New Classroom Layout

I’ve updated my classroom layout for this year…of course, I took my camera with me to take pictures, and the batteries were dead!   So this picture will have to do for now.  I’m including the layout from last year so that you can see what’s changed.
2009-2010 layout (click for a larger view)

2008-2009 layout [...]

The Grouchy Ladybug

We began our study of insects/bugs by reading The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle.  After taking a picture walk and reading it aloud to the children, we discussed the clocks that are pictured on most of the pages.  The children learned that we would be learning about telling time and addition (with ladybug spots) this [...]

Jack and the Beanstalk

Last week (yes, I’m a little behind) we read Jack and the Beanstalk, which ties in nicely to my seeds and planting theme.  We began by reading Jack and the Beanstalk (the version by Little Golden Books).  When we finished reading the story, we noticed that there was a large note hanging on our Morning [...]

Seeds

We are reading a big book this week titled “Seeds”.

Because there are a few students who will be leaving early this week to head out on Spring Break, we did not do a Predictable Chart, however we did do several neat Inquiry Based things in Science.  I like to begin almost all my themes/units with [...]

Lucky Charms Graphing

Here are the pictures–a little bit late…
I made the graphing sheet and sorting sheet MANY years ago and we always end up having to scribble out some picture of a marshmallow and adding whatever the new “special” marshmallow is for that year.  I can’t find it yet (still looking on my computer) so when I [...]

Growing Vegetable Soup

I’m tired of the cold weather, so I decided to get everyone excited about Spring and do some planting!  But plant what??
That’s when I chose our Big Book for this week: Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert.  

We also started a new Predictable Chart:

(Sorry the computer is being funky here–I’ll try to undo it’s funky-ness [...]

President’s Day #4 and #5

Thursday, we completed the graph that went with our Patten Block Snowflake (PDF page under “P”).  
We also read Silly Sally and I showed the children how to act out the story using the Drama Props.  We also did Cut Up Sentences and we really got some of the sentences mixed up!  We [...]

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

This week, we have been reading If You Give A Mouse A Cookie:
 

We used it to make our Predictable Chart:

Monday, we took a picture walk through the story and then I read it aloud.  We had 1/2 of the class finish the sentence on the Chart.  
Tuesday, we retold the story and then Choral Read [...]

The GBM Day 8 and 9

Last week, we wrapped up our GBM theme with letters from 2 more countries. Germany and The North Pole.
I started off the week knowing where we wanted to end up, so I decided that our theme would be Polar Animals.   We read a Big Book:

and this got us started.
We then made a KWL chart so [...]

Math Animals

Here are some pictures of what we’ve been doing in math–when not chasing the GBM man!
The cards you see in the background come from Developing Number Concepts by Kathy Richardson.

The children had to first build the animal/object 1 dimensionally and then make it stand up, and make it look the same when they did so.  [...]