Friday, October 28, 2016
News for the week of October 24th to October 28th
Hello Families,
I will be shutting down this blog in the next couple of weeks and switching to Twitter. I will be setting up a private account so that I can post pictures daily throughout the week rather than just at the end of the week. Specifics will be coming soon as to how to access out Twitter account.
For now, I will still share upcoming events, learning experiences and related arts schedule through this blog.
Monday is our Harvest Party and parade. The students will need to bring their costumes to school and we will change into them right before the parade in the afternoon. No weapons please:) Our party will follow the parade. The children are so excited!
Learning Experiences from this week:
In word study, we spent the week listening for short vowels in words through many hands-on activities. We will continue to work on this throughout the year as the vowel sounds can be tricky for little ones.
In writer's workshop, it was an exciting week! I now have 24 published authors in this room and they are so PROUD of their hard work on their personal narratives. They have been laminated and bound with fun tape and are not displayed on our bookshelves for all to read. They will be bringing them home soon to share with you!
In science, we learned all about bats and their habitats. Ask your child to share some interesting facts that they learned this week through our experiments, close reading of text, and poems.
In math, we continued to learn about fact families and how they always have two addition sentences and two subtraction sentences.
In reader's workshop, we have continued to add "tools" to our reading "toolboxes" to help when we come to tricky words in our reading.
Related Arts schedule:
Monday - P.E.
Tuesday - Library
Wednesday - Art
Thursday - Music
Friday - P.E.
Monday, November 7th - Library
Tuesday November 8th - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 9th - Art
Thursday, November 10th - Music
Friday, November 11th - P.E.
Have a great weekend!
I will be shutting down this blog in the next couple of weeks and switching to Twitter. I will be setting up a private account so that I can post pictures daily throughout the week rather than just at the end of the week. Specifics will be coming soon as to how to access out Twitter account.
For now, I will still share upcoming events, learning experiences and related arts schedule through this blog.
Monday is our Harvest Party and parade. The students will need to bring their costumes to school and we will change into them right before the parade in the afternoon. No weapons please:) Our party will follow the parade. The children are so excited!
Learning Experiences from this week:
In word study, we spent the week listening for short vowels in words through many hands-on activities. We will continue to work on this throughout the year as the vowel sounds can be tricky for little ones.
In writer's workshop, it was an exciting week! I now have 24 published authors in this room and they are so PROUD of their hard work on their personal narratives. They have been laminated and bound with fun tape and are not displayed on our bookshelves for all to read. They will be bringing them home soon to share with you!
In science, we learned all about bats and their habitats. Ask your child to share some interesting facts that they learned this week through our experiments, close reading of text, and poems.
In math, we continued to learn about fact families and how they always have two addition sentences and two subtraction sentences.
In reader's workshop, we have continued to add "tools" to our reading "toolboxes" to help when we come to tricky words in our reading.
Related Arts schedule:
Monday - P.E.
Tuesday - Library
Wednesday - Art
Thursday - Music
Friday - P.E.
Monday, November 7th - Library
Tuesday November 8th - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 9th - Art
Thursday, November 10th - Music
Friday, November 11th - P.E.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, October 21, 2016
News for October 18th to October 21st
Hello Families,
I'm still working on the problem with my pictures not uploading to this blog but wanted to let you know what we've been working on this week.
I also wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed talking with each of you during the parent/teacher conferences and I want you to know that I'm so proud of the progress the children have made so far. I couldn't do this without each of you!
Here are some of the learning highlights from this week:
Word Study - We are still working on phonemes but will add short vowels next
week.
Writers Workshop - Students began editing their rough drafts and writing their
final copies.
Social Studies - We learned about voter etiquette and even held our own
election with registration cards, voting booth, and tally of
results.
Reading Workshop - We have added more reading "tools" to our "toolboxes" to
help us if we come to tricky words in our text. We reviewed
Fly Eye (look at the picture), Lips the Fish (get your mouth
ready), Stretchy Snake (run your finger under the word and
make all sounds, and Skippy Kangaroo (skip the word, read
on and come back). Next week, we will add a few more and
then spend the rest of the year practicing and fine-tuning
these strategies.
Math Workshop - This week we worked on showing our thinking in words,
numbers and/or pictures when solving number stories. Here
is an example of one we solved this week:
There were ten pumpkins on a fence. I carved three into
jack-o'-lanterns. How many are still pumpkins?
If you are looking for a way to help your child, give him/her
number stories similar to this to solve. Next week we are
going to work on fact families, ways to make ten and doubles
and near doubles.
RELATED ARTS next week:
Monday - Music
Tuesday - P.E.
Wednesday - Library
Thursday - Art
Friday - Music
I'm still working on the problem with my pictures not uploading to this blog but wanted to let you know what we've been working on this week.
I also wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed talking with each of you during the parent/teacher conferences and I want you to know that I'm so proud of the progress the children have made so far. I couldn't do this without each of you!
Here are some of the learning highlights from this week:
Word Study - We are still working on phonemes but will add short vowels next
week.
Writers Workshop - Students began editing their rough drafts and writing their
final copies.
Social Studies - We learned about voter etiquette and even held our own
election with registration cards, voting booth, and tally of
results.
Reading Workshop - We have added more reading "tools" to our "toolboxes" to
help us if we come to tricky words in our text. We reviewed
Fly Eye (look at the picture), Lips the Fish (get your mouth
ready), Stretchy Snake (run your finger under the word and
make all sounds, and Skippy Kangaroo (skip the word, read
on and come back). Next week, we will add a few more and
then spend the rest of the year practicing and fine-tuning
these strategies.
Math Workshop - This week we worked on showing our thinking in words,
numbers and/or pictures when solving number stories. Here
is an example of one we solved this week:
There were ten pumpkins on a fence. I carved three into
jack-o'-lanterns. How many are still pumpkins?
If you are looking for a way to help your child, give him/her
number stories similar to this to solve. Next week we are
going to work on fact families, ways to make ten and doubles
and near doubles.
RELATED ARTS next week:
Monday - Music
Tuesday - P.E.
Wednesday - Library
Thursday - Art
Friday - Music
Friday, October 14, 2016
News from Room 117 for October 10th to October 14th
Hello Families,
Sadly, I still can't figure out why I'm now unable to post these fabulous pictures to our blog but I'm not giving up. At a future date once this is resolved, the blog will just have to be pictures and nothing else:) Until then, I'm asking the children to think of good questions that you could ask them about their learning this week. Enjoy!
Great Questions to Ask Your Child:
What did you see this morning outside of your classroom window?
What are phonemes?
What are you doing with voting?
Who are you voting for next week? Grace? Mrs. McNeal? Squid? Duck?
What are you doing in math workshop?
What is writers workshop?
What is readers workshop?
What are you doing during free exploration?
What are you doing in writers workshop?
What is math workshop?
What are you doing in Flexible Friday?
What are you doing in specials?
What is your favorite thing in school?
What are you doing during recess?
Highlights from our Week:
Word Study: We are continuing to work on the digraphs of /sh/, /ch/ and /th/
as a class. We've also just completed our first independent
study of a word feature based upon each child's need. The test
was given today and recorded on Progress Book.
We also learned about phonemes and how knowing them can help
us to be stronger readers and writers.
Writer's Workshop: We are continuing our study of writing small moment
stories (aka personal narratives) and this week we learned
why and how writers use transition words ("story glue"),
ellipses, and sound effects.
Social Studies: Voting has been the big topic this week. After reading several
fun stories about characters who wanted to be president, the
children created campaign posters and bumper stickers por-
traying their choice for president. Next week, we will vote!
Readers Workshop: We learned that we have "reading toolboxes" in our brains
and that that toolbox needs to be filled with tools to help
us when we come to those tricky words. Two of these
tools are to look at the picture and to get our mouths ready
for the first sound(s). We also learned that a strong reader
keeps their eyes in the book and not out of the book because
the tricky word isn't written in the sky or on the listener's
(you) forehead:)
Math Workshop: We are still working on rich problems that help us to identify
and represent related addition and subtraction equations with
objects (linking cubes) and equations. We call these fact
families and we will continue to explore them next week.
Sadly, I still can't figure out why I'm now unable to post these fabulous pictures to our blog but I'm not giving up. At a future date once this is resolved, the blog will just have to be pictures and nothing else:) Until then, I'm asking the children to think of good questions that you could ask them about their learning this week. Enjoy!
Great Questions to Ask Your Child:
What did you see this morning outside of your classroom window?
What are phonemes?
What are you doing with voting?
Who are you voting for next week? Grace? Mrs. McNeal? Squid? Duck?
What are you doing in math workshop?
What is writers workshop?
What is readers workshop?
What are you doing during free exploration?
What are you doing in writers workshop?
What is math workshop?
What are you doing in Flexible Friday?
What are you doing in specials?
What is your favorite thing in school?
What are you doing during recess?
Highlights from our Week:
Word Study: We are continuing to work on the digraphs of /sh/, /ch/ and /th/
as a class. We've also just completed our first independent
study of a word feature based upon each child's need. The test
was given today and recorded on Progress Book.
We also learned about phonemes and how knowing them can help
us to be stronger readers and writers.
Writer's Workshop: We are continuing our study of writing small moment
stories (aka personal narratives) and this week we learned
why and how writers use transition words ("story glue"),
ellipses, and sound effects.
Social Studies: Voting has been the big topic this week. After reading several
fun stories about characters who wanted to be president, the
children created campaign posters and bumper stickers por-
traying their choice for president. Next week, we will vote!
Readers Workshop: We learned that we have "reading toolboxes" in our brains
and that that toolbox needs to be filled with tools to help
us when we come to those tricky words. Two of these
tools are to look at the picture and to get our mouths ready
for the first sound(s). We also learned that a strong reader
keeps their eyes in the book and not out of the book because
the tricky word isn't written in the sky or on the listener's
(you) forehead:)
Math Workshop: We are still working on rich problems that help us to identify
and represent related addition and subtraction equations with
objects (linking cubes) and equations. We call these fact
families and we will continue to explore them next week.
Friday, October 7, 2016
Fair News for October 3rd to October 7th
Hello Families,
Sadly, I am having some technological difficulties and won't be able to post the fabulous pictures of our learning this week. Once I get it working again, you can bet that I'll send them.
Highlights of Learning from this week:
Handwriting Practice - I've begun formal handwriting instruction to help with proper formation of lowercase letters. We are working to break some habits of starting letters from the bottom. Ask your child about the song we've learned about where to start letters.
Word Study - This week we learned the digraphs of /sh/, /ch/ and /th/ as a class. The children have begun their own studies of a word feature based upon what they showed me they needed from an assessment at the beginning of the year. A list of words came home yesterday (written 3x each) for you to practice with your child for the upcoming assessment next week.
Writer's Workshop - We are continuing to write our Small Moment stories. This week we used our graphic organizers (Draw-It-Out sheets) to stretch out the details when we wrote about the beginning, middle and ending.
Social Studies - We are learning about voting since the election of a new president is so close. This study will NOT involve Trump or Clinton:) but instead will include several characters from books that we've been reading. Ask your child to share with you what they've already learned about voting.
Readers Workshop - I've been meeting with small groups of children to strengthen their use of reading strategies. We have also fully launched Daily Five and the children love having choice of what they can work on during this time. Ask your child about what he/she chooses to do during this time each day.
Math Workshop - Each day, the children have been given an open-ended problem to try and solve. The first involved bunk beds and the second one involved the fruits eaten by the caterpillar in the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Being that each problem has multiple answers and ways of solving, the children can make the problem as easy or as challenging as they feel comfortable. I took a great picture of our thinking on the bunkbed problem. It looked like the thinking found in a college classroom!! The children were extremely proud of themselves.
I will be sending in book orders from Scholastic this weekend. Please submit your order online if you choose to order.
Related Arts Schedule:
Monday - Art
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday - P.E.
Thursday - Library
Friday - Art
Fair News for October 3rd to October 7th
Hello Families,
Sadly, I am having some technological difficulties and won't be able to post the fabulous pictures of our learning this week. Once I get it working again, you can bet that I'll send them.
Highlights of Learning from this week:
Handwriting Practice - I've begun formal handwriting instruction to help with proper formation of lowercase letters. We are working to break some habits of starting letters from the bottom. Ask your child about the song we've learned about where to start letters.
Word Study - This week we learned the digraphs of /sh/, /ch/ and /th/ as a class. The children have begun their own studies of a word feature based upon what they showed me they needed from an assessment at the beginning of the year. A list of words came home yesterday (written 3x each) for you to practice with your child for the upcoming assessment next week.
Writer's Workshop - We are continuing to write our Small Moment stories. This week we used our graphic organizers (Draw-It-Out sheets) to stretch out the details when we wrote about the beginning, middle and ending.
Social Studies - We are learning about voting since the election of a new president is so close. This study will NOT involve Trump or Clinton:) but instead will include several characters from books that we've been reading. Ask your child to share with you what they've already learned about voting.
Readers Workshop - I've been meeting with small groups of children to strengthen their use of reading strategies. We have also fully launched Daily Five and the children love having choice of what they can work on during this time. Ask your child about what he/she chooses to do during this time each day.
Math Workshop - Each day, the children have been given an open-ended problem to try and solve. The first involved bunk beds and the second one involved the fruits eaten by the caterpillar in the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Being that each problem has multiple answers and ways of solving, the children can make the problem as easy or as challenging as they feel comfortable. I took a great picture of our thinking on the bunkbed problem. It looked like the thinking found in a college classroom!! The children were extremely proud of themselves.
I will be sending in book orders from Scholastic this weekend. Please submit your order online if you choose to order.
Related Arts Schedule:
Monday - Art
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday - P.E.
Thursday - Library
Friday - Art
Friday, September 30, 2016
Fair News for September 26th to September 30th
Welcome Autumn and all things apple and pumpkin:)! I shared with my little "firsties" that the beginning of the year starts out slow because of having to learn the rules and expectations for first grade but, as the year went on, it would go by very quickly. Well, it has! I can't believe that tomorrow is October 1st! We have a lot to share with you about our week so sit back, relax and enjoy our blog posting.
Highlights of the Week:
Word Study - Our class focus has been on /sh/ but we began our individual word
studies this week as well. Based upon an assessment I gave at
the beginning of the year, each child received a study based upon
what he/she needed. This ranged from beginning/ending conson-
ants to long vowel patterns.
Writer's Workshop - I conferenced with each child to talk about what their first
"small moment" would be about and we talked about some of the
details that they could use in their story. We made "heart maps"
to remind us of the great stories that live in our hearts and
minds that we could write about.
Social Studies - We spent this week learning about John Chapman and his
contribution to our country.
Math Workshop - We began our first big study by taking a pre-assessment so
that I could see what prior knowledge each child had. They
really showed the thinking habit of perseverance as it wasn't an
easy assessment. During this study, your child will be using
addition and subtraction to solve word problems, solving for the
missing part in a problem and learning multiple strategies to
help them solve problems.
Readers Workshop - We have learned four of the Daily 5 parts. Four of the five
are Read-to-Self, Listening to Reading, Read-to-Someone and
Work on Writing. I have also begun to work with small groups
on the multiple reading strategies they can use to help
themselves.
REMINDERS:
A letter is going home today to those parents of children that haven't logged into and set up their Progress Book account. We will no longer be sending home hardcopies of progress reports. They will all be on Progress Book. I've already begun inputting grades for various activities. Take a look and if you have any questions please let me know.
You still have one more week to order books from Scholastic if you like.
Specials Schedule next week:
Monday - Library
Tuesday - Art
Wednesday - Music
Thursday - P.E.
Friday - Library
Highlights of the Week:
Word Study - Our class focus has been on /sh/ but we began our individual word
studies this week as well. Based upon an assessment I gave at
the beginning of the year, each child received a study based upon
what he/she needed. This ranged from beginning/ending conson-
ants to long vowel patterns.
Writer's Workshop - I conferenced with each child to talk about what their first
"small moment" would be about and we talked about some of the
details that they could use in their story. We made "heart maps"
to remind us of the great stories that live in our hearts and
minds that we could write about.
Social Studies - We spent this week learning about John Chapman and his
contribution to our country.
Math Workshop - We began our first big study by taking a pre-assessment so
that I could see what prior knowledge each child had. They
really showed the thinking habit of perseverance as it wasn't an
easy assessment. During this study, your child will be using
addition and subtraction to solve word problems, solving for the
missing part in a problem and learning multiple strategies to
help them solve problems.
Readers Workshop - We have learned four of the Daily 5 parts. Four of the five
are Read-to-Self, Listening to Reading, Read-to-Someone and
Work on Writing. I have also begun to work with small groups
on the multiple reading strategies they can use to help
themselves.
REMINDERS:
A letter is going home today to those parents of children that haven't logged into and set up their Progress Book account. We will no longer be sending home hardcopies of progress reports. They will all be on Progress Book. I've already begun inputting grades for various activities. Take a look and if you have any questions please let me know.
You still have one more week to order books from Scholastic if you like.
Specials Schedule next week:
Monday - Library
Tuesday - Art
Wednesday - Music
Thursday - P.E.
Friday - Library
These girls are reading a chapter book and they are sitting elbow to elbow, knee to knee, book in the middle so they both can see. This means EEKK. This is Read-to-Someone.
These boys are reading a book together. It is a pirate book. EEKK!!
It was hard to find the right book but that was the easiest one. This girl says she still hasn't found the right book yet.
These girls are sitting on the bench reading a book. EEKK!
This boy is reading a book quietly. He got comfortable. Mrs. McNeal find a good place to get comfortable to build his stamina. You can choose to read to someone or read-to-self. Stay in one spot and don't move around the room.
This girl is reading on a laptop. She is trying to read quietly and she was on PebbleGo. For some reason, PebbleGo has such a big password but a small username.
She is working on writing during Readers Workshop. She is drawing a picture for her play. She needs people to vote to be in it. She drew the characters and people will vote. She was trying to make a book with her picture.
They were listening to a book during Reader's Workshop. We were reading Gingerbread Lost in School. This page that you see here is a picture of when the gingerbread was being made.
It was Flexible Friday today and he is sharing about Minecraft. We share our projects when we are done.
These people are sharing their lightning poster.
She was sharing her great white sharks poster. It took her a long time to finish it. Sharks keep producing teeth and they swim close to shore. They have more than 3,000 teeth and they have five rows of teeth.
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