Pajama Party!

Here are a few pictures & highlights from the last day of school before our winter break: making gingerbread houses, playing games donated for the classroom, drinking hot cocoa, Santa stopping by our room for a visit, the all-school sing-a-long, making a giant Christmas tree, measuring and making wreaths in math teams, opening gifts, and more!

Concert Thursday

The k4, k5, and k/1st grade classes will perform at 9:30a.m. and 2:30p.m. for our concert on Thursday, December 20th. Students should wear as much white as possible and a colorful scarf and mittens if available.

Mitchell

Mitchell Meyer is the latest, greatest Phy. Ed. Olympian!

After reflecting upon recent events taking place in our country, please be reassured that I am committed to taking care of your child socially, emotionally, academically, and physically. I appreciate the opportunity to be your child's teacher!

Great job Emma!

Today we watched the band,orchestra, and choir rehearse for their holiday concert. Emma wowed us with her violin playing skills!

Pajama Party

It's pajama time in room 208 on Friday, December 21st. We will create gingerbread houses in the morning, read The Polar Express, drink hot chocolate, and participate in the all-school sing at the end of the day. I am hoping each family can provide the following supplies:
Grace- hot cocoa mix (10 envelopes)
Ceci- hot cocoa mix ( 10 envelopes)
Ryland - 2 cans of white frosting
Natalia - 2 cans of white frosting
Cody - 1 box of graham crackers
Christian - 1 box of graham crackers
Ele - 1 box of graham crackers
Natalie - 1 box of graham crackers
Addison - 1 bag of gumdrops
Amelia - 1 bag of pretzel sticks
Emma - 1 bag of pretzel sticks
Leland - 1 bag of gumdrops
Ryan - 1 bag of licorice strips
Mitchell - 1 bag of mini marshmallows
Brandon - 1 bag of Smarties
Attris - 1 bag of M and M's
Gabby - 1 bag of candy to decorate the houses
Noah - 18 small plates to place the houses on.

Items may be sent to school at any time. Thank you!

What do you think this reindeer is saying?

Students created dialogue to accompany their reindeer such as, "Let me in, I'm cold!" or "I want some hot cocoa!"

Current Events

Last Tuesday's current events included learning about a Russian dog who adopted three Siberian tiger cubs. We saw actual footage of this via YouTube, thanks Natalie! Hanukkah was the other event we discussed. As a whole group, we asked many questions and recorded those "wonders" on a chart. Next, we talked about three different ways to find answers to our questions: ask an expert, use technology, look in a book. Sure enough, pairs of students chose to research the questions and found the answers for us! We will continue this process each week. Send in your current events for us to research!

Book Bags

THANK YOU for reading at home and returning the book bags frequently. The students are motivated more than ever to read more and more. Please remember to use the strategy hand for decoding unfamiliar or tricky words and WAIT for 15 seconds to allow your child to try a strategy independently. Most importantly, praise and celebrate your child's success. Every child in our room is reading...hooray!

Reading to Someone

Last week, we practiced a variety of ways to read to a friend. It was very impressive to watch each group read, read, and read for 25 minutes! Here are a few items we focused on:

*Sit EEKK (elbow,elbow,knee,knee)
*I read, you read (taking turns with the same book or two different books)
*choral reading (reading the same book together)

Catch of the Day

Congratulations to Emma Fisher and Cody Mentjes! They will enjoy eating Friday's lunch at a special table on the stage as well as an ice cream treat for dessert!

Olympian #3

Congratulations to Emma Fisher who was selected as one of Ms. Smith's weekly Olympians!

Pictures Needed

As we discussed at conferences, we would like to have pictures of things, events, people, or places that are important to us. If you haven't already done so, please send a few pictures to school to keep in your child's writing folder. We are "writing from our hearts!"

Fish Fry Friday Winners

Congratulations to Gabby and Addison!

Celebrate Writing!

Friday was our first celebration as authors. After writing a personal narrative, students revised their writing, shared with friends and teachers, and had a popcorn treat.