Explore Tubs

At the end of our day we have literacy stations. During this time the kiddos complete fun activities at one of 5 stations while I work with one group of 5-6 students on very specific things (you may have seen the little books and writing papers that come home). This is a FAVORITE time of day for our kiddos. They may be at writing where for now they are practicing writing strokes, handwriting, and drawing. Later in the year they will be writing sentences!!! They may be at reading where they are reading words or pictures in books that are on their level and above, you should ask them to read you a to hard picture book one day, the stories they make up are usually WAY better than the actual words!! They may be at technology, using the computers, leapsters, or iPads playing word building, reading, or phonics based games. They may be at word work building words with play dough, magnetic letters, or dry erase markers! It is amazing to see their learning in use at the stations!

Probably one of their favorite stations is Explore! In the explore station we work on the very important fine motor skills that we don't get to practice much! So far in explore tubs they have been building letters with legos, practicing building pyramids, making letters with play dough, and cut, rolling, and slicing play dough (we REALLY like play dough!!).

It is time to change these tubs and I am looking for a little help! A lot of the things I need you may have laying around your house!! Check out these pictures with links that are explaining what the students would use the items for, and if you have these items and can share please do!!!

For this we need colored puffs and a muffin tray. In this one the kiddos will be sorting by color-- twist from this version I would have them use tweezers to practice pinching!!

For this station we need single hole punches (preferably ones that are not to tough to squeeze) and bright paper (scrap is fine). 

For this activity the kiddos have to search for the correct keys to open each lock. They will be practicing math skills as well as fine motor placing the key in the lock.

                                         

For this tub we will need buttons for the students to work on carefully placing them on the lines

This one is practing putting nuts and bolts together and will probably be one of the kids favorites!

That is it, if you have any of these things not being used that you would like to donate we would love to take them off your hands!! Also if you have something and you think "this could really work some fine motor skills" then send it on it and I will make it a tub!!! 

Thanks for all your help!!!! I couldn't do it without you!! Of course I would never leave you without something from our class!!! Check out these kids segmenting words with---you guessed it PLAY DOUGH!! 

Bats

This week has been all about Bats!! The questions we were working on answering were "what are the major events in our story, Stellaluna?" and "what does it mean to persevere?" Ask them to give you answers, I bet you get GREAT ones, I know I did!!!!!

In math we began comparing numbers!! They are having so much fun with the games we are starting with!! Check out this awesome video of them playing Split It with their partners!!

Have a great weekend!! Next week we will be learning about the election process!!!

Pumpkin Week

We have had such a great week this week! Lots of new and exciting things happening! We started with a fun field trip to the pumpkin farm!!!

After returning to school we spent the week learning all about the pumpkin life cycle!! 

Then we celebrated and ended our week by making our own pumpkin patches with mud (pudding) dirt (cookies) vines (twizzlers-green) and pumpkin candies!! 

Letters, Letters, Letters!!

It  has  been a CRAZY few weeks in our room, with short days, days off, and house meetings!! We have survived and succeed through it all! We have finished our alphabet A to Z using the Leap Frog Letter Factory (I am sure you have heard the song!!!!). Next week we start focusing on two letters a week and using them in words!! Homework will also start next week, no worries, it is optional, small, and due anytime before Friday :) This past week we have worked hard on being in our literacy stations independently so that we can start Meet With Teacher this week! Fingers crossed it goes as well as the first week did!! We sure are loving our station time!!!

Reading books in the loft for Independent Reading Station

Writing letters, lists, and labeling in our Writing Station!

Playing ABC mouse at Technology and building using our fine motor skills in Explore Station!

Building letters out of Legos in Explore Station!

And our color exploration was off to a great start with R-E-D, red day!!! We sang songs, named things that are red, and enjoyed seeing all the red around our room!!!

Speaking of letters, my last DonorsChoose.org project was funded so quickly I started another one! This new one is to get a set of magnetic letters for every student in our classroom!!! Oh the thinks we could think with these!!! :) If you would like to help by donating, sharing on social media or emailing out to people follow this link: 

Loving Letters

We have already had one donation from one of our incredible grandparents! Thank you very much!!!

We are READERS!!!!!!!

Guess what!!!! We can READ!!!! Yes we sure can!!! In fact we are bringing home our  first book to read to you tonight!!!! But I couldn't wait! I needed to share with you right now!!

Sorry this one is dark!!!

Volunteer Spots Open

I am finally able to open some volunteer spots!!! Yay!! Please keep in mind when volunteering your child/grandchild has to be able to stay focused and with me and not get upset when you leave!! If you try volunteering and it is hard for them (they are my first priority!!) then we may have to stop and try again later when they are more comfortable!!!

To sign up to volunteer follow this link: http://signup.com/go/3NZc2C and follow these directions!!!

We're using SignUp.com (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming SignUps.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/3NZc2C
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.


And I can't leave you without some pictures from yesterday, our very fist try at Math Stations!!!!

Such independent and hard workers!!!! 

Donors Choose

There is a FANTASTIC website called Donors Choose, which helps teachers get funding for items they need in their classroom from places other than the school money or their own pockets!! I have created my first Donors Choose project for the year. You can find it here:

Click on picture for project link!!

Also you can share it to Facebook or through email if you would like to share with your family and friends!! 

When someone donates before August 28 and uses the code LIFTOFF donorschoose.org will match them up to $50!!! Be sure you share that when you share the link!!!!

Thanks for your support!!!!