January 18, 2013

Marcella, Caitlyn, Isiah, and Ian were great readers this week! 

We finished reading The Fire Cat .   We learned how when we write a response to a text, how to begin and how to support our thinking with evidence from the text.  We will continue this next week, but using a more challenging text.

We are continuing to gather research on our biographies.  Students chose between Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Ruby Bridges, and Helen Keller to write about.  I am in the process of creating a new blog for our classroom (more on that later!) where they will post their biographies.

In math, we worked on 3 digit addition and subtraction strategies.  Keep working on subtraction accuracy by using XtraMath.org or TenMarks.com; Be sure and use the help videos on TenMarks!!!!

Tuesday is a switch day and we will follow a Monday schedule.  

Patricks mother has graciously agreed to be our Party Leader for our upcoming Valentine's Day party.  She needs helpers-both in the classroom and out.  If you are able to help in any way, please let me know and I will get your contact information to her.  Thank you!

Don't forget next Sunday:  Jan. 27 at 3:00.  Mrs. Perrone and I will meet students at the Bartlett Library to share some fun time together looking for books and reading.  Join us!!!

Monday and Tuesday

K.C. was our first child of the day on Monday followed by Marcella on Tuesday.

During reading we are reading The Fire Cat.  We are looking at character traits and how characters change. We are looking at what the author said to support our thinking. 

During writing we have begun writing our biographies.  Today was the first day to gather research on our subject.

During math we are working on 3 digit addition and subtraction strategies.  We have also reviewed ownership and commitment - part of the 8 Keys of Excellence.

Sunday January 27 at 3:00, meet myself and Mrs. Perrone at the Bartlett Library where we will look for just right books together.  See you there!

New Year

I'm not good at making New Year's resolutions as without a doubt, life gets in the way, and I can't always stick with them.  But I don't want to make a resolution to keep this blog up to date!

Before I update with the new year...here are some pictures from the end of 2012:

Keeian's mother was our last mystery reader in 2012.  We LOVED the book!

We learned about Hanukkah.

After leading us on a world tour to learn about holiday traditions around the world, Rudy, the Elf on the Shelf, returned to the North Pole.

We learned about Diwali and said goodbye to our student teacher, Ms. Fischer.

We made holiday cards and sent them to schools around the country,  We also received cards back and learned about geography in the United States.

And we practiced our fluency using readers' theater.  Unfortunately, not everyone was videotaped and published because of the absences, but our fluency did improve!

And of course we had our year end holiday party with the them of The Polar Express.  Thank you to Caitlyn's, Josh, and Keeian's mom for the hot chocolate and cookies.  And thank you to Alyssa's mother for the cups and napkins.

And thank you to everyone for the wonderful holiday gifts.  So thoughtful!

Now for 2013!

Of course...the child of the day reads to the class:

Patrick

Joshua

Nadia

Daniel

Austin

Keeian

This first week back was a review of PBIS expectations an our 8 Keys of Excellence.  In our readers workshop time we worked on characters and how they responded to events in the story.  During our writing time, each student wrote a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  During our math time we worked on 3 digit addition and comparison number stories.

We also had our first mystery reader of 2013, Joshua's grandfather!

We also had vision and hearing testing on Friday.

Welcome back to school and to 2013!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Readers' Theater

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Holiday HiJinks Readers Theater

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Polar Express Readers Theater

Enjoy Lily, Caitlyn, Nadia, Patrick and Daniel in their rendition of The Polar Express:

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.

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!