Let's Find Out

Read Aloud: Dinosaurumpus and Rumble in the Jungle
Movement: Old McDonald with a twist - using the animals that were in our book

The Cc Book: We reviewed the letter Cc by creating, coloring, and reading a book which contained things that began with Cc. For example "This is a cup. This is a cookie."

Writer's Workshop: We did our first entry in our Sourcebooks for Writer's Workshop. I modeled drawing a picture and including words about my trip to Chicago. Students were asked to think about a trip or place that they'd gone and were asked to do the same.

Let's Find Out: We finally got the opportunity to enjoy and use the November Let's Find Out magazines. The first was Science based and was about turkeys and how they grow up, then the back asked students to complete and create patterns. The next was History based and was about the life of Pilgrim Children showing what would be different if you were a Pilgrim.

Red Bags: After lunch, students finally had an opportunity to check out Red Mystery Book Bags. These bags will be taken home weekly, and contained great literature for students to enjoy at home. They are an excellent opportunity to practice reading strategies and to dig deeper in their comprehension.

P.E.: Today in P.E. we attempted to complete a relay race similar to the Turkey Trot that was completed at the assembly. This proved to be somewhat challenging with 40 kids, but they were able to practice several locomotor skills including jumping, skipping, and walking backwards.

Effort Award!

Read Aloud: If You Bring A Mouse to School

Turkey Choices: Students chose to do one or all of the following: Turkey Dot to Dot with alphabet letters, Turkey Coloring Page, Turkey Color by Numbers.

Red Mystery Bags: We discussed procedures for Red Mystery Bags which will be sent home tomorrow for the first time. Information will be provided with the bags for procedures and suggestions for reading.

Science: We did Tree Part Labeling in our Science Notebooks. We had images with highlighted portions (Roots, Trunk, Branches, Leaves) and then labeled those parts.

Lifeskill Assembly: Margarita won the award for Effort. Miss Wagenaar also won an Effort Award along with Miss Ciampa, Mrs. Chiappe, and Mrs. Miller (the new teachers). Students were awarded an extra 15 minutes of recess.

Music: Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Chiappe led music singing great song including "The Hola Song" which is a song that involves saying hello in various languages.

After Lunch we finished up the Science Notebooks as well as getting the room tidy-ed up.

This morning we started out jumping straight into Reader's Workshop. We used Post Its to mark characters that we found in books that we read independently. In the mini-lesson, we practiced while reading The Three Bears. After completing reading and examinig, we practiced "Going on a Bear Hunt". Afterwards, we did a small math lesson with taking a handful of pattern blocks then finding a creative way to record that data.

During Choice time in the afternoon, students were pulled out to work on a patterning exercise for assessments. We also had art this afternoon where students completed their November self-portrait. (Reminder: these self portraits will be done once per month and bound together at the end of the year. Already the changes are incredible).

After lunch, during Computer Lab, we explored Jumpstart Kindergarten Advanced. This is an extension of the Jumpstart Kindergarten program and children used three of the activities: music, reading, and art.

Back to School..

Today was not as difficult of a transition as I had predicted. After a lovely and lengthy break we returned back and were off and running. This Monday marked our 60th day of school... We are officially one-third of the way through the school year! (Oh how the time is flying!)

For Social Studies this morning we read another story about pilgrim life and then completed a worksheet about things in the Past vs. Now. Students had to discriminate between things used in the past (milking cows) vs. things that are used currently (cartons of milk).

For Science, students cut out leaf silhouettes and worked with a partner to play a matching game. After they finished matching each of their leaves, they were challenged to create their own game. Their creativity impressed me and they seemed to really enjoy it, even claiming that it was "too fun to be science". We went to the Library before lunch and listened to a story about a bear who stayed awake from his winter hibernation to make preparations for Christmas.

After lunch we participated in our first Earthquake Drill. Prior to lunch we had a conversation about the importance of staying calm and following directions during the drill and all of the students were very efficient at finding a spot under a table to duck and cover. After this the students had math choice time while I worked one-on-one with students to assess Concepts About Print and being more math assessments.

Thanksgiving Week

Monday and Tuesday flew by and were full of excitement. I decided to do a combined post with lots of pictures.

On Monday we talked in Social Studies about the past (long ago) and how things were different than they are now. To lead into this discussion we read a Non-Fiction story called Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl.We then brainstormed things that were done in the past and the difference between those things and what we do now.

In Math we reviewed patterns and then drew them onto plates that we would use for our Feast Placemats. We also made our Thankful Books which involved layering of construction paper to create a book of things to be thankful for (earth, grass, sun, skies, etc). Before we went home we did the first step for making our Turkey Hats. We glued tissue paper onto the "body" of the turkey to be the "feathers".

On Tuesday we finished projects which we'd started on Monday including our turkey hats and the our placemats. After recess we went out to the playground and traded students so that each teacher recieved children from each class. This was an excellent way for us to meet new students and share our food for the feast. Each class brought an item to share and we feasted on popcorn, pumpkin seeds, raisins, cornbread muffins, blue tortilla chips, and apples (Thank you for those of you that donated apples!). After we introduced ourselves, shared our food, and feasted together, it was time to return to our own home classrooms.

After lunch we went to Computer Lab where students explored on www.starfall.com (an excellent resource for helping children with phonics and beginning reading strategies). Free choice ended the day, most children chose to help build a "Zero the Hero Trap" since Monday will be the 60th day of school and therefore we will be expecting a visit from our favorite number superhero!

Technicolor Turkeys

Friday was a day full of art related projects.

For Science, we used the tree parts that we had gathered on our Nature Walk to make art.

Our buddies came in and we worked on a Turkey Card that students will bring home to give to someone who they are thankful for next week. This was a nice project for collaboration between the grade levels.

After lunch, we spent the time doing an amazing Technicolor Turkey painting project. This was a step by step art assignment which turned out GREAT.

Nature Walk

This morning's Read Aloud, Gone Wild was an excellent ABC book that contained letters that each corresponded to an endangered animal. It opened the door for discussions into why animals might be endangered (urbanization, logging, hunting, etc).

For Writer's Workshop, students pasted their sourcebook covers onto their folders which are grouped by color (similar to Science Notebooks). Afterwards we created Book Boxes out of the cereal boxes that we've collected from parents. In this box, we will keep books that we create in class that students can practice reading.

After recess, we reviewed tree parts (Roots, Branches, Trunk, Leaves). We then went on a Nature Walk where we picked up things that were parts of trees including leaves, bark, and small branches. This was an AMAZING activity and the students gathered some excellent tree parts. We will use them tomorrow to create a collage of sorts.

In P.E. today we did the standard jogging warm-up, stretching, and a Ghost Tag game. After which we did some catch-up on things that haven't been completed this week.

(the camera has been down for a few days, but I look forward to getting it back in action and including more pictures in the near future)

With a Gobble Gobble Gobble...

This morning the students had a substitute while I attended a Science Training session at Peterson Nature Center. It was very educational and I got EXCELLENT ideas that I can't wait to implement.

While I was gone, the students worked on a variety of Thanksgiving tasks. The continued work on their Floating Down books, making a pointer to practice reading and narrating how they'd like the last page to end. They worked on the first square for their November Quilt. They also worked on turkeys which are two parts (tail and body) that can be attached with a brad and have a pivoting tail.

They also had music led by Miss Casselini and Mrs. McDonough with accompaniment by Mrs. Kwiatkowski.

When I returned in the afternoon I was greeted by a unified chanting, I've never seen them so excited. It's the little things that make the difference sometimes :)

So good to be back...

It was excellent to be back with the class today.

We had a wonderful day! We started the morning picking new jobs and getting used to a little bit of a new set-up (Our classroom got an AMAZING new easel that is soooo useful so we've shifted things a little). Our read aloud this morning was Miss Nelson is Missing, a VERY clever little story about a mysterious substitute teacher (very time appropriate).

We took the rest of the morning to get caught up on what happened last week. The class gave me a report of what they did with Mrs. McDonough and even taught me a game that they learned during Healthy Play (with our special guest teacher, Spencer).

After recess we worked on a booked titled "Floating Down". This book is a repetitive literacy exercise that helps not only with reading and tracking, but also with color identification. Students underlined and colored in the story and will practice reading it again tomorrow.

During math choice time students had the option of working with several different manipulatives including Linking Cubes, Pattern Blocks, and Peg Boards.

After lunch we had Computer Lab where students once again had Free Choice in the Jumpstart Kindergarten program. Next week we will be starting work on an educational website to which I will provide the address as soon as I am sure what it is ;)

Before packing up to go home, we read Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham and students helped to read it, filling in words that I omitted at the end of lines. They are picking up on the fact that the rhyming of the words is what makes it easy to fill in the blanks.

Weekly Bulletin

WEEKLY BULLETIN – ROOM 4

W e e k l y H a p p e n i n g s

Even with tons of interruptions in the normal routines of the classroom, the children were very successful. Along with all subject areas, we’ve been spending a lot of time learning and reciting the alphabet and sounds.

(Ex. A apple, B ball, C cat, D dog, etc.)

Letter of the Week: e

Word Wall Words: the

Science: Trees

Social Studies: being thankful

Math: Rectangles, the number 5

Art: Turkey Art

N o t e s and R e m i n d e r s

Snacks: Thank you to those that have sent in snacks. We’ve gotten plenty to get us through the rest of November.

Thankful Turkey: Don’t forget to help your children to complete the Thankful Turkey take home project.

Red Book Bags: We have collected and organized Red “Mystery” Book Bags that will begin to be sent home next week!! J This will provide excellent literature for children to take home and read.

Playground Reminders: We’ve had some issues on the playground lately, so we ask you review appropriate playground behavior with your children (As we will also do).

Children should go down the slide on their bottoms ONE at a time.

Trikes should be ridden around the track, with the flow of traffic.

No screaming on the playground - it can be confused for real danger.

**Also, we’re being asked to enforce that dogs are NOT allowed on the playground during OR after school. Thank You for Cooperation! **

U p c o m i n g E v e n t s

Monday, November 12^th – NO SCHOOL (Veteran’s Day Observed)

Ee

Another Wacky Wednesday in the books...

This morning the children had a guest teacher - Mrs. McDermott. As part of the BTSA (beginning teacher something or another) I am lucky enough to have a support provider on campus. This morning she led the class through opening, read A House for a Hermit Crab and Readers Workshop to give me the opportunity to observe Ms. Stryker in her classroom. This was very valuable and gave me tons of good ideas to implement.

After I returned, we worked on some handwriting -- the letter e. A song, similar to that used for the letter c, is an excellent way for children to remember how to form the letter. Straight line, go up around and down then stop. Straight line, go up around and down and stop. Straight line, go up around and down, let's make an e. Straight line, go up around and down and stop.. After learning and practicing the letter E, we listed words that began with e including elephant, Eesha, everyone, excellent, Eva, and ear.

We then practiced writing our first sight word: the. Students practiced forming the T - h- e and then reading the word "the". We've now placed it up on our word wall and should be able to read and write this word by the end of the week.

In Social Studies today, we talked about being thankful, and attached some of the feathers that have come in, to our classroom Thankful Turkey. It is starting to look really full and impressive. If you haven't yet worked on the "feathers" with your child, please do so and send them back.

Music today was led by Miss Ciampa and myself with Mrs. Kwiatkowski on piano. We sang several Thanksgiving themed songs and did a couple of songs with movement. Students were well behaved and participated fully during this half hour session. After lunch we listened to The Princess and the Pea and had some short time for choice.

"I Will Work Hard"

Today we were ultra productive. We started our morning with The Little Engine That Could. This is an excellent story, showing that persistence and confidence can be enough. It also tied into our Social Studies lesson, which was about this month's Lifeskill: Effort - "I will work hard."

For math we read The Raccoon Picnic which is a story that aims to help children with counting the numbers 1-5. We also had an opportunity to do a walk thru of the Book Fair. We did a read aloud of Freight Train, a Caldecott Award winner.

After lunch we went to the Computer Lab, during which we had a Fire Drill. After that, we had choice time. Some students chose to help paint a Thankful Turkey (to which we'll affix the home project feathers). To end the day, I read the children the story of Tacky the Penguin. The children loved this story about a penguin who marches to the beat of his own drummer. As a result, he saves the rest of the penguins from hunters.

Oops, I forgot my hat

We started out our morning reading A Giraffe and a Half and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish which gave the class an excellent opportunity to talking about rhyming.

This morning we started our review of Concepts About Print during Reader's Workshop. Students identified front, back, spine, cover, title page, publication page. We also reinforced that books should be read from front to back, from left to right and top to bottom. We will begin testing for Concepts About Print in the upcoming week or two.

In Writer's Workshop, we began work on the covers for our Sourcebooks. These are the journals that we will be throughout readers workshop. Covers contained the words "My Sourcebook" and the students' name. Around the border, we drew icons to spark ideas of writing topics. For example, some students drew a Band-Aid to remind them that they might write about a time when they got hurt. Others drew balloons to remind them that they might want to write about parties or celebrations that they attend.

For math, we learned and practiced drawing the number 5. Down the street and around the corner, Oops! I forgot my hat. We went to the Library this afternoon and Mrs. Williams read us Bark George and The Napping House. Students checked out books and received bookmarks from Mrs. Williams.

Science consisted of making two charts. One of them was What we KNOW about trees.. while the other was What we WANT to know about trees... These will be the springboard for our study of trees in November. At the end of the unit we will complete a third chart of What we LEARNED about trees..

Pajama Day

Today was a comfy and relaxing day to follow up an exciting Halloween.

We started the morning inviting Ms. Stryker's class into our class to enjoy a movie. We watched The Mouse and the Motorcycle and enjoyed some hot cocoa and popcorn. This was an excellent little movie and the snacks hit the spot.

After recess, we did some social studies - practicing the difference between left and right. In Science, we completed the pumpkin project that has been carried over a few days. We had a little time for choice and in the afternoon completed several Halloween handouts (including Frankenstien coloring, Connect the Dots, and a Which-One-Of-These-Is-Not-Like-The-Other-One type worksheets).

Tons of projects went home today, along with Thursday folders. Reminder -- Book Orders are due tomorrow (FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2nd)