Native American Workshop day

This morning we started our day practicing our Reader's Theater scripts.  Then two groups performed for the preschool.  Both groups did a great job reading fluently and with expression!  Then before lunch we got to go to the Native American workshop.  We learned that cedar wood splits really easily, that you can make rope out of cedar bark, and that Native Americans could cook inside a box with water and hot rocks.  Then in the afternoon we had our mini-concert in music and sang pionner songs.  At the end of the day we learned a little more about Native Americans and then it was time to go home.  Busy day!

Happy Tuesday!

We started off the day learning about equivalent fractions! We practiced finding equivalent fractions by using the magnetic fraction pieces on the whiteboard and fraction tiles at our desks. During Reading Workshop we practiced our Reader's Theater scripts in our groups. We also made name tags to show which character we are in the scripts. We are very excited to perform soon! In the afternoon Dempsey and Door Runner shared their VIP posters with the class. We all had a lot of questions and comments for each person, and they did a great job sharing!

Terrific Thursday!

This week our class started learning about fractions. Today we practiced how to draw a fraction and write the fraction for fraction pictures. We also made Earth Day pictures for our class poster for the Spring Fling. The class has been working hard on their elephant stories, and almost everyone has published their work. Some students shared their story with the class today.

Room 9 performing Reader's Theater!

 Rolias writing in his Writer's Notebook!

                 Judy Amber and Carly working together in math!

 Identifying shapes!

 We learned about arrays and worked in partners to make arrays.

                                               Ivy Blume and Emma working with the blocks.

                                                       Panda reading during snack time!

 We made pictures for Earth Day. Many pictures were about pollution, recycling, nature, and no littering.



Picture Update

Razorback with his Writer's Notebook

Ash doing Xtramath

Gymnastics Suit, Bunny, Ms. Bunny M, and Dempsey working on writing

Kit reading Time For Kids

Our TEAM chart is getting filled in!!

Mr. S telling us about his job

Blog Update

I am always searching for ways to improve our classroom blog in order to provide the most current information to parents about what goes on in Room 9.  One idea I am going to try is giving parents a preview of what we will be doing each week.  This way if we are too busy at the end of the day and run out of time for a daily blog, parents will still know what we are learning for the week.  We will also try to continue to add pictures each day to show the learning taking place in Room 9.

Each week I try to come up with "learning targets" for each of the main subjects to give students an idea of what goals they are trying to meet by the end of the week.  Learning targets usually match the 3rd grade standards and are written as "I can" statements as if the students were stating it themselves.

Here is what we will be focusing on this week in Room 9:
Math
I can write multiplication equations.
I can solve and create multiplication story problems.
I can show multiplication as skip counting, counting by multiples, and repeated addition.

Reading
I can summarize important information in text. 
I can determine the story elements in a story.
I can determine the characteristics of realistic fiction.

Writing
I can determine the characteristics of realistic fiction.
I can plan and write a realistic fiction story.
I can add dialogue to my story using the correct punctuation for quotation marks.

Science
I can explain the process of evaporation and condensation.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or need clarification on any of the learning targets.  My goal is that by Friday your students will have met all these targets.  However, there are always unexpected things that come up during the week, or a particular lesson takes longer than I expected, so sometimes certain learning targets continue into the following week.  Also, sometimes we are working on a particular learning target for multiple weeks. 

Here's to lots of learning in Room 9! 

Monday

In Math we are going to start learning about multiplication and division.  In Writing we read a book called Baby Alligator and then we put the story into a flow map.  We are going to start writing realistic fiction stories and we are reading stories to see what the author was thinking while he/she was writing.  In Reading we did jobs.  We did Read to Self, Read to Someone, and Word Study.  We are reading Tucker's Countryside as our new Read Aloud book.  It is the sequel to Cricket in Times Square.  At the end of the day we learned about evaporation and that the more surface area, the more evaporation. 

Valentine's Day

Everyone got a lot of candy and cards and bouncy balls.  We are mostly done with the Heart Art.  The duties gave us candy hearts in P.E.  We did the swing dance and practiced the pacer test.  Later we had a Valentine's Day party!!  It was fun.  And that is our blog.  By: Ash

Golden Day

Starting this week, we will have student bloggers writing the posts each day.  Our first student bloggers will be Ash and Bunny. 

Kcorb said today was fun. A lot of people like art. We are making a Valentine's project.  We got heart ersaer from Ms.W. It said "You rock!" In music we played the drums and chimes. It was fun!

And pictures.........

Animal Hero, Ivy Blume, and Carly

Emma, Kit and PeeWee

Gymnastics Suit and Dempsey making a bridge with the Science Van

Ash and Magic Koopa building bridges

Nadia and Omega demonstrating with their bridge

testing the bridges

Panda working on Word Study

Geometry

Omega and Dempsey doing Read to Someone

Flying Shoe doing Read to Self

Music class

Ash and Bunny writing the blog

An example of our Valentine art project

Fantastic Tuesday

This morning we started with Math and learned about triangles.  We built triangles with straws and drew them in our workbook.  We had to make 4 triangle and Horse Girl thought it was fun to figure how to do different triangles.  Then we started a writing prompt to see what we have learned this year in writing.  We are writing about a time we got in trouble, and Emma thought it was fun to think of ideas to write about.  Omega is not very interested in telling about a time he got in trouble.  Then we did Reading Workshop. We chose new spelling words and met in book clubs.  After lunch we did Read Aloud.  The Watson's are fixing up their and dad bought a record player so they can listen to music while they are driving.  Link thinks they are getting ready to go to Birmingham to see their grandma.  Next we went to P.E.  We had a guest teacher today and she was pregnant with a boy.  We played a card game and we had two suits of cards.  Flying Shoe thought it was awesome!  At the end of the day we did a Maps and Globes lesson, and then colored a candy heart with the title of our favorite book for Library Lovers Month. 

Magnificent Monday

Today was our first day back after our SNOW WEEK!  Omega enjoyed playing in the snow while we were not in school.  Carly made a snow fort.  We started the day with Math Review and caught up on our measuring and perimeter activities.  Then we had a little catch up time. Judy Amber worked on her art. Before lunch we did Reading Workshop.  We started about Historical Fiction, and got new word sorts.  Most people, including Flying Shoe, also picked new spelling words.  After lunch we did read aloud.  Byron is in trouble because he keeps playing with matches, even though his mom told him not too.  We can't wait to find out what happens next.  Then we went to Music.  Link liked playing with the melody harp.  At the end of the day we did science.  We did an experiment to find out where water goes when it rains.  One cup with a wet paper towel in it has a lid, and the other one does not.  We will observe again tomorrow.  Panda thought science was really fun!  Bunny enoys doing the blog at the end of day!

Super Science Day

This morning we did Math.  In our Math Review we practiced our subtraction math fact strategy of Count on 1.  We learned about Problem Solving and then worked in groups of 3 to solve a problem.  Link thought that Math was really fun today and like problem solving.  Then we did Writing Workshop and we kept going with our How-Tos.  Lots of people have great things that they are writing about, and can teach people about.  Carly is writing about how to make cookies.  Then we did Reading Workshop and we are back to our regular schedule.  Omega loves reading books, so he always enjoys Read to Self.  Nadia is reading Harry Potter. After lunch we had music and got to play the harpsichord.  After recess we did science.  We put a blue ice cube in a cup of room temperature water and observed what happened.  Since cold water is more dense than room temperature water, the blue water from the ice cube sank to the bottom.

Razorback playing the harpsichord

Carly playing the harpsichord

Rolias, Bunny, and Flying Shoe during science--Hmmm?

N enjoying science

Great Measurement Day

This morning in Math we worked on measurment.  We found measurement benchmarks around the room.  Benchmarks are used in case you don't have a measuring tool.  Panda thought measuring was really awesome!  Next we did Writing Workshop and we kept working on our How-Tos.  Today we worked on our introductions.  Animal Hero thought it was fun because she likes writing.  Next we did Reading Workshop and we rotated through our stations.  Ms. K met with book clubs.  Flying Shoe finished writing his word sort on paper.  After lunch we did Read Aloud.  We are reading a new book called The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963.  Today Kenny found a new friend by accident.  His new is called Rufus and he is from down south, so he looks and talks different than all the other kids.  He talked about shooting and eating squirrels, which Kenny thought was strange.  Carly thought Rufus was wierd.  Next we did P.E.  In P.E. we played floor hockey.  Carly and Bunny were on the same team and were having a great time!  At the end of the day we did science.  We finished our experiment from yesterday and watched a few vidoes on the computer.  Horse Girl liked science because we got to watch some really interesting videos.  Omega liked it when the frog looked at us. 

Pictures!

We had a great Friday in Room 9!  Some of the highlights include:
*Noise Guy assembly this morning--Charlie the Noise Guy talked to us about how he can make all sorts of interesting sound effects with his voice.  Then he talked to us about the different types of clouds.  It was interesting and funny!!
*Reader's Theater--We have been practicing our scripts since before Winter Break and today we performed them for our first grade buddies.  Room 9 did a great job reading fluently, and we will be working on adding more expression for our next performance. 
*Computers--We did Xtra Math and Type to Learn today.
*Catch Up and Relish--We had fun playing games in our PJs.

Check out the last picture for a group shot of crazy hair day and PJs!

Katie, Emma, Amber Judy, Judy Amber, Ms. Bunny M, Starry Star 33, and Horse Girl

Room 9 playing 20 Questions on the day before Winter Break

Our previous Read Aloud book

Flying Shoe working on his Reader's Theater nametag

Ivy Blume doing Read to Self

Omega practicing his spelling words

Room 9--PJ and Crazy Hair Day

Crazy faces!!

Welcome Back!

This morning we started with Math Review and we had a new box about Geometry.  Ms. Bunny M thought it was fun!  Then we learned about Think Tank.  It is a fun way to do Challenge Math.  Panda thought it was fun.  Then we moved out desks.  Ms. K pulled out our sticks and then we got to choose a new spot, or stay in our old one.  Ms. Bunny M decided to stay in her old spot.  Today we voted for our E award.  Pajama Day and Crazy Hair Day tied!  We will get our reward on Friday.  Kit is probably going to do both!  Then we did Reading Workshop.  We started a new unit about the sequence of events and we also did Read to Self for 10 min.  Bunny abandoned a chapter book and started a picture book.  We learned about our new book called The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963.  We learned that it takes place during MLK, Jr.'s time.  Flying Shoe thinks some interesting things will go on.  Then we went to P.E.  We started floor hockey today!  Link thought it was amazing!  At the end of the day we talked about the blog and did wrap-up.  It was a good first day back!!