Wednesday, November 28, 2012

We Have a Visitor

Well, I got to school this morning and saw a mess in the back corner by the books.  I wasn't sure what was going on....until I saw a new book on my table with a message that said, "Read this to the students".  It was a book titled Elf on the Shelf.  I then started looking around the room and noticed a little elf sitting on top of our bookcase.  Where did he come from? :)  This might explain the letter I received yesterday saying, "Someone is watching you" for the students.  We were all curious.

When the students came in, saw the mess and the elf, they became very excited!  We eventually read the wonderful story and named our new friend "Elfie".  He is a wonderful addition to our classroom, even though he kind of freaks some of the students out.  We will see where he moves to every morning and what he gets into as well.  Students are trying very hard to stay on the "nice" list that he reports back to Santa every night until Christmas.  Who will make it?????

Besides that excitement, we have been working hard, as usual. Here are a few quick updates of the happenings in the room:
1.  Readers Theater was a big hit and the students loved doing them.  Some of the videos are below.  One group has had someone gone every day so they have not done their's yet.  We are hoping to get it done tomorrow.  Poetry and more readers theater scripts will be sent home weekly for students to continually practice their reading fluency.  We took the poem from last week and students recorded themselves reading it with the app that turns it to a rap.  They thought that was so cool!
2.  Math is full of measurement.  We have worked through using both the Metric System and the US Customary System of Measurement.  Now we are jumping into perimeter.  
3.  Social Studies- Students just wrapped up a little research on our community, Cresco, and are now reading and learning about three types of communities.  We tried an online activity of creating a community, but it kicked us out before we could finish. (I will be trying to fix that as the students really enjoyed it.)
4.  We are cruising through our second theme in literacy.  It is all about science, which everyone is enjoying!  Our focus strategies have been on summarizing and recognizing cause and effect.  Along with this, we have been reviewing antonyms, compound words, and started discussing idioms.
5.  In our writing we are focusing on using our five senses to put more detail in our writing.  Students have been writing about their favorite place and applying the techniques we have discussed.

Yes, we have started cursive as you should have recognized being students brought a practice sheet home tonight.  We are going to cruise through these introductory lessons and get students writing/reading cursive.  Realize that most of the practicing will be done at home.

And finally, please remind your child to dress warm each day for school.  Many still come in freezing cold in the mornings not dressed warm enough.  Layers is the best way to go.  Hats and mittens/gloves are a good thing for the morning as it is chilly!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Readers Theater.....No Bath Tonight

Readers Theater..... Poppity Pop!

Readers Theater Presentation

Readers theater presentation of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" working on fluency and expression.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Short and Sweet....Mystery Skype!

Just like this week of school, this posting is short and sweet.  Well...some of it is sweet.

I have yet to send the math test home as I have one student who is still working to finish.  Hopefully she will be done today and I can get them sent home by Wednesday.  Just wanted to let you know this is why you have not received your child's unit 2 math assessment.

The students are really enjoying and getting the hang of doing activities and assignments online via Edmodo.  Nice job to those students who posted their facts last night on Edmodo for our Mystery Skype today.  There were some that did not get it done.  The students were told that if they do not have a computer at home, they were to write their facts or come into school early before 8:30 and do it on the computers then.  This is the standing rule for the rest of the year.  Just come in at 8:00 before 8:30 and go in the classroom to get any Edmodo or online assignment done before school starts.  I would rather have that than nothing done at all.  More and more activities and homework will be posted through Edmodo so it is great that the students are getting used to using it.  The students have done three activities that involve downloading and uploading to hand them in.  They are so techy!

Today we had a super time skyping with another class from ??????.  This was a Mystery Skype!!!!!  While I knew where the class was from, the students did not.  So both classes asked one another questions via Skype to determine both the state and town from which they reside. They had to determine which state and town we are from as well.   Based on the questions we asked, 3B figured out that our Mystery Skype class was from Michigan.  Great detectives 3B!  We have some digging to do to find out what town or city they were from but they gave us some good clues.  I have the clues posted on Edmodo.  I would like to see which students can do a little research and figure out what the town is that this class in Michigan is from.  Parents can help as well.  If they figure it out, I would like them to post it on the Edmodo so I can see who "goes the extra mile" to find out.  Happy hunting!

Along with Edmodo, the students are in full gear using many online resources.  They include Lead 21 online, Read About, Edmodo, email, google docs, and many more.  If your student does not remember his/her login and password for some of these accounts, a card will be coming home soon that they can keep at home to use.   Many have them memorized though.

Just a reminder to make sure your 3B child gets his/her homework done.  The students were to practice a script for reader's theater today and a handful did not get that done.  Please remind them to be responsible and complete any homework that is sent home.  Thanks for your help and cooperation in this!

We will be doing many more reader's theaters and poetry readings to continue working on fluency the next month.  Please look for those types of activities to work on reading and rereading with your 3B student.

Last, but probably most exciting to the kids, we have a class following us from Japan on Twitter!  The students were so excited last Friday when we check our followers and saw that!  The cool thing is that the teacher is originally from Iowa!  Small world I guess....

Enjoy your fall break and all the yummy food!  Remember that if your 3B child needs "something to do" over break, they can always work on the many online games and activities listed on the right side of my blog or go on Read About or Lead 21.  Always lots to do!


Monday, November 12, 2012

New Week...New Learning! Fund Raiser Pick Up!

I hope everyone enjoyed the crazy weekend of weather change.  Saturday was gorgeous and then Sunday zapped us with a surprise.  Burr!  Please remember to send enough clothes for your child to go outside as many were freezing this morning before school and at recess!  Send layers for them as some get cold in the classroom as well.  There is no doubt, winter is coming.  Please help your child remember to dress warmly.  Thank you!

We have started many new units today. In literacy, we have started our second theme on how science is involved in sports and fun activities.  The students are enjoying all the reading and learning we have done thus far.   Remember to keep reading at home and discussing with your child what they are reading to build those comprehension strategies and fluency.  I introduced a new strategy last Friday called "Summarizing".  Please see the comment to the side of the blog with the Reading Strategies about what summarizing is and how to help your child summarize what he/she is reading using "Somebody...Wanted...But....So....Then".  This week we will continue talking about summarizing as well as pull in reviewing contractions and introducing cause and effect.

In math, we started unit 3, which is on measurement.  Today we discussed how we have standard units of measurement and why.  We created a new measurement called the "Zoombop" and are working to measure things around the room with our new tool. :)  I will be sending your child's math assessment home for unit 2 by the end of the week as I still have some that need to finish.

We have also jumped into social studies reading about how communities are places that have fun activities, places to work, as well as services to help others. We recently read about Raleigh, North Carolina, and will be comparing their community to Cresco this week.  The students also spend a day or two reviewing cardinal and intermediate directions.  We wrapped it up by playing "Simon Says Directions", which they really enjoyed.

Today was a day of great discussion when were learned about Veteran's Day.  The students had lots to share about veterans they personally know as well as why we should honor them on days like today and always.  They did a little blogging about Veterans day, which I encourage you to read.

Please remember to post comments to the students' blog pages.  They look forward to seeing who has commented and what they have to say.  The purpose of a blog is to share information and thoughts so it would be great for parents, grandparents, sisters, etc., to post comments.  The students and I both appreciate it!

Lastly, just a reminder that today is pick up day if your child sold any items for the school fundraiser.  You can pick up their items in the school cafeteria after school.  A note was sent last Friday as a reminder.

Have a super week and stay warm!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

If I Were President.....by 3B Students

I would make gas prices go down and stay down.  Abbey F.
I would say you can be 17 to vote.  Abriana
I would make everything free.  Alaina
I would say that there should be more huskies in Cresco.  Jacy
I think there should be a rule that school days should be longer.  Kendal
I would make a law that school serves pizza for lunch every Friday.  Dorian
I would make a law where you don't have to have a hunting license to hunt.  Caleb
I would make math time shorter during the day.  Brady
I would make it so there was no PE.  Hannah
I would say you don't have to have a license to hunt deer.  Haven
I would say there needs to be more cats in the town than dogs.  Jason
People with lots of money need to give more to the poor.  Jasmin
I would say there should be better education with computers and others should help people get homes.  Matthew
I would say there should be more school and more homework.  Kaitlynn
I think there should be more cops and officers in towns.  Noah H.
I would try to lower taxes for everybody.  Gabe
I think there should be math most of the day.  Carter
I would say that schools should serve sherbert every Friday for lunch.  Zachary
I think the rich should have to give more money to the poor.  Marissa
I think every room in school should have carpets.  Alyssa
I would say that the school should only serve candy for lunch.  Noah R.

The Votes are In at Crestwood Elementary



We had a lot of super discussion the last few days and last week about today's election.  I was impressed with how much the students really got into finding out information about the Presidential candidates and determining who they would vote for.  While it was a little "over the heads" of a lot of the students (sometimes even me), we looked at the issues and how each candidate felt before students were permitted to cast their votes.

All 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at Crestwood Elementary were involved in the voting.  The totals were:
President Obama:  135
Romney:  45

We'll see how the real election turns out tonight or tomorrow morning!