Friday, January 23, 2004
Today was Day 4 and we had Music with Mrs. Savidge.
Surprise, surprise I haven't forgotten about the Blog! How I wish I had more time to write it in but I quickly found I just couldn't keep up. So here's a bit of what has been going on in our classroom.
Stations time and Guided Reading continues to go quite well. I don't know what I did before I started teaching the reading strategies! They are so helpful and such an anchor for the students! I purchased a WONDERFUL bulletin board set that illustrates several valuable reading strategies. I have it hanging on the wall behind me at the reading table. The students refer to it frequently. Here is a link to the bulletin board set. I love it!
The students' journal writing is just phenomenal! They write just about every single day, which has made an incredible difference. They use wonderful details when writing. When I read a story at snack (or anytime, really) I make a big deal about the author or illustrator and try to relate the students' writing experiences to the book we are currently reading. For example, after reading a captivating story I'll comment, "Wow! I'll bet that author read the story over and over to make sure it was just right! I'm so glad s/he did because they ended up with an awesome story, don't you agree?"
Over the Christmas vacation I read a book that truly enhanced my life as a teacher and a reader. It is not a new book, in fact, the current version is the 5th edition. It is required for ANY and ALL teachers, librarians, and, of course, parents. It is called The Read Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease. Jim Trelease has done an exhaustive amount of research on the effects of reading aloud to children and Sustained Silent Reading (in our classroom referred to as "Private Reading Time"). His findings will motivate you to make an extra effort to keep reading aloud alive and well in your classroom, library, or home. Check it out on Amazon here. The readers' reviews speak for themselves! Powerful stuff.
Monday (weather permitting!) will be Day 5 and we will have Gym with Mrs. Buckno.
Surprise, surprise I haven't forgotten about the Blog! How I wish I had more time to write it in but I quickly found I just couldn't keep up. So here's a bit of what has been going on in our classroom.
Stations time and Guided Reading continues to go quite well. I don't know what I did before I started teaching the reading strategies! They are so helpful and such an anchor for the students! I purchased a WONDERFUL bulletin board set that illustrates several valuable reading strategies. I have it hanging on the wall behind me at the reading table. The students refer to it frequently. Here is a link to the bulletin board set. I love it!
The students' journal writing is just phenomenal! They write just about every single day, which has made an incredible difference. They use wonderful details when writing. When I read a story at snack (or anytime, really) I make a big deal about the author or illustrator and try to relate the students' writing experiences to the book we are currently reading. For example, after reading a captivating story I'll comment, "Wow! I'll bet that author read the story over and over to make sure it was just right! I'm so glad s/he did because they ended up with an awesome story, don't you agree?"
Over the Christmas vacation I read a book that truly enhanced my life as a teacher and a reader. It is not a new book, in fact, the current version is the 5th edition. It is required for ANY and ALL teachers, librarians, and, of course, parents. It is called The Read Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease. Jim Trelease has done an exhaustive amount of research on the effects of reading aloud to children and Sustained Silent Reading (in our classroom referred to as "Private Reading Time"). His findings will motivate you to make an extra effort to keep reading aloud alive and well in your classroom, library, or home. Check it out on Amazon here. The readers' reviews speak for themselves! Powerful stuff.
Monday (weather permitting!) will be Day 5 and we will have Gym with Mrs. Buckno.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Today was Day 2 and we had Art with Mrs. Groff.
We are starting work with the concepts of addition and subtraction. We have some wonderful games to play from our Investigations math series that introduce these important concepts. We will soon be doing the traditional work with addition and subtraction as well (i.e. pencil and paper math facts).
I have started meeting with small reading groups. It is going so well! The rest of the class works at learning centers or writes in their journals while I am working with a group. It is very enlightening to work with the students in a small group. Our main focus will be how to use different strategies when encountering an unknown word. The students are reading books that are on their instructional reading level. They will be bringing these books home in their reading bags to share with their families! Use the star in the bag that outlines our reading strategies.
Tomorrow is Day 3 and we have Music with Mrs. Savidge.
We are starting work with the concepts of addition and subtraction. We have some wonderful games to play from our Investigations math series that introduce these important concepts. We will soon be doing the traditional work with addition and subtraction as well (i.e. pencil and paper math facts).
I have started meeting with small reading groups. It is going so well! The rest of the class works at learning centers or writes in their journals while I am working with a group. It is very enlightening to work with the students in a small group. Our main focus will be how to use different strategies when encountering an unknown word. The students are reading books that are on their instructional reading level. They will be bringing these books home in their reading bags to share with their families! Use the star in the bag that outlines our reading strategies.
Tomorrow is Day 3 and we have Music with Mrs. Savidge.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Today was Day 2 and we had Art with Mrs. Groff.
I must apologize for not keeping up with this blog. I have realized that I will not be able to post once a day. I am just too busy. As I've said before, if Blogger wasn't blocked by our school network I would find it much easier to update from school.
This doesn't mean I'll never update. I'll try for at least once a week. Let's see how that goes!
We are busy preparing for Thanksgiving, Grandparents' Day, and Parent Visitation Day. Always busy, busy, busy! You can take a look at our Family Turkey projects here. They are so much fun to look at!
I am looking forward to talking with all the parents over the next few days during Parent-Teacher conferences. I am continually amazed at what these children can do and I can't wait to share it with their parents!
Tomorrow is Day 3 and we have Music with Mrs. Savidge. We are also going to the Computer Lab on our own to visit Starfall.com. I ordered the free phonic materials that coordinate with their web site. The kids have been doing great so far.
I must apologize for not keeping up with this blog. I have realized that I will not be able to post once a day. I am just too busy. As I've said before, if Blogger wasn't blocked by our school network I would find it much easier to update from school.
This doesn't mean I'll never update. I'll try for at least once a week. Let's see how that goes!
We are busy preparing for Thanksgiving, Grandparents' Day, and Parent Visitation Day. Always busy, busy, busy! You can take a look at our Family Turkey projects here. They are so much fun to look at!
I am looking forward to talking with all the parents over the next few days during Parent-Teacher conferences. I am continually amazed at what these children can do and I can't wait to share it with their parents!
Tomorrow is Day 3 and we have Music with Mrs. Savidge. We are also going to the Computer Lab on our own to visit Starfall.com. I ordered the free phonic materials that coordinate with their web site. The kids have been doing great so far.
Friday, November 07, 2003
Today was Day 5 and we had Phys. Ed. with Mrs. Buckno (who was absent).
I was out sick yesterday, but got a good report from the substitute.
Today we checked out our 100 Chart, which we will be using for our Math activities next week.
We made beautiful card for the veteran's at the Wilkes Barre Veterans Hospital. The students really put a lot of time and effort into them. We wrote messages inside like "Thank you for protecting our country." Mrs. Scourbys is delivering them this weekend.
I'll post more later...have to run right now.
I was out sick yesterday, but got a good report from the substitute.
Today we checked out our 100 Chart, which we will be using for our Math activities next week.
We made beautiful card for the veteran's at the Wilkes Barre Veterans Hospital. The students really put a lot of time and effort into them. We wrote messages inside like "Thank you for protecting our country." Mrs. Scourbys is delivering them this weekend.
I'll post more later...have to run right now.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Today was Day 2 and we had Art with Mrs. Groff.
Another busy day today! We played Towers of Ten. Partners roll two dice and try to build three towers of ten with unifix cubes by adding up the numbers on the dice. There is a lot of counting, number combinations, and anticipating with this game!
We practiced our Spelling words by sorting them.
We had our own election today! We voted for our favorite lunch. The choices were hot dog, pizza, and chicken nuggets. Pizza was the winner with 11 votes! We colored some patriotic donkeys and elephants to represent the Democrats and Republicans.
Our journal topic today was "What do you like to play?" For my mini lesson prior to writing I wrote a journal entry (pretending to be a first grader of course) and the class had to edit it for me. They did quite well! One day I would like them to proofread each others work, but we are not quite ready for that yet.
We started new stations today. Everyone had fun, fun, fun! I hope to take some pictures of the students working in their stations so you can see them in action!
Tomorrow is Day 3 and we have Music with Mrs. Savidge. Tomorrow is also PICTURE DAY!! Can't wait to see all those smiling faces :)
Another busy day today! We played Towers of Ten. Partners roll two dice and try to build three towers of ten with unifix cubes by adding up the numbers on the dice. There is a lot of counting, number combinations, and anticipating with this game!
We practiced our Spelling words by sorting them.
We had our own election today! We voted for our favorite lunch. The choices were hot dog, pizza, and chicken nuggets. Pizza was the winner with 11 votes! We colored some patriotic donkeys and elephants to represent the Democrats and Republicans.
Our journal topic today was "What do you like to play?" For my mini lesson prior to writing I wrote a journal entry (pretending to be a first grader of course) and the class had to edit it for me. They did quite well! One day I would like them to proofread each others work, but we are not quite ready for that yet.
We started new stations today. Everyone had fun, fun, fun! I hope to take some pictures of the students working in their stations so you can see them in action!
Tomorrow is Day 3 and we have Music with Mrs. Savidge. Tomorrow is also PICTURE DAY!! Can't wait to see all those smiling faces :)