Thirty-Sixth Day

Today we compared the school experience from the past to today's school experience by looking at very old photographs. We read a nonfiction selection about baby animals and another about animal parents. We reviewed and recorded the main idea and details about the selections.

Math test tomorrow

Thirty-Fifth Day

We discussed how animal parents protect and provide for their baby animals using our robust vocabulary for the week. Our total through seminar is now 11 and 4 students have completed their Unit 1 project (we are now working on Unit 2).

We worked on balance today in P.E.

Our Topic 6 math test will be on Friday.

Thirty-Second Day

We are focusing on short-vowel 'o' in phonics and spelling. We read a nonfiction selection called Hello! Hello! to learn the difference between a summary (a comrehension strategy) and a retell while learning about the main idea and details (comprehension skill). We have changed focus from examining the self and have moved on to examine the importance of family and friends.

We took a trip to the book fair to find three titles each to put on our wish list, just for the fun of it.

For topic 6, we've been working on different strategies to use when adding in lieu of using fingers to count.

[U2/Wk1/D1]

First Parent Discussion Question

From time to time I would like to post a question on a topic which I would appreciate parent input. I would like parents to share their experiences, if any, with the PearsonSuccessnet resources. Things to consider:

• The ease/difficulty of creating an account and navigating the site
• The usefulness/benefit of the resources to you and your child
• Any impressions, comments, questions which you would like to share with other parents this year
• How you've been able to use the resources

Just as a side note: this blog has received over 500 hits so far from 7 different countries.

Thirty-First Day

If memory serves correctly, (we had several false starts) 2 students made it through seminar today before our earthquake drill. Behavior (from our class) was very good during the drill. That brings our total to 10 through seminar. We listened to our weekly oral vocabulary story "Roberto Clemente" today and learned why he was a true American hero. We used clues from the story to determine the author's purpose for writing the story. We blended words with final consonant blends. We read a high-frequency word story called I Like to Help. We wrote a personal narrative journal entry about doing something with a friend.

We took the Topic 5 test today. With 24 students taking the test, 21 passed with a score of 16 or better. Three students earned a perfect score, 3 earned 21, 7 earned 20, 2 earned 19, and 4 earned 18. Tests will be in backpacks tomorrow.

P.S. Slip-on shoes still coming off.

[U1/Wk5/D2]

Thirtieth Day

We are up to a total of 9 for seminar. We discussed teamwork and why it's important. We revised earlier statements about pets. We began work with final consonant blends.

We will take our test on Topic 4 tomorrow.

Conference forms are in backpacks; please return as soon as possible.

Week Preview and Home Project Idea

The last instructional segment of our unit on All About Us will center on what we like to do with friends. Our robust vocabulary words include: focused, offer, charity, admire, and challenging. In phonics we will focus on final consonant blends ('-nd', '-st', '-ng', and '-nk'). In social studies, we will also discuss symbols of the United States. In science we will continue our work with forms of matter.

Election day will soon be upon us and in order to mark this date (Nov. 8th) we will be holding our very own election for class president complete with speeches. If your child is interested in holding the office of class president, please help them to formulate a speech which they might deliver to the class on this date. I will tape the speeches, as usual, using an Apple program. They can easily be transferred to a flash drive for those interested parents.