Thursday Tales

We learned a new academic vocabulary word today: responsibility. Here is the poem we read and discussed: Responsibility (source: blackford.campbellusd.org/staff/ gingerelli/poem.htm)

I am responsible for all that I do,
from turning in work, to making friends, too.

I choose if my room will be messy or clean,
I make the choice to be kind or mean.

It is up to me just how much I will learn,
the grades that I get will be the grades that I earn.

I make the choice to be happy or sad,
to have a good day or have one that is bad.

So now I will choose what is best for me,
I am responsible, I hold the key!

We also worked on our word wall words. Yesterday I sent home directions to spellingcity.com. Keep these directions in your important papers from school part of the STAR book. You can also access spelling city by clicking on the icon on the right of this post.

In readers' workshop we learned a new strategy of back up and reread. When we get to a tricky word, we reread the sentence first. Or if we don't understand, we go back and reread. We also learned about how to discuss our thinking by turning Knee to Knee and Eye to Eye and talking with a partner.

During our share time we discussed what we learned about ourselves as readers:





As you can see from the pictures we sit in a circle and have a conversation. We are learning from each other.

Students were also given their math tool boxes today. They know they are responsible for their tools. Then, after library, we played addition top it and Domino One More/One Less.

Tomorrow we have P.E. and music, so wear appropriate shoes or have a pair here.

Wednesday Wonders!

Today we learned a new reading strategy: Try It Again! When we get to a tricky word (an unknown word) we reread the sentence, then try a word that looks right and sounds right,and makes sense. (words and pictures match!) We also worked on Expanded Vocabulary and added words to our classroom Word Jar. In expanded vocabulary (E from our CAFE menu) we are looking for words that interest us in our reading. We read a Fancy Nancy book and learned the words: papillion, ecstatic, delicate, ensemble, groom, refreshments, responsible, unique, and posh. Some of the words we learned from our reading: gleaming, miscellaneous, spectacular, fracas, and miniature. Don't take for granted your child knows and understands these words. Use them in context so they hear and see what they mean.

During Writers Workshop we talked more about our responsibilities in writing. The number one responsibility is we write. We are quiet when we WRITE so we don't disturb others. We are quiet when we WRITE so we can think. We find a comfortable spot so we can WRITE. We get started on our WRITING right away. We WRITE the whole time, and when you think you're done...you've just begun. Even something that has been published can be rewritten. Everything can be revised. We are always WRITING.

Here are some pictures of kids in Math Workshop. While I am teaching a small group of students, others are either working in their journals or playing a math game. Today we learned Domino Top It (number sense) and the 2nd graders played Odd and Even Butterfly Hunt. (number sense). Tomorrow they will partner with a 1st grader and explain how to play the game to them.









In small group, 2nd graders reviewed time and money. 1st graders received their math journals and practiced number writing.

Today all students brought home their HomeLinks book. There is no homework (homefun) other than for parents to sign the letter that is enclosed within the book from me. Return this to school tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a Monday Switch Day, so we will go the library. Make sure all books are returned.

Tuesday Tales

Enjoy the pictures of Leighton as he shares his ME Box and a few pictures of students in Writers' Workshop. They are writing in their "Daily Pages". The Daily Pages is a place to write their ideas down, their thoughts, lists, interesting words, and more. We then "lift from the page" to write our stories. They will learn how to do that shortly.







We learned the strategy "Check for Understanding" as we read our books. It doesn't matter if you are a beginning reader or a fluent reader, we all have to stop and check: do we understand what we are reading?

Our new words this week are: we, there, when, can, and were. Work with your student to write these words "in a snap!" and read the words "in a snap!" We will do activities with these words all week. We also read the poem Words Are Like Music. Our vocabulary words are: comforting, versatile, lively, fleet, glimmer and expression. Try using these words in conversations with your child.

We learned today that when we write in our daily pages, we always start with the NEXT clean page....we don't skip around. This way we can find where we are at without searching.

In math workshop, we learned the game Odds and Evens. This game helps us to practicing our addition facts as well as identifying odd and even numbers. On our Math Cafe we will put this game under Comprehension as it helps with number sense. Many of the games fall into more than one area (Comprehension, Accuracy, Fact Fluency, and Expanded Strategies and Expand Math Vocabulary).

Have a GREAT night!

Fabulous Friday!

A very busy day...reading, writing, math, plus P.E. and music. We also finished our ME boxes. I'm sorry I'm late posting, but I think you will enjoy the wait! Take a look at our beginning of the year pictures!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Have a GREAT 3-Day weekend!

Thursday Thrills!

Today was another busy day and in the mix....we had a fire drill!

We worked on reading stamina and picking just right books today. Each child now has a book baggie with books at their instructional level. They can also pick books from around the room to read. We reviewed what readers' workshop sounds like and how to read a book 3 ways.

We only had a short time for writers' workshop because of the fire drill, but I read the book, Written Anything Good Lately? and we learned about different types of writing. Hopefully, tomorrow we won't have interruptions and we can get some writing time in ourselves!

In the afternoon, we reviewed the calendar and did some problem solving work. Then 2nd graders went to art while 1st graders stayed in the classroom. Mrs. Fishkin's 1st/2nd grade (ELL) first graders joined us and we did some get to know you activities. This is an enrichment for the kids to learn about other countries. We are required by law to integrate our ELL classrooms with General Ed. classrooms for art, music, and P.E., but it is such an opportunity for kids to open up their world.

After 45 minutes, all the 1st graders went to art, and the 2nd graders went with Mrs. Fishkin's 2nd graders for their enrichment time in their classroom.

And that finished up the day!

Tomorrow, Friday, we have P.E. and music. Please be sure your child is wearing appropriate shoes.

Wonderful Wednesday!

We continued to work on reading stamina as we slowly move into our daily schedules. We begin the morning with our morning meeting where we talk about the books we are reading or are being read to us. We review our classroom promise, then we begin our word work time. Right now, I'm assessing their ability to spell the Kindergarten "No Excuses" words. ALL students should be able to spell those fluently. This will guide my instruction.

Next we have readers workshop. Today we watched a power point on picking a just right book. We learned the acronym: I PICK:

I choose a book.
Purpose: Why do I want to read it?
Interest: Does it interest me?
Comprehend: Do I understand what I'm reading?
Know: I know most of the words.

We also reviewed the strategy of cross-checking.

In writers' workshop we are learning about the writing process. Writing instruction will become more focused after we finish the ME boxes.

During math, we working on the calendar. This will become the job of the Child of the day, so right now I'm modeling what they have to do. The rest of the class will have a book called: Daily Number Review. I'm also modeling how they complete this as well. It will be a little while before all can do both of these independently.

We also worked on a Name Glyph. A glyph is a picture of information following certain rules based on the student answering questions. We will review these tomorrow.

Klara, Sahithi, and Jacob really GLOWED today! Ask them what they did!

If you came to the open house in August you do not have to come tonight unless you want to meet the PTO or you have students in another classroom. Tonight is primary next week is intermediate.

There is a field trip permission slip in the Liberty folder; please sign and return tomorrow or no later than Tuesday, Sept. 8. There is also information regarding the 4C's Behavior Matrix in the Important Class Information section. This is for your review and then leave in the binder.

Have a GREAT night!

Tuesday Tales!

Another busy day! We worked on reading stamina today. We learned that we read a book 3 ways: read the pictures and think about the story; read the words and think about the story; and retell the story using our own words, so we have to think about the story. Notice the pattern: think about the story! Reading is about thinking. If you don't understand what you are reading, you aren't reading!

We also learned a strategy to help us with accuracy: crosschecking. The words and the pictures have to match.

In writing we learned what authors do and wrote our 1st piece. I'm looking forward to reading those tonight.

We finished up the afternoon with problem solving, then worked on an activity for our monthly calendar. I then read the book, Quick as a Cricket, where we added up the animals in the book and then tomorrow we will finish up by sorting the animals.

And...we did 3 more ME boxes!

I now have all the photo permission slips, so I will be posting pictures soon.

Tomorrow is open house. If you came in August, you do not have to come unless you want to meet the PTO. If you were unable to come in August, I look forward to meeting you tomorrow night. Information went home today about the open house.