How Many Fingers

Students were given the problem:

If there are 19 students in our class, how many fingers is that?

They had to work on their own to use a strategy and then prove it with a picture or in words.

Math Workshop

Today student's worked in Math Workshop. Students are working on Number and Operations.

Today's Workshop activiites were:
Near Doubles - practice fluency of simple addition combinations
Close to 20 - students play a game where they try to use 3 numbers to make an
addition problem as close to 20 as possible.
Beat the Calculator - students race the calculator to solve number strings. Students
have been taught to add numbers quickly and mentally. They race a
partner who has a calculator.
Number Strings- students practice number strings. They are encouraged to use know
combinations to add.

Daily 5

The Daily 5 and CAFE is a new reading program. It is simply a much more reading-centered way to do Reading. With the old Balanced Literacy program, there was reading, but it also integrated Math, Science, and other skills. Recently, schools and Hazelwood have begun to think that Reading is so important, that students should be doing more of it. So Daily 5 has five activities that students can choose from each day. All five activities are strictly literacy based. We have spent the beginning of this school year building stamina and practing these skills. Now students are finally engaged in all aspects of Daily Five: Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading, Work on Writing, and Word Work. Take a look at the pictures. You will notice 100% on task engagement.

Shadows

Students are studying shadows. They did an experiment where they looked at what kind of shadows different objects made. They used a clear cup, a book, a sheet of wax paper, and a sheet of clear wrap.

It was amazing to listen to the matter of fact opinions "It's clear, how would it make a shadow" "All objects make a shadow". Then I watched them learn and experiment.

Math Manipulatives

In Math we are using cubes to practice counting. Many students are struggling with counting numbers over 30. Have your child practice counting numbers, especially high ones.

First Two Days

Our first two days of school were amazing. They went by so fast! The days just flew. I am worn out but happy. Room 16 is such a great class. They get compliments every few minutes from other adults in the hall. They are so proud everytime someone tells them how great they look. Ask them about being peaceful and respectful in the hall and the cafeteria. They can tell you all about it.

I took some pictures of them working in Math, but I left my camera at school. So pictures coming soon.

By the way, I am going to begin a listserve of parents in the class to alert you to classroom information such as homework. Stay tuned. Homework has changed. There were some changes in the curriculum. They gave us more time to teach each skill which is wonderful. Unfortunately, we ordered our homework packets last year and they were based on one skill a week. So we are giving you more time to do homework at home. The first homework packet is due on August 23rd.

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year

A new school year has begun! I am so excited! I know I have about 3 weeks before the school year starts, but that will not stop me from preparing for the year. I cannot wait until the first day of school! Right now I am working on our first newsletter of the year. I am also preparing to start working in my classroom. Stay tuned for pic and plans! (Sorry for the excessive use of exclamation points, I am really EXCITED)