Shining Light

This week, our class honored Romeo as our Shining Light!  Romeo was chosen because he did a wonderful job of knowing when it was time to play and when it was time to work.  Because of this, Romeo received compliments from several teachers this week!  Keep up the great work, Romeo!

Administrative Professional's Day

This week, our school celebrated Ms. Gayles and Ms. Steward for all the things they do for us each day!  Our class visited the office and serenaded them with our version of Skinamarinky Dinky Dink and presented them with fresh baked banana bread and homemade strawberry jam! 

We love you in the morning and in the afternoon!  We love you in the evening and underneath the moon!

Thank you Ms. Gayles and Ms. Stewart!

Family Math Game Night Fun!

On Wednesday, the 3rd floor set up a Math Game Night for families!  Each classroom had different math themed games for the families to play, all run by 4th and 5th grade students.  It was so much fun going from room to room, playing games based on menu prices, shopping, pizza, dinosaurs and matching! 

Malik, Romeo and Mr. Kefgen taking a quick break from all the fun!

At the end of the night, there was a raffle to win some of the games that we played.  Romeo and I both won, and we chose the same pizza-themed fraction game as prizes!  We were told we look like twins when we won, but Romeo reminded everyone that we can't really be twins because we don't have the same hair!   

I can't wait until the next Math Game Night!

Free Dress and Field Trip Money

Tomorrow, Friday, April 29, will be a FREE DRESS day for $1.00.

Also, the money for our Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum field trip.  The cost is $3.00 for each student $1.00 for each chaperone.  Thank you in advance!

Reader Leaders!

As a prize for winning the Idita-READ race, Kyle and Romeo were invited to a pizza and ice cream party in our classroom!  Here are the boys enjoying their celebration!

Congratulations boys!

Pajama Day Fun!

During Pajama Day, we put out blankets, grabbed our favorite stuffed animals and pillows and read stories to each other!  As a special treat, we had milk and cookies for our snack!
 

Dominique's Special Day

Over the break, Dominique celebrated her 7th birthday!  As our class was not able to join her on her actual birthday, we helped her celebrate the day before we left for our vacation!   Thank you to Dominique's family for bringing pizza and cupcakes to share with the class!

Dominique wearing the birthday vest

Dominique and all her friends enjoying pizza

Dominique and her proud mom and dad

Happy Birthday, Dominique!

Back to School Reminders

I can't believe that our week off has already come to an end!  I am so excited to see the children on Tuesday and find out what they have been up to over the break!  Here are some reminders about what is happening over the next 2 weeks:

Tuesday, April 26 - School Resumes

Wednesday, April 27 - Family Math Game Night / Internet Safety Workshop.  I am really looking forward to the math game night!  It will be held on the 3rd floor, and will include several different math-themed games!  The Internet Safety presentation will be made by Mr. Curran in his classroom, room 302.  His room is located on the third floor.  I hope to see everyone there!

Thursday, April 28 - Milestone #2 is due.  This is the list of new facts learned about your child's interest project.  A paper to write the facts on was included in your child's exhibition packet sent home after the trimester 2 exhibition.  An additional copy was sent home over the break if the previous one was misplaced.  I hope that each family took advantage of the time off to work on their milestone.  

Friday, April 29 - Money for the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is due.  The cost is $3 per student and $1 for each chaperone.  Our class would like to take 2 additional chaperones with us on Wednesday, May 4.  If you would like to join us, please let me know. 

Wednesday, May 4 - Lighthouse Village will be going to the Hands-On Museum!  We will be leaving on the bus at 8:45am and returning around 2:45pm.  Please make sure that your child wears their uniform and brings a bag lunch.  Thank you in advance!

Chaperones for Hands-On Museum

Thank you to Keisa's mom, Ms. Ratliff, and Cheyanne's mom, Ms. Lewis, for volunteering to join us on our next field trip, May 4, to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum!  If you are interested, please let me know as we may bring up to 4 chaperones. Thank you in advance!

Online Educational Websites for Children

I have created a new feature on the blog.  Now, under the links for the Lighthouse and AMPT blogs, there is a section called Links for Students!  Listed are kid-friendly websites that we use in our classroom.  The links include:

Bookflix - a site that allows students to read books online!  It requires a user name (Uprep) and a password (Bookflix).

Addition and Subtraction Games - the children have been loving these games from Fun 4 the Brain!

Starfall - a great website with lots of reading and phonics activities, games and songs.

PBS Kids - a great educational website for 1st graders!

The links for these pages are located on the left side of our blog.  These websites are perfect for the children to practice with over the break! 

If you have any other educational websites that you and your children enjoy, please send me the link!  Thank you in advance!

Homework Over Spring Break

Over the break, I would like the children to work on their Milestone #2.  This is due the week that we return, on Thursday, April 28th.  This milestone is the new facts that your child has learned about their interest project.  I have included additional paper for the children to write their facts on if the previous one was misplaced.  Please remember that the facts need to be written by your child in complete sentences.  Sight words should be spelled correctly, as well as having the children stretch out words that they do not know how to spell.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Also, every Friday, our class competes with the other 1st grade classes in a Math Challenge game.  We have been practicing our addition facts of numbers up to 10, including +0, +1, +2, +3 and doubling.  I encourage each family to make flash cards of these addition problems and practice at home with your child.    Below are some of the ways that we have been practicing:

 - putting the bigger number in our heads and counting the smaller number after on our fingers

 - remembering that +1 is the the next number, +0 is the same number

 - we have a doubling song that we have listened to as well

"It's a double game, let's go, let's go! It's a double game and we start with 0!"

0 + 0 = 0  Oh!

1 + 1 = 2  Ooooh!

2 + 2 = 4  More!

3 + 3 = 6  Kicks!

4 + 4 = 8  That's great!

5 + 5 = 10  Again!

6 + 6 = 12  That's swell!

7 + 7 = 14  Let's lean!  (then we lean over!)

8 + 8 = 16  That's keen!

9 + 9 = 18  Jelly bean!

10 + 10 = 20  That's funny!

Please remember to practice these math facts over the break, as well as work on milestone #2.  See you all on Tuesday, April 26, when school resumes!  Have a great break!

We Are Going to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum!

When
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 8:45am - 2:30 pm

Where
220 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor, MI  48104

How
Students, teachers and chaperones will be riding the bus together

Who
Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms
We are asking for 4 chaperones per classroom.  The chaperones will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis.

Cost
$3 for each student
$1 for each chaperone
The money is due by Friday, April 29th

Dress
Please send your student to school in uniforms for the field trip

Lunch
Both students and chaperones should bring a bag lunch that can be thrown away following lunch in Ann Arbor.

We are so excited for this opportunity for the kids!  If you would like to be a chaperone, please let me know!  Thank you!

Pajama Day Guidelines

Tomorrow is Pajama Day!!  Please remember that even though this is going to be a fun day filled with lots of activities, we want the students to be safe and comfortable throughout the school day.  Please send your child in...

weather appropriate pajamas

a top AND bottom

closed-toe shoes

Students may bring a favorite book to share, pillow or a stuffed animal!  See you all tomorrow!

UPA Helps Those in Need

Several students at UPA are incorporating helping their community as part of their exhibition.  Right now, there are two opportunities for all of us to help out!

Teddy Bear Drive -
One of Mrs. Tiggs fifth graders is asking for donations of stuffed animals to donate to children in need.  If you would like to donate, there is a box outside of Mrs. Tiggs' classroom, room 309, on the 3rd floor.

Book Drive -
Also, a kindergarten student is asking for donations of books for his exhibition.  There are boxes for book donations next to the elevator on each floor.  The plan is for the donated books to be given to a local shelter.

Thank you for your consideration!

Idita-READ Winners!

Congratulations to all the children that participated this year!  I was so impressed with how hard the children worked on this project!  Here are the results...

1st place - Romeo and Kyle (27 books each!)

2nd place - Cheyanne (14 books!)

3rd place - Noah (13 books!)

Great job, everyone!  Prizes will be awarded to the winners, as well as those who participated on Thursday, April 14.

Milestone #1 is Due this Thursday, April 14 (second reminder)

This is a gentle reminder that Milestone #1 is due this Thursday, April 14.  This milestone is the list of resources that your child will be using to complete their interest project.  A sheet was included in your child's exhibition packet for them to fill out.  If you have misplaced this sheet, the resources may be written on another piece of paper. 

As a reward for those students that complete their milestone on time, they may wear their pajamas and bring a pillow or stuffed animal to celebrate Pajama Day on Friday, April 15!  Those students who do not complete their milestone on time will be required to wear their school uniform on Friday.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Parent Reading Workshop

On Monday, April 11, Ms. Standard and I will be conducting our third reading workshop for parents.  In this workshop, we will be discussing choosing a "just right" book to read with your child at their reading level, as well as strategies to cope with frustration for both you and your child when reading.  We will also cover any additional reading strategies that have not previously been discussed in other workshops.

The workshop will be held in Ms. Standard's classroom, room 104, across the hall from our classroom.  We will begin at 4:00 and conclude between 4:45-5:00.  All families are welcome to attend!

Milestone #1 is Due Next Thursday, April14th

Lighthouse Pajama Day

Friday, April 15^th

        On Friday, April 15th, students who complete milestone #1, may wear their school-appropriate pajamas to school. They may also bring in a favorite book from home and a pillow or stuffed animal. Please be sure your student wears closed-toe shoes on this day.

        We will have a read-in morning with a special snack of cookies and milk in our classrooms. In the afternoon, we will watch a special movie as a grade level.

Milestone #1 is due on Thursday, April 14^th. Milestone #1 is a list of resources your student will be using to learn about their interest project topic. A sheet to fill this information out was sent home in your student's exhibition packet.  If you need another copy, please let me know, or you may write it on a separate sheet of paper. 

You will receive verification on that Thursday after your student turns in their milestone #1 that they are able to participate in pajama day.

Thank you! 



Shining Light

This week, our Shining Light was An'Niyia!  Our class chose An'Niyia because she is a great friend to everyone in the class!  She also makes sure to always follow directions and has a big smile on her face every time she walks into the classroom!  Congratulations, An'Niyia!

Stone Soup!

Today, Ms. Steele brought us a special treat!  We started by reading the book, Stone Soup, an old folk tale about a village that was tricked into giving travelers some ingredients to add to their secret stone soup recipe. 

After reading the book, we followed the recipe and made our own stone soup.  Everyone was able to add something to the soup!

We started with some chicken stock, and added the first ingredients...3 real stones!

Then we added carrots...

cabbage...

potatoes...

meat...

milk...

barley...

chick peas...

regular peas...

water...

and a little salt and pepper.

After letting it cook for 6 hours, we were able to enjoy our hard work!  Of course, we took the stones out before we served the soup!

Even Ms. Gayles, Ms. Josephson, Ms. Mirjah, Emmanuel's dad, Kyndal's mom and big sister tried the soup!  It looks like are soup was a hit!  Great job, Kefgen Cafe!

A tour of our neighborhood

In social studies, we have been learning about neighborhoods.  Some of the things we have discussed include who works in our neighborhoods, what stores are near us, the different types of houses we can live in, and what good neighbors do for each other and their neighborhood.  We even built our own neighborhood using milk cartons, pipe cleaners and construction paper, named KefJahpolis (KEFgen and mirJAH)!  Those pictures will be coming soon.

As we concluded our unit on neighborhoods, we took a walking tour around our school.  Here is our class and Ms. Mirjah's kindergarteners as we walked around our neighborhood.

Some of the things that we saw were...

The Fisher Building, where there are a lot of business people, as well as a theatre for plays and a radio station!

The Henry Ford Health System's building where Ella's mom works, as well as doctors and nurses.

We saw two apartment buildings.  One older, and one newer.  We talked about how several families live in apartment buildings.

We even counted the mailboxes to see how many families lived in the buildings!

We also saw houses, and even got to meet one of our neighbors on our walk!  Her name was Mary and she works as a chef!

We have many different animals in our neighborhood.  All the children said that they had seen a cat in their own neighborhoods...

but none of them had seen chickens and roosters!  We have them in our school's neighborhood, though!

 We even saw the huge peacock that lives near us, but we were not able to get a good picture of it.  Maybe we will when it is warmer outside.

Another thing that we noticed was all the community art that was around us.  We decided that there must be artists living in our neighborhood!

There was even an old car turned into a sculpture!

What we decided we liked best about our neighborhood, was a group of tables and chairs that the neighbors use to come together as a community.  We decided that they must be good neighbors to each other because they are friendly, help each other and have used their creativity to make their street into a unique and beautiful place!

Thank you, 4th Street!  We are proud to be part of your neighborhood!