Monsters and Billy Miller

Today we continued working on our Monster creations!  We are inventing monsters of all kinds!  We will write a description of our monsters after we draw them and his/her habitat.    Look for the finished project at conferences!

Today we started The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes.  We have been reading his books for the past two weeks.  He writes all types of books including chapter books.  This book is very special because it is about a boy in 2nd Grade!  We are so excited!

There is no homework this weekend!  Please read and play outside!

Band Aid Lesson

Today we did a lesson using band aids as a way to talk about fair.

I asked the students to think about a time they got hurt, such as a scrape, bump or even a broken arm.  Each student had a chance to tell the class about his/her injury.  After hearing their story, I gave each student a band aid and placed it on the back of his/her hand.  At first, they thought this was great!  After I had given out half of the band aids, the kids started to question why I was putting it on his/her hand even though the injury might have been on the knee or elbow.  Some students couldn't think of an injury, but they got a band aid anyway.

Once everyone had a band aid, I asked if everyone had a band aid.  They replied yes!  I asked if it was/would help their injury.  Some students thought yes, but a few said not really.  One student said her scrape was much bigger than the band aid and another said a band aid doesn't really help a sprained ankle at all.    

Then we talked about fair and equal.  Yes, it was equal that everyone had a band aid and it was in the same spot, but it wasn't what some students needed at all or helpful.  We talked about how this is like our classroom.  Students will get what they need to be successful, it may not be exactly equal.  Yes, there are times it will be equal such as with a treat like a sticker or snack.  There will be other times that some students will get more time, more/less work etc. because it is what they need to learn.   It could also mean students get a special spot to work and others work at their desk,  As a teacher, it does not mean I like one student more/less than another, I am trying to help all students learn and be successful.    

Fair is not everyone getting the same thing.   Fair is everyone getting what they need.

Betsy Lewin

This morning illustrator Betsy Lewin came to Brimhall to talk to us about her job.  She is an award winning illustrator!  

She talked to us about her life.  She lives in Brooklyn, New York.  Her husband is an illustrator too and they live in a building that is over 100 years old!  She has a cat who is sometimes less than helpful with her illustrations.  Ask your child what he/she remembers about Betsy.

She read us her newest book Click, Clack Surprise!  As your child about the book and what makes it so funny!

She introduced us to her special monster character, Weirdly.    Ask your child about what he did!

At the very end she drew us some animals for our library.  It was a great way to start our week!

This afternoon we practiced fact fluency and then played a game of Addition Top It!

5th Grade Buddies!

Today we had a surprise!  We met our Fifth grade buddies!  We are working with Mrs. Hudella's class.  It was a lot of fun and we will be seeing more of each other this year.

Here are some things the kids said about their buddy time:
   
     - This was the BEST surprise EVER!

     - My buddy was super nice!

     - My buddy lives by me.

     - I already knew my buddy.

     - My buddy likes math, just like me!

     - We like some of the same things!

     - My buddy is helpful.

     - My buddy has good handwriting.

Friendship Pie

We have been working on Friendship Pie!  We read the book  Enemy Pie about a boy, his enemy and how they become friends.  We were inspired to make our own Friendship Pie.  We talked about how we make friends and what makes a good friendship.

We wrote a recipe for our own pie and then made a friendship pie!  Our finished products are on display.  We hope you stop by to read about Friendship Pie!

We have also been having a lot of fun in Phy. Ed. using the parachute!  Mrs. Brink shared these pictures.  

Shared Reading

Today we read with a partner for the first time!  We talked about and H. and I modeled what good partner reading should look and sound like.  Ask your child if he/she can tell you about how to partner read.  

We have been reading Asha in the Attic in Literacy this week.   It is about a young girl and her Grandpa.  We practiced making connections to the story.  For example, thinking of a time you were scared will help you understand how Asha feels when she gets trapped in the attic.  Ask your child to tell you about the story.

Friday

Today we had our first assembly of the year!  We were all very excited!  First, we did an All School Shakedown.  Ask your child to tell you about it.

We had a special visitor - BLAZE!  It was great to see him again.  He helped us review Bengal Pride expectations.

Mrs. Brink and Mr. DePrez hosted a game show to help us review expectations.  We helped the contestants decide if a situation was an example of Responsibility, Respect or Safety.  Ask your child who won the game!

This afternoon we did math and learned about adding three numbers.  The lesson and practice went pretty well.  Ask your child if he/she can tell you show you how to add 4+6+5  or  7+4+7.

At the very end of the day we did our first entry in our Symbol Book.  Yesterday we learned about the Flag of the United States.  We read some books and watched Pebble Go to learn about the flag.  We wrote a four sentence paragraph about it.  Ask your child about some important facts about the flag.

Library Books

Today we went to the Library and got to check out books!  We each checked out one and if we can bring it back, in good shape and on time, we will be able to check out two next week.

Ms. Zbacnik went over some of the expectations for how we care for library books.  Please ask your child about where they will keep his/her books, how they will treat them and what they should do if something happens to his/her books like food is spilled or a page is torn.  We all love to read books at Brimhall and we can all do our part to help take care of the books we have each week.