New additions to website

If you log onto the classroom website (see hot links)and click under Child of the Day 2, there are two new videos. One of Meghan reading and one of Kyle reading. I found an easier way to load the video, but I can't put it on the same page as the other videos, hence: child of the day 2!!!!

Take a look...you'll really enjoy them!

Busy Friday!

Kyle was Child of the Day and read the book Diary of a Worm. He chose this book because he thought the other students would like it because it's funny. (And it is....lot's of laughing!) He already told me he wants to read one of the other Doreen Cronin Diary books next time.

We finished up our character anlysis if Magda in the story A Bad Road for Cats. We discussed how and why the character changed...always going back to the text. We are going to work more next week on inferring character traits.

In math we got back on schedule from the loss of a day because of the snow. 1st graders worked on turnaround facts...they knew all about them already from the math menu! 2nd graders worked on estimation and began an exploration of arrays: beginning multiplication.

Have a great weekend!

Meghan was Child of the Day and just could not decide what to read to the class. She finally chose The Dog. She enjoys this non fiction book because it helps to build her schema about dogs.

Today we finished reading A Bad Road for Cats by Cynthia Rylant. We are looking at characters and inferring characters traits. We also looked at how the character changed in the story. Tomorrow we will go back into the text and find out why she changed.

We only had 40 minutes for writing today because of our morning special: music. We went back to reread our stories, making changes by adding details or taking away details.

In math we worked on the math menu...did you take a look at the video? I also worked with 2 groups of 1st graders where we practiced subtraction using base ten blocks. I did not get to meet with the 2nd graders because of the afternoon special: art. Tomorrow I will begin with the 2nd graders and probably do 2 lessons in one....that's the beauty of the math menu!

Hope you enjoyed your snow day!

Math Workshop and the Math Menu

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

You've heard me say "The Math Menu..." You've heard your kids talk about it, but what is it? Take a look at the video and see what it's all about!

Chicago Storm

Let's hope that Chicago Storm means the soccer team and not what we are expecting in snow tonight! Check the U46 homepage in the morning and see if we are having a snow day or a school day!

The kids had a GREAT time today at the Chicago Storm soccer game. They did a GREAT job representing Liberty School! A lion paw to each and every one of them! And a big thank you to Mrs. Leuzzi and Mrs. Taylor for coming along to chaperone!

It was an all day affair, so no child of the day reading. We'll be back up and running with that Thursday....oops...Wednesday!

Busy, Busy Day!

Alyssa read The Little Red Hen to the class today. She read this traditional tale because it teaches you a lesson: "You have to help others if you want them to share with you."


We also had a Mystery Reader today. Simi was surprised by her mother and her little sister. She read a favorite of Simi's when she was a little girl: Chase That Pig! Simi will be a big sister again in July and she can read the book to her new baby brother or sister.

We had a busy day. We worked on inferring character traits during reading. We added 5 new word wall words: just, know, called, where and most. Then we worked on our word work quilts. In writing we talked about what revision means and then finished up our Harris Burdick stories.

Seniors in math worked on subtraction using base ten blocks and juniors wrote their own number stories.

Don't forget tomorrow is our trip to the Chicago Storm. Remember to pack a lunch in a paper bag with your child's name on it. Full directions went home Friday.

Updated Website!

Our Classroom Website, Community of Learners, has been updated with a video of Ryan reading. Unfortunately, our other three videos are on my computer at school, so I'll get those up on the website this coming week.

I've also updated our Blog with links to a 1st grade classroom in Bartlett at Prairieview and one at Spring Trail in Carol Stream. I also added a link to a 2nd grade classroom at Wayne School. It will be fun to start communicating with fellow 1st and 2nd grade students around the district.