Sunday, June 8, 2014

UPDATES for 6/2-6/6 2014

**The students spent this week planning the activities for each day.  The ABC Countdown continued with the sharing of special Treasures, a Watermelon break, Valentines Day revisited and Xtra this and that. We visited First Grade and met the teachers and saw the rooms.  Some First Grade students read  papers on what they did in First Grade.  My students asked some really great questions.  How much homework?  Do you have choice time?  Do you create things?  Do you do Lexia Core 5? Where do you line up?   What about iPads and the computer lab?  What is your reading book like?  Do you do lots of math?  All questions were answered by the First Grade students.  It's all good!
**The visit to the Gurgas/Chien residence was quite interesting.  The students enjoyed hearing about the care of chickens, what they eat and how they live in their coop.  The students were excited to have the opportunity to feed the chickens grass. 
**Jalen's mom visited our class and read Jalen's favorite story for his birthday.  We also celebrated Ms. Jack Day by writing her letters, making a crown for her and presenting her with a tee shirt decorated by the students.  We wish Jalen the best of luck at his new school and Ms. Jack a happy retirement!  We also  celebrated all summer birthdays with treats galore!!!
**I was unable to attend the end of the year party at Barrie Park but heard it was awesome!!
**The PTO Fundraiser featuring Colin's Dad, Sean Flannery was loads of fun!  Lots of laughs and great community with friends and parents. 
**Our garden bed is planted!!  The students worked to smooth and amend the soil and help plant the baby plants.  We have a tomato plant from Gina's garden, parsley, oregano, 3 potato plants-2 of which were started in our classroom and 1 started by Jayden.  To round it out, the students chose orange bell peppers for the kids and hot, jalapeno peppers for the grown ups.  (Their exact words!)  All the other classes will plant on Monday.  I will update you throughout the summer on their growth and when to come and harvest items that are ready to be picked. 
**Reminder--Field Trip to Chef Ashley's Studio at Constructive Chaos is Monday, June 9th.  We will be going by bus and leaving promptly at 12:30 pm.  We will return to school by 2:30 pm.
**Please join us for Family Hour on our last day of school--Tuesday, June 10th beginning at 1:00 pm.  We will have refreshments, sign autographs, get report cards and summer packets and have a final story.  At 2:30 pm, Mr Hodge is requesting that all students go to the playground for.....something special!!!!  Hope you can stay for that!
**We will have our final get together with our Book Buddies on Tuesday morning and wish them well as they go on to the middle school.
**Please check your child's backpack for the remainder of their work portfolios, writing folders, journals and Pacer's bracelet.
**All students will receive a summer packet on Tuesday.  Inside you will find information on  Irving School's Summer Math Incentive and TenMarks Summer Math Program.  These summer supplements are a great way to keep your math skills growing!  Lexia Core 5 is also available all summer as well as Spelling City and Xtra Math.  Check out the workbooks and summer journal too!  These are totally optional......but a good idea to sit down with your child at least once or twice a week and pick out something to do from the packet.  Don't forget to sign up for Maze Branch Library Reading incentive program, "Fizz, Boom, Read!"
This week:
It was all about chickens, gardens, independent work, first grade.....but most of all being together and interacting with each other.  The students know that next year they will not all be in the same classroom.  They will meet new classmates and teachers and will have opportunities to see each other.  They have all worked so hard this year!
Reading/Social Studies:     The students planned their own lessons this week.  They chose their own literature and follow up activities and worked with a different group of peers each day.
Math:    The students continued to work in their math process journals.  This week, the students read their own story problem and completed the work by illustrating, showing it in a ten frame and writing the number sentence.  I chose 1 student each day to share their work via the projector.  Students worked on a variety of activities in small groups including addition games, adding and subtracting color the code, counting challenge, subitize challenge using the iPad app and number find.
Writing:    The students continued to reflect in their journals on various topics.  They shared their thoughts about Mr. Hodge and brought all their journals down to share with him.  He got a real kick out of it!
Science:    The students put their finishing touches on their science journals.  I am beginning to give the plants in our indoor class garden to families.  Gina's family has the baby corn plant and Emily's family will take the pumpkin, beans and watermelon plants.    The students readied the outdoor planting bed and with assistance from myself and Mr. Packer planted the potatoes, peppers, parsley, tomatoes, oregano and nasturtium as the repellant plant.  What a great unit!  They have learned so much.
Technology:    The students have finished their parts for our end of the year movie.  They selected their "best part," practiced their dialogue and chose how they would "stage" it.  Students helped hold the iPad while filming.   "Lights, Ipad, Action!"  They decided on the opening and closing parts.   I did the editing.  It will be your Tuesday surprise!!
Literature:    "When It's the Last Day of School," "Summer," "If You Take a Mouse to School," Pete the Cat and His Groovy Buttons," "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "Celebrate Your Success," "Kindergarten Rocks."

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