First Grade Book Club (photos)
The first grade book club is based on the book Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby Beeler. Each student read and shared a fascinating tooth tradition from a different country. We had a great discussion. Then they enjoyed reading a book about that country and delighted in sharing the details with each other. Can you see the very loose tooth in the smile of one of the first graders?
Second Grade Book Club (photos)
The second group of the second grade book club has started. We have compared the book Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw to other books with themes designed to Open Windows to Our World. This week students took their first books home to read and reflect how the book opens windows to our world. I am looking forward to sharing ideas next week.
Library (photos)
As we returned from winter break, we shared our reading over break or how we are going to show our respectful, responsible, and kind behavior in the library. It was a great time of reflection and review. I always love to hear what books students are reading and how they plan to take care of the library and books they take home. Each week I have been reminding students of the Six Flags Great America reading deadline, which is Wednesday, February 6th. Hopefully, each student will meet the goal they set for his/her self. All these snowy and cold days are great reading opportunities!
Monarch Voting is about three weeks away so we have been reading, discussing, and encouraging students to think about which Monarch book with get their vote.
Kindergarten has been showing great BAARK behavior as they are selecting books to check out from the shelves. The browser carts are still available to them. We toured and opened the fiction section first and then the nonfiction section. They are choosing books of which they can see the cover. I am reminding them to look inside the book and put it back if it is not the book they want. So now they are selecting books from all over the library. We have been reading and discussing the Monarch books during library.
In addition to reading and discussing the Monarch books in the library, first graders have focussed on the genre of the month, which is informational nonfiction. We have toured part of the nonfiction section to highlight ideas for the students to check out.
Second graders are finishing their landform research. We plan to wrap up by discussing and reviewing why we cite sources during research and when to use an encyclopedia (print and online), a nonfiction book, and an atlas. As teams finish their research, they are reading Monarch books. I shared my hope that every second grader will be eligible to vote for their favorite Monarch book. They have to have read or heard at least five of the twenty Monarch books to be able to vote.
You will see in the photos a great variety of reading that students enjoy. Sometimes more than one student wants the same book and we encourage problem solving. You will see some photos of rock, paper, scissors as students resolve the conflict in a fair way. When needed, I facilitate. I am always seeking ways to encourage positive and kind behavior as well as respectful and responsible actions.
Kindergarten Tech (photos)
Kindergarteners started the month by finishing their winter drawings in Wixie. We then learned some new games from abcya.com to practice our letters and math skills. From a computer skills perspective, students sometimes need to use the trackpad rather than the touch screen. We continue to grow our expertise with both. We are working our way to games that will celebrate counting to one hundred in honor of the 100th day of school. Each week I typically teach three new games for the students to try and then have them select a game that they know if there is time. Enjoy the photos that highlight their work. Should you want to view your student’s Wixie creations, students can log in at any time.
Happy reading and I hope that your family is cozy warm,
Mrs. Heaser