Science Thursday!

Students explored the question of whether light can pass through materials.  Using the scientific process, students made predictions, a plan, and made observations.  Our scientists then recorded their results and shared their thinking.  INQUIRE with your child what opaque, transparent, and translucent mean.  Which items did they find to be opaque? Transparent? Translucent? What did they learn about how light can travel?

February Buddy Time

This morning we visited our buddies and made valentines together. Students thought about who around our school helps us learn and grow each each day.  Together, buddies made cards and included special messages to various school community members. We'll deliver them together next week!  

Music

I caught the end of music class on Tuesday.  Students were singing and playing a variety of instruments!  INQUIRE with your child what they like about music with Ms. O'Hara!  

Day 100

Thanks for all your support at home to help your child prepare for the 100th day of school! We had a great day, filled with many 100 themed learning.  This morning, we took a tour of all the first grade classrooms to check out all the 100's day projects. Check out some of the projects in the slideshow below!  This wasn't even close to all the projects we saw today!  Hmmm...81 students, 100 objects on each project, how many objects all together? INQUIRE with your first grader to see if they have any mathematical estimates??

The class read a 100 day poem during morning meeting and one of our friends wrote his own 100 day chant!  Students read 100 day stories, wrote 100 words, counted to 100, added numbers to 100, and so much more!  Our first graders are officially 100 days smarter - and almost second graders!

Check out the 100 day page to see snapshots of our 100 day old first grade superstars (on side column, you will see 'pages.'  Click on 100 day to access the photos.

Valentine's Day

We will celebrate our community on Thursday, February 14th, focusing on the ways that people care for each other, and the importance of good friends. If your child wants to bring in cards, have them bring them for ALL classmates. Please see the attached class list your child created to ensure all children are included (this will be send home in their red folders this week). This is a great opportunity to practice fine motor skills - cutting, glueing, and drawing! Go ahead and start early..homemade cards are strongly encouraged! Have your child think about our special helpers around the school that help make each day fun and exciting! Please do not send your child with any candy for him/herself or for their friends.

If you’d like to send in a special snack for this day, please contact me.

*We will be traveling to the Post Office on Tuesday, February 12th.  

Schedule Change- BB

Please note that February birthday breakfast date is changing, due to my absence from school on February 21st.  We will have birthday breakfast this month on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20th. Same time, same place! As always, let me know if you plan to come!

Are you reading the blog???

As I reflect on each week and spend time updating the blog, I often wonder if anybody is reading what I write! I'd love to get an idea of how many of you out there are spending time each week, checking the blog and eager to find out what your child is doing at school.  The info collected will help gauge how often I write, how much I write, etc.  If there is any additional information you are looking for from our day, please drop me an email or comment below.  Please take a minute and go the blog (if you're reading on email)  Miss Closter's Blog- direct link and complete the poll on the side bar.  Happy Reading!

Inquiry Science

This week's question was, can vibrating materials make sound?  Students experimented with different sized rubber bands while making observations of the high and low pitches caused by the vibration of the rubber band.  INQUIRE with your child what they observed and concluded!

Teaching Books

Last week, students prepared one teaching book for publishing.  Although we are not finished with this unit, we took a break to learn about how writer's edit and revise.  First graders need to be able to use upper case letters appropriately, punctuation, commas (list), and be able to read their connected writing. Students also need to make sure their writing makes sense, and their reader can comprehend their connected sentences.  Students spent time revising by making sure they had all the elements of nonfiction writing and editing before adding a bit of color and sharing their creations.  Each student will read their book aloud to the class over the next few days.  Stop by the classroom to learn from our student writers.  Topics range from penguins, ponds, and dinosaurs, to nails, yoga, and the earth!

Self-Control Assembly

Fifth graders, along with second graders inspired us this week to work on self-control.  Students from Mrs. Adams and Mr. McClane's classes ran the monthly assembly on Wednesday.  This month, our focus will be on self-control. During the assembly students watched an interactive game show featuring self-control challenges, interviews, heard advise, and watched a dance to help learn about what self control looks like in all areas of the school. Our class plans to work on self control in the hallways and on the playground this month.  The video clip below is called, "Recess Rocks" put on by the second graders.

Math Games

Math Workplaces are used to practice math skills. A variety of games are offered for children, at varying skill levels.  Students work with peers and independently to practice new math skills and develop fluency each day.  Fluency is an important component of not only reading, but math too. Students are expected to develop fluency in solving addition and subtraction problems, sequence numbers, count numbers, compare sentences, and determine equality, all with understanding and speed.

Addition Neighbor Facts
Looking for strategies to add and subract

Help! A Skua!
Place Value

Beat You to the Top
Addition/Subtracting- Adding On

Beat the Timer
Sequencing #'s beyond 100

Spin to Win Bingo
Adding 9/10 Neighbors Fluently

Journey to Antarctica
Adding 10's and 5's.