Check it out...

Just updated the "Extras" page with some awesome websites for tasty kid-friendly lunch/snack ideas! At the top of this page just "click" on the tab labeled "extras", scroll down to the link, and "click" again to go directly to the site. 

::XOXO::

Our Valentine's Day classroom party is going to be in the afternoon on Friday February 14th! 

Thank you to the following families who have offered to provide us with our afternoon snack:

Cheese & Crackers:  Liza's Family

Cookies: Jeremy's Family 

Cupcakes:  Nolan's Family

Fruit:  Makayla's Family

Juice & Cups:  Ethan's Family
Veggies & Dip:  Elena's Family

Exploring Setting

Reading the story Without You was a fantastic book to use when exploring the idea of setting. After reading we made suggestions as to what we would like Ms. Behnke to draw for us. What words would you use to describe this illustration?

How about these ones!!!

Not only did the kids come up with the ideas (with only a little prompting) but they also stretched out the words to listen for the sounds before printing what they could hear!  :o)

Valentine's Day Cards

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and we will be celebrating with a class party on Friday, February 14^th. 

As part of our Valentine’s Day party, the students are encouraged to hand out Valentine’s Day cards.  Handing out Valentine’s Day cards is a voluntary activity that provides an excellent opportunity for children to practice their printing.  I encourage you to have your child write his/her classmates names on the Valentine’s Day cards that they send out. You will notice a class list in your child's Note Tote to help with correct spelling and to make sure that no one gets left out. The distribution of Valentine’s Day cards is also a great chance for the children to try to recognize the names of their classmates in print.  Let me know if your class list didn't make it home and you need one. 

Another Snowy Day

We have had a great time over the past few weeks delving into the story The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats. This simple book allowed for some really wonderful language opportunities; we explored the idea of setting, main character(s), story mapping important events, and classifying events as something that happened in the beginning, middle, or end of the story. To top it off...the kids enjoyed retelling the story by using the fabulous pictures that Ms. Behnke drew for us!

Organizing events

Illustrations of the story

Our story map of important events

Another retell

Retelling Peter's Snowy Day

Snowy Day Art

Looking for Empty Food Cans

Sorry, I should have specified in the my last post that we are looking for empty food cans approximately 10oz/300ml in size. Thanks!

French and Math update

Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope everyone had a great holiday. Before I forget, can you please send in any empty cans you may have in your recycle bin for an art activity. Thanks!

In French we are learning a new song called "La neige tombe" and doing some guided reading with a book based on the song. Here are the first couple verses:

La neige tombe

La neige tombe sur mon nez
Oh, oh, oh! J'ai le nez gelé
Frotte, frotte, frotte mon nez
Pour le réchauffer !
Frotte, frotte, frotte, mon nez
Frotte, frotte, frotte ton nez
Pour le réchauffer !

La neige tombe sur mes mains
Oh, oh, oh! J'ai les mains gelées!
Frappe, frappe, frappe, mes mains
Pour les réchauffer !
Frappe, frappe, frappe mes mains
Frappe, frappe, frappe tes mains
Pour les réchauffer !

Since the song talks about various body parts freezing in the snow, we have incorporated this vocabulary into our Hospital play. Students are now able to describe their various ailments to the doctor. "J'ai mal au nez", for example. Previously, doctors were just randomly jabbing patients with needles in the waiting room, without correctly diagnosing the patient first :)





In math we are beginning a unit on Measurement. Students are learning different ways to measure things, and that using different units of measure yeilds different results. Here are some pics of students rotating through their math bins: