Wednesday, January 10th

Math: Today was iPad math.  We played the game "Monster Squeeze" with a partner.  We used the numbers 15-25.  Ask your child about this fun learning game.

Handwriting:  Today we used the app Wet Dry Try on the iPads to work on our capital letters.  This is a great app because it doesn't allow the kids to start in the wrong place.  

Writer's Workshop:  Today we read the story Snowmen at Night and then talked/wrote about what we think our snowman does at night.  Super Cute!

Music Today

PALS time- We continue to work with our PALS partners, reviewing letter sounds, snap words and reading CVC words. (consonant, vowel, consonant words, ex. cat.)

WH brothers- we call these the whistle brothers because our mouths look like we are about to whistle when we say words that start with wh.

Reading Strategy: Stretchy Snake- stretch out the sounds you hear.

Daily 5

FYI: If your child has a summer birthday, you will be receiving a sheet that says when we will celebrate their "half birthday".  

Tuesday, January 9th

LATE START DAY!

Irish Pride Celebration: We had an Irish Pride celebration this morning where we learned how to give a compliment.  A compliment is positive, specific and true.  

Irish Connections:  We met with our Irish Connections group today and did a "compliment circle."  We sit in a circle with our legs stretched out and take turns giving compliments to each other. 

Math: Because of Late Start we used calendar as our short math time.

Color word: Blue- we learned the song and how to spell the word blue.

Reading Strategy: Lips the Fish-tells us to get our mouths ready and say the first sound of the word!

Reader's Theater Practice- we will present to our classmates on Friday.

Daily 5

Monday, January 8th

Storybook Reader!  Mrs. Mavencamp read us two stories- One Winter's Day and One Snowy Night

Math:  Today we reviewed a game we learned last month.  We start with 10 red/yellow chips.  We drop the chips and sort the yellow and red.  Then using our math talk cards we find many ways that we can make 10.

______and ______ make _______.  This is a great review for our next topic which is part/part/whole. 

Writing:  In writing today, we wrote about our New Year's School Resolution.  Stop by our hallway sometime to see our writing! :)

Music today!

Reading/Phonics:  We practiced our Reader's Theaters again-preparing to present on Friday.  

We learned about the choo choo brothers. CH

We also started our formal instruction on our reading strategies.  Today we learned about Eagle Eye and how he helps us when we get stuck on a word!  Using the pictures is a vital part for emerging readers!  We WANT them to use the pictures as a strategy! 

Daily 5- we continue to work on our stations- read to self, read to a buddy, word work, work on writing and listen to a story.  During this time I work with small groups during our "book club."  

Reminders:

PTA meeting TONIGHT at 5:30- this is an updated time! :)

Tomorrow is LATE START- wear your Irish Pride Shirts!

Friday, January 5th

S.M.A.R.T. room:  We have new stations and partners for this month!  Ask your child what their favorite new station is!

Math:  We played our partner math game again today-10 frame fun and used our math talk cards to help use our math words.  We are really getting the hang of this!  I was so proud today looking at their practice sheet!  Such beautiful handwriting writing those numbers.  By practicing the correct strokes on a daily basis we are building our muscle memory making number writing consistent.  Very few number reversals today!  Way to go! FYI when your child is writing their numbers at home and you see them write it backwards-please correct them and have them rewrite the number!  :)

Library:  We brought in our library letter objects to Mrs. Kath so she could get a picture for each letter!  Thanks for bringing these in!

BRRRR it was cold today- Inside recess!

Snap word game ZAP!  We played the game ZAP this afternoon.  In a bucket we have Popsicle sticks with snap words written on them.  Inside the bucket are 3 sticks that say ZAP!  We take turns passing the bucket where each kid grabs a stick and says the word.  If they know the word and read it, they get to keep it.  If they do not know the word they put it back in the bucket and pass.  If they pull out a ZAP! stick they need to put ALL their sticks back in the bucket.  They LOVE this game, and it's a great way to practice those tricky snap words!

Technology today!!

Phonics/Reading:  Today we learned how to spell the color word yellow!

Reminders: 

PTA: If you are interested in joining our PTA they are meeting Monday, January 8th at 4:00 in the Elementary Media Center.   We would love to have you join us!

LATE START-Tuesday the 9th-Wear your Irish Pride shirts

NO SCHOOL-Monday, January 15th

NO SCHOOL-Monday, January 22nd- Teacher workshop day

Conferences: Tuesday, January 30th and Thursday, February 1st- you will be receiving your time slot soon.

Please make sure your child has warm clothes for outside recess!  Hopefully we will be able to get out and play next week! 

Thursday, January 4th

Math:

Today we played the game "ten frame fun" again.  We take turns rolling the dice and putting that many counters on our ten frame.  Then using our "math talk cards"  we complete the sentence.  I have _____ I need ______ more to make 10.  

Character Education:

Mrs. Weninger came this morning and taught us the "green zone."  When we are in the green zone we are relaxed, happy and ready to learn.  We then made our own green zones to take home and share with our families.

Writing:

Today we started our snow globe projects.  We wrote using the prompt...If I lived in a snow globe I would...  

Music today!

Reader's theatre:  We practiced our parts with our groups today, working on expression.  We learned that when we read a comma, we take a short breath and when we have an exclamation point we read excited!

SH quiet brothers:  We learned that the sh brothers say "sh" and that is why we call them the quiet brothers.  We did some practicing on the smart board and worked our practice sheet.

Daily 5: We love our new work on writing options for Daily 5!

Wednesday, January 3rd

Math:

Today we had art during our math time so we just did our calendar.

Art:  We had art with Mary and painted winter themed paintings!

We had inside recess today-BRRR it's cold outside!

Phy ed today!

We ate lunch today at Cafe Jost-aka the classroom!  Great job completing your homework packets-even though some didn't get a chance to complete their packets, we are a team and are supportive so everyone got to eat in the room today!  :)

Reading/Phonics:  Today we learned the color word RED and how to spell it.  We sing a song to help us remember.  Ask your child to sing it for you.  We also started our reader's theatre week.  The third week of our curriculum we practice our reading fluency by practicing and performing a reader's theatre for our peers!

Today...

Handwriting:  We worked on the letters D and P in our handwriting book.

Math:

We worked on one of our counting strategies-using a 10 frame.  These tools help us organize our counting as well as help us see numbers as groups.  

Writing:

Today we got our writing folders and talked about how we know when we are finished with a story.  We also worked on remembering to use our "brave spelling."

We had music today

PALS: We are working on rhyming words with our PALS partners.

Phonics/Reading:

Today we started learning about our "H brothers."  Today we learned about the "naughty brothers" th.  They are naughty because when they are today they make us stick out our tongue to say the sound.

Daily 5:  We learned about our new word work stations today!

Reminder:

With the really cold weather, most likely we will be inside for recess but in case it warms up to 0 degrees or higher, please make sure your child has WARM gear for outside.  

We will not be having a rest time anymore.  We will be doing some quiet down time where I will be reading our Magic Tree House book but we will not be using our towels/blankets.  Thanks!

I will be updating this blog daily with what we have been working on.  This is a great way for your kids to share with you what they learned.  :)