Article posted May 23, 2013 at 06:59 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 101
This week, students have been working on reviewing what they know about author's purpose. Each one of us has written a blog entry that shows one of the four author's purposes we have been learning about. We are asking YOU to read our entries and see if you can identify the author's purpose! Could it be to entertain? To give an opinion? To tell about feelings? Or maybe to send a message? Comment on the students' blog posts to show what you know! Click on any student blog to the right to test your knowledge!
Article posted May 23, 2013 at 06:59 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 101
Article posted April 22, 2013 at 07:18 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 985
Today we were lucky enough to have Amy from Catherine's Cupboard join us in our classroom in celebration of Earth Day! She talked with students about how the Earth provides us with healthy foods to nourish our growing bodies, and we even got to make some tasty treats! Students loved using fruits, yogurt, kale, and juice to make kale smoothies, and had so much fun making, cooking, and eating kale chips! At one station students were able to discuss our carbon footprint and the impact a large carbon footprint can have on our Earth. In an effort to give back to the Earth while maintaining a small carbon footprint, we made bird seed feeders (instead of buying them)! Check out our "Smilebox" Collage below to see pictures from our Earth Day Celebration! Thank you again to Amy and Catherine's Cupboard for helping us to learn about caring for our bodies and our Earth!
A picture collage by Smilebox
Article posted April 22, 2013 at 07:18 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 985
Article posted April 8, 2013 at 01:57 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 317
Over the past few weeks, students have been working on their second reader's theater entitled, "What's My Job?"! Students worked hard to choose their parts, practice reading fluently and with expression, and even wrote parts of the play themselves! In this reader's theater, students act out a game show in which players have to guess the occupation of the "mystery guests"! We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it!
Article posted February 27, 2013 at 03:55 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 1306
This week we were lucky enough to "visit" California via a virtual filed trip! As part of our Black History Month unit of study, we began learning about slave labor and the large role that cotton played in the lives of slaves on southern plantations. We learned about Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin and the impact this invention had on the demand for slave labor! Our favorite part of our virtual field trip was getting to "dissect" cotton ourselves. Students were amazed at how difficult it was to clean the cotton and get all the seeds out!
Article posted February 12, 2013 at 02:02 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 225
This week we have tried a new strategy for learning our vocabulary words! To help scaffold and support students as they learn new words, we used comprehension process motions! Students worked together to come up with movements to accompany their robust vocabulary words and had so much fun doing it! Here's a quick video to show you some of the motions we came up with this week!
Article posted February 12, 2013 at 02:02 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 225
Article posted December 27, 2012 at 08:31 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 3059
In lieu of a traditional classroom discussion about symmetry, this week, we tried something new! In a typical whole group discussion, students are invited to join in the conversation by raising their hands, usually speaking one at a time. While learning about lines of symmetry this week, we used our iPads and TodaysMeet.com to have a "silent discussion". Students were all able to log in to this student-friendly chat site, where they could engage in a discussion about symmetry. Students were able to read my questions, as well as one anothers' responses throughout the lesson in real time. This improved student engagement, allowed for sufficient think time, and enabled all students to share their thinking! Check out the short video clips for a peek into this "silent discussion" about symmetry!
Article posted December 27, 2012 at 08:15 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 147
Students have been working hard on their personal narratives over the past several weeks! Most recently, students learned about the editing process. They had so much fun using their iPads to edit for spelling. Here, students demonstrate how they use their iPads to look up words which they are unsure how to spell!
Article posted October 19, 2012 at 04:19 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 723
Students have been working on their very first reader's theater over the past couple of weeks and instead of reading from a script and putting on a play, we decided to film it and make our very own broadcast! Students picked the part they wanted to play, and practiced reading their part fluently and with expression. Enjoy!
Article posted September 19, 2012 at 11:29 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 309
Today students worked on their fluency...using their iPads! Students picked one of their "good fit books" and chose their favorite page. They photographed that page with their iPad and then used the "showme" app to record their reading. Students are better able to improve their fluency if they can listen to themselves read!
Article posted September 19, 2012 at 11:29 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 309
Article posted September 14, 2012 at 06:46 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 254
Here, students demonstrate appropriate read to someone behaviors! They're sitting EEKK, using quiet voices. staying in one spot, and reading the whole time! Madyson and Julia show us how they check for comprehension, while Ryan and Jorden demonstrate the "coaching or time?" technique!
This free digital collage generated with Smilebox
Article posted September 14, 2012 at 06:46 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 254
Article posted May 18, 2012 at 06:44 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1032
In Story Town this week, students read, "Let's Go Rock Collecting!" We studied Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic rocks by making our own rock books! Then, we collected rocks and practiced classifying them!
Article posted March 7, 2012 at 01:10 AM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 182
Tomorrow, we will be taking part in Scholastic's Graphix Live Webcast! We are excited to hear from the authors/illustrators of various graphic novels and comics! Following the webcast, we'll be working to create our very own comic strips! Here's an example of what we'll be doing!
Article posted February 15, 2012 at 08:18 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 177
Today, students had a chance to video conference with author and illustrator, Tony Fucile. Students read his book, "Let's Do Nothing!" and brainstormed questions about the story as well as the writing process. Students had fun learning how he illustrates his books and then tried creating their own characters using his techniques! Check out our slideshow to see pictures!
Article posted November 22, 2011 at 07:27 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1017
Article posted November 20, 2011 at 02:34 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 257
Thank you to all who attended our film premiere on Friday! We were so very excited to share all of our hard work-so thank you for a wonderful turnout! For those who were unable to attend, we hope to have a link to the film on our blog, as well as the Bonny Eagle district website next week! STAY TUNED!
Article posted November 20, 2011 at 02:34 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 257
Article posted November 4, 2011 at 02:42 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 589
Students have been working hard throughout the trimester to learn all about solids, liquids and gases! We have become QUITE the experts! To show you all that we've learned, we have filmed a video to teach YOU all about matter! Our film will premiere on Friday, November 18 at 2:00. We hope to see you there!
This free digital invitation made with Smilebox
Article posted November 4, 2011 at 02:42 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 589
Article posted June 21, 2011 at 03:40 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1034
Dear Parents,
"I give you back your child ~ the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give him/her back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature then he was then.
Although he would have attained his growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.
Ten years from now if we met on the street, we'll feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today.
We have lived, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give him back I must. Take care of him, for he is precious. I'll always be interested in your child and his destiny, wherever he goes, whatever he does, whoever he becomes."
~Author Unknown
THANK YOU ALL FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR!
Article posted June 21, 2011 at 03:40 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1034
Article posted June 2, 2011 at 12:44 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 514
We were VERY excited to get back into the garden this week! On Tuesday, we were able to visit the garden and identify many different vegetables and herbs that were growing. Students were very happy to get a little taste of mint (although not quite what they were expecting!) We also worked together to plant some new tomato plants! We are eager to taste more of our hard work!
Article posted April 4, 2011 at 10:02 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1861
We have learned so much about our country through our work with the Great American Mail Race! In order to learn more about our own state, we have been studying Maine's 16 counties by skyping with a classroom in each one! Today, we began our journey by skyping with a second grade classroom at Ames Elementary School in Waldo County. They told us all about their part of Maine, including information about area, population, and more interesting facts! (Did you know Waldo County has no mountains?) We look forward to continuing our "journey" through Maine! Check out our video to see more about what we learned today!
Article posted March 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1555
The Daily 5 is a structured language arts program that helps students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working with peers that will lead to a lifetime of independent literacy. The 5 elements that students participate in every day are: Read to Self, Read with Someone (buddy reading), Listen to Reading, Word Work, and Work on Writing. Click on the slideshow below to view pictures, and even see a video of The Daily 5 in action!
This digital collage made with Smilebox
Article posted March 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1555
Article posted March 4, 2011 at 06:50 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 770
Today students are blogging about the Rain Forest. We are getting ready to begin our third and final science unit on the Rain Forest. They are busy at work writing about what they already know and what they want to learn. We already know a lot about the climate and animals, but are excited to learn even more!
Article posted March 4, 2011 at 06:50 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 770
Article posted February 4, 2011 at 06:49 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1208
This week we began our unit of study on Black History. We have spent the last few days talking about slavery and the Underground Railroad. We have read some great literature including a book called "Almost to Freedom". We also listened to a narrative written by a slave. He told us the story of his life on the plantation as a slave and also about his escape to the North. We learned that life for a slave could be very hard on a plantation, but also learned that an escape could be even more difficult. Today, we are blogging to answer the the question, "If you were a slave living in the South, would you try to escape? Why or why not?"
Article posted February 4, 2011 at 06:49 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1208
Article posted January 28, 2011 at 06:42 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 917
Today we are working really hard at our very first blogs! Students are busy at work writing all about their favorite things. They are doing a wonderful job learning the process, and are really enjoying using a blog to do their writing! They say, "It's more fun than writing on paper!" We are very excited to be learning how to blog together and can't wait to blog independently throughout the remainder of the year! Happy reading, everyone! :)
Article posted January 28, 2011 at 06:42 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 917
