Monday, August 20, 2012

Right back at it!

I took a long break from updating my Blog but hoping to get back at it from  here on out. Here's something cute I'm trying for the upcoming school year. I covered a small bulletin board from IKEA with contact paper and put my reward slips on tiny clips. I downloaded the slips from TPT, seusstastic.blogspot.com! I think this will be the best way for my kiddos plus it's portable!


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Happy Spring!

I can't believe it's been 20 days since I updated the blog! I am so sorry!
This time of the year gets SO busy. Actually the next two months are going to fly by. We have begun a three week unit on spring and incests that will wrap up the week after Spring Break. I put a ton of fun, plastic bugs into the science center today. The kids really love them and played with them a lot today. We will be doing a lot of great spring and Easter crafts in the next few weeks so get ready to decorate the house! Of course we will also be discussing The meaning of Easter, reading Easter stories and learning about about the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

In writing, we are learning about the word BECAUSE! We call this a strong word because it makes our sentences more interesting and gives more information. We start by writing about something and then ask ourselves WHY? For example our sentences this week are about a toy and will read something like, "The teddy bear is cuddly because it has fur."

During calendar time we will be using new calendar binders for the rest of the year. We will also be working on more addition and subtraction type problems in our math journals. We will continue to work on number recognition of the "teen" numbers as well as printing our numbers.

After the kiddos return from spring break we will begin a 3 1/2 week unit on "farm life"! This is a great unit and we will end it with our grand Open House. Open House will be on Tuesday,May 15th at 6:00 pm and your presence is mandatory (well maybe not but we REALLY want you to come and see what we will have been working so hard on).

Talk to you soon!! Mrs. Ellis

Friday, March 2, 2012

March 2nd

Hi everyone-

Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday. We made the cutest Dr. Seuss character that I have displayed on our outside windows. Check them out! We worked really hard this week on our writings and you will see a few of them come home today in your child's BEE book.
The zoo was a big hit! I think the children had a nice time. They enjoyed the bus ride just as much as seeing all the animals.
Next week we will continue writing, reading Dr. Seuss books, working on printing our numbers and shapes, counting by 5's, reviewing snap word and having fun!
I sent home a list of snap words for you to review with your child.
Some ideas are:
go over them each night before bed
make them into flash cards and play games
make two set and play memory
look and point out these words when reading a story
have your child rainbow write (use different colors) and spell them as they write
hide them around the house and have them search for words...they only get to keep it if they can read it.....
I will begin testing the children again on phonics and snap word recognition the last week of March!

Come up soon...St. Patty's Day, Spring and Easter, Bugs and then a large 3 week unit on Farm life that leads us up to Open House!

Thanks and have a super weekend! Mrs. Ellis

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February 15th!

Grandparents day was a great sucess! The students were on their best behavior.
Look for pictures of Valentine's and Grandparent's Day coming soon.

Don't forget Friday and Monday school is closed!

Have a great four day weekend. I know I will :)

Mrs. Ellis

Saturday, February 11, 2012

February 11th

Hello Parents!

So just a few things about this coming week.
Don't forget to send in 12 valentines for you child to pass out on Tuesday. We will have a "passing party" with cookies and juice!
Wednesday is grandparents day! If your child has a grandparent coming then they will be in the class with us starting after first recess at 9:50 until after lunch. I will have activities and crafts set up in the classroom and the library for the children to do with their grandparent(s). If your child doesn't not have someone coming, don't worry; there will be lots of things for them to do. At 11:10 the children and grandparents will go to lunch together. After lunch it's time for goodbyes! It is also early dismissal Wednesday at 1:45.

Next Friday the 17th and Monday the 20th- SCHOOL IS CLOSED

So, we added two new words to our word wall this week...."on" and "are". Please help your child learn all their sight words. I will be sending home their latest writing samples on Monday (if school copier is fixed). I'll be sending home the originals from now on so you can really see their drawings. Next week we will begin to write two sentences. I saw a lot of improvement in the class when I did report card testing!

On Monday, I will be starting a Sparkling Manners Jar! Anytime I hear a student use please, thank you, excuse me or another of form of supreme "politeness" they will get to put a sparkly pom pom ball in to the glass mason jar. As soon as it's full we get to have a Popsicle party! I'm REALLY promoting politeness with each other and not bossy sounding voices! Encourage them to be nice to friends and adults! Ask your child when you pick them up if they helped add to the jar that day!

Have an excellent week!
Mrs. Ellis