Friday, June 1, 2012

Happy Summer!

Thanks to all the students in 1st/2nd and their families for a super year!  Enjoy your summer... 
as you can see my children have wasted no time starting summer:)

See you all back in the fall!

Final Balloon: Pick Your Own Spot in the Classroom!

It's pretty exciting when you are in first or second grade and you get to move your desk to sit in any spot in the classroom to sit by your friends!  All 8 balloons have been popped!  This was such a fun way to end a great year.  Have a wonderful summer everyone!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Balloon 7: Reading Time Outside + 5th Grade Dino Dig

A beautiful morning to enjoy a book outside!  In the afternoon we visited the 5th graders uncovering bones during their dino dig.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Balloon Number 5: Marker Day


On Friday we popped balloon number 5, and the message inside said to use a marker on your assignments all day long.  As if this wasn't exciting enough, the students got to pick out a "teacher" marker to keep forever!  The kids couldn't have been more excited... who knew how happy markers can make kids:)

Finally It's Mrs. Gjere!

Mrs. Gjere is our Title I teacher, and she is in and out of our classroom working with students a lot during our days.  Very often after reading the Mystery Reader clues, the class would say, "Oh, it has to be Mrs. Gjere!"  Then she would come walking into our room to work with students, and we'd know it wasn't her.  I thought that Mrs. Gjere would be the perfect finale!

The 3rd clue really threw the class for a loop: "I biked across the United States when I was 23 years old."  Nobody guessed Mrs. Gjere, but a few students thought maybe their parents had secret biking lives they hadn't shared with their children!  When Mrs. Gjere came into the room, they had to think about it for a second before they realized Mrs. Gjere was really their Mystery Reader!

We spent a lot of time discussing her biking trip; the kids found this fascinating!  Mrs. Gjere did an awesome job helping the kids make inferences as she read "Willoughby and the Lion."

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Authors' Celebration + Ice Cream = Balloon Number 4


Our balloon popping event today was an Authors' Celebration with the kindergarten class along with an ice cream treat.  We wrote and published poetry in April, but we still haven't had the chance to share it.  This provided us with the perfect opportunity!  The kindergartners also shared books they recently wrote and will be sharing at their kick out!