Friday, October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!!! (Mrs. Bognetti's Class)

This morning we wrote steps on how to teach a witch to ride a broomstick and how to catch a bat in the attic. The children wrote very creatively! Then, we reviewed words with -ear and completed a workbook page. The children were given a Halloween packet to work on when they were finished with their work today. Then, we finished our paragraphs from yesterday. I collected them. We completed our DLP and a worksheet on plural nouns. We also completed three centers. Before lunch, I collected the think tac toe activities. This afternoon, we had a Mystery Reader, walked in the parade, watched an assembly, and had our Halloween party! What a fun day! Please be safe when trick-or-treating and enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started as usual with our DLP and journal. After correcting our DLP we shared our journals. We listed ways to behave, and ways not to behave, at our Halloween party. We reviewed our vocabulary words and completed a 4 square vocabulary sheet. Some need to finish it at home. We then reviewed singular and plural nouns that change. We listed the singular nouns we remembered from yesterday and changed them to plural. We then completed a grammar sheet with a partner and corrected it together. After that we began writing a story using our monsters! We thought of a setting, problem, and solution, and then began writing. We had such a good time writing, we only got to one center! We ended our day with library. After lunch we read for a bit and then began math. We reviewed chapter 7 and took our test! Science came next and we reviewed what we know about a woodland forest. We read on in our book to learn about a new habitat; the rainforest. We completed a science sheet independently and corrected it together. Our day ended with P.E.

The homework for tonight is to read and study Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane, finish your spelling packet/study, get your math test signed, and read our monster story to a family member. Please remember that children that are not being picked up for lunch tomorrow will be responsible for changing into their costumes before lunch is over. Please remember to have everybody back by 12:45.

Thursday in Mrs.Bognetti's Room

Today we talked about abbreviations again. We have learned how to abbreviate months of the year, days of the week, people's names, names of streets, and measurements. We completed an activity together in class. Then, we talked about ABC order and how it correlates to dictionaries/glossaries. We practiced predicting outcomes and completed our DLP. Then, we took some time to take the details we wrote yesterday and make them into a paragraph. After we did a sample together, the students were allowed to use the word wall and their Quick Words for help with spelling. Then, we completed three centers and read with our Book Buddies. This afternoon we took our math tests. The students need to get your signature for homework tonight! Then, in science, we watched a movie on the woodland forest. The students need to read the pages in their books and complete the lesson outline for homework as well. Tomorrow morning we will take the reading and spelling tests as usual. Halloween festivities will begin in the afternoon.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wednesday--Miss Calderone's class

Our day started correcting our DLP and writing our October journal about what we might see and hear in a Woodland Forest. After sharing, we reviewed plural nouns, but learned that some nouns change when they become plural. We completed a worksheet with a partner and corrected it together. We then finished our monsters! They look awesome! Our day ended completing 3 centers. After lunch we had a little bit of social studies and learned about our first landform; a mountain! We then had math. We reviewed counting coins and worked to answer some multi-step math word problems. We completed some workbook pages together. Officer Peterson dropped in and talked to us for a bit, and we ended the day with a little more social studies. We learned our second landform; a plain!

The homework for tonight is to read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly a Plane, and complete math 7-5 OR 7-6 depending on what math class you are in.

Wednesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning we reviewed our abbreviations from yesterday and began a worksheet in class. The students need to finish it for homework. Then, we drew pictures showing our vocabulary words and played vocabulary tic-tac-toe with a partner. The students have a "Scavenger Hunt" to complete for homework, using the story Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane. Then, we re-read the story in groups. After, we completed the DLP for today. Then, we made a list of topics we wanted to write about. We began a graphic organizer using our senses to tell about the topic we chose. Tomorrow we will write those details into paragraphs. We also reviewed plural nouns. We completed three centers today. Then, in science, we completed a couple of worksheets together in class. For homework, the students need to draw a picture of a woodland forest. They have a list of seven items that must be in their pictures. They should have background details! This afternoon, in math, we started adding sets of coins together. The students have one page of homework to complete. We will have a math test tomorrow. Officer Peterson visited the second grade today and talked about strangers, how to stay safe around guns, and to stay away from drugs. The students had many questions for her and may still have more to ask you! Basically, the students need to know that police officers are there to keep people safe. At the end of the day, we visited the library.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tuesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning we were very busy! First, we reviewed abbreviations. We made a list for ourselves to study. We completed a workbook page and I collected the students' spelling worksheets in class. Then, we introduced the vocabulary words for the story this week. Then, we talked about our focus skill for the week: predicting outcomes. While we read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane, we stopped to predict what would happen next. We also discussed what happened at the beginning of the story, middle, and end. We love how Tabby's mood changes throughout the story! Then, we completed our DLP. We discussed adding our senses into our writing. We made a sample graphic organizer together about a dog. Tomorrow, we will see how to write those details into a paragraph! At the end of literacy, we reviewed nouns that change when they are made into plurals (goose=geese). Then, we completed two centers. In Social Studies, we read about landforms. We started a Landform Booklet that will help us learn what each landform is and how it looks. After lunch, we learned about quarters and half-dollars in math. We added sets of coins together. I collected ALMOST everybody's homework (those who were pulled out for dental sealants may have homework to finish). At the end of the day, the students went to art. For homework, the students will ask you to sign two tests: Social Studies and Reading. Also, don't forget that the end of the trimester is nearing...students should be turning in their reading logs soon! Some have already gotten a punch on their passport to Hogwarts. Prizes will also be awarded at the end of the trimester. Then, I will send home a new reading log for the second trimester! READ! READ! READ! Book order forms are due on Thursday.

Tuesday--Miss Calderone's class

What a fast day! We started out today correcting our DLP and writing in our October journals. We read the word wall words for this week and wrote sentences using each word. After sharing, we reviewed abbreviations by completing a workbook page and correcting it together. We then learned the vocabulary for the new story and listened to/discussed Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly a Plane. We completed 3 centers and finished our morning working on our monsters! They're really turning out great. All groups finished coloring them, some finished cutting them out, and many began stuffing. I can't wait to see the finished product! After lunch we headed straight into math. We reviewed the coins we learned and practiced combining 2 different sets of coins to make the same value. We then identified which set of coins had the fewest amount. We worked on a challenge sheet and corrected it together. We ran out of time because before we knew it, it was time for art. When we got back from art we had social studies. We read discussed the new vocabulary and learned about cause and effect. Our day ended with science. We read some pages in our book and learned about the first habitat; woodland forest.

The homework for today is to complete math 7-5 OR 7-4 depending on what class you are in, social studies pg. 13, and read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly a Plane. Also, the parent/teacher conference sheet with our meeting date and time is in your child's folder; please review it.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Monday in Mrs. Bognetti's Room

This morning flew by! After gym and music, we discussed abbreviations at great length. The children need to know abbreviations of the days of the week, months of the year, measurements, and titles of people. We introduced the spelling words (also abbreviations needing capital letters and periods). Then, we talked about more plural nouns, completed our DLP, and how to add the five senses into our writing. This afternoon in math we talked about coins as place value (dimes are tens and pennies are ones). The students have one page of homework. We went to the computer lab to work on landforms, and we read about cause/effect in Social Studies. We also introduced the new vocabulary words for this unit.

Monday--Miss Calderone's class

Our day began with music followed by P.E. We then had our second severe weather drill. The students did an excellent job. When we got back, we worked on our new DLP and wrote in our October journal about what we did over the weekend. After correcting and sharing, we took our spelling pretest. We will begin learning about abbreviations so the first ten words of the new spelling list are abbreviations. After spelling, we began working on our monsters! We'll be decorating, stuffing, and writing about monsters that we create with our partners all week long. Our morning ended with one center. After lunch we read for a bit and then had math. We reviewed the coins we already learned and were introduced to a half dollar and quarter. We completed a challenge page with a partner, corrected it together, and then completed some workbook pages in our math book which we also corrected together. After math, we started our new science lesson; habitats. We watched a short video about different habitats to introduce the unit. Our day ended with media center. We learned about landforms and made some using Kid Pix!

The homework for tonight is to complete math 7-3 OR 7-4 depending on what math class you are in. Also, please sign and return the reading and social studies test.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Friday in Mrs. Bognetti's Room

Today we reviewed words with -ack and -ock. The students came up with a really good list of words! Then, we took our spelling test, completed DLP, and did a review sheet on subjects and predicates. We did three centers today. Then, in science, we started our new chapter on habitats. The students have one page of science homework. This afternoon, we practiced skip-counting by 5s and 10s. Then, we used that knowledge to count collections of coins. The students have one page of homework. At the end of the day, the students had gym class.

Friday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started our day as usual finishing our DLP. After correcting, we completed our last 3 centers. We then reviewed the vocabulary for our story by playing pictionary on the board. We then finished the morning taking our reading, spelling, and social studies test! We are glad that's over! After lunch our mystery reader came in and read Strega Nona to us! We listened very well. We then had math where we reviewed coins and skip counting in order to help us count coins. We used white boards to practice counting coins and then completed some math workbook pages. We finished our day with Music and Celebration Day.

The homework for tonight is to get your science test signed, complete math 7-2, and practice counting coins around the house. Have a wonderful weekend :)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

What a busy day! We started our day completing part of our DLP and writing in our October journal. After sharing, we reviewed our vocabulary by correcting the vocabulary sheet that we had for homework. We then reviewed singular and plural nouns and completed a grammar sheet independently. We also corrected that together. We moved on to complete 3 centers and finished our day with library. We were unable to check out books last week and yesterday, so we had a special chance today to do it. After lunch we silent read and then had math. Today marked the beginning of our money unit. We identified a penny, nickel, and dime, and then completed a sheet to help us remember the value of each coin. We learned how to count money for objects by selecting the largest valued coin first and moving down from there. After math we had science and took our chapter 2 science test. Our day ended with P.E.

The homework for tonight is to read Helping Out and study, math 7-1, spelling packet/study, study for S.S. test, and finally, get your math test signed.

Thursday in Mrs.Bognetti's Room

We worked hard today! This morning we finished our "lost pet" posters. We shared a few of them and they were quite good! The children were very creative. Then, we reviewed longer words with -ear. We broke them into syllables. The students have one page of spelling homework. We had a lengthy discussion today on the main idea of a paragraph. We analyzed several different paragraphs and voted for the best choice. The students really started to catch on! After we completed the DLP, we did three centers today. Before lunch, we got together with our 4th grade Book Buddies and read. It was fun! In math today, we started using coins and learning their values. All of the children need to practice, practice, practice using money! Let them count the change in your purse or pocket! Let them pay when you get to the cash register! It is so important that the children actually USE the money. Be prepared to give your child some coins to practice with and use on to complete his/her homework. There is one page for today. After math, we took our science test. At the end of the day, the children went to Music class. Don't forget there is a spelling and reading test tomorrow!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Wednesday--Miss Calderone's class

Our day started out correcting some DLP sentences and writing in our journal about helping out. After sharing, we worked on some phonics and then practiced writing our spelling words with a partner. When we came back to our desks, we reviewed singular and plural nouns and then worked independently to finish a worksheet. We corrected it together and everybody did an excellent job. We then completed 3 centers. We will no longer have listening center; students were being too loud and distracting when moving from desk to center and back again. Instead, we have a creative writing center! The students were very excited to write scary stories for their first creative writing center. I am very anxious to read them! We finished the morning with Social Studies. We used our glossary to write definitions for the vocabulary words in unit 1. Remember the test is on FRIDAY. After lunch, we read a Time For Kids about bullying. We discussed the article and how to handle being bullied. We then had math where we reviewed for the test, and took our chapter 6 test. Chapter 7, money, was introduced and we will begin it tomorrow. You can help at home by reviewing coins and asking your child to identify different coins and their values. Our day ended with library and book buddies.

The homework for tonight is to read Helping Out, finish the vocabulary sheet, and study for the chapter 2 science test tomorrow!

Wednesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

Today we worked hard! This morning we reviewed words with -ear. Then, we completed a workbook page together. The students have one page of spelling homework. Then, we reviewed our vocabulary words and re-read Helping Out in small groups. After, we completed our DLP for the day. We did a writing lesson today focused on writing details and colorful words. We looked at good samples and not-so-good samples and decided which were the best ones. We took boring sentences and made them into interesting ones. Then, we began a writing project that we will work on throughout the week. We have lost our "pets" and we need to make a poster describing our pet so that someone could find it and return it to us. After that, we completed three centers. In Science we reviewed our vocabulary words. The students learned how to look up definitions in the glossary in the back of their books. They need to complete that for homework and study for the test tomorrow! In math, we reviewed for and took a test on Chapter 6. Next, we will start learning about money. Please start practicing recognizing coins and their values with your child!!! In Social Studies, we took our test. Then, the students went to the library at the end of the day.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tuesday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started our day with completing part of our DLP and writing in our journals about a continent that we would like to visit. After sharing, we talked about how we help out at home, and then read a story about it. We then learned the vocabulary for this week's story, Helping Out, and then listened to it. We then completed three centers and ended our morning with social studies. We completed our vocabulary sheet and took it home to study for the test on FRIDAY! After lunch we had math right away. We reviewed even and odd numbers, and then talked about logical reasoning. We solved word problems using our background knowledge and information from the problem. We completed some work in partners and independently. After math we went to Art, and then finished the day with science. We corrected our homework together and then I questioned the class on topics in the chapter to get ready for our test on THURSDAY.

The homework for tonight is to read Helping Out (and help our family out tonight), math pg. 6-6, and write a paragraph on how to behave in the hallway (we're having some trouble following directions during drink/bathroom break).

Tuesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning we discussed words with -ear and highlighted them in a poem. We completed a workbook page together. Then, we cut apart letters to make our spelling words. Use the letters at home to practice! The students started their spelling homework, but need to finish tonight and bring it back tomorrow. Then, we made a web about different ways we can help out (at home, at school, etc.). We introduced the vocabulary words and used a Power Point to understand the meanings of the words. The students need to draw a picture showing what each word means for homework tonight. We then went over the purpose of finding the main idea. Then, we read the story Helping Out. The story is a photo essay and is non-fiction. After we looked at the pictures and discussed the text, we completed our DLP and a workbook page on nouns. We completed one round of centers. In Social Studies today, we read about Benjamin Banneker and how he helped design our nation's capitol. Then, we started reviewing for our Social Studies test that will take place tomorrow. A note is being sent home about the pages and words to review. The students also need to study their Illinois Booklets. In addition, I also gave the students two worksheets for homework: one sheet covers the vocabulary words, the other reviews North America. In math today, we talked about logical reasoning. We used clues to figure out the answers to story problems. The students had a chance to work on it with a partner in class and will finish for homework tonight.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Monday in Mrs. Bognetti's Room

This morning after gym and art, we talked about r-controlled words with ear (earn, learn, heard, etc.). We completed a workbook page in class and introduced our spelling words having the same pattern. We alphabetized some words to put on our word wall. We completed another workbook page, using our spelling words. Then, we did our DLP for today. We talked about colorful words (adjectives) and how they make our writing more interesting. We also introduced the concept of plural nouns (adding -s or -es). Then, we completed one center. This afternoon, we learned about odd and even numbers in math. We recognized patterns (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 are even...1, 3, 5, 7, 9 are odd). We sang a song to help us remember the patterns. We also used manipulatives to help visualize every cube either having a partner, or not. The students have one page of math homework. In the computer lab, we watched a BrainPop video on the 7 continents. Then, in class, we completed a worksheet about the 7 continents. We reviewed our neighbor to the north (Canada) and south (Mexico). The students have a worksheet on following directions to complete for homework. They will have to color the flags of Mexico and Canada.

Monday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started our day out with Music followed by P.E. When we came back we began literacy. We corrected our DLP and shared what we wrote in our journals. We then learned our new chunk -ear which makes "er" sound. We read a poem and found words with the -ear chunk and then took our spelling pretest. After correcting the words, we reviewed nouns. We moved on a bit to learn about the words singular and plural and then thought of singular and plural nouns. We finished the morning discussing the new centers and completing one. After lunch we came back, got our folders ready, and began math. In math we reviewed ordinal numbers by writing them, and then learned about even and odd numbers. I said a number and the students used cubes to separate into groups. If the groups were the same, the number was even. If the groups were not the same, then the number was odd. We also learned that even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. We finished math by completing some workbook pages together. After math we had science. We finished reading the chapter and reviewed the stages of a butterfly's life cycle. We labeled a life cycle sheet and began to work on page 47 and 48. Many did not finish so it is homework. Our day ended with Media Center.

The homework for tonight is to complete math 6-5 and science pg. 47/48. Also sign your child's reading test and check out their book orders. If you would like to order books, please have the order form and money sent to class by this Friday. Thanks!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Friday--Miss Calderone

What a busy day! Our day started with centers. We completed three centers, however we had a bus evacuation drill right in the middle of them. After finishing up, we had our spelling test and then our reading test. That ended our morning! After lunch our mystery reader came and read to us. We listened to 3 stories! We then had math. Students had to guess my mystery number with clues using words like before, after, and in between. We then learned about ordinal numbers. We counted the numbers on the calendar using ordinal numbers. We then completed some math book pages and corrected them together. Right after math, we went to music. When we came back, we had celebration day and that was our day.

The homework for tonight is to complete the grammar sheet and math 6-4. For the grammar sheet, JUST CIRCLE THE NOUNS IN EACH SENTENCE. :) Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday in Mrs. Bognetti's Room

This morning we reviewed words with -at and -ate by making a web with all the words we knew. Then, we completed a workbook page using those types of words. We also reviewed our word wall words before we took our spelling test. We had a bus evacuation drill. Some students had a hard time following directions. I discussed some concerns that I had with the students when we returned to the classroom. We need to remember to be safe on a school bus! We reviewed subjects and predicates and completed a worksheet in class. After, we completed some centers we took our Reading test. In Science, we drew pictures of an animal from baby to adult. Then, we completed a worksheet together. We will have a science test next week on animals. This afternoon we had our first Mystery Reader. The children were so excited! Due to the lack of response, I am resending the Mystery Reader sign-up sheet if you are still interested. Please send the dates you prefer on Monday! In math we talked about ordinal numbers. The students in my class have two worksheets for homework. The students in Miss Calderone's room have one page. At the end of the day, the students went to gym class and then we took a trip to the library for Celebration Day.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Thursday in Mrs.Bognetti's Room

This morning we talked about syllables and the VCCV pattern. The children caught on quickly. Then, we completed our spelling worksheet in class. We also worked on sequencing. The students re-read The Enormous Turnip together and then had to put pages from the story in sequential order. We completed our DLP. We wrote a story using quotation marks. The students have a worksheet for homework on nouns. We also had Book Buddies. This afternoon in math, we skip-counted by twos, threes, fives and tens. We sang songs to reinforce the concepts. Then, we completed two workbook pages together using a number line and hundreds chart. The students have one page of math homework. In Social Studies, Miss Zagone taught the students about where they live (Addison, IL, USA, North America). The students cut out their "home" and placed it where they live in Addison. At the end of the day, they had music class.

Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we began our day completing some of our DLP and writing in our October journal. After sharing, we worked on some phonics. We then reviewed vowels and consonants. We identified vowel, consonant, consonant ,vowel patterns and learned how to split the words into syllables. We completed a sheet independently and then corrected it together. We then reviewed nouns and made a list of people, places, things, and animals. After literacy we finished 3 centers. Our morning ended with social studies. We completed some pages in our Illinois packet and read some pages in our book together. Continents and oceans were introduced today. Please make sure to use pgs. 38 and 39 to help with the homework. After lunch we had math. We switched again and reviewed skip counting. We practiced skip counting in a big circle to emphasize that skip counting is really adding the same number over and over again. The students did an excellent job. We independently finished some book pages and corrected them together. We then had science where we reviewed how animals change and watched a short video about animal life cycles. Our day ended with P.E.

The homework for tonight to to read and study The Enormous Turnip, complete the spelling packet/study, finish the continent/ocean sheet, and finish math 6-3 (which may be already done).

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Wednesday--Miss Calderone's class

We had a flip schedule today due to the Monday off, so we began our day with Music and P.E. Instead of P.E., we had an assembly about stranger danger! Please remember to talk to your child about stranger danger to reinforce good choices. We came back and began literacy. We learned about nouns and created lists of people, places, animals, and things. We then completed 3 centers. We ended our morning working to finish a grammar sheet on nouns and then corrected it together. After lunch we read Harry Potter for a bit and then switched math classes for the first time! We reviewed comparing numbers and then learned how to find numbers before, after and in between other numbers. We then had science where we finished our growing animal pictures. Our day ended with media center. We found states, their capitals, and their nicknames!

The homework for today is to read The Enormous Turnip and complete math 6-2.

Wednesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning the class had a substitute while I attended a meeting. The students went to gym and then to a presentation of Stranger Danger put on by Officer Peterson with the Addison Police Department. When they returned to class, the reviewed the spelling words and started their homework in class. They need to finish it for homework. Then, they played tic tac toe with their vocabulary words. Each student had to tell what the word meant in order to win the square. Then, the students acted out the story of The Enormous Turnip. Afterwards, they completed two sentences of DLP. They looked at quotation marks and dialogue on a page of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Lastly, they reviewed nouns. Each student has a workbook page on nouns for homework tonight. During science, the class read Lesson 7 and completed a worksheet together. The students have to complete the Lesson outline for homework tonight. This afternoon, I read the second chapter of The Chamber of Secrets to the class. Then, for the first time, we switched classes for math today. The students were so excited! We talked about number lines and the words before, after, and between. The students completed a hundreds chart in class and worked in their workbooks. They have one page of math homework. We went to the computer lab as well. We went to www.apples4theteacher.com and looked at maps. We found our neighboring states and their capitals, too! Then, we finished our Illinois Booklets and re-read Lesson 4. The students have one page of Social Studies homework to complete.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tuesday--Miss Calderone's class

Our day began with a new DLP. After correcting some sentences, we wrote in our journals and shortly after that, we shared what we wrote. We then learned the new "chunks" for the week; -ock and -ack. We read a poem together and identified all of the words with the new chunks. We then took our spelling pretest and received our spelling packets for the week. We learned about our new centers and then completed 3 of them! We finished literacy by reading The Enormous Turnip together and learning the new vocabulary. Our morning ended with Social studies. We reviewed urban, rural, and suburban communities by completing a chart together. After lunch we had math. We began chapter 6 by learning about greater than, less than, and equal to. We practiced the new skill by comparing number on white boards. We ran out of time and had to go to art, but after art, we finished math by completing some math book pages independently and then correcting them together. Our day ended with science. We read about how animals grow and change and then made illustrations of an animal of our choice growing and changing. We'll finish our drawings the next time we have science.

The homework for tonight is to read The Enormous Turnip, sign math test, S.S. pg. 8, and math pg. 6-1. Due to the day off, our normal Monday schedule will be tomorrow. Because of this, we will not have library. We will resume it again next week.

Tuesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning we reviewed skills that we learned last Friday (words with -ack and -ock). We practiced making our spelling words with letters that we cut apart. The students have a worksheet to complete for homework. We discussed the vocabulary words for our story this week. Sequencing will be our focus skill of this week. Therefore, while we read The Enormous Turnip, we focused on what happened first, second, third, etc. We completed two sentences of DLP, talked about dialogue and the use of quotation marks, and discussed nouns. The students have one workbook page focusing on nouns for homework. We completed two centers today. In Social Studies, we worked on wrapping up our Illinois Booklets. This afternoon, we worked on comparing numbers and using the greater than and less than signs in math. Some sets of numbers were equal to each other, so therefore we used an equal sign. I collected the homework in class. At the end of the day, the children went to Art class.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday--Miss Calderone's class

What a fun day we had! Our morning started by writing a paragraph about our favorite type of book to read. After sharing, we completed 3 centers. We completed a quick spelling review and then practiced writing words in ABC order. We also learned how to use the glossary. We worked in partners to find words and write their definitions. It was tough, but eventually we got it. It did take us the rest of the morning. After lunch our first mystery reader came! It was so fun to hear a story from one of the student's dad! In math, we reviewed chapter 5 and then took the chapter test. Before music, the sorting hat came and sorted us into Harry Potter houses! We had such a fun time! After music, we came back and had celebration day. We had cupcakes to celebrate a birthday and played games. What a great day!

The homework for the 3 day weekend is to read The Enormous Turnip and practice your math facts.

Friday in Mrs. Bognetti's Room

Since there is no school on Monday, we started next week's story, The Enormous Turnip, today. We talked about words with -ack and -ock. We introduced the spelling words and completed an activity in class. We completed two sentences of DLP and talked about nouns (person, place, thing or animal). Then, we finished our centers for the week. I collected them. In Science, each child made a food chain with the sun, leaves, slug, frog, and heron. They did a nice job! After lunch, we took our math test. We also finished Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone! The children were so excited that they want to start the Chamber of Secrets next week. There is no official homework over the weekend, but you may want to get a jumpstart on the Spelling and Vocabulary words, and you can always read!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we began our day writing a paragraph about anything we wanted to in our October journal. After sharing a couple paragraphs, we wrote our second grade writing prompt for the first trimester. We then got a new Time for Kids. We read the article together, and then worked in partners to complete a comprehension sheet. It was a bit challenging, but it really forced the students to look back in the text, which is something we all need to work on. After correcting that, we finished our morning with centers. We only got to two centers, so we finished the last one after lunch. We then read Harry Potter for a bit and jumped right into math. We reviewed estimation and prediction, and then completed some workbook pages together. After that we watched a really neat animal adaptation movie in science. It reviewed what animals need to live and how they change to fit their environment. Our day ended with P.E.

The mid-trimester report went home today along with a sheet explaining the report and honor roll. Please make sure you read it. After discussing the mid-trimester report with your child, please sign it and bring it back to school. That is the only homework, but as always, your child should be reading and practicing math fact daily. Thank you so much for your support!

Thursday in Mrs.Bognetti's Room

This morning we reviewed the practice paragraphs that we completed yesterday in class. The students analyzed each others' work. Then, we took our timed writing exam. After, we completed three centers and had book buddies. This afternoon, we practiced problem solving in math. We worked with partners and completed the math worksheet. After, we corrected it together. The students have workbook p. 91-92 for homework tonight. It will review learned concepts for our math test tomorrow. In science, we re-read our lesson and completed a food chain worksheet together. The students have one page of science homework. Tomorrow we will start the next story in our reading book, since next week only has 4 days. Tonight you need to sign the Theme Test results and progress reports are coming home as well. Please review it with your child.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Wednesday--Miss Calderone's class

Today was a really fun day. Our day began with writing in our journal about whether or not we like the rain. After sharing we talked about main idea and detail sentences. We identified the main idea when it was mixed between detail sentences and pasted them in the correct order. After that we talked about writing a paragraph and wrote one together about being a good student. After all that writing, we took some time to do 3 centers. Our day ended with social studies. We worked in our Illinois packet some more and learned what the state tree and flower is! After lunch we read Harry Potter for a bit and then began math. We started by writing number names on white boards and then moved on to learn about estimation. We learned some strategies for estimation and then completed some math book pages together. We then had library. When we came back from that, we had our first session of book buddies!!!! We had a great time reading with our new friends.

The homework for today is to complete math 5-5. Also, a purple slip with your child's theme test grade went home. Please sign it and bring it back to school.

Wednesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning we took a "real" practice writing test. The children had to write about their favorite thing about television. They had 40 minutes to make a 4-square and write the sentences into a paragraph. Some of the children were done, however, in 10 minutes! I reminded them that for tomorrow they need to SLOW DOWN and TAKE THEIR TIME! Others, worked hard for the entire 40 minutes. Tomorrow we will take the district writing exam after we review the paragraphs from today. After that, we completed three centers. Then, we reviewed animal groups in science and did an explore activity. We wanted to see if it mattered where eyes were placed on the head (in front vs. the side). We decided that certain animals need to have eyes on the sides of their head in order not to be eaten by predators! We read a new lesson and watched a short video clip about food chains. The students have one page of science homework. This afternoon, we learned how to estimate in math. We compared bags of different items (paper clips, linker cubes, etc.) and guessed how many items were in each bag. Then, we used our knowledge of smaller bags to estimate how much were in bigger bags. We could count by tens to find our answers. We completed our workbook page together and our homework sheet in class. I collected it. At the end of the day, the children went to the library. Don't forget to send the books back with your child every Wednesday!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday in Mrs. Bognetti's Class

This morning we finished our Theme 1 Test for English. Then, we practiced writing about what we liked best about lunch at Wesley School. Together, we made a 4-square (putting the main idea in the center and then writing three sentences about the main idea, with a feeling sentence at the end). Then, the students had to write it into a paragraph, remembering to indent the first sentence. Mrs. Friedrich and I showed each student where they made errors and the students corrected them. I sent them home in the take home folders. Tomorrow, we will practice again (with less guidance) and they will be timed (for practice). The actual writing test will take place on Thursday and they will have 40 minutes to complete it. Then, we did two centers today. We worked in our Social Studies booklets. We learned about Illinois' motto and state seal. We learned that the state bird is the cardinal. This afternoon, we learned how to write numbers in words. For homework, they must complete their math worksheet and must not have spelling errors! I asked them to take home their workbook page to help them with the spelling! At the end of the day, they went to art class.

Tuesday--Miss Calderone's class

What a fast day! We started our day writing in our journal. We used the word wall word to make sentences. After sharing we reviewed a friendly letter and wrote them to a person of our choice. We then completed two centers. After centers we took our end of unit Theme Test. The test will not be sent home, but you will get a sheet letting you and your child know the earned grade tomorrow or Thursday. Our day ended with Social Studies. We worked in our Illinois packet some more to finish the morning. After lunch we began math. We reviewed what we learned yesterday and completed some workbook pages independently. After correcting them, we ran out of time! We had to go to art, but when we came back, we finished our math lesson and learned about writing the names of numbers. Our day ended with science. We reviewed a food chain and worked to complete our own food chain!

The homework for tonight is to complete math 5-3. As always, continue reading.
***Please check your child's folder for dental sealant information.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Monday in Mrs. Bognetti's Room

This morning after gym and art, we took the first part of our Theme 1 Reading Test. After, we worked on some cross-curricular centers. We also practiced some handwriting: printed letters c and e. I explained to the students that after we cover each letter, I expect the letters to be made correctly. In the afternoon, we learned place value to the hundreds. We used an internet site to practice identifying the value of certain digits in a number. We completed our workbook pages and our homework IN CLASS. I collected it. Then, we went to the computer lab to research our state governor. We recorded many facts and glued a picture of the governor in our Illinois Booklets. When we got back to class, we went online to find a picture of our state tree, the White Oak. The students drew a picture in their booklets as well. While there is no official homework, the students do need to get their reading tests signed to bring back tomorrow. They can also read and add book titles to their reading logs.

Monday--Miss Calderone's class

We did not have a DLP this morning because we will not be starting a new story until next week. Our morning began with music, P.E., and when we came back we wrote in our journals about what we did over the weekend. After sharing, we reviewed a friendly letter. We wrote a letter to a student in the class and later he wrote back! We then cut and pasted parts of a letter into the correct format. Our morning ended with 2 centers. After lunch we silent read and then read Harry Potter for a bit. We moved into math where we talked about tens and ones places and practiced grouping by tens. We completed some math book pages together. After math we had science where we reviewed what animals need to live, and then learned about a food chain. We discussed some food chains as a group. Our day ended with Media Center.

The homework for tonight is to get the reading test signed and complete math 5-2.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Early Release Friday--Mrs. Bognetti's Room

This morning flew by! When the students got here, we wrote in our journals, as we do every day. After sharing our ideas about what we would do if we were fish, we reviewed words with
-ed endings that needed their y's changed to i's. Then, we took our spelling test. We corrected our sentences of DLP. Then, we did some centers. After gym class, we took our reading test. Then, it was time to go! Over the weekend, read, read, read! There will be no new spelling words next week, as we will be Theme Testing in Reading and Writing.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started our day by completing some DLP sentences and writing in our journal about our favorite thing about school. After correcting and sharing, we worked on phonics. We practiced clapping out syllables and moved onto compound words. We identified words that were compound words and ones that were not and put them into a t-chart. We then completed a workbook page with a partner and corrected it together. We completed 3 centers, and to end the day, we worked with partners to finish a beginning, middle, and end story map for Wilson Sat Alone. We needed some extra time after lunch to finish, and then shared our answers. We read Harry Potter for a bit before starting math. In math, we discussed how to change groups of tens into ones (1 ten = 10 ones). We practiced skip counting by tens and worked to complete some math book pages independently. After correcting, we started science. We accessed our background knowledge by making a "What animals need" web before reading/discussing some pages in our book. We finished science by completing a worksheet independently and correcting it together. Our day ended with P.E.

The homework for tonight is to finish the spelling packet/study, read Wilson Sat Alone/study, and complete math 5-1.
*****Please remember that tomorrow is a 1/2 day! The students get out at noon.

Thursday in Mrs.Bognetti's Room

When the students got here this morning, they finished their thank-you letters from yesterday. Then, we built compound words (star + fish=starfish) and clapped them out by syllables. We completed a workbook page together. The students started their spelling worksheet in class, but need to finish it for homework. After, we talked about narrative elements (characters, setting and plot). Then, we re-read Wilson Sat Alone in groups. Each group was responsible for writing the beginning, middle and end of the story on dry-erase boards. Then, we shared with the rest of the class. We completed two sentences of DLP. Then, we practiced finding predicates (or telling parts of sentences). The students have one page of homework to finish for English. We completed two centers today. Then, we read with our 4th grade Book Buddies. This afternoon, we worked with tens and ones in math. We used an internet site to see a demonstration of how to combine ones and trade them in to make a ten. They have one page of math homework. In science, we read about insects, birds and fish. We took notes and copied a chart that is displayed on the wall. Then, the students started working on the Lessson outline. They need to finish it for homework. Don't forget that there is a reading and spelling test tomorrow. The students were instructed to bring home their reading books for review tonight. Also, remember that tomorrow is Early Dismissal Day. Students are finished at 12 pm.