week 25

What a fun week of discovering! After reading a fiction story called "Hattie and the Fox," we listed what we wonder about real foxes. We wondered about what they eat, where they live and sleep, if they have a life cycle, if they are fast, etc.  Then I read an informational book on foxes to the class.  We found answers to our wonders.  Each child worked hard on writing a fox report.  I gave them a choice of publishing their report using Educreations app on iPad.  Of course, everyone chose to do so.  You can find their report on their blog.

http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2012-2013/

Next Week

Family Fun Night on Monday 6:00-8:00

NO SCHOOL on Tuesday due to the state basketball tournament

Week 24

Thanks to Izzie's mom for planning the Valentine's party!  We also appreciate Levi's mom for helping us with the party and Ava's family for providing yummy treats!  We had a sweet day:)

Next Week

Wate Helper --- Ava

Show & Share on Friday

Sight Words test on Friday

Family Fun Night on Monday 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.

Week 23

We had a very tough week in first grade.  A tragedy of loosing one of our students is unbearable.  Our students had a lot of questions about what happened.  They had a chance to write a card to Jonah if they chose to.  I was encouraged by what many students said to Jonah.  "You will celebrate your birthdays in heaven." "You will get pretty wings and a spinning thing on your head." "I'm sorry that you died... But you will have a good time in heaven."  I know that death is such a hard concept for 6/7 year old to fully understand, but I was amazed by their positive thoughts and encouragements.  Thank you for helping your child get through this tough time.

Monday was our 100th day.  We chose not to use the word "celebrate" but still did some activities.
Here are some photos of us going on a QR code hunt.  We had to scan the codes to find math problems.  When we answered all the questions right, a secret message was revealed:).



Our trip to the Lakeside Lab was wonderful! Enjoy the photos below.  I will also send you a link to your child's Educreations.

Next Week

Water helper --- Alisha

Valentine's Day Party on Thursday

NO SCHOOL on Friday, February 15

Week 22

Please continue to visit your child's blog.  We have been posting a lot of learning blogs.

http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2012-2013/

Upcoming Events

Monday, February 4 --- 100th Day

Wednesday, February 6 --- Lakeside lab Field Trip

We are studying about the earth and its three components:  Air, land, and water.  To help students understand some of the properties of water, we will be taking a field trip to the Nature Center.  Charles Vigdal, the County Naturalist, has planned some fun activities for the students.  We will be going outside so please have your child bring their winter gear-snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, and coat.

Our Class will be going Wednesday, February 6 at 8:40.  We will be back by 11:00.

Week 21

To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day, we learned a lot of facts about segregation and works that Dr. King went through to make our country a better place for EVERYONE. After reading a book called "Martin's Big Words," we brainstormed his big words (below).  Then we wrote our own big words.  We created a poster on the iPad.  It was sent home through Box.com so please make sure to check it out.

We also read a story of Ruby Bridges.  We could not believe hardship that 6-year-old Ruby went through.  We wrote a letter to Ruby.  I was very touched by their compassion and sincere empathy that my students expressed in their letters.  I actually sent a link of this Little Bird Tales to Ms. Bridges' official site.  I hope she will have time to view it some day.

• Click to view my tale.
• 

Next Week

Water helper --- Tyler

Sight Word Test --- Friday (I haven't had time to test lately... I will make this happen!)

Upcoming Event

100th Day of School

We will be celebrating our 100^th day of school on Monday, February 4. Our first grade classrooms have many fun activities planned for that day. You can help by collecting 100 of something with your child. We have had children bring 100 popcorn kernels, 100 m&m’s, 100 paper clips, 100 raisins, 100 seeds, etc. Our goal is to see what 100 looks like. Please have your collection here by Friday, February 1st.

Lakeside Lab Field Trip

Our class is going on a field trip on Wednesday, February 6.  It will be there most of the morning.  I am looking for two chaperones.  We will be participating in activities in the lab as well as hiking down to the lake.  Please let me know if you are interested!  

Valentine's Day party will be on February 14.  If you are interested in organizing the party, please let me know.

Week 20

Have you visited your child's blog this week?  If you haven't, please do it first!!!

http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2012-2013/

On Monday we got to Face Time with Izzie's mom who was visiting India.  It was exciting to see her on a screen even though she was on the other side of the world!  We could hear her loud and clear.  We all had great questions to ask her.  It was interesting to see what people wear, the way they carry things (on their head), language they speak and write and a lot more!  Some students blogged about what they learned about India:)  Thanks Angie for taking time to talk to us!

We worked on fiction story writing.  We focused on including characters, setting, problem and solution  in our story.  We also improved our writing by adding "voice" such as sounds, noise, or what the character said.  Most of us chose to read the story and record our voice.  You can find the recording on your child's blog.

We spend more time exploring solids in science.  I was amazed to know all the thinking that my first graders are doing!  iPads and blogging are really giving us more opportunities to voice our thinking and learning.  Of course the best part is that we can share them with you also!

Next Week

NO SCHOOL on MONDAY, JANUARY 21

Water Helper --- Tavin

Sight Word Test on Friday

Show & Share on Friday

Week #19 & Revised January Calendar

We started learning about three states of matter in science.  Solid, liquid, gas... we spent a lot of time investigating objects in our classroom.  On Thursday Charles, the Dickinson County Naturalist, visited us to explain the water cycle.  It is a hard concept, but we will spend next few weeks to study more about the cycle.

We are also having a blast publishing and reading comments on our Kidblog.  If you haven't had a chance to visit your child's blog, please do so!

http://kidblog.org/MrsDeGrootsClass2012-2013/

Next Week

Water Helper --- Payten

Sight Word Test on Thursday

Important Date

NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 21 (Professional Development Day)

Revised Calendar