It’s Friday!!!

Last night we had a blast at Arts in the Park! Thank you to all of the families who came out.

Yesterday, the students performed their Metamorphosis Dance for a 1^st Grade class. After, we asked the audience what they noticed and how many different stages in the life cycle there are. Sure enough the first graders answered all of the questions. The second graders were so excited that they were able to teach younger students about the caterpillar/butterfly. They are starting to realize that we are an Arts and Health Sciences school and are taking a lot of ownership of their work.

   Take a look at our videos:

In math, the students continue to play games that help them practice the skills that we are learning/reviewing. Half of the class works with me while the other half plays a game, then we switch. This helps the students focus better in a small group and helps me to really zone in on what the students need to learn and practice. It also allows for me to differentiate my instruction.

In reading, the students have continued to build their stamina. Next week they will begin Listen to Reading using the website Raz-Kids.com. The students can listen to reading at home as well. Raz-Kids is a leveled reading website that allows students to listen to the story and follow along, read the story by themselves, and lastly take a quiz on the story. Students are able to move up levels if they pass so many tests or I can control what level they are on. Students will get their login information next week.

Today was the first day of SPARKS classes! The students chose their top 3 picks for the classes and were given one of them. Some of the classes include quiet coloring, puzzles, art, dance, toy reinvention, and science experiments. We had a very exciting day!

This week our healthy snack was Apples! So far, it’s the kids’ favorite.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!! Be sure to spend lots of time outside! 

Greetings families-

Sorry for not blogging yesterday. Like I said in the informational post, I will do my best to post as often as possible. Unfortunately, it is not realistic for me to think that it will be an every day thing once more after school programs get started that I teach and more meetings pop up.

Today we revisited Reading to Self in Daily 5. Some of the students are having a difficult time building stamina so we created another Read to Self I Chart. We also made a Y chart for what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to find a safe spot.

In our smaller groups, we have been segmenting words in sentences, syllables in words, and sounds in words. A couple of our reading groups have begun small in class reading assignments that we discuss in our groups.

In math, the students played The Number Grid Game and learned about using a calculator to find sums and differences. We also practiced place value, odd & even numbers, and counting on a number line.

In Science, we practiced our Metapmorphosis Dance that we will be performing tomorrow for a group of first graders. The kids have been working really hard to “become” the different stages in the life cycle of a caterpillar/butterfly. I will be sure to post the video tomorrow.

We have started a new idea at recess—Recess Buddies. Since there have been some behavior issues that we have been doing our best to prevent, they still continue. The students now have a Recess Buddy. Recess Buddies are two students sometimes paired by my, sometimes by their choice (as long as they are choosing a good partner) and they are to play with that partner at recess. Today, the partnership seemed to work. We will continue this process as long as it works. Not only does it prevent behaviors but it also allows the students to hang out with a friend that they wouldn’t necessarily choose to hang out with—they get to know a new friend.

Good Afternoon,

Sorry for not posting Friday. We have been working hard on our “Metamorphosis Dance” with Ms. Williams! We had a lot of fun with her on Friday. Today we played games as a class at recess.  We played “Mr. Fox What Time is it?” and “Everybody’s it Tag”.

In math, students reviewed place value and finding patterns on the number grid. We began making number scrolls! Some of the students are already at 300!

In reading, we read to self, worked in small guided reading groups, and read a poem called Nature’s Creatures.

In Science, we observed our caterpillars. Most of them have gone into the chrysalis stage.

Please practice spelling words and read each night!!

One of our students during the "Metamorphosis Dance" in the J shape before the caterpillar becomes a chrysalis.

What a busy day it was today!!!!! We started the day with our usual Morning Meeting then jumped right into our reading MAP test which took most of our morning. 2^nd grade MAP is a lot different than first as in 2^nd grade the students have to read all of the questions and answers-they are not read to them.

We went to the Dodge Nature Center today and learned all about insects. The students reviewed body parts that make up an insect and then had the chance to explore and try to catch some using jars and sweep nets (pictures to be posted in the future). After we returned from the Dodge, we hopped on another bus to practice bus evacuation and what to do if there is an emergency on the bus.

It was a very, what seemed like, short day but only because we were SO busy! Tomorrow Ms. Williams from Ballare Teatro will return to Moreland to continue working with the students on the life cycle of butterflies through movement.

Have a great night!

                                                  

Today the 2^nd graders practiced going from caterpillars to the chrysalis stage in the life cycle. Unfortunately my iPad won’t connect to my home computer so I will post the pictures and videos of their transformation. The children took turns wrapping each other in toilet paper and then breaking out of the toilet paper not using their hands. Tomorrow Ms. Williams will be back at Moreland to work with us on creating a performance of the lifecycle.

In math, students practiced place value and were introduced to the Math Box routine. In reading, students read to self, read a poem and added it to their poetry journal and met with me in their reading groups. In writing, students wrote their own creative stories. We are going to have part of our day devoted to creative writing. The students can draw the picture first to help them figure out where their story will go and who the characters will be.

Tomorrow we have our reading MAP test and a field trip to the Dodge Nature Center. We will be learning more about insects. Toward the end of the day we will also practice evacuating a school bus. A very busy day is ahead of us!!

Good Afternoon,

Today students did a lot of review of our classroom rules. We went through each Y chart and practiced following the rules. We will continue to do this practice as needed throughout the school year.

In math, students worked on place value with $1, $10, and $100 bills.  We also practiced counting on the number line and adding on the number line.  We played addition top it using cards and the promethean.

In science, the students observed and labeled the parts of a caterpillar. Students learned that caterpillars have 2 sets of legs, a mouth, eyes, and bristles that protect them from birds. We watched videos of caterpillars turning into a chrysalis and then into a butterfly. The students were amazed.

In reading, students read to self, worked on spelling, read and added a new poem to their poetry journal and some met in small reading groups. This week, we are working on the reading strategy called “The Eagle Eye”. This strategy is when students use the pictures to try and figure out the words they don’t know in a book.

Please read, read, read with your child at home :)