Cooperative Combo Christmas Wish

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Santa Letter of Christmas Wishes

The kids have been working hard writing letters to Santa.  They have many special Christmas wishes.  For our class letter to Santa, each child chose one Christmas wish to tell Santa about.  Click play below to hear the class letter.

Christmas Wishes by niemeyerc

QR "Pine" Codes

We are loving QR codes!  The kids really enjoyed the QR hunt around the school last week.  And, in centers this week, we used QR codes to learn about different kinds of evergreens.  Gainans donated several different evergreen branches.

Then, I recorded some information about each branch in a podcast.  The podcasts were linked to a QR code.  So, the children chose a branch and wrote their observations in their science journal.  Next, the kids found the branch's corresponding QR code and listened to some information about that type of evergreen.

 Last, the students recorded something they learned about that particular evergreen branch into their science journals.  The children worked very hard at this center.  I was so impressed with their observations, their ease with technology, and their learning about different types of evergreens.

Gingerbread Glyph

Our latest glyph is a gingerbread kid!  Here is the glyph explanation that the kids had to follow. Click play to hear three students telling you about their gingerbread glyph.  Enjoy!

Gingerkid 1 by niemeyerc

Gingerkid 2 by niemeyerc

 

Gingerkid 3 by niemeyerc

Santa Schema

In reading we have been discussing schema.  Schema is a person's background knowledge on a topic.  Good readers use their schema to help them understand what they are reading.  Recently, we wrote our schema about Santa.  Then, when we read the book How Santa Got His Job, our background knowledge helped us better understand the text.  The kids also drew Santa.  Their Santa schema and art are hanging in the hallway. 

Word BINGO!

I learned of a wonderful website.  ABCya is filled with interactive math and reading games.  The organization also has apps available.  One of the class's favorites is Word Bingo.  We did a Word Bingo relay on the mimio (interactive whiteboard).  The children were having such a blast that I don't think they even realized how much reading skill building they were actually doing!  Please check out the site, you won't be sorry.

"Picnik Show"

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Writers Workshop

The Cooperative Combo is full of talented authors.  During Writers Workshop, the children have time to explore different topics and genres in writing.  The children take their writing through the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.  Each child has a writer's notebook to keep his/her ideas and thoughts.  In addition to the notebooks, each child has a writing folder.  In the folders, students keep their actual stories.  The folders are getting very full!  One of the best parts of Writers  Workshop is at the end.  The workshop concludes with a sharing time.  The students love to read their writing to the class.

Missing Addends

We have been doing algebra! The kids are amazing! One concept we have been practicing is missing addends. For example, 2+?=5. Here is a short video clip of a game we played to help practice this concept. This is a game you can play at home. All you need is three players and a deck of cards. One player is the Sergeant. The two other players choose a card and put the card on their head without looking at their card. The Sergeant tells the sum of the two cards. The players have to figure out the card on their head using the sum and the addend they can see on their partner's head. The first player that figures out their number gets the point.

Tech Time

1st Grade List
1. Chicken Stack
2. Picture Match
3. Gingerbread Man
4. Christmas Lights
5. ABCya choice
2nd grade
1. Word Sort
2. Word Builder
3. Math Lines
4. Christmas Lights
5. ABCya Choice

Wednesday Tech Time

I have an easy list today! Please follow the list in order. The last choice is free choice of TONS of games on ABCya! Don't forget to scroll down to see all your choices. Have fun and learn lots!
1. Word Bingo
2. Christmas Lights
3. ABCya Choices

Thanksgiving Books

Turkey, Gobble, Bump

The kids have really enjoyed playing this game.  I sent a copy home this week.  It is a great, FUN way to practice single digit addition!  I hope you get a chance to play Turkey, Gobble, Bump!

Wednesday Computer Lab

Have fun today! Here is a list of games I want you to try. Please work through the list. If you finish each item you may go back and choose your favorites to play again. Work hard and do your best.

1st Grade
1. Nursery Rhymes
2. Rhyme Time
3. Addition Hidden Picture
4. Subtraction Balloon Pop
5. Starfall

2nd Grade
1. Word Sort
2. Word Builder
3. Dinosaur Eggs
4. Addition Basketball
5. Subtraction Pac Man

iPads and iPods

I have been lucky to receive a few different classroom grants. With the grant money I have purchased 4 ipod nanos, 4 ipod touches, and 2 ipads. The kids use them remarkably well. They pick up new technology with such ease and wonder. I owe a tremendous thank you to all the parents in our cooperative combo classroom. I am overwhelmed with the generosity you have shown by purchasing items on the "Help Our Garden Grow" flowers. I am tremendously thankful. With your wonderful donations, one thing I have been able to do is buy more educational apps, audio books, and e-books for our classroom devices. You have definitely kept our learning growing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Book~A~Night

Our first week of Book~A~Night was a huge success. The children are excited about checking out the books! After the kids have read and returned 10 books they reach their first reading goal and get to choose from the treasure box. A new book is coming home Monday. This week the kids can get four more books closer to their goal. Happy Reading!

Save A Turkey

This week we learned a song about a turkey named Albuquerque. Albuquerque became a pet. His family couldn't eat him for Thanksgiving so they had scrambled eggs instead. We wrote a book called Save a Turkey. In the book, each kid wrote about what they would eat instead. "Save a turkey, eat some ________." said _______. I typed their sentences, then cut them apart. The kids had to put together their sentence like a puzzle. They were very careful to place the quotations marks in the correct spot.
Then, to illustrate the book we used the math concept of symmetry. The children made a symmetrical design out of pattern blocks. Next, they had to transfer the design to paper and decorate a turkey to put on their design. The end product is a classbook! It is one of the most popular book choices in the reading garden right now!

"Picnik Show"

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11-11-11

We had some fun with the number 11 on November 11, 2011! What a cool date! In our math journal we had 11 minutes to write as many equations as possible for the number 11. We also played a game called "Mix and Match" where students had to find fact family matches for the number 11. For example, 4,7, and 11 make the fact family 4+7=11, 7+4=11, 11-4=7, and 11-7=4. In the afternoon, our buddies stopped by to play a math game/puzzle where students had to make the number 11 using addition and subtraction.

Computer Lab, November 9

Today I have a special job for you. I need your help. When you click on the link below, it will give you a long list of addition practice games. During your computer lab time, I want you to play as many of these games as you can. At the end of your time, please write down your favorite game. Thanks!

Addition Practice Games

Team Building

Teamwork.horiz

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Math Games

We play math games weekly in our class. Not only is it a fun and meaningful way to practice math facts, but it teaches the kids good sportsmanship. We have been working on becoming fluent with subtraction facts. We had a "Subtraction Strike Out" tournament. The final round was a first grader versus a second grader. It was an awfully intense tournament. The kids did great and better yet....they got lots and lots of practice on subtraction. They were so into the tournament, I don't think they even realized how much math they were doing! Ask your child how to play "Subtraction Strike Out." All you need is scratch paper and two dice. You could have a family tournament!

Magic E Spelling Game

Last week, the 2nd graders played a game with "Magic E."  They each made a set of cards with short vowel words on them.  To play the game, the pile of cards is put face down between two players.  The first player turns up the card and reads the word.  "Tap."  Then, the player adds an e to the end and says the word.  "Tape."  If the e makes a new word, the player write down the word on his/her list.  Then, it is the next players turn.  Play continues until all the words have been turned.  The player with the most words written is the winner.  Directions and cards for this game came home with your second grader last week.  I hope you get a chance to play and practice this phonics skill.

Retelling Stories

An important comprehension skill for developing readers is to retell a story after reading. Last week, the first graders built a retell map or graphic organizer to help them retell the story of the Itsy Bitsy Spider. We discussed that a good retell states the characters, setting, and problem. It is also important to include story events with details and the story's conclusion. Listen to this great retell. Ask your child to show you their poster and retell the story.

Help Our Garden Grow

Many parents have asked what they can do to help our classroom even though they can’t volunteer to be present physically. Here is an idea. Hanging on our door is a vase. On each flower is written a need for our classroom varying in expense. If you would like to help, take a flower, purchase the item and send it to school. If you need more help, ask the teacher. Thank you so much for your willingness to help.

Autumn Performance

The kids were FANTASTIC! They all did very well. I hope you enjoyed the show.

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Monday is the big performance! Please join us for beautiful autumn poetry, delightful nursery rhymes, and two entertaining pumpkin plays!
Monday, October 31st at 1:30PM.
Room 16

A Dark, Dark Wood

Listen to this fluency and expression! Cole is reading a poem called a Dark, Dark Wood that we learned in class. A perfect Halloween reading. Spooky!
Dark Dark Wood read by Cole by niemeyerc

Pumpkin Bars

Friday, we made pumpkin bars in preparation for Monday's show! Don't worry, there were lots of learning objectives embedded in the cooking. For example, we talked about the nonfiction text features of a recipe. We used math for the measurement of the ingredients. We also spelled our priority words in the batter while stirring!

More Spider Stories

As promised, here are some more of the spider stories from the BOO bags. Slowly, but surely, I am getting them recorded. Enjoy!
Scar by Jaiden by niemeyerc
Caden K's Spider Story by niemeyerc
Aspen's Spider Story by niemeyerc
Tristan's Spider Story by niemeyerc

Candy Corn Math

This week to work on building equations we did some "Candy Corn Math." Each student received a bag of candy corn. They had to think of as many ways as possible to build that number. It was interesting to watch them build and test their equations with the candy corn. As students manipulated the candy they found ways to make their number with two addends, three addends, and even four! At the end of the lesson, the kids had a sweet treat!

First Grade

We love computer time! Go down this list. Play each game and then you can go back and play your favorites. Have fun!
1. Alien Addition
2. Minus Mission
3. Rhyme Match
4. Word Machine
5. Pumpkin

Second Grade

Happy Wednesday! Work hard during your computer time today. Here is a list of activities. When you are through the list you may go back and choose a game to play. Have fun!
1. Word Sort
2. Word Builder
3. Penguins Place Value
4. Ordering Numbers
5. Ghost Blaster

Spider Soup

In writers workshop this week, second graders have been writing some spooky menus. The first graders worked together to write a recipe for spider soup. GROSS! Well, last night I happen to find enough spiders to collect the ingredients for spider soup. Today, we ate it! Their faces were priceless.