The Best Part of Me

Our inspiration for one of our writing projects

Learning to express yourself through writing has a process.
Before we began to write, we read the book that became our inspiration.
After a discussion about ideas we got into groups with like minded people.
To document our ideas in our group we completed a graphic organizer. It helped to organize and focus our writing.

Myla was organizing her thoughts on her hair while Owen decided to write about his feet

Our writing process continues, by thinking of 5 ideas to write about on our best part.

THEN, the writing begins........

Our first drafts led to the editing process which eventually became typed work. That is now bound in our class room as a book titled. The Best Part of Us.

The Grand Finale........The reading of the book.

Michael shares....

While our next readers showcase their illustrations.....

Myla  and Jana sit comfortably as they read to the audience.

Another successful day with our sharpened pencils, a blank sheet of paper, an open heart, and an expressive soul.......

Essential Question: How do writers express themselves?

Painting Number Stories

One quiet afternoon....... after days of talking about, working on, and writing number stories we decided to paint some......

Easel ready to capture story ideas....

Watercolors await their story tellers....

Four masterpieces on display

The Common Core Standard:
O.A.1 Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Essential Question:

How do we solve addition and subtraction sentences to solve real world problems with and without concrete objects?

Thanksgiving Rules

To whet our appetite for our Thanksgiving feast and weekend festivities, we read Thanksgiving Rules 

and then discussed the main idea of eating a lot of food on Thanksgiving Day. Which is what Percy, the main character, did.  Here are a few of us at work, using the colors of fall to paint our fall harvest feast.

Enjoy three completed paintings of our artists' Thanksgiving Dinner.  Bon Appetit!

Essential Question: What is a main idea of a book?

Common Core Standard addressed - RL.1.3. Describe characters, settings, and major events in  story using key details.

Halloween Remembered

Just a few photos from our day.....Enjoy!!!

A big smile during the parade........

Waiting for the directions to start the festivities.......

Myla, Christopher, and Eva.......

Thanks parents. We couldn't have had a fun time without you!!!

Great Pumpkin Returns

Did your child tell you about the pumpkin? Did you learn how big it was and how it arrived at school???? As you continue the conversation take a look at more pictures from our Great Pumpkin Experience......

 Here is Michael exploring the bumpy pumpkin while Taylor and Mara safely get down from the trailor. It was tricky to get down!

Mrs. Hoffman takes our photo as we say "Pumpkin Pie."

An up close look at the size of this huge squash!

Don't you just wonder how many seeds live inside this pumpkin!?

The Great Pumpkin!!

....Just a few of us kids getting to know the great pumpkin that Mr.Lancaster brought to school on the back of a trailer. He told us all about it. You would NOT believe how much it weighs, or where he grew it!!!

Ask your Pumpkin Expert child the answer to these questions. And don't forget to ask them what else they would like to tell you about it.......like, maybe...... what it felt like or what was going to happen to it!!!

Enjoy the earthy, fresh smells and colorful sights of Fall!

Math Videos and Math In Focus

Take a look at the Math Videos we have been singing with and learning from to enhance our Math experience!

Add 'em Up

Secret Agent Number Bond

Counting On

Common Core Standard:  Add and subtract within 20

More Favorite Books

Your children are enjoying sharing their favorite books! They stand in front of the class and tell us why it's a favorite. Then we dive into laughing, sharing our connections, and asking questions about the book.


Mara shared The Cat in The Hat........a classic!

Mara's favorite book!

Warren made us laugh with his choice.......Diary of A Fly!

Warren's favorite book!

Taylor's choice of Press Here made us giggle and twist our bodies and heads. Ask  your child why.

Taylor's favorite book!

 Owen told us he likes the colors and comics for......DC Comics The Ultimate Character Guide.

Check back for more of our favorite books......

A few of the Common Core Standards that were addressed:
-Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
-Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
-Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Essential Question - How do students become active and engaged readers?

Favorite Books

Ms. Flynn's favorite book is "Stella Star of the Sea." I fell in love with the cover because the main character is a redhead, like me.  She has a little brother, like me. I bought the book for my niece Maggie who wasn't even born yet. Once she was born I read it to her all the time. She's 15 now. She can read it herself.

Check out other wonderful books by Marie Louise Gay Link to website

Essential Question- What do good readers do?