Today, after Center Time, we hustled down to the gym for the Burroughs Read-a-thon Kick-off ceremony. It was really cool - the 5th graders put on a skit that was a take-off on the Wizard of Oz, and it was very, very well done. The kids really enjoyed it. (Don't forget that the Read-a-thon begins on Sunday!!)

After the ceremony, we had art class with Ms. Gilman - the kids worked with clay today.

After art, we sang Happy Birthday to Rianna (she brought some really cool treats for us too!!) and then we made a decoration for the Artium related to the Read-a-thon, and then got ourselves set up for Choice Time. Aiden's mom was here for the Take-Apart Center -- the DVD player of the day really didn't stand a chance...

Have a great weekend!!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, We had a 'guest teacher' in our room. Megan Pershica, who is the Literacy Resource Teacher here at Burroughs, came in to teach a demonstration lesson to the kids. She taught them about how to "buddy read," in which they read one of the books that are at their level with a friend -- they learned about how to listen well, give constructive help and feedback, and celebrate their friend's reading. Mrs. Pershica will be back next week for a follow-up lesson as well.

We then headed up to the computer lab for our time there. When we got back, we had another 'guest teacher' -- Linnea's mom Jessica came in to present another Bravo! lesson. The Bravo! program is designed to give the kids experience with and and understanding of classical music and composers. Today, they learned about Franz Joseph Haydn, and they heard his "Surprise" Symphony. the kids also did a craft project, in which they made a surprised face our of a paper plate.

After all of that, it was tim eot pack up and head home!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we learned a new song - We're Going to the Zoo. It has one of our sight words in it (see), which we will talk about tomorrow. It was a fun song, and the kids got to sing along as I played the guitar.

After that, it was time to get bundled up for our gym class outside - we went to Lynhurst Park ice skating (thanks to all the parents who came along to help tie skates and hold up kids on the slippery ice!). It was really, really fun!



After gym, we got well-deserved drinks of water, and then Ms. Barb (Ryan E.'s momn) came in to read to us -- she read two very fun books.

After all of that fun (whew!), it was time to pack up and go home!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we met a new High Hat friend (Regular Rabbit) who introduced us to the /r/ sound, and practiced using the sounds to make words.

After Media, we then started to read a new chapter book, called Flat Stanley, in preparation for a project (more on that to come this week). It was our reading lesson for the day, because we used the Interactive Read-Aloud strategy, in which the kids focus on comprehension, active listening, and making meaning from the text.

After all of that, it was time to pack up and head home!

Today, after Center Time and a VERY short morning meeting, we went down to the gym to see the Mixed Blood Theater's presentation of Daughters of Africa, which was a one woman show that traced the history of African-American women throughout American history. (For more info on the show, click here, then click on "Touring and Education" and scroll down.) After the show, we went up to the computer lab for our time there. When we got back down to the room, we had a writing lesson. For our group writing this week, we wrote a letter to the actress in the play that we saw this morning. We learned about the conventions of writing a letter - headings, ending, and the middle. We also addressed the envelope to send to her. Then each one of the kids wrote a sentence and drew a picture of their favorite part of the show. We also included these in the envelope to send to the actress.

After all of that, believe it or not, it was time to go home!


P.S. Remember that this week is skating week in gym -- Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson are always looking for (and grateful for) volunteers -- we'll go to Lynnhurst Park on Wednesday from 9:40 until 10:35, as long as the weather is above zero.

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we met a new High Hat friend in our phonics lesson -- Yellow Yo-yo. After a story that was, frankly, a bit up and down, (the kids didn't think that joke was all that funny either...), we went up to the computer lab for our time there.

When we got back down to our class, we worked on writing the letter y, both upper and lower case, and also worked on drawing and writing words that begin with the letter y. We finished the day with Choice Time, and then headed home!

Enjoy your weekend - remember that there is no school for students tomorrow!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we had a little bit of time to meet a new High Friend in Phonics class. Today, we met Vernon and Vera, two twins who introduced us to the /v/ sound. We also played a game in which I drew pictures on the white board of things that begin with the letter v, and the kids guessed them (they were very gracious and did not make fun of my limited drawing skills once...).

After phonics, we headed for the gym for our class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson. The kids went outside to go sledding (thanks for sending them in warm clothes!). They had a blast!

After sledding, we came in and Ms. Barb (Ryan E.'s mom) came and read two books to us - Frida and Martin's Big Words (about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). At the same time, Sasha's grandfather came in to run the Take-Apart Center (thank you, Mr. Burris!). An electric mixer met a very timely demise today -- it was really interesting!

After all of that, it was time for us to head home!

P.S. Today, all of the kids had their vision and hearing screened by folks from the Phillips Eye Institute. The results will be sent home in the coming days.

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we read a biography of Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr, and talked about how people with dark skin were treated in the past, and the significance of Dr. King's life and work. It was good to think and talk about, especially in light of the inauguration today.

After our book and discussion, we headed up to the Media Center for our time there with Mrs. Hennen. When we got back down to the room, we talked about the inauguration day, and about the president's job. We looked at pictures of the White House and the Oval Office, and discussed the importance of the day today. We then spent the rest of the day watching the inauguration ceremony on the big screen in our room -- the kids saw Joe Biden and Barack Obama being sworn in, as well as Aretha Franklin's song, and part of President Obama's speech. I think that they really started to get the significance of the day, especially when I told them that the next time they will see an inauguration will be when they are in 4th grade!

Midway through the President's speech, it was time to pack up and go home!

Today, after Center Time and morning meeting, we had math class. We made "Pattern Snakes" out of pattern blocks. They are hanging in the hallways outside our room -- take a look next time you are at school!

After math, we had art class in our room with Ms. Gilman - the kids made family portraits. After art, we talked about the High Hat friends that we met this week, and made (and read) an "L Book," which should be in their backpacks. Ask you child to read it to you!

After all of that, we bundled up to go home.

Have a great weekend!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we we finished the book that we began in reading class yesterday (The Quiltmaker's Gift). It had an ending that I don't think most of the kids expected! When we finished that book, we headed up to the computer lab for our half hour there.

Back down in our room, we met a new High Hat friend. It was actually two friends -- Look and Listen, who introduced us to the /l/ sound. After a bit of discussion of that sound, looked at the DVD/CD player that some of the kids in the afternoon class took apart yesterday -- pretty cool. We then had Choice Time, and then got all bundled up to head home.

Stay warm -- it can't stay this cold forever!!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we read a book for our Reading Lesson. We did what is called an Interactive Read-Aloud, in which I ask the students focused and planned questions about the text (The Quiltmaker's Gift) as we are reading. Our focus today was on comprehension (ask your child what the book was about (keeping in mind that we only read half of it today).

After reading, we headed to the gym for class with Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson. The kids did not go outside for obvious (BRRRRRRRRRR!!) reasons. The sledding excursion will be rescheduled, I'm sure. I'll keep you posted. Instead, they got to go bowling in the gym -- ask them how many strikes and spares they picked up!

After gym, we met a new High Friend in phonics -- Uncle Up, who introduced the short /u/ sound (as in "up"). We also talked about word families that use the short /u/ sound, such as words that end in -up and -ut.

After all of that, we had Choice Time.

Then we bundled up and headed home.

Stay warm!!

This morning, after Center Time and a bit of an extended Morning meeting, we read Isabel K.'s Star of the Week poster (nice job Isabel!!). After that, we headed up to the Media Center for our time there with Mrs. Hennen.

When we got back down to our room, we worked with pattern blocks (this is what pattern blocks look like), making pictures, as we start to study geometry. After all that, we got all bundled up to go home.

Stay warm!!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we did a little further practicing with writing numbers on the white boards with markers (there is a practice sheet in the kids' homework this week too). After that, it was time for art class with Ms. Gilman -- the kids painted their sculptures that they made last time, and also painted or drew a winter scene.

After art, we had math - we played a game that introduced the concept of graphing. the kids rolled dice, and then recorded the results on a graph. We then compiled all of the results on a class graph, so that they could see how data can be easily recorded and interpreted.

After math, we had a short Choice Time, and then we headed home!

Today, after Center Time and Morning Meeting, we had Writer's Workshop. Today we looked at all of the pieces of writing that were in each student's writing folder -- re-read them, thought about them, and then went to work revising them. Some added to the pictures, and some added to their writing. At the end of workshop, we all shared what we worked on with a friend.

We then went up to the computer lab for our math and reading practice time there. When we got back to the classroom, we worked on writing numbers. The kids learned a song to help remember the proper way to write the numbers 1 - 10 (here it is, if you're interested). They all practiced writing on mini-white boards, which was a big hit with the kids.

After all of that, it was time to pack up and head home.

January 7, 2009

Today (yesterday, actually), was a busy day. After Center Time and Morning Meeting, we had Read Aloud, and then worked on writing -- we are working on making upper and lower case letters the proper sizes, and when to use each of them.

Then, we headed to the gym -- after bundling up warmly. The kids went outside for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fun. They came in hot and tired, but it was great fun. Thanks for sending your child in nice warm clothes!

After gym, Ms. Barb (Ryan E.'s mom) came in to read a couple of books to us -- she read and Kat Kong and Dog Breath, both by Dav Pilkey (of Captain Underpants fame). By that time, it was time for us to pack up and go home!

Hello, and welcome back to school!

Today we had Center Time to begin the day, which consisted of independent reading at the kids' tables. Then we had Morning Meeting (it's good to get back into the routines of it all...). After morning meeting, we worked on phonics, reviewing the High Hat friends that we have already met, and the letter sounds that we have already learned.

When we finished that, it was time for us to head up to the Media Center for our library time with Mrs. Hennen. After Media, we came back down to our classroom and met a new High Hat Friend - Gordon Goat, who, predictably enough, introduced us to the /g/ sound. After brainstorming a list of words that begin with the letter g, we had a short Choice Time, and then got packed and bundled up to go home!