Monster Squeeze

Last Friday, we reviewed a game that the crew learned in Kindergarten called Monster Squeeze. The object of the game is to guess the leader's number. After each guess the leader tells whether his or her number is higher or lower than the guess until the range is narrowed down and the number can be guessed. This game gave us a chance to review old skills, learn new skills (as we increased the difficulty level of the game this year) and practice leadership skills. We will continue to play this game over the next few weeks until more students have a leadership opportunity.

Team Building in Math

Last Thursday, we did a team building activity in math. Our task was to create a design using pattern blocks. We had to create only one design with our group of 4 or 5 and we all had to contribute to it and agree on what the design would look like. This is actually a very tough task but our crew rose to the challenge and worked through their different ideas. The first pictures below are the beginning stages of our work and the later pictures are towards the end and you can make out some of the finished designs.

Exploration Stations

One of our favorite times of day is Exploration Stations. During this time students work with a partner at different stations around the room while I work on reading with small groups or individuals. Stations change throughout the year. A few of the stations we have include Build and Create, computers, iPads, classroom library, math activities, listening station, reading big books, handwriting, Wonder and Explore, word work, pocket chart activities and more. You will see some of these stations below.

Coin Bags - On Monday your child will need a bag of coins to use during math time as we learn to count money and make change. So if you haven't already sent one in, please make put your child's name on a sandwich size bag and fill it with 20 pennies, 5 nickels, 10 dimes and 2 quarters.

IA (Integrated Arts) Class
Our IA next week will be Music.

Morning Meeting

We begin each day with a morning meeting. Morning meetings help ease us all into the day. They consist of a message about our day that we read together, a greeting, a song, sharing time and an activity. Our activity this morning was called Person to Person. We had to work with a partner and touch our knees together or our fingers together and more. Enjoy the photos of this below.

Reminders
Pictures - School Pictures are tomorrow. Our time for pictures is 10:40 am. A reminder flyer is in your child's backpack. Order envelopes were available from the office during Listening Conferences.


Coin Bags - Your child will need a bag of coins to use during math time on Monday (and for the rest of the year)as we learn to count money and make change. Please make put your child's name on a sandwich size bag and fill it with 20 pennies, 5 nickels, 10 dimes and 2 quarters.

Our School - It's a Great Place!

If you get this post by email, you will need to go directly to the blog to view this video.

Great First Day

We had a great first day. We had so many things to learn about how first grade works and we will learn more tomorrow. It was a bit too busy to take pictures but we did get a couple. You might ask your child about drawing his or her self-portrait or singing Happy Birthday to Mr. Tyler and Isabella.

Almost Time!

Ms. Wendy, our Educational Assistant, and I are excited and ready for our first day of school on Wednesday. We can't wait to see you!

Shh, don't tell but this picture is from last year. (We still look the same, though.)

Message to Last Year's Crew
 
I am sad to say that it is time for you to unsubscribe to this blog and move on to second grade. It is very simple to unsubscribe. When you get the email from the blog, look at the bottom of that email for a little link that says unsubscribe. Click on that link and follow the directions. Hope your child has a great year in second grade!