100th DAY!!!

January 26, 2011 and what a fabulous 100th day of school it was...

These pictures don't even begin to describe the fun and excitement of the day.  We made hats, we wrote how we would spend $100, estimated 100 steps and then took those 100 steps around school, and made 100th day bags of trail mix.  We rolled the dice to 100, and drew what we would look like at 100 and what we would like to be able to still do.  OK had to laugh at Dylan's, he wants to play his DS in the wheelchair, look at his work. 

We made portraits from torn paper and I will have to add those 1st thing in the morning.  They were the best ever!  We ended the day talking about what we have learned and what was most memorable these past 100 days.  One child said I can't pick one, the list is too long. Oh to be 6 again and in the 1st grade celebrating the 100th day of school... Oh yeah, the kids were given 100 to make a picture.  Check out the robot and people from Dylan and Aidan. Very creative!

Make sure to check out the Smilebox with our 100 bag collections.  Can you believe it? Noone brought the same as another.  It was great fun hearing how the kids came up with what they would bring and by the way I sent them home today so if your candy bag came back a few short you know where they went.

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It's a bird, it's a plane, or maybe a penguin...

Last week the theme in our reading series was birds.  We learned a lot about birds and about penguins in particular.  We read various non-fiction and fiction stories.  We learned about what they eat, where they live, and what they can do.  Each student completed tree maps and then used the tree maps to write about penguins.  I found a website that taught how to draw a penguin and create a background scene.  Above you see pictures I taught the kids how to create!  For any of you that know me you know I am the stick person queen so these pictures were quite amazing to me!  I have some pretty talented students!  Wonder what else I could help them create...

Snowballs

I have to tell you I love the monthly family projects.  I love seeing the creativity and hearing the stories that go along with the finished project.  This month is no exception.  Take a look at the snowmen that showed up at our classroom after reading Lois Ehlert's Snowballs.

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Happy New Year 2011!

Each year I talk to the kids about goals for the new year.  It is always so exciting to have something to look forward to throughout the year.  Recently I attended a few Zumba classes and so my new year goal was to learn how to Zumba better.  I am still working at it and will keep you posted.  Make sure to check out my 1st grade friends and the things they want to accomplish in the year 2011.  Reading Counts was quite popular so I better get my favorite books out and start spreading the word.

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Catchup from 2010...

How did the time get away from me? That last week before Christmas Break was a blur.  Our class was involved in a Gingerbread Exchange.  We made some "beach" gingerbread boys and girls and then mailed them to 36 schools around the United States.  In return, we received 36 gingerbread men. They were fabulous!  Don't take my word for it, make sure to watch the Smilebox for the pictures. 

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We even had a Gingerbread Day where we sorted, graphed, and ate gingerbread cookies!  The next day was Grinch Day and boy was it fun!  The class enjoyed me reading the original book more than the movie if you can believe it!  Another day centered around reindeer.  We learned some interesting facts and you can see the tree map in the Smilebox video.  The week ended with a Polar Express pajama party.  I couldn't help it, the pictures were so cute I had to make another Smilbox. Enjoy and there is so much more to come in 2011.

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