Friday, September 28, 2012

Kenue Park Field Trip

 

We learned about the daily life of a pioneer and a Native American.






School 150 years ago had a few similarities and several differences than school today.  This is the Westport School House.



 We played a few games that were played by boys and girls who attended a one-room school house.  Games included: Pick up the Bacon, Who's Got the Button?, and Drop the Hanky.

On our nature hike we discovered what Iowa used to look like.



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Word Journeys test will be tomorrow!  We will be on a field trip most of the day on Friday; therefore, we will be taking the test Thursday this week.

Ask your child about our "Apple Valley School".  During our social studies time we are pretending we are in a one room school house in the year 1854.  All desks are in straight rows.  Students were assigned new names and an age.  We have the four year olds sitting in the front of the room and the ages go all the way up to 19 with those students sitting in the back of the room.

Our field trip will be FRIDAY this week to Kenue Park.  Please do not send a lunch to school with your child this day as the school will be sending a lunch for each student.  We will be gone from the school from 8:35 a.m. until  12:45 p.m.



Today we had an author, Renee McCuen, visit.  She told us a lot of interesting facts about ants!

Monday, September 24, 2012

T.G. (The Gecko)


 Today we welcomed a new member to our "family."  We learned several things about him today.  We measured different parts of his body and ourselves then compared them.  We learned that his legs are longer than his arms, just like ours!
We also wrote three things about him on Kidblog (KWL - Know; Want to Know; Learned).  Students also did a writing piece about our similarities and our differences.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Friday!

MATH

At the end of math today we did a challenge problem:  How many Jelly Beans are there?!



















Bucket Filler!

Our bucket filler of the week was Hallie!  She "filled" several others buckets throughout the week by encouraging friends, patting friends on the back with their bucket was dipped into, and has always been willing to help.

Class Pet :)

Students were very convincing with their "persuasive speeches" on what we should have for a classroom pet.  Each student who volunteered gave wonderful reasons for why the pet they chose would be a good pet for our room.  After the ballots were marked and counted we had a TIE between a parrot and a gecko. :) Fortunately, we had an electoral college (me) and the gecko won the election!  In the near future, I am hoping to have a gecko in our room.  Thanks to all the parents who helped their child research their animal candidate! 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Classroom Pet

Today we started discussing what our classroom pet should be.  Several students volunteered to research specific animals.  Students who volunteered will try to convince us of what our pet should be by telling us things about each animal.  Examples: They are easy to care for.  They are easy to feed.  They do not cost a lot of money.  They live for ____ years.

After students have given their reasons for why we should have that as a pet, we will take an official vote.  This will happen on Friday.

Students and the animal they will represent:


Drew - fish

Connor - leopard gecko

Maggie - hamster

Chloe - guinea pig

Addisen - hermit crab

Jayden - snake

Gabe - rabbit

Hannah - frog

Sam - parrot

Tommy - chicken eggs

Kids Fish Days!

What a great day!?  I had a blast at Kids Fish Days and I know the kids did too!  We were able to learn about several different types of fish and go fishing.  The fish were really biting this morning and several students were able to catch a fish.  I took a TON of pictures and will be emailing individual pictures to parents, too!




The biggest catch of the day was caught by Chloe!


Fish lips! :)


Monday, September 17, 2012

Bucket Filler!

Congratulations to Tommy for being our Bucket Filler of the Week!  He was always found trying to help friends.  Tommy always uses kind words and is a great listener when his friends are sharing, specifically during math or circle time.  
It was difficult to choose just one bucket filler, because our class has so many!  
Keep up the bucket filling!

Homecoming!

Girls at the pep rally Friday morning! Go Indians!

Lots of red and black!!!

Waiting for the parade to start!

Boys at the parade!

Got candy?

Watching our friend, Tommy, go through the parade with the Homecoming royalty!

Friday, September 14, 2012

FYI :)

Expect these things to come home today:
  • Innisbrook wrapping paper fundraiser information
  • Friday, Sept. 28th field trip information to Kenue Park
Monday, Sept. 17th - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, Sept. 18th - Fish Hatchery 9:30 -10:45 a.m. - Parents- feel free to meet us at the hatchery between these times if you would like to join us.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Jersey Day!

Today there were several students dressed in their Viking gear for Jersey Day!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Math

We have been focusing on number sense and relations.  
Students below are solving a card castle addition problem.  
How many ways can you make 14?


 How many different stoplights can you make?


Mallory is using her math tools to solve the math problem:
 Drew bought M&Ms at the Homecoming game.  There were ___ M&Ms in the bag.  
Drew gave ___ to Gabe.  How many did Drew have left?


Monday, September 10, 2012

Spinning!

Things to Know
Dress Up Days:
Tuesday: Red, White, & Blue Day
Wednesday: Jersey Day
Thursday: Hat Day
Friday: Red & Black Day

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Day 1: PE/Music


Word Journeys
Word Journeys started today!  Students will bring home their "refrigerator page" with their words on it.  This page may stay at home to help students study for their test on Friday!  This will become a weekly routine so please be on the look out for this page every Monday!

Spinning!
 We start off each day spinning as a part of our S.M.A.R.T. routines!  Today everyone was able to wear their pajamas to school for Homecoming week.  The students seemed like they were still in bed when they came to school! :)  Of course, everyone is up and awake now!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Bucket Fillers!

We have a weekly bucket filler.  Each week I am looking for a student who is helping others, is listening to friends, and is doing good deeds.  It was VERY difficult choosing a bucket filler this week because we had so MANY great helpers and friends!  I saw lots of "bucket filling!"  This week Hannah was our bucket filler!  She was always helping friends put materials away, would stack other student's chairs at the end of the day, and was always listening to others while they were sharing.

 Last week I did not get a picture taken so I took it this week.  Our bucket filler last week was Miss Chloe.  Chloe was found helping other students getting school supplies organized and was always a great listener.

Recess

Cale, Sam, and Jake playing football.

Mikayla

Sarah

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Kid Blog!

This afternoon was quite exciting!  We started on Kidblog.  Ask your child to show you what we did today.  Today we posted our first blog and commented on a few other student's blogs.  Hopefully we will see improvement with spelling, typing, and grammar throughout the school year!

Student's must log in to view the blog.  Our Kidblog website: http://kidblog.org/schmidt



Things to Know :)

Tomorrow is picture day!

Book orders are due Monday!

Today we discussed "the past".  Students are asked to interview someone older than themselves.  A booklet for students to complete is in their Take Home folder today.  In honor of Grandparents Day this weekend, if students are able to have a phone interview or sit and talk with a grandparent, that would be great. :)  Students may talk to anyone- a grandparent, neighbor, an elderly person at a nursing home, Mom, Dad, an aunt, uncle, etc.!  Students should try to bring these back to school by Monday.  In the book the students are creating, it asks for pictures.  If the special person they choose to visit with wants to share pictures with them, they may.  Students do NOT have to include pictures in the book they create.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Today in Social Studies

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!  The kids were exhausted this morning but were out of the slump by this afternoon! :)

Today we discussed timelines and began looking at different timelines online.  The student's also created their own timeline.  We are going to begin talking about events happening before their timeline began!  We will be discussing family trees and events from the past (such as the Pioneers traveling west).
Students: ask your parents about your family history.  See if there is something interesting you can bring to our class discussions!

Remember:  
     1. THIS Thursday is Picture Day!
     2. Library tomorrow.