Sharing our Skills with the KF Dragons

Lobel, A. (1971). Frog and toad together. China: Harper Collins

We have such fun reading to our Cold Springs Elementary Kindergarten friends from Mr. Fines' Class (The KF Dragons)! Today we alternated paragraphs as we read Frog and Toad Together: The Garden. This was one of our featured stories from Unit 3 of our Reading Street program. We enjoy looking back to past favorites as a way of building our reading fluency. Our audience was amazing (as always!). We learned during a past experience that we often read too quietly, so we have used the microphone and audio system that was installed last summer to enhance our voices. What a difference that made! We are so thankful the Dragons offer us the opportunity to practice in such a fun and exciting way.

Missoula Hawthorne Elementary Students Get A Bird’s-Eye View Of Owls - KECI Home News Story - NBCMontana NBC Montana

This link will lead you to the NBC video...
Missoula Hawthorne Elementary Students Get A Bird’s-Eye View Of Owls - KECI Home News Story - NBCMontana

Continue to watch the babies grow (remember: this is a live feed and they are often eating rodents from the region. Watch with discretion, thanks!

Broadcasting Live with Ustream.TV

What an amazing project this has been!

Moon Phases

We are beginning a unit on the moon. We were very surprised to notice we can see the moon in the sky through most of the daytime hours.This wonderful movie will help us understand why the moon has different shapes when we observe it.

The Moon

More educational games & videos on Moon at NeoK12.com

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program

We are SO fortunate to have Diann Pommer, from Missoula County Extension Service, to share her knowledge of nutrition with us! We have explored many fruits and vegetables this year. We have learned to identify and name them based on their attributes, and we have learned about the benefits of eating healthy snacks. Ask your child what their favorite snack has been! I personally loved the soup! Mmmmm....

The Polar Express Pajama Premiere

We had a wonderful time watching the Polar Express with our first grade friends. We enjoyed a simple treat (graham crackers with vanilla frosting and sprinkles served with chocolate milk), and enjoyed some time being a community. I really hope you are having a nice winter break! First grade friends, don't forget to take some time to impress your friends and family with your amazing reading! I can't wait to hear about all the wonderful books you read!

If you haven't heard this amazing Chris Van Allsburg story, listen to Lou Diamond Phillips read it at Storyline Online. There are some excellent project ideas that connect to the book too. If you try any of these ideas, let me know when you return to class; I'll award 5 class jewels for any activity you choose! Enjoy!

Our Second Math Leader..."Counting On" and "Teens"

Math Expressions, our district adopted math program, has impressed me since the day I adopted it (as a 5th grade teacher). This is why: the students show their understanding by teaching what they know to others. This is a process that happens gradually, but it happens. The students share, discuss, and revise their ideas about mathematics. I am floored by how quickly the students are learning. This is only a small example of what happens with math in our classrooms...I hope you learn something! She is an amazing young teacher...listen to how effectively she pulls her peers into the conversation; so exciting!!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

I just love how eager they all are to help one another. First grade is a wonderful world!

Wow! We ARE Readers!!! Come Listen as we Read You a Story!

These first readers did such an amazing job! I plan to post a few students each week...so check back often.

Schooltube (the site where I host our class movies) seems to be streaming a little slow lately. If the video seems choppy, first try click the HD to "off"; if that doesn't work, pause the video at the beginning...let it buffer to the end, and then play. I do apologize for the white noise in the background. We recorded during our Daily 5 time, and there is a lot of learning going on around the room:) I'll seek out a quieter spot in the room next time.

What is the Weather

I lost my Tooth

Look at that Cat