Classroom Check-Out Library

Today I introduced a new center in the classroom.  Our "Classroom Check-Out Library" will have it's Grand Opening tomorrow!  This center is designed only to increase self-motivation to read independently and to encourage the love of reading! Your child has a plastic purple folder with them today.  It will tell you all about this new center.  Please be sure to look over it carefully and make sure you "sign" for their book each night (or however long you would like to keep your book)!  Once your child "reads" 30 books, they will get a special certificate!  It may take you until the end of the year to read 30, or it may take you only 30 school days--it doesn't matter.  The end result I hope will be the inspiration of reading!

The "purple folder!"

Inside left pocket--this is where the signature page is for you to sign for each book.

The inside right pocket holds your child's book each day and some helpful reading tips!

Close up of the signature page.

This is the chart where your child will put the pink ticket from their book, into their pocket.  So that we know who has what book at all times! :)

Close up of the pockets!

Book Return Basket

The books are easy readers.  There are four different categories...

Scott Foresman, Listen to Me Readers

Sunshine Readers (these will be the longest books)

Scott Foresman Independent Leveled Readers

(Your child will not need to choose based on their reading level--remember this is purely for enjoyment)

Our simplest books--Earobics ABC readers

Akaylin and Amelia checking out their FIRST book!

Cooper is trying to decide what his first book will be! :)

Happy Reading!

Love,

This week (so far) in one post!

We have been so busy this week!  Here are a few of our activities we have been doing!

Math

We are working on measurement in our Math Journals!  Here is a page we completed with a partner.

Ally and Cooper

Akaylin and Quin

Quin

Marcus and Brenden

Word Families

I am in love with these precious monster bags!  Each bag has a tag on it with the different word families we are learning about.  I called up a table at a time to play our "game."  They had to turn over a card and put that word in the correct monster.

Thanks to The Inspired Apple and Abby, I found this great monster sheet to go along with our word family monster activity!  We recorded our -og word family words!  The kids LOVED it!

Nathan and Akaylin

Akaylin and Angel

We had to sort the words into the right monster.

Christian, Abby and Marcus

Blocks

Lately we've been having "block issues."  This is a center that I struggle with adding literacy elements to.  So, on Monday we added a basket of books about building different things (pyramids, houses, hotels, etc.) to give us ideas on what to build.  We also added our "Block Creation Journal."

When they are finished creating thier block masterpiece, they have to fill out a page in our journal...

This has been the center to go to this week!  I was worried they may be resistant but they LOVE drawing and describing their creations!  Every morning before centers they get to share their journal page with the class!

Happy Wednesday!
Love,

Bob Parsons--Walk About Puppets!

Today Mr. Bob Parsons, from Walk About Puppets came to present "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" puppet show to our school!  He was outstanding!  First he taught us some sign language, then performed, and finally ended with a Q&A session on how he created his puppets/props!  The kids had a blast!  Here are some pictures and videos!  Hope you enjoy!

Our precious class waiting for the show to start!

Mr. Parsons fabulous pop up book!

Mama Bear

Papa Bear

Goldilocks

Uh-oh, she broke Baby Bear's rocking chair!

Videos

So funny!

Amazing book!

Once Upon A Time...

The finale!

How he made the wonderful pop-up book!

I hope you enjoyed as much as we did!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,

Veternarian Prop Box!

Today we learned all about prop boxes!  Our home living center needs a face-lift right about this time of year--so I always pull the prop boxes out.  Today we read a book about Veternarians and transformed our home living center into a real vet's office!  It will be open tomorrow! 

Miss Craig called small groups over to read the book and explore materials.

We have pictures of animals and vets hanging up!

Inside our prop box!

An excellent book that we got from the fall book fair!

Have a great Wednesday!
Love,