You may be wondering, and so might your child, what each person signed up to bring for our Holiday Party on Wednesday. Let me know if what your child signed up for will not work for you!
Grapes-Logan
Cookies-Connor
Crackers-Nate
Cheese-Lydia
Carrots-Hannah
Celery and dip-Silas
Watermelon-Morgan
Popcorn-Jake
Cookies-Lauren
Fruit-Jordan
Strawberries-Jacob
Again, please let me know if this doesn't work for you! Enjoy the week.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday News
We're having a crazy week; there is excitement in the air and self control is hard to come by.
Students were highly invested in our Discovery Time today though! They thought up a variety of projects about Africa ranging from building pyramids in the Kiva to conducting research on polution in the Nile River. We'll be working on the Africa projects during Discovery Time well into January.
We have been studying some nonfiction reading techniques during Read Aloud including accessing background knowledge, making connections and askign questions. We are reading two very different books. One is about the Gates Project of 2005.
The other is a book about Cairo, Egypt. We are comparing Cairo to Burlington. There are similarities and difference, believe it or not.
We were treated to a presentation by a group of readers who have been working with Mrs. Poirot today.
Yesterday we had our second Africa workshop. Students attended the workshop on the same topic to deepen their understanding.
On Wednesday, December 23, we'll have another Celebration Banquet. This time we'll celeberate the holiday season together. If your child did not volunteer to bring food in last week, s/he probably did this week. Please ask your child for details.
Please look in the School Bell for announcements (food drive, "Parenting on Track" and other news. Please do take a moment to fill out the "Speak Up 2009" survey. Details in the School Bell.
Students were highly invested in our Discovery Time today though! They thought up a variety of projects about Africa ranging from building pyramids in the Kiva to conducting research on polution in the Nile River. We'll be working on the Africa projects during Discovery Time well into January.
We have been studying some nonfiction reading techniques during Read Aloud including accessing background knowledge, making connections and askign questions. We are reading two very different books. One is about the Gates Project of 2005.
The other is a book about Cairo, Egypt. We are comparing Cairo to Burlington. There are similarities and difference, believe it or not.
We were treated to a presentation by a group of readers who have been working with Mrs. Poirot today.
Yesterday we had our second Africa workshop. Students attended the workshop on the same topic to deepen their understanding.
On Wednesday, December 23, we'll have another Celebration Banquet. This time we'll celeberate the holiday season together. If your child did not volunteer to bring food in last week, s/he probably did this week. Please ask your child for details.
Please look in the School Bell for announcements (food drive, "Parenting on Track" and other news. Please do take a moment to fill out the "Speak Up 2009" survey. Details in the School Bell.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday
Jordan leads our meetings this week. Today’s greeting was, “Hit the Floor!” and the game was Wink. We had a busy half day of school today with no Physical Education class. Instead we finished watching the video about Egypt. It was a great video. Here are some of the many facts we learned:
Some kids have jobs
Camels can drink 20 gallons of water
Camels can go without eating for a week.
Camels store their fat in their hump.
96% of Egypt is desert
Egyptians read from right to left.
They write from right to left.
Their books are backwards to ours.
Bread is really important and has different names. They eat it at every meal.
They speak Arabic.
Egyptians used to believe in many gods, then there were many Christians, and now most Egyptians are muslim.
Transportation is varied: people use animals and motorized vehicles for transportation.
Some kids save money for hobbies.
The Nile River and the Red Sea are visible from space. That means they are big. The Nile flows north.
Sometimes they wear costumes.
There are restaurants in Egypt.
Egypt used to be a country of farmers.
There are lots of temples.
Pyramids are tombs for gods, kings and queens.
the Sarcofogus it he woden part around a mummy. Sometimes animals are carved in them.
People eat on lower tables.
Soccer is called football and it is a favorite sport.
Some pyramids are over 700 feet tall.
Papyrus was the first paper and it was from Egypt.
Hieroglypics are carved in pyramids.
Pharoahs are buried with valuable items.
Many races live in Egypt. Most people on the video had dark skin and hair.
They draw in the sand to give directions.
After the video we worked on a way to practice our spelling words: Read it, Say it, Spell it, Write it. We did this using grid paper so that in the end we could outline our words. Visualization is an important part of spelling, in addition to learning the sound symbol correlations and patterns.
Some kids have jobs
Camels can drink 20 gallons of water
Camels can go without eating for a week.
Camels store their fat in their hump.
96% of Egypt is desert
Egyptians read from right to left.
They write from right to left.
Their books are backwards to ours.
Bread is really important and has different names. They eat it at every meal.
They speak Arabic.
Egyptians used to believe in many gods, then there were many Christians, and now most Egyptians are muslim.
Transportation is varied: people use animals and motorized vehicles for transportation.
Some kids save money for hobbies.
The Nile River and the Red Sea are visible from space. That means they are big. The Nile flows north.
Sometimes they wear costumes.
There are restaurants in Egypt.
Egypt used to be a country of farmers.
There are lots of temples.
Pyramids are tombs for gods, kings and queens.
the Sarcofogus it he woden part around a mummy. Sometimes animals are carved in them.
People eat on lower tables.
Soccer is called football and it is a favorite sport.
Some pyramids are over 700 feet tall.
Papyrus was the first paper and it was from Egypt.
Hieroglypics are carved in pyramids.
Pharoahs are buried with valuable items.
Many races live in Egypt. Most people on the video had dark skin and hair.
They draw in the sand to give directions.
After the video we worked on a way to practice our spelling words: Read it, Say it, Spell it, Write it. We did this using grid paper so that in the end we could outline our words. Visualization is an important part of spelling, in addition to learning the sound symbol correlations and patterns.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday
Make and Take Craft Night was a great success. Thank you to the many volunteers we had that made the final Discovery House 1-4 Annual Make and Take Craft Night work!
Today we have done some writing. for a special treat watched a video version of the Indian Folk Tale, Rikki, Tikki, Tavi. It was the first book we read aloud this year. We are comparing how the portrayals are alike and different. We also began watching a video about Egypt; students took notes in their writing notebooks. So far we are learning some geographical and cultural facts.
We have many photos of the week's events: 4 Winds, the Banquet and Craft Night. I'll work on posting them ASAP.
Today we have done some writing. for a special treat watched a video version of the Indian Folk Tale, Rikki, Tikki, Tavi. It was the first book we read aloud this year. We are comparing how the portrayals are alike and different. We also began watching a video about Egypt; students took notes in their writing notebooks. So far we are learning some geographical and cultural facts.
We have many photos of the week's events: 4 Winds, the Banquet and Craft Night. I'll work on posting them ASAP.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday
We had a great Farewell Party for Ms. Simpson. Thank you for all of your contributions. Earlier today we worked on parts of a sentence. Actually, I was at the FAP meeting while Ms. Simpson taught that lesson.
Yesterday our workshops about Africa began! Our four topics are Animals, People, Land and Water. Students will go to the same workshop topic twice so that we can delve into the geographical and cultural topics more deeply. It is an exciting continent to study.
We have continued our work on Writing to a Prompt. We wrote about conifers this week. We also used the document camera to critique student essays about quilts.
More later...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday
Ms. Simpson has strep throat. She'll be back tomorrow. Please monitor your child's health. Ms. Simpson was diagnosed yesterday afternoon.
We had Four Winds today. It was about Conifers. Please inquire about it.
We had Four Winds today. It was about Conifers. Please inquire about it.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday was Whirlwind!
Today we had a pretty regular morning. Jacob is the new assistant so he did a great job leading meeting. Math was a bunch of stations where we work on addition and subtraction strategies. We are working on self control using the ticket method in anticipation of having one less adult every day.
In literacy we reworked our quilting essays and looked at the assessment rubric for those pieces.
We did not get to all spelling groups and we did not have our regular read aloud. Here's why: We had to work on something for Ms. Simpson, and I can say no more because she reads the blog!
At the end of the day we sang two African songs together as a team in the Kiva.
Don't forget: Make and Take Craft Night is THIS THURSDAY at 6:30!
In literacy we reworked our quilting essays and looked at the assessment rubric for those pieces.
We did not get to all spelling groups and we did not have our regular read aloud. Here's why: We had to work on something for Ms. Simpson, and I can say no more because she reads the blog!
At the end of the day we sang two African songs together as a team in the Kiva.
Don't forget: Make and Take Craft Night is THIS THURSDAY at 6:30!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday Letter
My hope is that several posting each week will eliminate the need for a separate Thursday letter.
Today students worked on using a graphic organizer to plan their Quilt Essays. They will write essays tomorrow if they haven't already.
After going to the library and having Quiet Reading, we worked on cursive and DLR (see below). We wrapped up our day in the Technology Lab learning how to organize our files (File Management is a 3-4 Grade Level Expectation).
Today students worked on using a graphic organizer to plan their Quilt Essays. They will write essays tomorrow if they haven't already.
After going to the library and having Quiet Reading, we worked on cursive and DLR (see below). We wrapped up our day in the Technology Lab learning how to organize our files (File Management is a 3-4 Grade Level Expectation).
I was doing Daily Language Review at my desk at school. I looked out the window of my classroom and this is what I saw. Big, black, huge clouds right with the sun. I said, "That would be a good picture to take!" and Ms. Stewart told me to get the camera and take a picture of these clouds for our blog. And that's what this is.
These black storm clouds were right above us pouring down rain last night. Everywhere I looked on the ground there were puddles an inch deep.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Late Wednesday Night Post
Whew! It's been a busy day. In math we worked on "finding the difference" in a variety of ways in number stories. Students presented their work on the white board and described their thinking.
In writing we looked at the GE's for writing narratives. Students reflected on their skill levels in these areas in their writing notebooks. It was impressive.
We also worked on a graphic organizer talking about the learning done in the quilt unit. Students will begin their essays tomorrow.
In the afternoon we did independent reading activities, planned a party for Ms. Simpson on Thursday afternoon (more on that via email), and finished our read aloud book with 'tracks.' We'll discuss it tomorrow. Since we've only learned one way to use tracks, students are to carry out the Reading Homework instructions for Monday and Wednesday every day this week. Never mind the Tuesday Thursday directions. Sorry for the unforseen delay.
In writing we looked at the GE's for writing narratives. Students reflected on their skill levels in these areas in their writing notebooks. It was impressive.
We also worked on a graphic organizer talking about the learning done in the quilt unit. Students will begin their essays tomorrow.
In the afternoon we did independent reading activities, planned a party for Ms. Simpson on Thursday afternoon (more on that via email), and finished our read aloud book with 'tracks.' We'll discuss it tomorrow. Since we've only learned one way to use tracks, students are to carry out the Reading Homework instructions for Monday and Wednesday every day this week. Never mind the Tuesday Thursday directions. Sorry for the unforseen delay.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday Highlights
This morning, during literacy we talked about goal setting, and what to make of the idea of meeting or not meeting one's goals. Setting useful goals is difficult. Students spent time writing about a goal they had identified in September. They also identified goals to work on in school in December. Some of the ways we are thinking about them is "How will this goal help you as a student?" "What strategies will help you attain this goal?" and "What will be better for you as a result of having worked toward this goal?"
I was amazed at how well these students were able to think, and further to write about this relatively abstract topic!
The big excitement today was in science. Ms. Ward and I teamed up (she did ALL of the prep and set up)to demonstrate a very lengthy experiment involving 'earth materials' (sand and humus) and water. Which of these materials would you predict 500 ml of water would go through faster?
If you read this post, please add a comment. I'd like to be able to show students how that works. They'll be posting soon too.
I was amazed at how well these students were able to think, and further to write about this relatively abstract topic!
The big excitement today was in science. Ms. Ward and I teamed up (she did ALL of the prep and set up)to demonstrate a very lengthy experiment involving 'earth materials' (sand and humus) and water. Which of these materials would you predict 500 ml of water would go through faster?
If you read this post, please add a comment. I'd like to be able to show students how that works. They'll be posting soon too.
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November Four Winds
