Apples, Apples

Class made chart and paper apples :)

Tomorrow is the day! Apple picking is one of my favorite fall activities and I can't wait for us to head to the orchard tomorrow. It's going to be a great day!

I reminded everyone that even though it is supposed to be warm tomorrow, the orchard can get muddy. Please dress your child in sneakers or boots. The bus will leave promptly at 9:15 so if your son/daughter gets dropped off in the morning, please make sure they are at school on time. Bags for apples will be provided at the orchard. We will eat lunch when we return to school. Please make sure your child packs a lunch because we will miss lunch in the cafeteria.

We started a few apple activities in the classroom yesterday and today, but our unit will continue into next week. I am going to be sending home a little note tomorrow about making applesauce with our orchard apples on Monday. Students will be able to donate an apple tomorrow (only if they want to!) to help make our applesauce. Yummy! 

Volunteering

Thank you to everyone that has emailed/sent in a note asking if they could chaperone our field trip on Friday. While I wish I could bring everyone along, unfortunately I am only allowed to take one extra adult to the orchard. Mrs. Murphy, the school psychologist, will be traveling with our class. I will snap lots of pictures though and post them for you to see! Also, if everything goes as planned, we will go on a walking field trip in the Spring. This one will be open for any parents that want to chaperone.

If you sent in a volunteer slip, please check your email when you get a chance. I sent out the schedule to the email you provided on the form. Thank you!

Field Trip and Volunteers

Today the first grade teachers and I sent home permission slips for our apple orchard trip this Friday! Please sign and return the slip as soon as possible. We will leave school at 9:15 and return around noon. Because we will miss lunch in the cafeteria, please make sure your child packs a lunch for that day. If it is nice out, we might eat on front lawn of the school. If not, we will be eating in the classroom. Please do not pack any peanut or nut products that day just in case we eat in the room. Unfortunately, I am severely allergic. :( Thank you for understanding!

I am still compiling the class contact list. I got a few more forms back today. I will wait until Wednesday to get forms from everyone who wishes to be included.

I am also finalizing my volunteer schedule. Those of you that expressed an interest to volunteer should be hearing from me sometime during the next few days. :) 

Thank you! 

Math Update

This week in Math, the students learned all sorts of games to practice some fundamental skills. The games are an engaging way for students to interact with a partner to build their number sense. Here's some partners in action:

On Friday, I introduced the students to a new routine in our classroom: Math Tubs. During math tubs, students rotate through two different tubs/stations. The tubs are filled with games or activities we learned during the week. There is also a station on the rug where students read math books and a station on the computer where students can engage in a variety of math activities. I change some of the activities in the tubs each week, and the students have different tubs/stations each week too. This is a great way to get the students engage in all kinds of different activities independently around the room. Once the routine is in place, this will allow me time to pull small groups of students and provide extra practice/teaching with particular skills.

Here are a few pictures from Friday!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy Friday!!

Don't these adorable self-portraits just put a smile on your face?? :)

Our Favorite Books

Earlier this week in Reader's Workshop, we continued our discussion about our identities as readers. We brought in our favorite books from home and compared them to learn more about our interests as a class. Several readers brought in books about dinosaurs, dogs, and horses, so we determined that a lot of students like reading about different animals. We even had someone bring in a really neat picture book about presidents! We shared with each other why these books were our favorite and what others might find interesting about them. Then, I gave everyone time to share their book with a buddy!

The books are being displayed in the room for everyone to enjoy and share. They will return home next week! :)

A Few Quick Things!

Thank you to everyone who has sent in a note offering to volunteer in the classroom! A form will be going home this week. Please fill out the days/times you are available and send it back. I am hoping to be in contact with everyone interested by the end of the weekend to set up a schedule.

Also, we have a new member of our classroom: Mrs. Palenstijn! She is going to be with us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until the end of December. Mrs. Palenstijn is coming to us from Curry College to complete some of her practicum work. She will be observing and assisting small groups of students around the classroom. I am very excited to have her join us!

I'm looking forward to seeing all of my "blue" friends tomorrow. Have a good night!