Surgery

Dear Kinderfamilies,

I wanted to inform you that on Wednesday, November 19^th I will be having back surgery.  I have been struggling with this since August and after talking with my doctor, this is my only option.  It is a quick 20 minute surgery and is an out-patient procedure so I will not have to stay in the hospital.  However, I will need to be out from school for 2 weeks to recover.  After that I will have restrictions for lifting and bending so I may have extra help in the classroom when I come back.  Ms. Huffman will be my sub and she has been working in the classroom this past week while I was doing Q-comp observations.  She is a great fit for our class and has spent time with me job-shadowing.  I am very confident that this will be a very easy transition.  I am sad and will miss the kids but in the long run this is the best option for me right now.  Please let me know if you have questions or concerns.  I appreciate your support and understanding. 

                                                            Thanks,

                                                            Mrs. Jost :)

Friday, November 14th

Math: Today we worked on decomposing the number 9.

WE HAD TECHNOLOGY TODAY.  Today we went to the website pbskids.  ClickHERE to check it out.

WE HAD PHY ED TODAY!

Reading/Phonics:  Today was day 2 of the letter U.  We reviewed the letter U and other letters we have learned.  We also learned the letter at and did the practice sheet.

Daily 5:  Most book clubs are up and going.  Please work on learning those snap words, it will make the transition into reading so much easier!  

Thursday, November 13th

Math: Today in math we worked on decomposing the number 8.  Again we worked with our partners using red and yellow chips.

Fun Read Aloud:  Today we heard the story Not Your Typical Dragon.  It's a great story about a dragon who didn't breathe fire but breathed a wide variety of items.  It's got a cute message about being yourself and loving who you are.  Check it out sometime, very cute!

Writing:  Today we talked about how to come up with our topic list.  We will be referring back to this list often when we are thinking of things to write about.

WE HAD MUSIC TODAY!

Reading/Phonics:  Today we learned about the letter Uu and the sound it makes.  We read the Alphatales story Umbrellabird's Umbrella.  We brainstormed U words and worked on our letter poems.

Daily 5:  Today we reviewed what it should look like, sound like and feel like when we are showing Irish Pride during Daily 5 stations.

Handwriting: Today we worked on the letter G.

Wednesday, November 12th

Math: Today in math we worked on decomposing the number 7.  Last week we were introduced to this concept and are doing very well.  We practiced using red and yellow chips and working with our partners.

This morning we talked about the Clubs Choice Fundraiser and the prizes we can win.  We were very excited to learn about this.  

WE HAD PHY ED TODAY!

Reading/Phonics:  Today was Day 2 of the letter Tt.  We reviewed T and other letters we have learned.  We also worked on the word "you."

Daily 5:  We have 4 activities up and going.  We will be learning about listen to a story when I am back from surgery. 

We had storybook reader today!

Handwriting:  Today we worked on the letter F.  

Tuesday, November 11th

Irish Connections:  We met with our groups today and talked about needs and wants.

WE HAD MUSIC TODAY!

Reading/Phonics:  Today we learned about the letter T and the sound it makes.  We read the Alphatales book When Tilly Turtle Came to Tea.  We brainstormed T words and worked on our letter poems.

Veteran's Day:  This afternoon Mrs. Nies's husband Sean Nies came to our classroom and talked about Veteran's Day and showed us pictures of when he was deployed.  He showed us some medals and taught us about what a veteran is.  We asked some really good questions and were very respectful.  We learned that we should thank Veteran's whenever we see them.  

Friday, November 7th

MRS. JOST WAS BACK TODAY!!!  I was so glad to be back teaching today!  Ms. Huffman said the kids did a great job with her this week.

Guest Reader:  Thanks to Reese's mom Laura who came to read us a great story today!  Thanks so much for coming in to share!!

Technology:  Today we worked on getting to the internet and using headphones.

Math:  Today in math we reviewed decomposing numbers again and worked with double sided chips to help understand the concept.  I think we've "got it!"  Also in math during calendar we practiced writing our numbers on our neighbor's backs.  This is an activity we will be working on every day.

WE HAD PHY ED TODAY!

Reading/Phonics: Today was day 2 for the letter S.  We reviewed all of our letters so far and also worked on the snap word "for."  We played a couple rounds of hangman to practice and then worked on our "for" sheet.

Daily 5:  We did a great job today at Daily 5.  I was able to meet with some new groups for "book club."  Some of you might have seen a book bag sent home with your child.  Please read the info inside the bag and have your child read their book to you.  Please keep the book bag in your child's backpack so we have it at school each day.  Every day we will add a book to their book bags.  My goal is to meet with each group 2-3 times a week.  If you have questions please let me know.  If you did not see a book bag today, your child will get one on Monday or Tuesday.  I am looking forward to starting this adventure with you and your child!

Thursday, November 6th

Character Education:  Today Mrs. Weninger came and talked to us about Superflex.  He is a character that we all have in our brains who helps us to stay "flexible" and "go with the flow."  When things are going wrong and we are having a hard time, super flex can help us to calm our bodies and be flexible.  We shared times when we have needed to be super flex.  Next we got to color our own picture of super flex!  Next week we will start talking about the "Unthinkables."  These are in our brains too and  sometimes come out and can cause problems sometimes.  Superflex helps us to get rid of the unthinkables.  Watch for more information coming home about these characters.

Math:  Today in math we retaught the previous lesson about decomposing numbers.  This is a really tricky concept so today we reviewed and practiced decomposing smaller numbers to help us understand the concept.

Writer's Workshop:  Today we did a writing prompt called...In Fall I see....  The kids used their brave spelling to write about something they can see in the fall.

WE HAD MUSIC TODAY!

Reading/Phonics:  Today we learned about the letter S and the sound it makes.  We read the story Seal's Silly Sandwich.  We brainstormed s words and worked on our letter poems.

Daily 5:  We did a great job today working independently at our stations.

Handwriting:  Today we worked on the letter E.

Wednesday, November 5th

This morning we had some 2nd graders come and read to us!

Math: In math today we learned a new concept called "decomposing" numbers.  Another word for breaking a number into parts.  For example the number 6 can be broken into 6 and 0, 5 and 1, 4 and 2, 3 and 3.  This is a very tricky concept and will need some reteaching and practice.  We used unifix cubes in 2 colors to help break it apart.  Then we worked in partners decomposing the number 6.  Next we did a practice sheet at our tables.  The picture below shows an example of what we did with the number 6.

WE HAD PHY ED TODAY!

Reading/Phonics: Today was day 2 of the letter R.  We also worked on the snap word are.  One way to remember this word is to look at the middle letter (r).  We played a sight word game and did our "are" practice sheet.

Daily 5: Ms Huffman said we did a great job during Daily 5 today.

Handwriting:  Today we worked on the letter D.

Tuesday, November 4

Math:  Today for math we worked on building towers and matching a certain number.  We were able to work with partners playing "match it." Today we used the numbers 5-10.

Writer's Workshop: For workshop today we started with the story Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox.  We did a turn and talk with our partners and wrote in our journals.

WE HAD MUSIC TODAY!

Reading/Phonics:  Today we learned about the letter R and the sound it makes.  We read the Alphatales story Rosie Rabbit's Radish and brainstormed words that start with the letter R and worked on our letter R poems.

Daily 5: Today we learned about and practiced Read to someone.  During this time we sit EEKK with our partners.  The EEKK stands for elbow, elbow, knee to knee.  We practiced being a good listener and giving compliments at the end.  We really liked enjoying a story with a friend.

Social Studies:  Today was TIME FOR KIDS day.  Today's magazine was about Giraffes and other animals.