Week 15

Students practicing instruments for the music program

Kids waiting to begin the music program

1st and 2nd grade getting ready to begin the music program

Students working on ornaments for our Thailand flood fundraiser

Students working on ornaments for our Thailand flood fundraiser

Students working on ornaments for our Thailand flood fundraiser

A student with the stocking she decorated

Student participating in a science experiment with a skewer poked through a balloon

This was another excellent week for our class.

Special Activities: The students put on a great music program this week.

Funny Stuff From Kids: I only remember one from this week:  I gave each of my students a mechanical pencil to try out.  When one student was out of lead, he told me, “My pencil is out of lemonade!”  

Homework: Make sure the students keep up on their homework! Since the copy machine was broken, I couldn’t send home next week’s homework packet today.  I was only able to send home next week’s spelling list. 

Social Studies: For social studies recently we learned about the terrible flooding in Thailand this year.  My students wanted to help, so this week for social studies we made Christmas ornaments that we will sell for fifty cents each to raise money for the kids in Thailand.  First parents and students have the opportunity to buy them.  Around Tuesday next week I’ll spread the word and open it up for teachers and others to buy them.

Math: This week we talked about telling time to the nearest ½ hour.  Students should be able to read a face clock now and know that it says 1:00 or 1:30, etc.

Project Read/Spelling: This week we focused on r blends, but we worked on harder ones.  (Basically, an r blend is when r is the second sound in a word, such as trick or frill.  This week we made r the second sound, not just the second letter, such as shrink.)  Students worked hard, and even though it is a difficult concept, they did well overall.   

Speedy Words and Rocket Math: Each student is progressing on their facts and instant words!  I am wondering if students are memorizing the facts or just the answer sheet, though.  I am going to try to start finding ways to test them on the facts, not just the same page over and over.

AR: We had our first Samurai (80 books) this week!  Everyone is progressing on reaching the goal of 20 books for the next quarter, and many already have their 20.  Great job!

Writing: This week we did a writing project about getting to know other friends in our class.  We practiced writing questions so that we could ask our friends questions about themselves.

Science: Because of the extra time to practice for the music program, we were not able to do science this week, but I am looking forward to doing it again next week.