Today, after Afternoon Work Time and a very short Afternoon Meeting, we spent quite a lot of time working on our writing for the Writer's Celebration next week. Today, the kids worked on their illustrations, and also practiced reading their pieces. After that, we headed to the gym for an assembly - the 4th graders had a parade of the "state floats" that each made for his/her state research project. It was quite a show, and the kids really enjoyed it, I think.

When we got back down to our room, had a quick recess outside (after sitting the gym for about 45 minutes). When we got back into our room, we worked more on our illustrations (and finished them!). After that, it was time to pack up and head home!

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we worked on the pieces of writing that we are getting ready for our Writer's Celebration. Each kid read their writing to a partner, and then the parter helped them think of "reader questions" (questions that a reader would have after reading their work) - then they went back to write and answer those questions.

After writing, we took a bit of a field trip. We went across the street to see what the big kids were up to at Field Day. The kindergartners don't participate in Field Day, but I wanted them to see what it is all about, for next year. Plus, it was good to get outside, too.

When we got back to our room, we worked on two pages for our kindergarten memory books, and then headed up to the Media Center to check out books with Mrs. Hennen.

When we got back down to our classroom, we finished the pages for our memory books. By the time we got back to our room, it was time to pack up and head home!

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we had reading - the kids changed the "just-right" books in their bookbags, and then read them. The books are getting harder, but the kids are up for it! Today we made a new record for the number of minutes that we read without stopping - 11 minutes!!

After reading, I read a book to the kids - Edward and the Pirates, by David McPhail. It talks about a boy who gets so into the books that he is reading that it seems like he is actually there. The kids then went to write, and tried to make their writing seem so alive that their reader woudl feel that s/he were a part of the story.

After writing, we went up to the computer lab for our time there. When we got back down, we couldn't resist going outside for a little recess. After that, it was time to pack up and go home!

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we opened still more Flat Stanley mail - one for Andrés from Arizona, Texas, and Maryland, and also one for Adele from Massachusetts and New York. We had a nice discussion about types of cactus - there were some fun pictures from Arizona to see of various kinds.

After catching up with our friend Stan, , we had Writer's Workshop. The kids wrote for about 20 minutes today - and all words (no pictures!). They did a super job.

After writing, we went up to the art room for art class - there was a sub for Mr. Fairbanks today, and the kids worked on drawing pictures of loons. When we got back down to our classroom, we had our last Bravo lesson of the year - Joseph's mom came in and taught us about a local, contemporary composer, Libby Larson. They made a collage while listening to her composition called Collage Boogie.

After all of that, we had just enough time to eat Augie's birthday snack (yum -thanks, Augie!) and pack up to go home!

Enjoy your weekend!

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we talked about the new microphone systrem that we have. All of the classrooms at Burroughs have been equipped with a sound projection system for the teachers to use - the amplification will enable us to use a smaller voice and still be heard all over the classroom. We learned all about how it works, and then we got to try it out. Then Joseph brought in some photos from his family's trip to Niagara Falls and told us all about them (thanks, Joseph - and nice job!!). He even had his Flat Stanley with for the trip! We also sang Happy Birthday to Will with loud instruments.

We then headed to the gym to see the 4th and 5th graders who are in band and orchestra perform their spring concert. It was a great show, and even though it took nearly an hour, the kids did a super job being attentive listeners. After the concert, we went up to the Media Center to check out books with Mrs. Hennen.

When we got back down to our room, we took a couple of minutes to celebrate Will's birthday again by eating some yummy cupcakes that he brought for his birthday treat, and then headed outside for a well-deserved recess. After all that, it was time to pack up and head home!

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we had Writer's Workshop. Today the kids learned about extending stories, as well as about sequencing again (making sure that stories follow a logical chronological sequence). After writing, we had Catalyst class with Ms. Bechtel. The kids got to experiment with the K*NEX blocks (they look like this). Needless to say, they were very creative and enjoyed themselves greatly.

After Catalyst, we had math - we are wrapping up our unit on addition and subtraction. Today we 'discovered' strategies for counting the number of kids in class, and then extended that to counting the number of noses, mouths, and other body parts that each person only has one of. We then 'discovered' ways to count how many eyes, ears, nostrils (and other parts that come in twos) we have in the class.

After math, we had a short recess time outside. After recess, we had just enough time to pack up and head home.

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we celebrated Anna's birthday with her - we sang with LOUD instruments, and then Anna's mom read a book (an "oldie but a goodie" - Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears). After that, we had Writer's Workshop. Today I taught a mini-lesson about sequencing - making sure that the kids' stories go in (roughly) chronological order. It's a topic that we will return to in the comign days, certainly.

After Writer's Workshop, we had Reader's Workshop. today the kids read out of their bookbags, which have their "just-right" books in them, practicing their reading strategies.

When we finished with reading, we headed up to the computer lab for our time there. When we got back to our classroom, we had just enough time to eat some very yummy lemon mini-cakes that Anna brought for her birthday treat (thanks, Anna!!). Then it was time to pack up and head home.

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we started working on a project that um, we still can't tell the world about. It was pretty fun, and it involved many steps, which was fun too. After that, we had a surprise gym class - Mr. Hill and Mr. Peterson invited our class to go along with Mr. Wold's and Mrs. Risdall's classes during their gym time because they were going on a very fun walk along the creek - under bridges, uphills, through woods, etc. It was very fun, and a super day for it.

Wen we got back down to the room, we finished up the project that we started, and also watched a video about losing teeth (and how to take care of the teeth that we have) - it came in some Flat Stanley mail for one of the girls in the AM class a couple of weeks ago, and we are finally getting around to watching it. After all of that, it was time to pack up and go home!

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we worked on a little project that, um, we can't really talk about just yet.

After that, we cleaned up and headed up to the music room for our time there with Mr. Hofmann. When we got back down to our class, we continued to work on the project, and also worked on our May calendar, and the kids filled in the numbers of the days of the month. Their numeral writing has really improved!

After that, we had a short time outside on the playground - what a beautiful day! After all of that, it was time to pack up and go home!

Remember that tomorrow is crazy hat day at school, and also that the all-school picnic is tomorrow evening.

Today, after Afternoon Work Time and Afternoon Meeting, we read Joshua's Star of the Week poster (great job, Josh!!). After that, we read some Flat Stanley mail that arrived yesterday for Will - all the way form Findlay Ohio!

After that, Ms. Bechtel came to our room for Catalyst class. When Catalyst ended, we had Writer's Workshop. We reviewed the several ways that we have learned about that writers make their writing easier for their readers to read. Then the kids went to write. After their writing time, each student shared what the most important thing that they did to make their writing easier for their reader to read.

After all of that, it was time for us to pack up and go home!



P.S. If it was someone in this class who dropped off some lovely flowers yesterday, thank you very much - they are beautiful!

Today we focused for the first half of the day on making May Day baskets. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to make the flowers to put in them. They could put candies in (or make flowers) at home), if you like. Then we went up to art class with Mr. Fairbanks, and when we got back down to our classroom, Joseph's mom Ann was here for our Bravo music appreciation lesson. Today they learned about Duke Ellington, and listened to three of his songs - The Ride of the Magi, Blue Reverie, and Black and Tan Fantasy. They also learned about the rhythm patterns that make up the songs. After that, we had just enough time to clean up and go home.

Enjoy your weekend - remember that there is no school for students on Monday!