Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday, November 30

“Classic fairy tales do not deny the existence of heartache and sorrow, but they do deny universal defeat.” Greenhaven Press


A big thanks:
Thank you to the following families who were able to donate a new book to the classroom from the school book fair:
Katie's Family
Kora's Family
Teddy's Family
Ava's Family
and Aoife, who bought a book for the class out of her own allowance.  Thank you so much!

 Field Trip:
I will let you know this weekend who we will need to drive and more details.

News and Compliments:
"I liked learning the math game "Cats and Mice" Calvin 
"I liked it when Madeline played Bucket of Bugs with me during math." Grace
"Peter helped me find a cool book during library!" Sami

Have a wonderful weekend!
 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

November 29

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." Albert Einstein

Today we shared the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood.  I asked the kids to think about the lesson of this story, (or, why have parents told this story to their children for so long?).  They decided:
1. Don't talk to strangers. 2.  Listen to your parents!  Both are very good lessons for all!

News and compliments:

"We learned a new math game called "Make the Sum." Katie
"I liked making a Red Riding Hood book." Colin
" I enjoyed playing a math game with Mrs. Robb." Grace
"At recess, it was nice when Zac and Colin let me play 2-square with them." Hayden
"Lainey was a good friend when she played a game with me at recess." Savannah
"It was really nice when Aoife helped me figure out a crossword puzzle during Literacy Centers." Seth
"I enjoy solving crossword puzzles because they are fun." Sami

Remember, bring homework and library books tomorrow!


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

November 28

"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." G.K. Chesterton


 Today the fairy tale we read and discussed was Jack and the Beanstalk.  We wondered why Jack went up for the third time even though he had enough eggs to make him rich from the hen?
"We created a beanstalk "storyline" about Jack and the Beanstalk." Ava

During math, we analyzed and discussed a subtraction chart with facts to 18.  We are jumping into addition and subtraction strategies through our discussions and Work Places.
"I enjoyed math because we learned a new game." Grace

Compliments:

"Aoife was really nice while we were working on our math job." Savannah
"Kora volunteered to be my partner for the new math game, Bucket of Bugs Subtraction." Riley
"I'm giving a compliment to Catalina because when nobody would play with me at recess, she did!" Katie

Field Trip:  At this time, I have enough drivers for the trip.  Thanks for the help!  If you did not get to drive this time, I will put you at the top of the list for the next time!

Have a great day!




Tuesday, November 27, 2012

November 27

Today we began our Fairy Tale study with Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  I posed these questions to the students:  What is Goldilocks doing?  Should she have gone into the house?  Would the story have been interesting if she had not? 
During math, we created a subtraction chart with facts to 18.

Field Trip:
Our field trip is next week on Wednesday!  I need to get permission slips from all students ASAP.  If you have volunteered to drive, thank you!  At this time, we have enough parents to drive all of the students in our class.

Thank you...
Thanks to Kevin and Andrea for hanging our art in the hall this morning.  It looks great...and saved me a TON of time! 

Have a great day! 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Monday November 26

Happy Birthday Zac!

Today we were very busy.  We read and discussed the book "Animals in Winter"and learned a new poem about Thanksgiving.  During writing, we talked about using time words to connect our sentences.  We also completed an art project inspired by a paper collage called "Beasts of the Sea" by Henri Matisse.  We learned a new game during math called "Shake, Reach, and Record".

News:  We will not have a class book order in December due to the shortness of the month and the current school book fair this week. 
Also...if there is a volunteer who can help for a few minutes tomorrow...I need to get the artwork the students completed today hung up in the hall!  Shouldn't take more than 20 minutes...if you are dropping off your child in the morning and can hang around to help, great!

Compliments and News:
" I really enjoyed art because I like creating." Riley
"I liked the art project because I got to fold paper shapes." Sami
"I liked when Della played with me at recess because we both stopped what we were doing to play with each other." Grace

See you tomorrow! 


Friday, November 16, 2012

Friday November 16- Pictures

We had a very busy day!  Here are some of the things we did:

"I enjoyed the cut out turkey project!" Riley
"We all really enjoyed making a final project ant book!" Hayden and the rest of the class!
Here are some pictures.  Take a look at your child's project.  All I can say is WOW!





" I enjoyed learning more about the pilgrims by watching Charlie Brown's "Mayflower". Evan

Compliments:

"When I was outside, Madeline and Catalina were playing and they let me join in!" Hannah
"Kids were playing with me at recess." Grace
"Grace and Savannah were nice to me when they won a game." Lainey

Have a wonderful week!  I am looking forward to having a chance to chat with you all during conferences next week. 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

November 15

We had a special visitor today: Barb and Abby the dog visited from the Oregon Humane Society to teach us a little about dog safety and care.  Abby is such a sweet dog; she let everyone pet her and then asked for more!  The kids really enjoyed the visit. Ask your child what they learned during the visit.

Please bring your homework tomorrow!

"Riley and Catalina played Achi with me." Grace
"When I asked Della and some other friends to play with me at recess, they said yes." Savannah
"We played "Roll and Count" during math" Riley (So we could practice the addition strategy "counting on" Mrs. Robb)
" I enjoyed the ant learning.  I really liked watching 'Magic School Bus Gets Ants in Its Pants'. Peter and Calvin
"When I was playing outside I asked Hannah to play and she said yes." Aoife

See you tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

November 14

Today your child brings home a permission slip for a field trip in December.  We are going to watch a stage production of Peter Pan.  Keep an eye out for the paper!

Today we discuss, drew and wrote together about the four main ways that ants positively impact our ecosystem.  Ask your child about it!

Compliments and news:

"I liked The Ant and the Grasshopper project!" Calvin & Grace
"Aoife and Hannah were especially nice to me today" Savannah
"Thanks to Teddy for designing the cover of our class thank you card!" Mrs. Robb

"When I asked Lainey to read with me, she said yes."
"Riley let me play with Kora when she wanted to do something else."

see you tomorrow!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Monday November 13

I hope you all enjoyed some extra family time this weekend. 

First, a big thanks to Dr. Kathleen Johnson, Grace's grandmother for visiting us today.  Dr. Johnson is a retired entomologist who agreed to teach us more about ants.  She brought in live Thatcher ants that are native to Oregon.  She showed us some very interesting pictures about ants and explained why ants are such an important part of our ecosystem.  Thanks again!  :)

A personal thanks to Grace and her family for donating the first installment of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" to our classroom library. 

Compliments:
"Kora and Catalina complimented my necklace." Katie
"I liked making the Addition Facts to 20 chart during math." Madeline
"Della was a really nice partner during math." Savannah
"At recess, Ava played 2 square with me." Grace

See you all tomorrow!


Thursday, November 8, 2012

November 8

Hi Everyone!  Here are some news and compliments from today!

"I liked working in my Number Corner book during math." Grace

"I liked making the ant book about what ants do at different times of the year." Sami

All of the students enjoyed watching the actual footage of ants defeating a spider and crab. We also watched how ants make an ant bridge with their own bodies and an ant raft to float the colony to dry land when their nest floods.  Wow!  Amazing ANTS!

"I liked scrubbing tables at the end of the day." Zac
(I love how fresh and clean the room is! Mrs. Robb)

"I enjoyed the read aloud about stepping back into time and finding out how the first Thanksgiving was celebrated." Aoife

"It was nice when Peter gave me a paper owl." Seth

Teachers will be working hard tomorrow to prepare for conferences.  I hope you all enjoy some quality family time this long weekend.  See you TUESDAY!  :)

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

November 7

News and compliments:

" I liked how when I asked Savannah to play Race to 100 during math, she said yes!" Madeline
"I liked writing equations from the story 12 ways to make 11." Ava
"I liked the Types of Ants book-thanks for letting me work on it at home!" Teddy
"Sami and Evan were playing a math game very quietly so other students could learn." Mrs. Robb
"I liked how Grace played with me at recess." Catalina
"Ava played Race to 100 with me." Grace


That's all for today!  :)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

November 6

Busy busy day!  Here are news and compliments:

"Ava read with me at quiet reading." Katie
"I liked learning about ant predators and watching ant videos." Calvin and others
"I liked writing about ants." Evan
"I enjoyed watching the ant movies because they showed us ants up-close." Grace
"Peter played with me at recess." Bailey

That's all for today...have a great evening!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Monday November 5

Hi Everyone!  A few things before our student "report".

1.  We had a wonderful class party last week!  Please help with the costs by donating $3-$5 to the party committee.  There is an envelope by the door you can put the money into or hand to me.  Thanks!

2.  I need clean and sanitized styrofoam meat trays for art if you have them.  Thanks!

3.  Thanks to all who ordered books this month.  Everyone who ordered receives a gift certificate for a book from Scholastic.  Your orders made it possible for me to receive nine new books for the classroom library! Wow!  Here are the titles joining our library:

Brave (novel)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2 Puppy Tales chapter books
Gulliver's Travels
Lift the Flap: Sharks
National Geographic Kids: Mummies
National Geographic Kids:  Sharks
Magic School Bus: Inside a Volcano
Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

This month, the book order will be due by Friday the 9th - This Friday!  I want the books to get to you before the long break.  I will put a rush delivery order on them to make sure. 

News and compliments:
"I liked making tissue paper turkeys- the tissue paper looks like feathers!" Sami and many others
"Catalina played a math game with me." Katie
"Aoife and Hannah were nice when they played with me." Savannah

Ask your child about the bird with an ant on it's feathers project!
See you tomorrow!

Friday, November 2, 2012

November 2- Hurray for Friday!

Just a few things today...we were very busy at the end of the day and did not have time for our normal "giving compliments" routine.  However, I would like to thank Katie, Della, and Ava who volunteered to help kids who were absent put together some of the "ant books" we've been making. 

Also, independent reading and writing work went home today, as well as school pictures and a letter from the foundation.

During the past week, we have been writing our own ant math story problems.  Then the students went "shopping" for story problems to solve. Here are a few pictures of the story problem wall.






Thanks for all of the support of the learning we do at school.  Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The day after...November 1

The kids were actually pretty good today given the festivities of Halloween. No sugar crashes that I noticed!

What we did today and compliments:

"William helped me fix my ant project." Aoife
"I enjoyed making the ant books about how ants communicate."Colin, Peter, Della, and others.
"I enjoyed playing a math game with Della."William
"Sami played Hour or Bust with me" Hannah
" I enjoyed the ant story problems." Ava
"Hannah read with me during quiet reading." Della
"I really liked quiet reading because I read a Harry Potter book." Grace
"When I had a hard time figuring out a story problem, Mrs. Robb helped me!" Seth
"Aoife and Madeline were good friends today." Savannah

Homework tomorrow!  See you then!