Happy Monday

 Brrr..... it was a cold one today, so we thought we'd create a huddle of penguins.   Don't you just love how different each and every one of them is?   I can see each 1st grader's personality shine in these cute penguins.

In fact.... here's another look from a new angle.  Just so wonderful!

Our class blogger this week was Adam.

We had a terrific assembly today about Carl Sandburg and the biographies he wrote (including one about his hero Abraham Lincoln). 

Today, we read all about baby penguins and about Martin Luther King Jr.

I am not teaching next week, do to the MLK holiday, but I'll be back the following Monday.

Have a terrific day.

Happy New Year!

Since there is still a trace of snow on the ground, we had some fun today with snowmen!

We read a few books about snow and snowmen and then created snowmen up close.  The first graders did a terrific job of showing the snowman in the foreground, peeking out from the side.  As always, they did an amazing job.

Here are some pictures of them hard at work. 

 I apologize for any paint that got on new hats or new clothes today.  We tried our best to stay clean, but somehow paint ends up on clothes.   This paint is tempera and should wash out if treated right away.

 We also started Topic 6  (making 12) in math today and learned a new game.

 Our class blogger was Suzanna!

Mrs. Morissey and I are humbled by all the sweet and thoughtful gifts we were given this holiday season.   I had fun thinking of all the sweet children in our class as I was writing out thank you cards.  The cards are tiny, so I hope they made it home safely today.

We are also deeply touched by the amazing holiday box of notes from the class. 

  Sheri and I really appreciate that you took time out to write to each of us.  It means a lot .... so thank you, thank you.

We feel so lucky to have such a great group of students (and parents!) this year.

Be sure to check the side bar for important dates in January.

Gingerbread Fun

Look at our gingerbread people....
Aren't they sweet?

We read three different versions of the Gingerbread Boy (Girl, Baby, and Friends) and even wrote our own Gingerbread poem.

Today, your child brought home a special gift for you to open during the holidays.   I think you will really enjoy them.

Here is this week's class blogger:

 

Nutcrackers, Traditions, and more December Fun

Nutcrackers we created after reading the book, The Nutcracker

 We have been learning all about different holiday traditions.   It has been fun to see the 2st grade posters about each family's special holiday activities.  We have been placing the posters around the room after they have been shared in front of the class.

We also have enjoyed seeing everyone's Heart Map.  Our class has so many special things they can write about.

On Friday, Dec. 17th we will be having a hot cocoa story time to celebrate the holiday season and the last day of school before vacation.

Our first blog entry.  The blog book is going home with someone new today.

Heart Maps, Starry Nights, and December Calendars

We had a great first day back from our extra long vacation.   Most students spent their writing time writing all about the adventures they had in the snow.

As we get to be better writers, we are starting to collect writing ideas.   We learned that it is best to write about something you really care about... something from your heart.

Today, your child is bringing home a heart map to complete.  This will be a place for them to record things they may be able to write about during writing time.  They may add pictures and divide their heart in whatever way they want.   Finally the heart is color coded.  Bring these maps back to school by Monday, Dec. 6th.  We will keep these in our writing folders.

It is perfectly fine for grown-ups to help out with this.   I've attached the two examples I showed the class today.

I think they will have fun collecting writing ideas.

We also learned about Vincent Van Gogh and his Starry Night painting.  We made our own artwork inspired by the starry night...with extra confetti in the sky.  They look gorgeous.

And here are the awesome turkeys they made last week.

One of our Monday activities is to make monthly calendars.  Today your child is bringing home their December calendar.  We write birthdays, holidays, and school events on the calendar.   One thing we did not add yet is our holiday party.  We also will be sending home more information related to family traditions duirng this time.  Look for more information about all of that coming up soon.