Thursday Thrills

Here's Branden! Enjoy!





I'll post Klara's reading this weekend. She read a very long book and it's taking a long time to upload to the blog. I'll work on it this weekend.

After our usual Thursday schedule of P.E. and Music, we returned to the classroom for math. First Graders worked on mental math using the hundreds chart. Students need to have a hundreds chart in their mind that they can pull out and use at any time. We worked on adding 2 digit numbers. Second graders worked on estimating and then adding three digit numbers.

We worked some more on our reading response and how to stay on topic. We learned that we need at least three supporting details. We'll finish this up on Monday (unless field day is canceled) then moved into true synthesizing for the remainder of the year.

Each student has a writing piece they are working on for possible publishing. I'm seeing some GREAT writing!

Tomorrow is FIELD DAY. NO SANDALS!!!! or CLOGS!!!! please!!! Students should wear sneakers and dress for the weather. We will be outside from 8:30-10:45 and it will be cool! Please dress accordingly!!!

Wednesday Wonders!

It was a very busy day with Nature Dan from the Bartlett Nature Center. We were able to oberve many balance and motion experiments. Here are the pictures from today, plus Klara reading an ABC book that we really enjoyed! I'll post the video of Klara reading at a later time. It's taking tooooooo long to upload!

Tuesday Tales

Bela did a GREAT job reading Jessica in the Dark. Here's a video of her reading:



Today was our last library visit of the year. Please make sure ALL books are returned by Friday, including those they checked out today.

1st graders took the reading MAP test for primary and while they were out of the room, 2nd graders learned more about area and perimeter.

In readers workshop we have learned when writing a response to a question about a book, first we restate the question then write the GIST answer. A gist answer is a short, one word or few word asnwer, but it begs for more! We will work on adding details tomorrow.

In writers workshop we learned more about leads.

Marvelous Monday!

Gavin did a GREAT job reading The Dinosaur Hunt and leading us through the calendar and pledge!

Here's a sample of Gavin's reading:



During Math Workshop, 1st graders worked on subtraction and mental math. 2nd graders worked on area, perimeter, and equivalent fractions. We also worked on problem solving.

In reading we began working on writing a response to prompt about a book. We learned today that we start by restating the question. During writers' workshop we learned that we want to begin our stories with an exciting lead. We read The Grannyman and then rewrote the leads to some of our stories.

Here's a video of the ABC's of Miss Ahrens that we created to say goodbye last week:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tomorrow, 1st graders will take their MAP test in reading. Tomorrow is the last day for library this year. Please make sure ALL library books are returned this week.

Friday Fun!

Alisha was Child of the Day and did such a wonderful job I thought you might like to hear a sample:



What GREAT fluency! Keep reading, Alisha!

Natalie wants to be a scientist when she grows up and here is a video of her presenting her findings on How High Balls Bounce:





We also created Retelling Castles about Little Red Riding Hood. Next week we will learn how to write a reading response. We are also reading the book The Tale of Despereux. This is the book we will use as an interactive read aloud to learn about the strategy of synthesis.

Have a good weekend.

Thursday Tales

Welcome back, Isabella! We missed you and enjoyed listening to you read The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!

After P.E. and music, we read, then got ready for our field trip to the Planetarium. The students really enjoyed learning about the planets.

We returned just in time for lunch. In the hour we had left to our day, students worked on reading, writing, or math. Their choice. Then we shared our learning.

Tomorrow we have art, plus a special performance by Liberty Band Students in the gym. Should be a great concert!

Sad Wednesday

Today was Miss Ahrends last day and we will miss her so much! She did a WONDERFUL job and was a GREAT addition to the classroom. Maybe someday we'll see her back at Liberty as a full time teacher. She would be a great addition to our staff!

Kaitlyn did a wonderful job reading to our class, then leading us through the calendar and promise. Thanks, Kaitlyn!

First Graders worked on place value and math facts; 2nd graders worked on perimeter and area.

In readers workshop we learned that readers retell the story and include the BIG IDEA: what did the characters (and the readers) learn from reading the book. During the independent reading portion of our workshop, Chris, Branden, Alisha, and Sahithi began a book club with Magic Tree House books. We hope to get in touch with the author. Great job, students!



We also learned some new word wall words during word work time. We were able to spend time writing in our Daily Pages, but we were unable to have writers' workshop so we could have time to say good bye to Miss Ahrends.

Tomorrow we have P.E. and music, plus we are going to the Planetarium. If you have not returned your permission slip be sure to return them tomorrow.