Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

This morning we began with another story about a plant’s life cycle, worked to complete some sentences in our DLP and then wrote in out September journals. After sharing, we did some phonics and then talked about what a table of contents is. We found some information using a table of contents and then completed a worksheet together. We then completed 3 centers! After centers we visited Mrs. Bognetti’s room to watch a few Eric Carle based movies! We had a blast! After lunch we read a bit of Harry Potter and then started math. We reviewed chapter one and then took our first math test! I hope everybody did a great job! We had a little time for science so we labeled a plant and talked about the job of each part. We ended the day with gym.

The homework for today is to read The Mixed Up Chameleon and study for the spelling test tomorrow! I will be giving a regular spelling test, however for the first end of story reading test, I will be helping the class through it.

Wednesday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started with another story about seeds. After reading we completed 2 sentences in our DLP and wrote in our journals. After sharing we did some phonics and then completed a Mixed Up Chameleon web together. We then worked to finish 3 centers! We haven’t had a ton of time to do centers because we’re still getting the quirks figured out. After centers we reviewed what we learned in social studies and then learned about what a law is and what voting means. We finished a sheet together. After lunch we began math by finishing yesterday’s lesson. We learned about how “in all” means to add and “are left” means to subtract. We worked together and independently to finish some workbook pages. After sharing some number stories we went to library. We were still unable to check out books so we spent some time on the computers. We finished up our day with a lima bean experiment! We put lima beans in plastic bags along with a wet paper towel. After taping them to the window, we predicted what our bean will look like in 1 week, 2 weeks, and finally 3 weeks. It should be interesting!

The homework for tonight is to read The Mixed Up Chameleon, math pg. 1-4 and social studies page 3.

Tuesday--Miss Calderone's class

Our day started with a story about a sunflower. We reviewed how seeds travel and then began our DLP (Daily Language Practice). Most mornings we’ll complete a couple sentences in our DLP; it requires that the students correct and re-write sentences. After our DLP we wrote a bit in our journals and some students shared what they wrote. After that we reviewed the vocabulary for the story. We got together in partners and completed a sheet which we later corrected together. The next topic on our agenda was main idea and detail. We learned what the purpose of a main idea is and the job of the detail sentences. We then finished the morning with 2 centers. After lunch we came back and immediately began math. We learned about sum and difference and some students shared the number sentences that they thought of. We had to finish math later because we had Art today. When we came back, we finished math and had science to end the day. We reviewed what we learned yesterday, and learned about the jobs of different plant parts today.

The homework for tonight is to read The Mixed Up Chameleon, math 1-3, and science pg. 7 and 8.

Monday--Miss Calderone's class

Today was a very fast day. As soon as we got to school we had music followed by P.E. When we came back we read "The Tiny Seed" and talked a little about Eric Carle. He is the author of "The Tiny Seed" and "The Mixed Up Chameleon" our reading story for this week! We then did some phonics work and read "The Mixed Up Chameleon" together. Time was escaping us so we only had a little time to do centers this morning! We learned about centers and had a little time to do only two. This week and next (possible the week after that) I will walk around and help the students learn how to work during centers. Once we get the hang of it I will begin grading their work. It's a lot, but as soon as we get used to it, we'll be able to accomplish even more. After coming back from lunch we read Harry Potter for a bit and then began math. We talked about skip counting and how it is just adding the same number over and over. For example, if you are skip counting by 2's, you continue to add 2 to each number. We completed some workbook pages together and then played a game! We got in a huge circle and counted by ones, two, and fives. It was a lot of fun! We then enjoyed the weather for a bit by going outside. We finished our day with science. We completed a plant web and worksheet together. Check out your child's take home folder!

The homework for today is math 1-2 and read for 2o minutes. The reading book should have been taken home so you can read "The Mixed Up Chameleon"!

Friday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we started with a story that we didn’t finish yesterday. We then worked on phonics and read one more story. We used white boards to write words with new chunks and then listened to a short story called “Only a Toad”. We learned the new chunks for our spelling list next week and had our first spelling pre-test. It looked like everybody did a great job! We finished our morning by previewing The Mixed Up Chameleon. After lunch we came back and read another story about a mixed up alphabet! The students really like it! We then began our first math unit: numbers. We colored an aquarium and counted the number of fish in it. There were lots of big, bold and beautiful pictures! After that we completed a math workbook page together and then celebrated a birthday! We had yummy cupcakes and drinks. Today was our first day of music as well. When we came back, we completed a handprint that included some facts about us.

Please check out the assignment sheet! Over the weekend math 1.1 is homework. Please be aware that homework is very important and teaches responsibility; if a student forgets to bring his/her homework, his/her name will be moved down to Slytherin and not moved up until the homework is brought in. Have a great weekend!

Thursday--Miss Calderone's class

Today we began our day very well! Everybody came in quietly and remembered what to do! We started our day reading a story and then worked on phonics. After that, we each got a boy or girl cut-out and colored ourselves exactly as we looked today! We then used white boards to make words with new “chunks” that we learned. For example, one chunk was –est. Students thought about and wrote words with that chunk: west, best, test, etc. I had some very long lists! We then wrote in our journals about something we want to learn in second grade. We finished the morning making more words with “chunks”. After lunch, we came back and began reading Harry Potter! We then made big, bold, and beautiful drawings for our book boxes! They look awesome! Students talked with their neighbors about really neat things they saw in their science book and then together we made a t-chart about topics we already knew about and things we want to learn more about. We started the new chapter on plants by making a web about what we know already about plants. We then had P.E. (gym) at the end of the day. We had a great second day!

The only homework is to read 20 minutes tonight.

Our First Day!

We had a wonderful day today! We began our day with a story followed by some introductions. I shared 5 things about myself and then answered some questions, and then each student stood up and shared one thing about themselves. It was really neat to learn about all of the new students! We then went back and began putting some of our supplies away. Before we were done, we went to the PBIS assembly where we talked about good choices outside, in the hallway, lunchroom, and washroom. When we came back we finished putting our supplies away. After lunch, we read another story about monsters going to school! We made sure to talk about the book not being real :). After that we wrote about what we look forward to in second grade and even got a chance to color a bit! Before going to library, we began a survey about our school and class. We were able to finish that when we came back. While at library, we had a lot of fun on the computers! We'll get to begin checking out books next week. Our day ended with reviewing letter sounds. Please look in your child's take home folder; there are many important pieces of information!

I hope your child had a great first day and I will see you tomorrow!