Thursday, 3/28

Wow! We all had a busy day!

We started our morning together for math centers.  Ask your child to name one person they played a game with.

Ks had a special Wingmasters presentation this morning! Ask your child something they learned.

1s learned about another African animal-chimpanzee.  Ask your child to tell you a fact they remember writing or drawing about in their African animal research packet.

This afternoon we also broke up into grade level groups.

Ks watched some clips about the moon and gained more background knowledge in preparation of Midnight on the Moon.

1s had a special first grade choice and then practiced some Fundations skills. 

Have a great long weekend!

***Pride Assembly on Monday~~~Please try to wear your Pride colors~~~ Ks: purple, 1s: blue..or both!!***

Bubbles!

Look at how much fun we had learning and discovering on this Bubbles iMovie.

Wednesday 3/27

Ks discussed and wrote something they are wondering about the moon in preparation of their next Magic Tree House book-Midnight on the Moon.

1s watched two versions of the same how something came to be: why spiders have thin legs. Then they worked in groups to complete a venn diagram to compare similarities and differences.
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories/why-anansi-has-thin-legs
http://www.speakaboos.com/story/why-anansi-has-eight-long-legs

Everyone experimented with Drawing Pad on the iPad.  We'll continue to use this app throughout the year. The kids were helping each other discover how to use the app-we didn't even explain anything and they all figured out how to make a picture!

Tuesday 3/26

Our morning started with a Read-In.  Thank you to the many family members that joined us!  Anansi tales and Ice Age books were a big hit!  It's so great to see the kids want to learn more and more about topics we are studying.

Each group had a nice time playing outside on such a sunny day.

Ks learned about Lascaux Cave Paintings... So amazing!!

1s watched and discussed Anansi Goes to Lunch-Here are the animated Anansi Tales
Mrs. Bouhafs taught the 1s about Egypt!  Tomorrow she will lead us in 3 fun activities.  Here's one example of something she shared from Egypt:

Each child taught another child their math game from yesterday.

Monday 3.25

Kindergarteners completed their ice age animals and habitats... They came out awesome!!!  They will be on display tomorrow morning during our Read-In.

First graders are continuing to learn about African animals.  They are learning about 3 major habitats: grasslands, desert & tropical forest.  Ask your child to share something they have learned about one of the animals.

Our afternoon was flip-flopped!  During Open Circle, the students listened to Franklin's Bad Day and came up with solutions to his problem using the traffic signal- stop & calm down, think of ways to solve the problem, go try out what you think is the best solution.  The kids then learned a new game.  Ask your child how to play don't wake the dragon.

During math, we split up into two groups all mixed up.  Ms. Dichter's group learned a counting on game.  My group learned the cave game.  Tomorrow each child will partner up with someone from the other group to teach each other their game.  We'll all know 2 more math games then!

**Read-In on Tuesday from 8:15-8:45.  We hope many of you will be able to attend!**

Friday 3/22

We had a special bubble morning in Room 8 today. A visitor from the Discovery Museum in Acton came for a demonstration and lots of hands-on fun!

Jill brought in the ladybug she found in her house to share with us. We learned that counting the spots on a ladybug to determine its age is a myth. Ask your child why a ladybug has spots.

We ended our day with relaxing Raz-Kids reading on the iPads.

Science night

Stratton School grades K – 5
Thompson School grades K - 2

SCIENCE and ENGINEERING NIGHT
is HERE
Tomorrow
MARCH 22, 2013
6:30p – 8:30p

Thursday 3/21

We had a great day but we missed Ms. Dichter while she was at a Tools of the Mind workshop.

The kids were super flexible as our schedule got changed around!

We said the pledge on the intercom this morning! We also shared...
"There's a saying that goes...
March comes in like a lion
And goes out like a lamb.
We made up our own sayings...
March comes in like a rock
And goes out like a pebble.
March comes in like a bulldozer
And goes out like a scooter.
March comes in like a venus fly trap
And goes out like a daisy.
March comes in like a coyote and goes out like a butterfly."

We played fun math games this morning. We had a nice long playtime outside! During writing, I shared the first pages of some great books and we came up with interesting leads to a story. Some kids even started using an interesting lead during today's writing time!

Monday 3/18

We had a great morning!
After a nice writing block, we split up into grade levels group and had flip flop work time & recess time.
Ks listened to some more of the current Magic Tree House Book.  Ask your child what happened on Jack & Annie's adventure today!

1st graders worked on long vowels (sneaky, silent e at the end of the word makes the vowel says it's name).

Two fun videos the 1st graders watched last week:  Leap Frog Silent E Starfall Amazing E

The kids learned some new math games that they'll get to practice over the next few days- Terrific Trios, Build A Sandcastle & Fix It Strips, Egg Head.  Which game is your child most excited to play?

Tomorrow our class will be saying the pledge... Ask your child what we will be sharing after we say the pledge.

Friday, March 15

We had a good day today in Room 8, although we missed Ms. Melnik while she was off at a workshop. We got a lot of good work done at Finish-up time, then we got outside for a nice long play time! We had a fun sub for PE this afternoon and we ended the day with Zachary Fs mom, Liz, reading two books to us- Thomas the Tank Engine and Take a Hike, Snoopy!

Have a great weekend!

Open house

Thanks to everyone that came to the Open House last night. We had such a great turnout!! It was nice to see so many happy, proud kids showing off all of their hard work!

Tuesday, 3/12

We're so glad the sun is still shining and the kids got time to run around outside!

We started our morning with writing.  First graders are working hard to complete their how-to books.  Some Kindergarteners are working on creating books about small moments, some are writing about something different each day.  Ask your child what they wrote about this morning. 

Thanks to Deanna for helping us this morning!

Everyone was busy at Centers!  Kindergarteners are working on their Ice Age fact books.  First graders are working through a few different activities.

We all went to the book swap and had lunch together in the classroom.

The kids learned a new math game this afternoon which they played with a partner.  We are focusing on the facts to 10.

The day ended with Open Circle.  Ask your child which problem/solution we discussed.

**Open House is Wednesday from 6:30-8:00pm.  It is a night when all families are invited to come visit our classroom.  Your child will take you on a scavenger hunt around the school.  You are invited regardless if your child is a Stratton or Thompson student! We hope to see many of you tomorrow night!**  

Monday 3/11

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend.  After such a snowy day, we had some beautiful warmer weather!

The first graders started the morning working on their How-To books.  Kindergarteners worked on writing about small moments-mostly about their weekend.

Kindergarteners learned more about the Ice Age through a Power Point presentation.  Ask your child something they learned today about the Ice Age.

First graders are wrapping up their Fundations unit on blends.  They had their check-in today and then played a blends game.  Look for your child's assessment in their folder tomorrow.

Everyone was busy today at Centers.  Ask your child something they worked hard on.

This afternoon the kids learned a new math game- Tens Go Fish.  This would be a great game to play at home to find the "ten friends."  Ask your child to teach you this fun game.

After art, Ms. Dichter read our class memory book.  So many great things have happened so far in Room 8! 

Friday 3/8

We loved looking out the window at all of the snow! 

We started the morning with Friday Finish-Up.  First graders worked on their how-to books.  The kids are taking their time adding beautiful illustrations and neat handwriting.  They should be ready for you to see at Open House!  Kindergarteners worked on things in their red folders and then had some time to look through Ice Age books and a read-aloud by Maf. 

We switched gears to Social Studies.  We discussed American symbols and landmarks through a Scholastic magazine and video clip.  On the back of the Scholastic magazine, there was  a map so talked about the cardinal directions.  Take some time to find things on a map that are North, South, East & West with your child. 

                                                                    

Video clip from Discovery Education

First graders remembered that rulers are used to make straight lines and to measure things.  Since they worked so hard this week, they worked on a craft during our first grade time.  They used rulers to make a picture or design out of straight lines.  Then they used watercolors to decorate their picture.

I forgot to mention on Thursday the first graders started their study of Africa.   The kids shared what they think they know about the continent of Africa and the people and animals that live there.  I then read one story to kick off this new unit.

Kindergarteners made awesome wooly mammoths!!  I wish I had taken picture of them to share with you!  

Our afternoon consisted of choice, gym, and Dr. Seuss read-alouds. 

Thank you to so many families for signing up for another snack week. We have a few weeks open.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, 3/7

We started our morning with math stations.  The kids were highly engaged creating number combinations.

It was very exciting that we got to eat in the classroom all together today!

We ended the day with writing.  First graders worked on their How-To planners and books.  Kindergarteners created a story together based on a snowy day picture.  Some Kindergarteners shared their a piece of writing from this week.

We have gone through one rotation of snack. Please sign up if you would like to contribute snack for another week. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094EADAA29A02-snack

Wed. March 6

Today we celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday! 
The kids made a Cat in the Hat mask, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and oobleck! 

Thanks to Liz for leading this station.  Here are the directions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Oobleck/

We ended our day playing Top It with a partner.

Tuesday 3/5

Look for an invitation in your child's folder today!

We hope you can join us for the Stratton School Open House on Wednesday, March 13th. Come visit between 6:30 and 8pm. All family members are invited to this fun event.  You child will take you on a scavenger hunt!


The kids shared their March comes in like a.. And goes out like a ... with the class.

We ended our day with Open Circle. We attempted to concentrate and take turns to make the sounds of a rainstorm.  We'll keep trying and trying until it sounds just like a real rainstorm!!  Then we thought of 4 ways to solve a problem. We picked what we thought was the best solution, but oh no! It didn't work! We tried a different solution and it did work!  We'll continue to use the traffic signal to help us solve problems.
Stop- Calm down and say the problem.
Think-What could you do to solve the problem? What do you think is the best solution?
Go-Try the best one!

We hope Ms. Dichter feels better!!!

Week of 2/25/13

Check out what we did last week in Room 8!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpcieoSSjl4

Monday 3/4

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

The children learned a new math game- turn over 10. You could play this game at home with a deck of cards. Ask your child how to play.

We ended our day with an Open Circle read aloud.

Friday 3/1

I spent the day at my last Open Circle training workshop.  I feel ready to jump into the rest of the problem solving lessons!  We will use the traffic signal often.  We'll post the Home-School Links when we conclude lessons so you'll know exactly which step we are on.  Please practice using the steps with your child at home.


Can you believe it's March already!?  The kids worked with a partner to create a saying:  March comes in like a ___ and goes out like a ____.   I stopped by school and saw their posters- They came out great!!

Thank you to Jill's grandfather Tutti & friend Carol for being our mystery readers today.  The kids were engrossed for two stories-Feathers for Lunch and The Great Kapok Tree. A special thank you for the Beanie Babies.  We love listening to stories read by our mystery readers!

Rhyming poetry with Liza!

Fun at choice time








We don't have any other mystery readers set up.  If you or someone in your family is free on Fridays at 1:30, please sign up here: tinyurl.com/mysteryreaders  If this time doesn't work for you, please email me with a time preference and we'll try our best to make it work: nmelnik@arlington.k12.ma.us

Have a great weekend!