Teamwork!

Mrs. Lott and I decided to do a lesson on teamwork, as we often like to do activities that require our students to work together as a team. We have had some lessons go very well and have loved seeing everyone work together. Other lessons that were a bit more challenging have revealed to us some areas that we need to strengthen...bringing us to this lesson.

Mrs. Lott read a fantastic picture book, "Winners Never Quit", which tells the story of how Mia Hamm, the famous women's soccer star, began playing on her very first soccer team. We emphasized the importance of working together and not giving up. We then split the class into groups, gave them their materials, and told them to make a graph. It was fun to see how well they worked together and the different types of graphs they created!

October 15-19

This week we took a week off from our Harcourt Reading book and had some fun with Readers' Theater. We split into three groups and read three separate plays: Rafunzel (based on Rapunzel), The Troll Bridge (based on The Three Billy Goats Gruff), and All By Myself (based on the story of The Little Red Hen). We spent a lot of time practicing our lines and perfecting our characters'  voices all week. The best part of it all was getting to perform our plays in front of three different kindergarten classes! I am so proud of my students for getting up there and doing a FANTASTIC job :) BRAVO!!

We were very busy learning about maps in social studies this week! We even made our own treasure maps and made them look "old" by soaking them with tea bags.

Mrs. Lott joined us to teach us a new math game - Close to 20. The object of the game is to pull three cards and get as close to 20 as possible without going over. The person with the lowest score after three rounds was the winner. We had so much fun partnering up and playing! You should try it at home.

"Antiquing" our maps with tea bags

Close to 20!

More Close to 20

Enjoying the beautiful fall weather! 

Kickball anyone?! 

Enjoying a read-aloud with the WATCH DOG 

Exploring Maps of Kings Dominion

Recognize me??
These are all the jackets and sweatshirts found in the classroom at the end of the day Friday. 

Randolph-Macon Pen Pals

Our big project this week was decorating the covers of our Randolph-Macon pen pal notebooks. If you haven't heard about this fun adventure already, allow me to explain!

Mrs. Talley, a Henry Clay reading specialist, presented me with this wonderful writing opportunity. Our class has been awarded the chance to partner with an education class from Randolph-Macon and participate in a secret pen pal program. As a Randolph-Macon alum, I couldn't turn down the offer!! Besides, can you think of better way to have my students practice their letter writing skills?!

We have been writing back and forth with one another for the past few weeks and will continue to do so until mid-November.  The students light up on Monday mornings when they see the box of journals has returned. They are eager to read what their pen pals have written and to write them back as well.

Thank you for sending in pictures, stickers, and other supplies to help up decorate our covers. We will save our personal pictures for just before our "reveal" mid-semester. Take a look at the fun we had decorating the front covers of our journals!

CAUTION: Creative Minds at Work!  

Here's David showing us both covers of his notebook.
The Randolph-Macon students decorated the back and left the front for us! 

Aidan says the "blur" adds to his artistic-ness! 

Can you guess who's who?!

Almost all finished!!
It was fun to see their creative sides come out. 

Myster Readers

    

Second Grade Families,We are looking for Mystery Readers to share their love of reading with us this year.  On Fridays, during our daily read-aloud/snack time from 9:40-10:00 , we will be welcoming a new Mystery Reader into our classroom.  If you would like to surprise your second grader by coming to read to us, we’d love to have you!  Here’s the scoop on becoming a Mystery Reader:

 

Who  can be a Mystery Reader?  

Second grade parents, older siblings, grandparents, relatives, or other special people may volunteer to read a story to our class.  The goal is to remain a “mystery” so that even your own child is surprised to learn who our weekly Mystery Reader will be!

 

What does a Mystery Reader do?

Mystery readers are welcome to choose any age-appropriate book to read to our class.  You may bring a book from home, or if you would like to borrow from our classroom library, you are welcome to do so.  Some readers may select favorite stories from their childhood, others may bring props or costumes related to their stories, and some may even choose to bring snacks related to the story they read.  No matter what you choose to do, we are sure that we will enjoy spending time learning with you!

 

When can I come in to read?

Mystery Readers are invited to come on Fridays during our weekly read-aloud time from 9:40-10:00.  If this time or day is not convenient for you, please contact me to arrange for a different day.

 

How can I sign up to be a Mystery Reader?A flyer will be coming home with your child in his/her Wednesday folder with a sign up on the bottom OR you can sign up right here by clicking the link below!

Mystery Reader Sign Up 

Once you have signed up to be a mystery reader, you will receive a confirmation from me with a specific date and further instructions.

We can't wait for you to be a part of this fun experience!!          

Miss Mills Takes Over

This past week was Miss Mills' first "official" week in the role of teacher! She had lots of fun in store for the students! Just some of the big ticket items this week were introducing chapter books, using the netbooks to type up Pattern Poems, finishing up inventions, past-present-future social studies fun with Mrs. Lott, a surprise guest reader, a special visit to a first grade class and even a FUNDRAISER Pep Rally!! WHEW!!

Hopefully you heard about some of the fun things we were up to and even found the fundraiser packer in your refrigerator (next to the ketchup) when you got home on Friday! But in case you missed it, here's a look at all that we were up to.

A SURPRISE GUEST 

Mr. Friedman - Abby's Dad

He chose to read "Messenger Messenger" to the class and
teach them about his cool bike and how to be a safe rider.
The kids loved it!!  

Abby & Daddy
THANKS FOR VISITING!! 

SOCIAL STUDIES FUN

Past. Present. Future. 

We are the teachers of the past, present and future.
Can you guess who's who??

GT COLLABORATION 

Extending Patterns with Mrs. Lott

WRITER'S WORKSHOP

Using the Netbooks

CHAPTER BOOKS!! 

Fish Face

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

Frindle

 BACK TO 1st GRADE 

During math this week, our students worked in groups to create books that would help
Mrs. Trent's first graders learn about patterns. On Friday, we got to go down
for a special visit. The students enjoyed being in the "teacher" role!!
We look forward to more collaborative fun to come :)

THE GREAT AMERICAN 

FUNDRAISER!! 

Turn your small packets in by TOMORROW (Monday, October 1)
and your child will get a PENGUIN KEY CHAIN
Thanks for all that you do to help raise money for our school!! 

Fun Friday

We have been hard at work this week! Many thanks to all the parents who came out for "Back to School" Night. I hope you all enjoyed the show :) Now if I could just find my millionaire husband! Take a look at how we capped our week off with a Fun Friday!

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!!
Remember, EVERY Friday is SPIRIT DAY
Wear you BLUE Henry Clay T-Shirt

- Friday is our Library day -
But remember, you can check out new books if you finish yours before then! 

Friday FUN-Dations!
Marking up our Closed-Syllable Words

Friday FUN-Dations!
Getting ready to tap out our words

Turning Trash into Treasure
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS
for sending in your recyclables!!  

The Creating Process
Our Inventors were Hard at Work!  

The First Invention off the Assembly Line!!  

Hmm...what can I invent using this water jug??
Stay tuned!! 

My students have quickly grown to love my little Miss Eliza.
So much so that they ask for an Eliza story EVERY day as we are packing up.
We are currently living with my husband's parents, as we await moving into our new home,
and she loves this little rabbit in the garden.

Keep your ears open for the latest Eliza Story!!

Week 2

I can't believe we are closing in on the end of the second week already!! Don't forget your SPIRIT SHIRT tomorrow :) My family and I are moving to a new house this weekend, so I wanted to get this week's post up before my computer got packed away.

We have worked hard these past few days getting used to new routines, reading our first story - "The Mixed Up Chameleon", refreshing our brains on Fundations, playing with new friends on the playground, exploring the program Graph Club in the computer lab, and even learning a few new fun tricks on the Smartboard. Stay tuned for more on our class' graphing projects - they're going to be great!!

Slowly, Miss Mills will start picking up more and more teaching responsibilities. This week she started with one subject, social studies. She has done a great job teaching the students about diversity by using a number of trade books, group activities and even brought in a guest speaker with some help from Mrs. Vasconcellos across the hall! She is a wonderful addition to our classroom family and we are fortunate to have her.

I can't wait to see everyone at Back-to-School night next Wednesday, September 19!! Here's a teaser question to get your minds thinking... "If you could be any character from Gilligan's Island, which one would you be and why?"

A Lunch Date with some of my Favorite People!

Technology Time!!  

Hard at work in the computer lab building graphs

Working with Mrs. Feigner and the Smartboard in the computer lab

It's Beginning to feel at LOT Like Fall!!

Taking some time to enjoy this beautiful weather on the playground! 

Math

Collecting Data for our Graphing Projects



Social Studies
Miss Mills teaching the students about Diversity
They enjoyed listening to her read "Whoever You Are" by Mem Fox 

Our Special Visitor from BRAZIL!!
-Ramon Reis-

No better way to learn about Diverse Ethnic Origins!!

The students came up with their own thoughtful and creative questions for Mr. Reis and he taught us a LOT!

Ask your child to tell you one thing he/she learned about Brazil today.

Can they remember what language he speaks?
Or what his house looks like?
Or what their favorite sport is?