Santa's Elves

Today during our last guided reading station we heard a twinkling sound.  It was coming from my cell phone.  We received a text message with the code PDXSO.  I put the code on the board and someone in the class thought maybe it was a Nearpod code (feel free to put it in the Nearpod app to see what our class saw).  It was a message from Santa!!!

Santa needed our help!  The toy car making elves had disappeared and he needed our class to build new toy cars.  We filled out Elf Applications and I faxed them to the North Pole during our specials.  Everyone was approved and hired for toy making!!

We were given specifications.  Our toy cars need to travel 3 feet off a ramp and they need to be able to be pushed at least 2 feet.  We got to work in pairs or groups of threes.  We built cars, gave them a test run, and then made changes to make the cars go further.

Check out the video and pictures below!  Tomorrow we will give our cars the final test in front of the class before sending them off to Santa! :)

Thank you to Santa's helpers who were able to send in Lego wheels!! ;)

Who Will Pull Santa's Sleigh

Yesterday we read the book, Who Will Pull Santa's Sleigh.  The reindeer were sick and Santa needed new helpers.

Our class applied to be one of Santa's reindeer.  Check out the application below!

After getting their applications approved, each student received a red nose!!! :)

Weekly Update: December 15-19

Progress Reports:

I'm so sorry the progress reports did not go home Friday!!  I guess my sub did not see them because they were still sitting on the table when I got back to my room Friday afternoon.  They will go home tomorrow.  Please sign and return the progress report.  Thanks!

Reading:

This week we will be spending our reading time engaged in a variety of holiday books.  We will continue to discuss the characters, setting, major events, as well as similarities and differences among experiences of these characters.

Math:

This week we will focus on word problems that have missing addends.  For example:  The reindeer played 5 reindeer games before lunch.  Then they played some more reindeer games after lunch.   They played 9 reindeer games before bedtime.  How many games did they play after lunch.

In order to provide these problems as real-world problems, the first grade team has created videos from home or school that we will use to get student help in solving this real-world problem.

Secret Activity:

I am SO EXCITED about the fun, secret activity I have planned for our students.  This is a STEM activity (science, technology, engineering, and math)!!!  I can't wait to post videos and pictures from this activity!

Mug Exchange:

Sometimes during the holiday season our students get caught up in what they want from Santa Claus or from Hannukah, etc.  We are hoping to promote kindness and giving by having a Mug Exchange!  Please send in the wrapped mug filled with goodies (no more than $5) by Tuesday, December 16th. :)

**My daughter is also in first grade, and she had so much fun picking out her items from the Dollar Tree!  

Upcoming Events:

December 16th:  Field Trip:  Nutty Nutcracker

December 16th:  Send in wrapped mug filled with goodies.

December 19th: We will have an AR party (Christmas book read aloud) for students who have 50% of their AR goal)

December 19th:  At 2:30 we will have our holiday party.

Happy Holidays!!!

A Few Pictures and a Video

This month we are working on cooperation.  Below you will see a video of a group of kiddos holding hands and trying to work together to keep a balloon in the air.

The students below are creating digital stories from their guided reading book!!

Weekly Update: December 8-12

This week I will only be at school on Wednesday. :(

Tomorrow I will be out with family for medical reasons.

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I am involved in technology trainings.

I know it's difficult for everyone when I'm out, so please bare with me and my subs as we get through the week.  They are going to do there best to keep each day as normal as possible, but I can't guarantee AR folders and planners will get signed each day.

**I've got lots of fun stuff planned for the next week to make up for my absence!!! :)

I will be checking e-mails, so please feel free to contact me with any concerns.  I know they are going to have a great week, but they are babies and I worry! :)

Upcoming Events:

December 16th:  Field Trip (Nutty Nutcracker)

**Please check out the December Newsletter under the Newsletter tab.