MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We sadly say farewell to SEVEN.....until next year!

This week we studied Christmas. We have been BUSY! BUSY! BUSY! ....as we say goodbye to 2011! Your children are so excited for the holiday break. We have continued to read in our guided reading centers. We have been creating gifts, cards and other holiday crafts. The children are working with mountain language as they review a variety of grammar and phonics skills. They have written their lists for SANTA and much, much more.

Making our marshmallow snowmen!

The finished product...



My list for SANTA

Reading with a partner: taking turns, one person reads, the other summarizes

Wrapping your big surprise, we hope you like it!

Tuesday our class got to help in chapel by displaying their hand-crafted nativity scene as Chaplain Nolan read the story of Jesus' birth.

Later on Tuesday the children presented their present to Miss Fate whose birthday was over the weekend. Each child wrote a short letter wishing her the very best, then they illustrated it and Mrs. Waller turned it into a classroom book. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS FATE! WE LOVE YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The afternoons have been busy with rehearsal for the first and second grade music program. What a great show! Take a look at the pics below:

We did manage to fit in a fun math lesson as the children turned into soldiers and entered place value boot camp (it's not cupcake camp anymore!).  Mrs. Waller taught the following chant:

I don't know, but I've been told  (teacher)
I don't know, but I've been told  (students)
Tens are tall and ones are small (teacher)
Tens are tall and ones are small (students)
First you add up all the tens (teacher)
First you add up all the tens (students)
Then add on all the babies to the end (teacher)
Then add on all the babies to the end (students)
Sound off (teacher) Sound off! (students)
1,2,3,4!

The number you see is 34 (Evan is curled up behind Joshua)

Christina counting the tall soldiers/10s (the 3 students represent 30)



Marching to our chant......

We talked about the house of ones with 9 small rooms and and the house of tens with 9 tall rooms.  With our bodies we made numbers as our soldiers became small soldiers or tall soldiers.  Audience members came up and counted the number created by the soldiers. Ask your child to tell you about it! We had a blast.

Friday's talent show was a hit. We had all sorts of talents on display including:

Russell telling some FUNNY jokes!



Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" performed by Patrick.



Joshua's funny Titanic scene....what actors!

Georgia, Caroline and Christina's trio gymnastic show...



ALL THE EASY THINGS WE CAN'T DO! by Janey and Claire



Kathryn demonstrates her beginning ballet skills....

Luke and William's impromptu LAZY TOWN show.....

Carter amused us all with his magic tricks!

Sloane's solo performance....what a great voice!

Lucas, Evan and Connor display their artistic movement abilities!

Zach sings the Indiana fight song!

We saved the best for last......who knew Miss Fate could walk on her hands across the room?.....

We managed to fit in our spelling test before the festivities began in the afternoon. A special thank you to all of our room mothers and volunteers who helped make our Christmas party happen.

REMINDERS: *Your child's theme pages will be coming home today.  Be sure to look them over & praise them for all of their hard work!  


-No book in the bag or spelling words were sent home.  They will resume after break. 
-No homework over break!  
-*If needed, here are some recommended educational websites you could visit over the break:

www.AAAmath.com
www.teachersmousepad.com
www.primarygames.com
www.abcya.com
www.starfall.com
www.funbrain.com
www.pbskids.org

-Monday, January 2nd- No School/ P.D. Day!
-Tuesday, January 3rd- students return to school

When we return we will start with our new big theme: Hooray for the U.S.A!!!

Thank you for a wonderful first half of the year. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy NEW YEAR! Enjoy your break!
Love, Mrs. Waller and Miss Fate