Today's energy in our classroom has been electric! The students are completely engaged in reading biographies! I got out the rest of the biography collection (from my personal library, the Bethany library and the Multnomah County library) and students were captivated by the stories. It's looking like we will choose subjects for our biography report on Thursday, so students are having a chance to read about a variety of people in order to decide. Some favorites were Rachel Carson, Helen Keller and Babe Ruth!
We continued working on right and left with Turtle turns in math. Students have made the connection between the hands on the clock and the way the turtle rotates. Ask about Turtle Turns tonight!
During writing workshop we talked about the importance of having good illustrations in a how-to book, and the students had a chance to practice. I shared about myself being a visual learner and NEEDING those kind of illustrations.
I wish you all could have seen the crowd of students around the biography cart. It was truly an impressive sight.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday
Today we had the first of our long practices to prepare for our Dinosaur program, which is scheduled from next Tuesday night. We had the opportunity to visit the library today, as well.
We're cruising through our biography study! Students started their second biography reading group. We are reading about Harriet Tubman, Louis Braille, Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens and Eleanor Roosevelt. The students are continuing to work on choosing important facts.
We worked on making turns and angles during math and had the chance to visit the computer lab to move the turtle through the maze. Be sure to practice "left" and "right" with your child.
We also finished up some work with a story called Are We There Yet?. We mapped out their journey on our big map of Australia and had the chance to capture some of the things we're wondering about Australia. I'm looking forward to sharing Australia with our class.
We're cruising through our biography study! Students started their second biography reading group. We are reading about Harriet Tubman, Louis Braille, Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens and Eleanor Roosevelt. The students are continuing to work on choosing important facts.
We worked on making turns and angles during math and had the chance to visit the computer lab to move the turtle through the maze. Be sure to practice "left" and "right" with your child.
We also finished up some work with a story called Are We There Yet?. We mapped out their journey on our big map of Australia and had the chance to capture some of the things we're wondering about Australia. I'm looking forward to sharing Australia with our class.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wednesday AND Thursday
Well, I'm a day behind, but I think I can get us caught up! Wednesday, we shared our biography facts with the class, went to the library, worked on our how-to books, and... We finished up the first investigation from our Measurement unit and took part of our math assessment. Then, we read from The Phantom Tollbooth and took our flight to Australia. We stamped our passports, took our carry-on luggage and settled in for the in-flight movie.
Thursday...
We had a mixed up day! We went to Specials this morning and had recess with the third graders this afternoon. We started new biography groups today, and the students did an amazing job making predictions and coming up with group agreements for how to treat each other. We continued to work on how-to books, and used published books as examples. We learned about the things that authors do to make their writing easy to understand.
We learned about paths during math and figured out that our class had on 114 pockets today. The students learned the importance of being very explicit when giving directions, or you might end up somewhere you don't intend! We read a book called Are We There Yet? by Allison Lester which is an account of a journey around the perimeter of Australia. Then we drew a giant map of Australia and the students taught me the names of the states, geographic features and oceans around Australia.
We have such a wonderful class. I say it often, but it is my pleasure to be your child's teacher.
Thursday...
We had a mixed up day! We went to Specials this morning and had recess with the third graders this afternoon. We started new biography groups today, and the students did an amazing job making predictions and coming up with group agreements for how to treat each other. We continued to work on how-to books, and used published books as examples. We learned about the things that authors do to make their writing easy to understand.
We learned about paths during math and figured out that our class had on 114 pockets today. The students learned the importance of being very explicit when giving directions, or you might end up somewhere you don't intend! We read a book called Are We There Yet? by Allison Lester which is an account of a journey around the perimeter of Australia. Then we drew a giant map of Australia and the students taught me the names of the states, geographic features and oceans around Australia.
We have such a wonderful class. I say it often, but it is my pleasure to be your child's teacher.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
And then it was Tuesday
Tuesday zoomed by! I looked at the clock yesterday afternoon and it was 4:30 before I'd even realized it.
The students finished the clarifying of their thoughts for their first biography groups and today will present the facts to the class. We received a letter from Mary Moody, our Trucker Buddy, and we learned that her mother had passed away and her sister had been in the hospital! No wonder we hadn't heard from her. We took some time to make a book of Happy Thoughts for her and will take time again before the end of the month to write to her again.
Students wrote measurement riddles in math and finished up tasks from Monday. We're cruising through our unit, and will be done with it in NO time! Wow. We finished packing our suitcases for our trip to Australia, and will get on the plane today. I've got the in-flight movie and the peanuts all ready. It should be a great time. Here's to one more day on our learning adventure together.
The students finished the clarifying of their thoughts for their first biography groups and today will present the facts to the class. We received a letter from Mary Moody, our Trucker Buddy, and we learned that her mother had passed away and her sister had been in the hospital! No wonder we hadn't heard from her. We took some time to make a book of Happy Thoughts for her and will take time again before the end of the month to write to her again.
Students wrote measurement riddles in math and finished up tasks from Monday. We're cruising through our unit, and will be done with it in NO time! Wow. We finished packing our suitcases for our trip to Australia, and will get on the plane today. I've got the in-flight movie and the peanuts all ready. It should be a great time. Here's to one more day on our learning adventure together.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Monday, 4.9
Today we went to an impressive performance by Ballet Folklorico. They shared three styles of dances from Mexico with us. The costumes and the dancing were impressive. Students were definitely wondering how the dancers made such quick costume changes!
We worked on refining our biography facts and will finish that up on Tuesday. We wrote Weekend News, which was done in a lickety-split fashion. In math, we measured the jumps we did on Friday and spent some time catching up in Today's Math. We were lucky enough to have the chance to use some computers to do an activity called Giant Steps, as well.
We finished making our official packing list for Australia, and tomorrow we'll pack our suitcases and learn about our dimensions of Australia.
We missed Library because of the assembly. It's been rescheduled for for Wednesday morning.
We worked on refining our biography facts and will finish that up on Tuesday. We wrote Weekend News, which was done in a lickety-split fashion. In math, we measured the jumps we did on Friday and spent some time catching up in Today's Math. We were lucky enough to have the chance to use some computers to do an activity called Giant Steps, as well.
We finished making our official packing list for Australia, and tomorrow we'll pack our suitcases and learn about our dimensions of Australia.
We missed Library because of the assembly. It's been rescheduled for for Wednesday morning.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Friday, April 6
The children were energized today! It was wonderful to be back after three days gone. I shared with the students the reason I was gone: my brother had open heart surgery on the 28th and developed some serious complications. Things have settled down for now, and I'm quite relieved.
We had a busy day today. Students finished reading their first biography book with their interest groups, and we will talk about sharing facts in an appropriate format on Monday. The students really enjoyed it and it was exciting to hear them discussing whether facts were important or not so important.
In writing workshop, we revised our how to books. Our kiddos have a wealth of knowledge all wrapped up in their minds. It was amazing to see some of their "how to" ideas.
We had our spelling test and measured three types of jumps during math. On Monday, the students will use items such as linker cubes to measure the lengths of their jumps, and will put things in numeric order. We're able to deal with ordinality in both math and reading!
We made the list of things we need to pack for Australia today, and on Monday we'll pack our bags for our "flight" on Tuesday. (We're only going on a "pretend" flight, of course."
Have a wonderful weekend.
We had a busy day today. Students finished reading their first biography book with their interest groups, and we will talk about sharing facts in an appropriate format on Monday. The students really enjoyed it and it was exciting to hear them discussing whether facts were important or not so important.
In writing workshop, we revised our how to books. Our kiddos have a wealth of knowledge all wrapped up in their minds. It was amazing to see some of their "how to" ideas.
We had our spelling test and measured three types of jumps during math. On Monday, the students will use items such as linker cubes to measure the lengths of their jumps, and will put things in numeric order. We're able to deal with ordinality in both math and reading!
We made the list of things we need to pack for Australia today, and on Monday we'll pack our bags for our "flight" on Tuesday. (We're only going on a "pretend" flight, of course."
Have a wonderful weekend.
Monday, April 2, 2007
April 2nd
Wow, the return from Spring Break certainly felt a little bit tough this morning. The 5 am alarm wasn't too welcomed....
We started back with gusto! Today the students chose the first book they want to read in their student-led literature circles, which we're doing as part of our biography study. We'll do 5 different groups: Thomas Edison, Sacagawea, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller and Amelia Earhart.
Students wrote "Newsflashes" of their spring breaks this morning. It was fun to read an invigorated account of your family activities.
We started a new math unit today on Measurement. For the next few days, we'll be working on non-standard units of measure. It's fun to watch children discover different ways of comparing measurement. Ask your child what they measured today and how they figured out if it was the same length as the paper strip.
We're finishing up our communities unit by making travel brochures for an urban, rural or suburban place of our choosing. Other big news is that we are getting closer to the second grade music program!
Just to let you know, I've had a family emergency and will have a sub on Tuesday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday. I will be checking email, however.
We started back with gusto! Today the students chose the first book they want to read in their student-led literature circles, which we're doing as part of our biography study. We'll do 5 different groups: Thomas Edison, Sacagawea, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller and Amelia Earhart.
Students wrote "Newsflashes" of their spring breaks this morning. It was fun to read an invigorated account of your family activities.
We started a new math unit today on Measurement. For the next few days, we'll be working on non-standard units of measure. It's fun to watch children discover different ways of comparing measurement. Ask your child what they measured today and how they figured out if it was the same length as the paper strip.
We're finishing up our communities unit by making travel brochures for an urban, rural or suburban place of our choosing. Other big news is that we are getting closer to the second grade music program!
Just to let you know, I've had a family emergency and will have a sub on Tuesday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday. I will be checking email, however.
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