Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Reading Workshop

Oh my!! I haven't realized how long it has been since my last post! Report cards and conferences commandeered my time!  Now that assessments are over, we are back to our regular routine!  I have provided a glimpse into our math games, so I thought it was time to introduce you to our reading workshop!  I start every day with a story and some overarching concept. We have been working on the basic story elements of main character, setting, problem, and solution.  We have also started discussing the main idea of a story and how we can find supporting details in the text.  After I read the story and teach the mini-lesson, everyone goes back to their seats to complete some individual work on the day's lesson.  Then students practice the spelling skill of the week or review skills from past weeks. We have been working hard on short vowels, blends, adding -s and -es to words, ABC order, and we have started learning how to use a dictionary.  When students have finished their mini-lesson paper and the spelling review, they then go to clubs. There are 4 clubs that the children rotate through every day except Tuesday.  We have the book nook, the computers, an art center, and word work.  Here is a look into some of the activities that we do!

Here is our reading workshop bulletin board with the student's names and the days they visit each club.  It also gives examples of the weeks work for the art center and word work.  This week, during art time, we painted a turkey.  We assembled, read, and colored a book about pilgrims in our word work center.



 Here is where the supplies are kept for our art projects and our word activities.



The students in the computer club are busy playing reading games at a website called starfall.com.  They love being able to pick out their own game and work on skills of their own choice.



 Here are some students coloring their pilgrim books. When they were done making their book, they had to read it with a friend.



Here is a closer look at some of the pages in the pilgrim book!



 This turkey is colored, so now it is time to add the feathers. I love how the feathers are all different colors. There are some very creative kids in our class!



 Here is a friend contemplating what kind of legs and feet to give his turkey.



 There are many activities that students can choose to do in the book nook. They can silent read or pick new books for their book boxes.  They can use tubaloos like the friend above. Tubaloo's help the children listen to themselves read and helps them improve their fluency.  Kids can also use the magnetic ABC wall, use word dominoes, create word necklaces (that stay at school), and I am almost ready to open our listening center. (If I open everything at once, everything gets boring by February)



A friend has chosen to read a big book about animals on the rug.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Conferences

It is conference time!!  I am so excited to meet with you this week and discuss your child's progress! I sent home reminders about your conference time 2 weeks ago. If you didn't get one, please email me and let me know!  You will receive your child's report card one day before your conference so you have some time to look it over.  Conferences last approximately 20 minutes and during that time, I will explain the report card and your child's marks.  I hope you all had a great weekend and I will talk to you soon!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Harvest Celebration!


Welcome to November!  I love the chillier weather!  October was a great month full of lots of new learning!  To celebrate, we had a Harvest Celebration in class on Friday.  All month long, the children had the opportunity to earn guesses at the candy in my candy jar which was full of chocolate golden coins.  There were many ways that students could earn a guess. A few examples were they could bring in their homework, use their listening ears, take pride in their work, say "please" and "thank you", and be respectful with our classroom materials.  By the end of October, we had over 215 guesses in our box!!  At the end of our harvest celebration we counted the candy and had exactly 200 coins! We had a three way tie with Bridget, Griffin, and Megan all guessing the exact number!  We a great time that led into a very exciting weekend!  What do you think I should put in my guessing jar for November?





We have started to count the coins!





Watching with rapt attention





We are getting so close to an answer!





Success!!! We have a winner! In this case, we actually had 3 winners!
This activity created a lot of excitment, suspense, and fun!