New Classroom Happenings!!

I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend!  I know that I did.  I love spending the time with family and doing some shopping and holiday decorating.  It also gives me some time to catch up a little at school where I have fallen behind.  I have made some big changes in our classroom!!  The class is going to be very surprised when they walk into the door in the morning.  They are going to wonder if they are in the right classroom!! Here are some pictures of the updates that I made!!  

                                                                                                                                        



This is the new writing center.  These tables are nice and low to the ground so the students should love sitting down by them to do some writing!



This is the new Buddy Reading Station.  Pairs of students can choose to read on either side of the book case. 





This is the new place to sign out for the bathroom.







This is our Word Study Area.  The students will love that they won't have to take the activities back to their seats!!



I put up the Chirstmas tree in the Gazebo.  Here's what the Gazebo looks like all lit up!  Do you think they will like it??  I'm almost positive they will!



I apologize for not sending home our Thanksgiving art projects, but I just couldn't let them go!!  I didn't want to see an empty hallway!!  We had a lot of fun with Ms. Grogan making our holiday turkeys.   Here's how they turned out:

Last week we discussed what it was like to be a pilgrim boy and a pilgrim girl.  We made a Venn diagram comparing what it was like then to what it is like now.  Our list didn't even fit into our diagram.  I had to stop the class because we ran out of room!!! They did an amazing job comparing themselves to pilgrim boys and girls.  We then made pilgrim boys and girls and wrote what we would do if we would have been a pilgrim.  Here's how they turned out:

The halls are once again empty.  However, we will be writing letters to Santa that we will display in the hall and we will be making Christmas carolers out of empty toilet paper rolls (which each child will need to supply! - more information to follow).  I can't wait to get started on all of our projects!!  If there is anyone who would like to help, please let me know.  I would still like to have at least 2 more people to help with the Gingerbread houses on December 9.  Let me know!!

Reading Celebration

We were able to celebrate learning all our Beanie Baby strategies on Friday with Mrs. Brinks' class.  They came in and we read the book Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington, chorally (all together as a class).  During the story we stopped and explained the different strategies we used to figure out the tricky words on the page.  We got to be the teachers for a change!  After they left, we got to read to beanie babies.  We also got to take a book home to keep called My Favorite Book.  What an exciting reading celebration!

These ladies introduced Tryin' Lion.  ALWAYS be brave and NEVER give up when you are figuring out tricky words.

This group taught Chunky Monkey.  When you come to a word you don't know, break it up into chunks.  For example in our book we came to the word spr-out, sprout!

This group introduced Strechy Snake.  When you come to a word you don't know stretch out the word and then blend it together.  For example:  p-l-a-n-t-e-d, planted.

This group taught us Lips the Fish.  This beanie means get your lips ready to read.  For example when you come to a tricky word always say the first sound.

Helpful Kangaroo was taught by this group.  When you come to a tricky word and you have used all of your strategies and you still can't figure it out, mark your page with a sticky note and ask someone else for help.

This beanie baby strategy is Eagle Eye.  This means when you come to a word you don't know, look at the picture for clues.

Last, but certainly not least, don't get the first grade forgetfuls, use Wise Old Owl and when you come to a tricky word and think you have it figured out ask yourself Does it look right?, Sound right?, and Does it make sense?

I was so VERY proud of them and all the hard work that they did to present these Beanie's to the kindergarten class.  No one was too shy or embarrassed.  I can't wait until our next reading celebration!!

 

Parent Teacher Conferences

It was so nice to see you at conferences!!  I'm glad that I got to meet with you and talk about your child with you.  I really enjoy having them in my class this year!

Report Cards

Be looking for your child's report cards to be coming home on Tuesday!!  I will see you on Thursday for conferences!!

Feed The Troops

Don't forget to send in nonparishable food and canned food to feed the troops in Afghanistan!!  We are on our way to collecting 3,000 items!!