Migration... Did you make it?

Yesterday, we went to the ICF property and it was a blast! First, we went and found some of the pumpkins we left on the property to see how they were decomposing.  After that we had some fun running and playing in the soy bean field that had recently been plowed.

Then, we learned some facts about birds and migration.  We played a game where the kids had to make it from one point to the other.  They were migrating just like birds and some of them sadly,  did not make it due to power lines, glass doors and other accidents that occurred.

Our final task was to make bird feeders out of pines cones, Crisco, and bird seed.  Once they all had one, they had to find a good place on the property to put it.

It was so much fun! We can't wait to go back in January!

My favorite second graders! 

TWINS!

THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT! 

We made it to warm weather!

All Aboard!

Thursday was Polar Express Day in room 7A.  This is one of my favorite days of the year and I love sharing it with my amazing kids!

The kids came in awfully comfortable today and ready for some lounging.  But, they seemed surprised when we still had work to do. We went to Santa's Workshop this morning and after that, we did some graphing and collecting data that had to do with Polar Express.  Afterwards we wrote about what we thought the first gift of Christmas should be. In the afternoon, we had a hot chocolate bar with lots of different choices and popcorn.  We enjoyed our treats while watching the Polar Express.

I am beyond grateful for this group of kids and sharing these fun days with them reminds me about how important these memories are for them.

ALMOST BREAK!!!

Something about Absence and the Heart

I am so happy to be back in school today! I was lucky enough to attend the Raising Student Achievement Conference at Pheasant Run Resort with Mrs. Smallwood, Mrs. Wanke and Mrs. Wadsworth.  I was able to attend a lot of sessions and learn more about how to incorporate new and effective ideas into the classroom.  On Tuesday morning, Mrs. Wanke and I were chosen to present a session on Daily 5.  I love Daily 5 and think it is so amazing and beneficial in the classroom. It was so much fun to share my experience and ideas with other teachers from the region.  Mrs. Wanke wrote a little more about our experience that you may enjoy reading.  Click here to see it all! 

Moving Along

We have been VERY busy over the last few weeks and I haven't updated.  So, be prepared for some random thoughts.

I was gone on Monday and came back to a wonderful report from the substitute.  The kids were great! I love knowing that when I am gone they are still on track.

On Wednesday, I went home and told my husband that I had the best day at school that I have ever had.  The kids were AMAZING! Every lesson went flawlessly, they all participated and had amazing ideas in every subject.  Something clicked with all of us and even today, it seems like we are all on the same page.

With all of the good things that have been happening in class, the bumblebees have earned a reward... an over the top pajama day on Friday! See the orange note that will come home in folders today.

Next week is a 2 day week.  On Tuesday we will be going to the ICF property for a couple of hours, the permission slip will be in communicators today.  Also, on Tuesday, there is a PIE the teacher assembly at 2:10 in the gym.

We have started a new math unit in the Common Core book.  We are working on Place Value.  This is a LONG unit and there is a mid unit assessment and a final assessment.  I will be sending homework home.  What I send home shouldn't require a lot of assistance from an adult.  If it does, then it is an area that your student is probably struggling in.

We are finishing up our letters to the President and I will send them off tomorrow.  After winter break, we are going to write to Disney characters.

Below are some pictures from the last two weeks... HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Caleb won our estimation contest.  He guessed that there were 506 candy corns and there were 518.  He got to take ALL of them home! 

One of my former students and Grace at the ICF property looking at raptor feet.

Michelle was checking out all of the cool things they brought to show us.

Candy was showing us a really neat barn owl!

Our Elections

Thank you all for coming to conferences and meeting with me.  If you have any questions about anything at all, let me know.  I am more than happy to follows up on anything.

This week we will have our Unit 6 test for Fundations.  It will be on Friday.  Please make sure you are working with your student a couple of minutes a night on some of the words, sounds and sentences.  Remember that Fundations is about teaching spelling rules that can be applied to several words.  It is not about memorizing all of those words, it is about learning the rule and applying it.

I will also be giving a math test this week over addition and subtraction with regrouping.  The test will have mixed problems.  We will probably do this test on Friday, as well.

Our 3 branches of government test will be on Wednesday.  The flash cards were sent home last week and the kids also had a set here at school that they studied.

Below are some pictures from last week.  We had a mock election featuring stuffed animals.  Chomp was the winner by one vote! We also made voter registration cards and learned about different aspects of the government.

TRIPLETS!

Poncho TWINS! 

Halloween!