Kindergarten Reading Buddies

Whoo hooo!  Today we got to read to the Kindergartners.  Our goal is to make reading buddies with them and our kick off was today.  We hope to have this grow throughout the year and have the kids make connections with younger kids.  This class will be 5th graders when we our moving into the new buildings and the kindergartners will be 2nd graders so we are working on relationships for the future. All the classes throughly enjoyed the time, attached our some of our students reading in Mrs. Petche's room.  Looking forward to a year of buddy reading. 

Measurement

Today we started our unit on measurement. This unit is very fun for the kids because it has so many hands on activities.  We will be working on this unit until Christmas Break, we hope to do several different projects with this math unit.  Our objective is to help the student be able to measure in inches, half inches, feet, yards, and miles and then centimeters, meters and kilometers.  As in all things everything you can do to this at home will make it much more real for the students. One of the class projects we will do will be to make class Chex Mix, we will include a variety of different things in the mix and if you would like to add please let me know, thanks in advance.

Today in math this class did the COOLEST (sp) thing.  I asked them for different ways to make a 12.  I couldn't believe what they did.  They gave me 26 ways to get to a 12.  This class ROCKS!!!

Planet Posters

Today we are starting our planet posters, this is the culmination of our unit on earth and space.  Each group is responsible for answering seven questions and then finding three facts that they really like. The group will then present their posters and information to the whole class.  After this is completed they will compare their planet to the earth and write a compare and contrast paper on them.  I am looking forward to this process, their curiosity to learn drives them, which is what education is all about, teaching them to problem solve in studies and in life.  Have a great day!

Georgine Wessel

Once a month Georgine Wessel from the Monona County Extension come for science enrichment. Today she came and talked about beavers. She showed us a video that documented a beaver dam being built near her home.  She showed us the trees that the beavers cut down.  How far they drug the trees to the pond and where the dam was being built.  The kids asked great questions and as usual Georgine provided us great information. Be sure to ask your kids what they learned. The picture above shows Georgine in Mr. Adams room, she visits all classrooms when she comes.  Thanks for the visit Georgine, looking forward to many more. 

Observations

          Spent last night grading subtraction with regrouping if you get a chance could you please go over a few problems with your kids, they have problems likes 41-28 down, but not problems like  521-234  or 600-374. We of course do them vertically but the blog won't let me post them like that so if you could write them vertically that will help.  I know they can they just need more practice.  This weeks homework packet will include this kind of subtraction.  
           The other things that I graded looked fine, thanks for your efforts kids.  I also have a parent volunteering in my room this year and am looking for a few more if you would be interested, I could really use help from 9:30-10:10 or from 12:00-12:30.  Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks for becoming a follower of my blog.       

Solar System Project

We had an awesome time is PWIM today.  We have been talking about our earth and the actions that it takes in our solar system.  Today the kids after watching a short clip and us discussing it, they came up with this great paragraph and they were able to demonstrate it in groups of three.
"The earth rotates on its axis. The moon revolves around the earth. Together they revolve around the sun on an orbit."
See if they can demonstrate it at home with you, I was so pleased how they did here at school.  Way to go class you make me proud.