Week of January 6, 2014

We have started working on nonfiction writing in our classroom.  We discussed the different features you can find in a nonfiction text.  We also went on a scavenger hunt to find the features in books from our classroom library.  Each student brainstormed a list of things they consider themselves to be a "specialist" in.  They picked one idea from their list that they will be writing a nonfiction book about.

Students worked in pairs to create a survey question to ask the class.  They had to ask every student and record their answers.

They worked with their buddy to represent their data.

Here is an example of one representation.

They had to reflect and answer questions about their findings.

We had a celebration today during math!  Students had to graph m&ms and answer questions about the data.

We learned a new app today.  It is called Math Linkup.  Students have to choose 2 addends to make a certain sum.

Our Word Wall words this week were two and put.

Week of December 16, 2013

We practiced writing, identifying, and building numbers this week.  One way we did this was by making number strips that started at 1 and stopped at 200.  I saw everyone working really hard on this challenge!

We published our first writing piece this week. Students had to revise and edit their work.  They also got to illustrate using markers and colored pencils. We celebrated by sharing them with Mrs. Jackson's 2nd grade class.

In Word Study, we worked on spelling words that used -ing, -ang, -ong, and -ung.  Our Word Wall words were my, by, and that.

I hope everyone has a fun and restful vacation!  See you in January!

Week of December 9, 2013

In math this week, we did an activity where we had to trace our footprints.  Students had to make an estimate about how many tiles it would take to fill in their footprint.  They checked their estimate by filling in their footprints and counting up the tiles.  We collected everyone's number and analyzed the data as a class.

In writing, students are working on revising and editing their Small Moment writing pieces, so that we can publish them before vacation!  The story needs to have a beginning, middle, and end and lots of interesting details.

We had a celebration today for reaching our points goal last week!  We made crowns this morning and wore them during the school day!  

Our Word Wall words this week were there, where, and that.

Week of December 2nd, 2013

We have been working on subtraction story problems.  These are two pieces of work that made it up on the Marvelous Math Wall.  These two students remembered a label, an equation, their numbers are formed correctly, and their math thinking is easily understood. 

During Math Menu,  some students worked on writing addition and subtraction story problems.  This will be an independent choice next week during Math Menu.  Students will write them and place them in our Problem Box.  Other students will then have an opportunity to solve the problems in their math journals.

Students also worked on their place value skills by playing Base Ten Bingo on the computer.  Here is the link if you would like to play at home!

Base Ten Bingo

During Social  Studies, we focused on maps and the different parts of a map.  We created a map of our classroom.

We started a new read aloud book right before vacation.  It is called Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe.  We have also been reading the Knuffle Bunny books during writing time and looking at the clear beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Our Word Wall words this week were who, what, and when.

Week of November 18, 2013

We have started working on subtraction this week.  Students played Roll and Record Subtraction and Five in a Row Subtraction.

We also worked on subtraction story problems.  Students must show their thinking, have an equation, numbers formed correctly, and have a label.  Here is how one student chose to show his work.

Students have been working on an app called Mystery Math Town.  They must use 2 addends to make a sum.

Our Word Wall words this week were was and were.  We have also been working on adding the ending S to words. We also learned that sometimes S can sounds like a Z at the end of a word.

Week of November 11th, 2013

We have been working more on addition story problems.  Our work must have an equation, show our thinking, a label, and all the numbers must be formed correctly.  This student showed counting on.

In math menu, we worked on combination story problems.  Students built and recorded all the ways to make 10.

They also played Hungry Fish on the iPads. 

Students  played Base Ten Fun on the computer. 

Check it out: http://www.abcya.com/base_ten_fun.htm

They worked in their math binders.

On Wednesday, we played Hang Mouse with words that used -an, -am, or -all.

We have been writing fictional stories that begin with the sentence starter, "One cold night..."

Our Word Wall words were from, have, do, and does.

Week of November 4th, 2013

We have started a new math unit.  The unit is called Solving Story Problems.  We are working on building models out of unifix cubes to show our thinking. Students are being challenged to think of as many combinations to make a certain number.  

We also learned two new math games this week.  They were called How Many Am I Hiding? and Counters In A Cup.  They both require students to solve for a missing addend. 

In writing, we are working on adding our feelings to our Small Moment pieces.  You can tell your feelings but you can also make your characters show their feelings.  We also wrote in our Friday Journals!  Students are getting much better at remembering a letter format.

In Social Studies, we have started learning about Community.  We have read some books about communities and we have brainstormed some communities that we are a part of.  We used Google Earth as a class, and pinned where everyone lived in Jericho.  It was really fun!

In Word Study, we have been working on bonus letter words.  These are words that end with two L's, S's, or F's like the word mess.  Our Word Wall words this week were one, said, and was.