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.

Homework, Math, and Ear Phones

(This is a copy of an email sent by us.  I thought it would be handy to also have it here on the blog for easy retrieval of information)

 

We are NOT sending our regular homework packet for next week- as there are only 2 ½ days of school and we want the kids to enjoy their Thanksgiving break. =)

 

But…

We will be sending a packet of science activities that supplement what we’ve been working on in class. It relates to our Air and Weather unit. These are NOT required but would be fun and informative if you’re looking for something to do over the Thanksgiving break.  Or you might want to hang on to them for our upcoming Winter break, these would be great activities for the family to work on together.  

 

In addition. . .

We have completed our EnVision Topic 4 unit.  A math review test for Topic 4 has also been sent home, along with several math homework pages. We will be taking our Topic 4 test on Tuesday, so PLEASE review these materials with your 1^st grader. Topic 4 has been a little tricky for most kids, as we are learning about subtraction, the terms ‘difference, more than, fewer than,’ comparing numbers, switching number sentences around, using addition to check subtraction etc. . . I highly suggest working through these pages with your child to prepare for the test on Tuesday.

 

Last but not least. . .

If you have not yet sent in small head phones or ear-buds for your child this would be a great time to do so.  Any spare pair from home or an inexpensive pair will do.  We use them several times a week, at computer lab, during reading rotations, and at the listening station for listening books.  We ask for this individual donation as one more attempt to avoid lice in our classroom.  Thank you for your support with this!

 

Let me know if you have any questions,

 

Thanks!

Friday Update

Students have been sharing their wonderful leaf projects.  We have them hanging all over the room and in the hallway.  Here are some pictures of their fabulous work.

We also had a great visit from Walter the Weather Man and learned so much about weather.

On Monday, students will be having a guest teacher while I am not at school.   Some of you may already know Jana Johnseine.  She is fabulous and the students love her.  Plus... she and I went to high school together.   I've left her lots of fun things to do (including some fun Turkey art).  I know they will have a terrific day. 

I have added our daily schedule up in the tab that used to only show the specialist schedule.   Thank you to the parent who made this wonderful suggestion for our blog.   If there is anything special you'd like to see us include on this blog, please let us know.  We'd like for this to be a useful and informative piece of parent communication.

Have a wonderful weekend.