have some special visitors to tell us about holiday customs they celebrate.
Today we previewed the book fair. Tomorrow, Wednesday, at 12:50-1:10 we will return to purchase books. If you want to purchase books, use the wish list your child brought home, and either send in the money in an envelope labeled with the amount of money inside and your child's name. You can also meet us in the library at 12:50 if you wish to help your child purchase books. You can also wait and visit the book fair after school on Thursday. The times are listed on the wish list your child brought home.
Next week, on Wednesday, we will take our reading MAP test. On Tuesday, the 18th, we will take our math MAP test. Just make sure your child gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a good breakfast to prepare. And, of course, keep reading to your child every night and discussing the book.
Our holiday party will be on Friday, Dec. 21. We will have a Polar Express Day and students will be able to wear pajamas to school that day. (They don't know this yet, so...shhhhhh!!!!!) I am looking for a volunteer to make and serve hot chocolate and volunteers to bake Christmas Cookies. (no peanuts or cookies baked where peanuts could have been present or with peanut oil). Let me know if you can help.
Our student teacher, Ms. Fischer, will leave us on Dec. 14. We will celebrate all her hard work on that day.
Phew...we have been busy! But, we have been very busy and in this time of secrets....there is even more I COULD share, but it's top secret!
Reading: We have been learning about the text features of non fiction and using it to write opinion pieces. We are learning how we have to support our opinions with evidence from the text. This will continue for a few more days and then we will work on reading with fluency by using readers' theater. More on that later!
Writing: we have been working on researching the life of Amelia Earhart. We have learned how to take notes and organize our research. We have also learned to take our notes and write sentences in our own words. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will take our sentences and begin drafting our biography.
After that, we will take a break from writing biographies until after holiday break. We will then do a quick review and then write our own biographies. I don't want to rush writing the biographies before break as we have so much to get in, it makes sense to take a break.
In math we continue to learn about 2D and 3D shapes. We will finish up unit 5 before holiday break.
We also made holiday cards as part of our online project with schools around the country. The cards went in the mail today to 29 schools across the United States and Canada. We also sent one to Caitlyn's dad who is stationed in Africa. When we start to receive cards from those same schools, we will learn about United States geography. We also learning about geography and maps across the world with help from our "Elf on a Shelf" Rudy!
Yes, yesterday we received a VERY COLD package from the North Pole and inside was a book called Elf on a Shelf, our elf that we named Rudy, and a TOP SECRET envelope. Inside the envelope we learned about our mission: to help Rudy as he travels around the world to learn about holiday customs in the United States and countries in all the continents. We collect facts about the customs, compare and contrast them with our own customs, as well as locate the country on the map of the world. Rudy takes our facts back to Santa each night and returns the next day with a new assignment and new country to visit. We will also have some special visitors to tell us about holiday customs they celebrate.
Today we previewed the book fair. Tomorrow, Wednesday, at 12:50-1:10 we will return to purchase books. If you want to purchase books, use the wish list your child brought home, and either send in the money in an envelope labeled with the amount of money inside and your child's name. You can also meet us in the library at 12:50 if you wish to help your child purchase books. You can also wait and visit the book fair after school on Thursday. The times are listed on the wish list your child brought home.
Next week, on Wednesday, we will take our reading MAP test. On Tuesday, the 18th, we will take our math MAP test. Just make sure your child gets a good night sleep the night before and eats a good breakfast to prepare. And, of course, keep reading to your child every night and discussing the book.
Our holiday party will be on Friday, Dec. 21. We will have a Polar Express Day and students will be able to wear pajamas to school that day. (They don't know this yet, so...shhhhhh!!!!!) I am looking for a volunteer to make and serve hot chocolate and volunteers to bake Christmas Cookies. (no peanuts or cookies baked where peanuts could have been present or with peanut oil). Let me know if you can help.
Our student teacher, Ms. Fischer, will leave us on Dec. 14. We will celebrate all her hard work on that day.
Phew...we have been busy! But, we have been very busy and in this time of secrets....there is even more I COULD share, but it's top secret!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
'Twas the week before Thanksgiving!
Busy week doing research on the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving. We also wrote about Thanksgiving. In math we began a unit on geometry.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
 |
|
| This slideshow design made with Smilebox |
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Beginning of the year Personal Narratives
Here are a few personal narratives that have been published. I am still trying to find time in our school day to videotape others, so there are more to come, but enjoy these in the meantime. These are beginning of the year personal narratives and we will be learning more as the year progresses. Right now, we are working on Non Fiction narratives or biographies. After the holiday break, we will write a class biography of Amelia Earhardt and then students will choose their topic to write their own biography.
Listen as Victor, Isiah, Kendall, Lily, Caitlyn, Daniel, Jose, Anjali and Allison read their personal narratives.
Listen as Victor, Isiah, Kendall, Lily, Caitlyn, Daniel, Jose, Anjali and Allison read their personal narratives.
 |
|
| Customize your own photo slideshow |
Monday, November 12, 2012
Golden Bookcase Addition!
A new book for our Golden Bookcase! The Golden Bookcase is for books autographed by the author to our classroom! Thank you to all the authors who have contributed to our collection!
 |
|
| Make your own newsletter |
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Caitlyn Reads!
I'm trying to get caught up on all my postings of videos. My new camera required an update for my laptop in order to upload the videos...so here we go!
 |
|
| This greeting card made with Smilebox |
Sunday, October 28, 2012
We finished up a busy week with a visit to the computer lab where we played the Everyday Math Games.
Diana, Noah, and Siya were our readers for the day. GREAT READING!
We had a visit from the Bartlett Fire Department on Thursday:
On Sunday, Mrs. Perrone and I met with students at the Bartlett Library. In addition to Mrs. Perrone's students, Daniel, Alyssa, and Lily were able to come. We will schedule another date shortly, but I hope MORE can come! It's a lot of fun!
I will be at a district meeting on Monday and Tuesday. Mrs. Haseman (a retired 3rd grade teacher who is FANTASTIC) will be our guest teacher. And, of course, our student teacher, Ms. Fischer will be teaching as well. Your children are in GREAT hands and learning will continue as usual!
Happy Reading!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tuesday Tales
Another extraordinary day (one of our vocabulary words!). We are learning about text features of fiction books and using Poppleton as our mentor text. It was great to hear students connecting their understanding of personal narratives with what they are learning in reading.
Anjali was our child of the day and read a chapter of a Henry and Mudge book. Thanks, Anjali!
Of course, during the early part of the morning, we also went to have our photos taken. Great outfits with crazy socks!
In writing we wrote our first drafts for our response to the book we read about Admiral Byrd: Black Whiteness.
We only had time for a brief lesson on making change during our math time, so we will continue on with that tomorrow. But we did work on number sense, problem solving, and more during our math workshop time.
Tomorrow as part of Red Ribbon Week and discussing making good choices, we will walk the new Liberty Walking Track....taking time to discuss good choices.
It will be warm, so dress accordingly!
I hope everyone is taking time to use TenMarks. Explore the site...check out the videos. I will be making assignments that are geared more toward what your child needs to work on, so get to use to manipulating the site.
Anjali was our child of the day and read a chapter of a Henry and Mudge book. Thanks, Anjali!
Of course, during the early part of the morning, we also went to have our photos taken. Great outfits with crazy socks!
In writing we wrote our first drafts for our response to the book we read about Admiral Byrd: Black Whiteness.
We only had time for a brief lesson on making change during our math time, so we will continue on with that tomorrow. But we did work on number sense, problem solving, and more during our math workshop time.
Tomorrow as part of Red Ribbon Week and discussing making good choices, we will walk the new Liberty Walking Track....taking time to discuss good choices.
It will be warm, so dress accordingly!
I hope everyone is taking time to use TenMarks. Explore the site...check out the videos. I will be making assignments that are geared more toward what your child needs to work on, so get to use to manipulating the site.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday Moments
The days just seem to go in blur....after specials, we finished reading our book about Admiral Byrd and Antarctica, Then we spent time in readers workshop in strategy groups, reading, and writing responses to our reading.
In math workshop we worked on frames and arrows with two rules. We also had an opportunity to listen to our Child of the Day, Ian, read The Lost Sheep.
In math workshop we worked on frames and arrows with two rules. We also had an opportunity to listen to our Child of the Day, Ian, read The Lost Sheep.
Once again, we are switching our library day with the first grade classrooms. They have a field trip on Wednesday so they will use our library time on Tuesday, and we will go on to the library on Wednesday.
Tomorrow is picture day so don't forget to wear your best and with some crazy socks for Red Ribbon Week!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Fun on Friday!
The highlight of the day was Isiah's mother who read a book to the class that she wrote!! We have GOT to get an autographed copy for our GOLDEN BOOKCASE!! She also read a book that she is working on and told us about all the revisions she has made. We learned it helps her to read it out loud...just like we do with our stories! Thanks for sharing!
Isiah was the Child of the Day as well. We enjoyed listening to him read: Here Comes The Strikeout!
The character in the book had to work hard to get good at baseball...just like we have to in school to get better at our academics. Thanks for reading, Isiah!
Beginning on Monday, we will have a student teacher in the classroom through mid-December. Ms. Fischer is from Aurora University. We look forward to welcoming her to our community.
Next week, we are switching our library time with the first grade classes because of a field trip they are going on. We will go to the library on Wednesday instead.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Thursday Thrills
Caitlyn was our child of the day. We enjoyed listening to her read a chapter from Pinky and Rex book.
We also want to thank Allison for donating two books to our classroom in celebration of her birthday. Happy Birthday Allison and THANK YOU!!
.jpg)
We also want to thank Allison for donating two books to our classroom in celebration of her birthday. Happy Birthday Allison and THANK YOU!!
.jpg)
Victor was the first to vote for his favorite character at the Bartlett Public Library. Stop by, pick out a few great books, then vote for your favorite character. And don't forget Oct. 28 when Mrs. Perrone and I will be there at 3:00 to read a few great books with everyone!
Of course the big news from today was Nature Dan. Here's a preview and I'll post more pictures over the weekend:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)