It's the weekend :)

Happy Friday everyone! 

I am so proud to say that I had absolutely amazing reports about all of the children in my class while I was away.  Mrs. Mekkelsen was so proud of how hard they worked and how kind they were to each other. 

This week was full of learning in first and second grade.  We have really set off with reading and writing non-fiction books.  In reader's workshop we focused on text features in non-fiction and read several books about sharks. 

During writer's workshop we have all worked on setting goals for our writing and following through.  We are starting to reread our writing and elaborating to make our teaching books better.

My math group has worked on knowing their doubles this week through a variety of activities. 

In technology today we all had a chance to work with the robot Kibo and play Robot Turtle. 

Update

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and some extra time with family!  I wanted to let everyone know that I will be out this week, until Friday.  My daughter is having her tonsils out tomorrow and I want to be home with her for the first part of her recovery.  If you have transportation changes, please email kmartin@u32.org and jbadger@u32.org.  Laurie Mekkelsen will be our guest teacher all week.  I shared this information with the children on Tuesday.  Have a great week! Beth

Circus Thursday!

Happy Monday! 

The circus is at 6:00 on Thursday at U32, in the gym.  Please dress your child in a plain colored shirt and dark colored pants.  Any color shirt is fine, just no print.  You can turn it wrong side out if you need to.  Please arrive at 5:50 (not before).  It will be a great night!  Bring your camera and be ready to laugh. 

The Circus is coming!

What a week!!  With Halloween and many of us living without power for days, everyone earned this weekend! 

Next week our school will begin the circus residency.  This is a two week program that will take place primarily during PE.  There will be a performance Thursday, November 16th in the evening. 

This week we have participated in a lot of yoga and mindfulness activities to help ourselves stay calm and focused. 

During reader's workshop we continue to explore texts that have beautiful vocabulary.  We then capture these words to use in our writing.  We are completing our narrative writing unit by the end of next week. 

In math we have worked on commutative property and understanding equality. 

I am so excited to celebrate all of your children with you at conferences next week!  Enjoy the extra hour of sleep on Sunday! Beth

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday!

Here are a few highlights from the last couple of weeks.  Mrs. Lyford came in to share a story with us.

Mrs. Christy came in to read One Word Pearl.  This set us off on a hunt for fancy words that we could add to our writing.

We are learning yoga!

We have filled 11 buckets for PBIS celebrations.  We earned a dance party last week.

The first graders created an impromptu puppet show.

My  math class has continued to solidify make 10 facts with games and are working on greater than/less than and equal to.

We have been soaking up this glorious fall weather.  We get outside every chance we can.

In Technology this week, we got to program and work with the school's newest robots.

If you haven't had a chance to sign up for a parent/teacher conference, please return the form in your child's folder.  I can't wait to celebrate your children with you!

Mill Stone photos

Hi Families, I wanted to share these amazing photos from our PE lab last week.  Thanks Marlena (Charlie's Mom) for sending them along.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RpOZh5UXMsYGN6fA3

This Week

It seems that everyone came back refreshed and ready to learn after a long weekend.  In reading this week we have started our spelling work.  Students are all working with a specific spelling skill each week.  Ask your child about "rainbow write" or "roll a word".

In writing students have all learned to use the tools in their new "office".  This office is designed to increase independence. W, as well as adding fluently within 1e have also worked on planning stories before writing.

Math in first grade has continued to work on games and strategies to add and subtract 10 from any number, as well as add fluently within 10.

Next week we will begin a new reteach session.  Look for a letter on Monday that will let you know what your child's focus is. 

Our classroom focus next week will be on resilience. 

Tomorrow is the opening of our school store.  Students can shop until 9:00.  Items are priced between  $.25 and $2.00.  


Below you will see the first grader's first ukulele lesson. 


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B38AzK8PNHSSeFoxUzJXTkJ2ZjhqOVh4Q3lJbXpsa3lNOVBR/view?usp=sharing

PICTURES!!!

Writing and reading in the forest!

Wednesday Field Trip

Please remember we have our PE lab on Wednesday morning from 9-1.  Your child needs to be dressed and ready for outside play.  I would recommend sneakers and layers.  Please be sure to pack lunch, snack and a water bottle. 

This Week

What a beautiful fall afternoon! 

This week in our 1/2 class we have continued to establish routines in reader's workshop.  All fall assessments are done, so we all have a book box full of books that are just right.  Today we learned about how to choose a "good fit" book.  We talked about how reading books that are just right for us, help us become stronger. 

In writing workshop we have launched our narrative writing unit.  We started by completing a "heart map" to think about the places, events and people that are in our heart.  These are all great story starters.  Ask your child what they put in their heart map.

We have a field trip to Mill Stone for PE next Wednesday.  I only have about half of the permission slips back.  Please send them in ASAP so that we can all attend the trip.  If you are able to join us, and drive please let me know.  

Enjoy the weekend!

Hike Day

Good Morning! 

Hike Day is Friday, September 29th.  The kitchen needs a count by this Friday, the 22nd, for bag lunches. Please email me right away if your child needs a bag lunch for the hike.  Thanks!

This week

Happy Tuesday!

We are busy learning and having fun at school.  During reader's workshop we are continuing to read stories that demonstrate attributes of a strong learner.  Students are recognizing when they are empathetic and when they are optimistic.  This week our focus is on persistence.

We are working on building our "read to self" stamina.  Yesterday we read for 17 minutes.  We set our goal for 18 minutes.  When we reach that goal we will have a reading celebration!  Ask your child what they are reading during that time.

We have also introduced partner read this week.  I love watching how much joy there is when children read together!

In first grade math we continue to work on math routines and make 10 strategies.  We are also working on handwriting during that time.

We are wrapping up our mini-unit on poetry and song writing and will begin our narrative writing unit the end of this week.

Today I will go to the bank to determine how much the gift card will be that we send off to Texas (we have a lot of change :).  We will purchase a book to sign and send as well from our class.

Enjoy this warm weather!

This week

Hello Families,
First,let me say thank you for encouraging your children to collect or donate money toward our sister classroom in Katy, TX (just outside of Houston).  Lucy Boe has 42 students and is hoping to purchase a rug, leveled books and pillows for her temporary classroom.  We had a couple of gentlemen in our classroom collect donations from people at their campground over the weekend.  With that and donations from a couple of other children, we have around $430.  I will continue to accept donations until Friday.  I would like to get the Amazon card out as soon as possible. 

This week in our class we are working on the word "Empathy".  Along with optimistic, it is critical to have empathy in order to care for others and learn.  We read the book Chrysanthemum, this morning with Mrs. Christy.  The children all wrote letters to you that they should have in their bags.  These letters are asking about the origin of their name.  Please feel free to scribe for your child, but have a discussion with them about their name.  This is their homework.  I would like to have it back on Wednesday, Thursday at the latest.  With this information, they will be creating a poem, song or rap about their name and why it is special. 

Thanks again for sharing your kiddos with me!  We are having a great time together.

Hurricane Harvey Help

Good Morning,

First, Thank you all for coming last night.  It was wonderful to touch base with so many of you.

I forgot to mention last night that we have adopted a classroom in Texas.  The teacher, Lucy, that we have been matched with had to leave evacuate quickly and was unable to save anything.  She is in need of a new carpet, leveled books and pillows.  It feels like the best way to support her needs is to purchase an amazon gift card.  I spoke with the children about this and a couple of students have already brought in their coin collections :)  If your family is able to contribute in any way,  I will be collecting money until next Friday, September 15th.  I would like to send the gift card on Saturday.  If you have any of these items that you would like to ship, I can share her address with you.

I hope you have been hearing about exploring things we are passionate about and how to approach learning with optimism.

This group of children are amazing!  I am so excited to learn with them this year!! Beth

First Week

What a wonderful first week of school.  I am amazed how this group of first and second graders have become a team already.  We have worked on establishing routines, getting to know each other and learning about our passions.  Next week we will work on what it means to be optimistic.  We will explore how this can impact our learning.

I hope to see you at parent information night on Wednesday.  We will go over our daily routine and chat about what happens during each area of the day.

Have a great long weekend!

First Day Fun

What a great first day of school.  We learned some important routines, listened to a wonderful story and started thinking about our passions and what we might do when we grow up.  I can't wait to see everyone again tomorrow!

Welcome Back!

I am so excited to welcome all of my new and returning students.  We have 21 fabulous children in our class.  We have almost equal groups of first and second graders and girls and boys.  The room and I are ready to greet your children!!