December 7th - December 11th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

End of the quarter reading level assessment

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: little, after, very, where, & get

Word Chunk: “ew”

Word Family: “_all”

Contractions: will (she’ll, he’ll, etc.) & not (can’t, haven’t, etc.)

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Second quarter nonfiction writing prompt (this piece will be scored using a rubric and will be reflected on your child’s grade card)

Math:

Measuring length using different units of measurement (cubes, popsicle sticks, square tiles, etc.)

Measurement vocabulary (taller, shorter, tallest, etc.)

Theme:

Learning about maps

Using a compass rose to determine cardinal directions

Naming the city, state, country, and continent in which we live

Big Birthday Thanks

Thank you all for making my birthday so wonderful.  You all made me feel very special.    I am one lucky teacher!

Ronald McDonald House

Mrs. McKinney’s class is collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House, and I want our class to help! Here is a list of items that you can donate to help this great program:

Magic Erasers         

Lysol

Small Trash Bags        

Bathroom

Cleaner

Comet     

Windex

Clorox Wipes     

White Bath Towels

Disinfecting/bleach spray cleaner

Holiday Party

Our Holiday Party will be December 18th from 9:00-10:30. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

December 16th: Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

December 18th: Holiday Party 9:00-10:30

December 18th: Dismiss at 12:30

December 21st- January 1st: Christmas Break

November 30th- December 4th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Good readers brainstorm information that might be in the text before they read it

Making predictions before reading nonfiction text

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: my, made, over, did, & down.

Blend: “or”

Word Family: _ug

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Using commas in a series to describe the shape, color, or size of our topics

Math:

Collecting data

Organizing data onto a bar graph

Answering questions about the data

Theme:

Learning about maps

Using a compass rose to determine cardinal directions

Name the city, state, country, and continent in which we live

Classroom Pictures

I have uploaded even more pictures onto this classroom blog. Click on the Classroom Pictures tab to see some of the fun things that have been going on in our classroom.

Ronald McDonald House

Mrs. McKinney’s class is collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House, and I want our class to help! Here is a list of items that you can donate to help this great program:

Magic Erasers        

Lysol

Small Trash Bags        

Bathroom Cleaner

Comet    

Windex

Clorox Wipes     

White Bath Towels

Disinfecting/bleach spray cleaner

Holiday Party

Our Holiday Party will be December 18th from 9:00-10:30. Feel free to come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

December 18th: Holiday Party 9:00-10:30

December 18th: Dismiss at 12:30

December 21st- January 1st: Christmas Break

November 16th- November 20th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying and knowing the purpose of nonfiction text features: headings, table of content, glossary, captions, labels, and maps

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: see, no, who, make, people

Word Chunk: “ir”

Word Family: “ub”

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Using commas in a series to describe the shape, color, or size of our topics

Math:

Collecting data

Organizing data onto a bar graph

Answering questions about the data

Theme:

The first Thanksgiving

Researching and recording facts

Creating a cornucopia craft

Fall Weather

Fall weather is here!  Please make sure your child is properly dressed for outside recess. We will go out every day as long as the weather is 32 degrees or above and the wind-chill is 25 degrees or above. There is a strong wind that blows across the playground.  Your child needs to have a jacket, so they can enjoy recess comfortably!

Tiger Pride Assembly

On November 24th, we will have our third Tiger Pride Assembly. Come and enjoy the fun!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so grateful for each one of you and for the opportunity to get to work with your amazing kiddo! Have a great holiday and a great break!

Dates to Remember

November 24th: Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

November 26th- 28th: Thanksgiving Break

December 18th: Dismiss at 12:30

December 21st- January 1st: Christmas Break

November 9th - November 12th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying the characters, setting, problem, and solution in a story

Good readers can use story elements to retell a story

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: some, has, her, like, & him

Word Chunk: “ur”

Word Family: “ot”

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Creating a table of contents and front cover for out nonfiction books

Math:

adding and subtracting within 20

how many more word problems

Example: Mrs. Happel had 10 pieces of candy.  Dr. Prevo has 5 pieces of candy. How many more pieces of candy does Mrs. Happel have?

Theme:

Veterans Day

Adjectives that describe soldiers and veterans

Soldier craft

Fall Weather

Fall weather is here!  Please make sure your child is properly dressed for outside recess. We will go out every day as long as the weather is 32 degrees or above and the wind-chill is 25 degrees or above. There is a strong wind that blows across the playground.  Your child needs to have a jacket so they can enjoy recess comfortably!

Book-It

Last week I sent home a note describing a wonderful program called Book-It. If your child reads 10 books they get a FREE personalized pizza from Pizza Hut.  To help your child read good fit books, I also sent home several paper books on your child’s reading level. Please read these books with your child and have them fill out the Reading Log.  Also, your child can visit Raz-Kids.com to access books on their level as well. Happy Reading!

Dates to Remember

November 26th- 28th: Thanksgiving Break

December 18th: Dismiss at 12:20

December 21st- January 1st: Christmas Break

November 2nd - November 6th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Characters in books have character traits

Describing a character’s inside and outside traits

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: will, how, up, them, & she

Word Chunk: “ar” & “er”

Word Family: “op”

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Including headings in our stories like real nonfiction books

Writing an interesting beginning to our nonfiction books

Math:

adding and subtracting within 20

missing number word problems

Example: Mrs. Happel had 10 pieces of candy.  She gave some to her students. Now she only has 5. How many pieces of candy did she give away?

Theme:

Veterans Day

Adjectives that describe soldiers and veterans

Book-It

This week I sent home a note describing a wonderful program called Book-It. If your child reads 10 books then they get a FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.  To help your child read good fit books, I sent home several paper books on your child’s reading level. Please read these books with your child and have them fill out the Reading Log.  Also, your child can visit the Raz-Kids website to access free books on their level as well.

Website: www.kidsa-z.com

User Name: Orchard1b

WOHE Shirts

Every Wednesday your kiddo is invited to wear his/her WOHE shirt! Let’s show our Willard pride!

Dates to Remember

November 11th: Veterans Day Assembly

November 26th- 28th: Thanksgiving Break

December 18th: Dismiss at 12:20

December 21st- January 1st: Christmas Break

October 19th - October 23rd

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Good readers visualized to help them comprehend the stories they read

Using pictures we drew to retell a story

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: there, can, said, your, & do

Blend: “sc”

Word Family: _ip

Writing:

Nonfiction Writing/Teaching Books

Including headings in our stories like real nonfiction books

Writing an interesting beginning to our nonfiction books

Math:

Determining if a number sentence is true or false

3+7=10

10-7=3

3+3+3=9

3+7=6+4

Theme:

Prior knowledge about pumpkins

Researching questions about pumpkins

Pumpkin non-fiction writing

Tiger Pride Assembly

On October 28th, we will have our second Tiger Pride Assembly. During the Assembly, I will give away four PAWS to students who show PAWS behavior (P: Pay Attention, A: Act Positively, W: Work Hard, & S: Show Self-Control). I will send a secret note to you if your kiddo will be recognized. Come and enjoy the fun!

Orchard Hills 5K

The Fifth Annual “Run for the Orchard” 5K Walk/Run will be held October 31st at Orchard Hills. Can’t wait to see you there!

Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be October 27th and October 29th.  I sent home information and a signup sheet in your child’s take home folder. The times are on a first come, first serve basis, so please return your time preferences as soon as you can.

Dates to Remember

October 27th & 29th: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 28th: Tiger Pride Assembly

October 30^th- November 3^rd: No School

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

October 12th- October 16th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Identifying characters and settings in the stories we read

5 Finger Retelling

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: ride, play, thing, zoo, & nice

Blend: “pl”

Word Family: _in

Writing:

Publishing our personal narrative stories

Writer’s celebration

Math:

All the ways to make 10

Strategies for finding all the different combinations that equal a certain number

Theme:

Prior knowledge about pumpkins

Researching questions about pumpkins

Pumpkin non-fiction writing

Website Pictures

I uploaded several pictures onto our classroom website. Click on the Classroom Pictures tab and check them out!

Orchard Hills 5K

The Fifth Annual “Run for the Orchard” 5K Walk/Run will be held October 31st at Orchard Hills. Can’t wait to see you there!

Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be October 27th and October 29th.  I sent home information and a signup sheet in your child’s take home folder. The times are on a first come, first serve basis, so please return your time preferences as soon as you can.

Dates to Remember

October 27th & 29th: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 28th: Tiger Pride Assembly

October 30th- November 3rd: No School

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

October 5th - October 9th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Flippy Dolphin reading strategy (try different vowel sounds when a word doesn’t make sense)

Scentsy Skunk (asking if a guessed word makes sense in context)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: but, what, all, when, & we

Digraph: “gr”

Word Family: _it

Writing:

Using all the writing strategies we know to  write one more small moment/true story

First quarter district narrative writing prompt (this piece will be scored using a rubric and will be reflected on your child’s grade card)

Math:

Missing numbers (4 + ___ = 10)

Writing numbers to 120 assessment

Theme:

Scientists ask questions and do research to find answers

Apple experiment and journaling

Data Sheets

I started updating the data sheets in your child’s take home folder this week.  Checkout those colored pieces of paper to see how your child is doing on sight words, number recognition, counting to 120, and writing to 120. I wrote their current reading level in it as well.

Orchard Hills 5K

The Fifth Annual “Run for the Orchard” 5K Walk/Run will be held October 31st at Orchard Hills. Can’t wait to see you there!

Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be October 27th and October 29th.  I sent home information and a signup sheet in your child’s take home folder this week. The times are on a first come, first serve basis, so please return your time preferences as soon as you can.

Dates to Remember

October 9th: End of First Quarter

October 27th & 29th: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 28th: Tiger Pride Assembly

October 30th- November 3rd: No School

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

September 28th - October 2nd

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Making connections in books we read (text-to-self, text-to-text, & text-to-world)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: I, not, had, have, & from

Digraph: “tr”

Word Family: _ed

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Using speech bubbles in our illustrations

Using dialogue in our stories

Math:

Identifying common 2D shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, & hexagon)

Attributes of 2D shapes (sides and corners)

Combining shapes to make new shapes

Theme:

Scientists ask questions and research to find answers

Asking questions about apples

School Fundraiser

On Wednesday, your child came home with a fundraiser packet.  Inside there was a coupon book that can be shown when your kiddo is selling them.  This coupon book must be brought back to school when the fundraiser is over or your family will be charged $20. Sell those coupon books and help our school!

Orchard Hills 5K

The Fifth Annual “Run for the Orchard” 5K Walk/Run will be held October 31st at Orchard Hills. Can’t wait to see you there!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be October 27th and October 29th.  More information will come home next week. Keep an eye out in your child’s take home folder.

Dates to Remember

September 30th: Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

October 9th: Fall Party and Half Day for Students

October 27th & 29th: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 30th- November 3rd: No School

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

September 21st - September 25th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

Metacognition: this is just a fancy way to say that good readers comprehend. Ask your child what this word means and for them to sing the metacognition song.

Skippy Frog reading strategy (skip the tricky word and then come back).

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: his, be, at, they, & this

Digraph: “wh”

Word Family: _ap

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Using correct uppercase and lowercase letters

Using speech bubbles in our illustrations

Math:

Identifying common 2D shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, & hexagon)

Attributes of 2D shapes (sides and corners)

Theme:

Scientists ask questions and research to find answers

Asking questions about apples

Tiger Pride Assembly

On September 30th, we will have our first Tiger Pride Assembly.  This year we will celebrate student achievement a little bit differently than last year. Instead of apples, I will give away PAWS to students who show PAWS behavior (P: Pay Attention, A: Act Positively, W: Work Hard, & S: Show Self-Control). I will send a secret note to you if your kiddo will be recognized. Come and enjoy the fun!

Fall Wonder Table

 I sent home a letter two weeks ago requesting fall items to place on our Wonder Table.  These can be pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, etc. These items will help us learn about observing, asking questions, and investigating answers.

Dates to Remember

September 30th: Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30

October 9th: Fall Party and Half Day for Students

October 30th- November 3rd: No School

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

September 14th - September 18th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Listen to Reading” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Launching guided reading groups

“Reread Raccoon” reading strategy (reread when you make a mistake or do not understand what you have read)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: am, car, eat, fun, & girl

Digraph: “sh”

Blend: “cl”

Word Family: _an

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

When you think you are done, you have just begin

Good writers add more to their pictures, more to their words, and use a writer’s checklist

Math:

Counting to 120

Adding and subtracting numbers within 10

Strategies to solve subtraction story problems

Theme:

Fall Wonder Table

How to ask questions like a scientist

How to observe nature like a scientist

Guided Reading Groups

On Monday, I began meeting with guided reading groups. This just means that I am reading a book with your child on their reading level.  Next week, your child will come home with this book in an envelope.  Have your child read the book to you several times. They will be excited to show you how they can use their reading strategies.  Then sign the envelope and have your child return the book to school the next day.

Fall Wonder Table

I sent home a letter last week requesting fall items to place on our Wonder Table.  These can be pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, etc. These items will help us learn about observing, asking questions, and investigating answers.

Dates to Remember

September 18th: PTO Movie Night

September 22nd: Picture Day

September 30th: First Tiger Pride Assembly

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

September 7th - September 11th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Read to Someone” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina during “Read to Self,” “Word Work,” & “Work on Writing”

“Stretchy Snake” reading strategy (stretching out all the sounds in unknown words)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: was, with, for, on, & are

Digraph: “th”

Word Family: _ad

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Using vowels in every word we spell

Stretching out unfamiliar words

Writing a beginning, middle, and end to our stories

Adding more details to our stories

Using a writer’s checklist

Math:

Counting to 120

Adding numbers within 10

Strategies to solve addition story problems

Individual formative assessments

Guided Reading Groups

Starting Monday, I will begin meeting with guided reading groups. This just means that I will be reading a book with your child on their reading level.  The following week, your child will come home with this book in an envelope.  Have your child read the book to you several times. They will be excited to show you how they can use their reading strategies.  Then sign the envelope and have your child return the book to school the next day.

Running Club

 Our WOHE Running Club will begin Thursday, September 17th. Forms went home last week. Running Club meets on Thursdays between September 17th and October 22nd from after school to 4:30. It helps students who want to participate in the WOHE 5K or 1 Mile Fun Run prepare for those races. The 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run is at WOHE on Saturday, October 31st. Come and enjoy the fun!

Dates to Remember

September 14th: Scholastic Book Order Due

September 17th: Running Club Starts

September 18th: PTO Movie Night

September 22nd: Picture Day

September 30th: First Tiger Pride Assembly

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K

August 31st - September 4th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Word Work” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina during “Read to Self” & “Work on Writing”

“Chunky Monkey” reading strategy (finding parts in words we know)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: he, is, you, that, it

Digraph: “ch”

Word Family: _at

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

Using vowels in every word we spell

Stretching out unfamiliar words

Writing a beginning, middle, and end to our stories

Math:

How does “Math with Someone” and “Math Technology” look and sound?

Building stamina for “Math Writing” and Math by Myself”

Counting to 120

Adding numbers within 10

Individual preformative assessments

Box Tops

We are collecting Box Tops for Education.  For every Box Top you collect and turn into WOHE, we receive ten cents.  The class who brings in the most Box Tops each month gets to celebrate with a party! So cut those tops and return them to school.

PAWSitives

 I am sure your kiddo has come home bragging that they received a PAWSitive at school.   I have been very impressed with how everyone has responded to the new school wide behavior system.  Be sure to ask your kiddo what they can earn when they show PAWS behavior.

Dates to Remember

September 4^th: No School (Teacher Work Day)

September 7th- No School (Labor Day)

September 30^th- First Tiger Pride Assembly

October 31^st: Run for the Orchard 5K

August 24th - August 28th

What We Are Learning

Reading: 

How does “Work on Writing” during Daily 5 look and sound?

Building stamina during “Read to Self”

“Eagle Eye” reading strategy (use the pictures to solve tricky words)

“Lips the Fish” reading strategy (get your mouth read and say the first sound)

Word Work:

Popcorn Words: the, and, to, in, & of

Writing:

Writing small moment/true stories

How do writers use resources around the room to spell tricky words?

Writers label their illustrations

Math:

How does “Math by Myself” look and sound?

Building stamina for “Math Writing”

Counting to 120

Theme:

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

Raz-Readers

This week I sent home information about a website called Raz-Kids. This is a great website that allows your child to have access to hundreds of eBooks. You can also download a fee app for your iPad/iPhone or Android device as well.

Website: www.kidsa-z.com

User Name: Orchard1b

Happy Reading!

Word Wall Words

Each week your child will be introduced to new sight words. I call them popcorn words because they “POP UP” a lot when we read.  Willard is moving away from traditional spelling tests.  However, it is VERY important that you review these words with your child each week.  Even though they will not be tested on these words, please have your child practice reading, writing, and spelling them.  How well your child knows these words will be reflected on their grade card each quarter. 

First Quarter Popcorn Words

     the                                    it                                          fun

     of                                     with                                      girl

     and                                   was                                       his

     in                                      for                                        they

     to                                      on                                         at

     he                                     are                                        be

     is                                      am                                        this

     you                                   car                                        eat        

     that            

      

Dates to Remember

September 4^th: No School (Teacher Work Day)

September 7^th: No School (Labor Day)

September 30^th: First Tiger Pride Assembly

October 31st: Run for the Orchard 5K