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!