Happy Holidays!

Wow, we had a wonderful 1 day week today!!!  The ice/snow/cold weather really has made all of us have to be extra flexible over these past 5 days. :)

Today was SUPER fun!!  We did some of our Grinch Day activities that we had planned for yesterday and some of the activities that we had scheduled for today.

Name That Tune
We played a few rounds of Name That Tune with Christmas favorites.  The kiddos wrote down their guesses on a piece of paper for 3 songs & this is how we selected who would go up today during the Sing-a-Long.  Of course, we had to enjoy singing a few songs at the end! :)

Grinch Word Problems
We practiced our word problem skills by solving some problems that included the Grinch.  The kiddos practiced stacking 2-digit addition problems and strategies to solve 2-digit subtraction.

Holidays Around the World
One of the reading intervention groups studied different holidays, wrote picture books, and then taught us about the holidays they studied.  Today we learned about Holi, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Christmas, and New Years.  All of the students said that they learned more than one thing about holidays that are celebrated around the world - so ask your kiddo something that s/he learned!

Grinch Movie & Snack
The kiddos enjoyed watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and eating a "Grinchy" snack!  We had popcorn with M&Ms and Grinch Juice (green Hawaiian Punch).

How Did the Grinch Change?
As the kiddos were watching the movie today they were thinking about how the Grinch changed from the beginning of the story/movie to the end.  With a partner they listed character traits in a Before and After heart.  Their posters that they made are hanging in the hallway.

Sing-a-Long & Winter Party
Our day ended with a Christmas Sing-a-Long and our Winter Party.  Some of the highlights of the sing-a-long were dancing to the Nutcracker with plates, singing a version of Santa version of Bingo (ask your kiddo to sing it - it's cute), singing Jingle Bell Rock (you can watch the video here), and the specialist acting out the "12 Days of Christmas" (you can watch the video here).  Our Winter Party was held in the cafeteria.  The kiddos made snowflakes out of coffee filters - they turned out really neat, and enjoyed hot chocolate & popcorn.  It was a wonderful party!  Thank you to everyone who contributed to make it a success & for parents who were able to come to be an extra set of hands.  

  

 

                                               

Winter Break
Today is the start of Winter Break.  I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year!  Our first day back from break is Wednesday, January 4.

I hope that your family has a happy holidays and a wonderful break!!

Fantastic Friday!

We had a fantastic Friday & then the ice started forming!  I hope that this blog finds you safe & warm inside your house.

Nanette's Baguettes

Lexi's mom came in this morning and read Nanette's Baguettes and brought in baguettes for the students to share.  The students really enjoyed the morning snack.  A huge thank you to Mrs. Newton for coming to read and share a snack.

Math
We worked hard on a partition quilt & it is hanging in the hallway.  We will started learning about how to add 2-digit stacked numbers this week and continued learning geometry!

Transportation/Attendance

If your student will be going home a different way next week or will not be here, please make sure to contact me, as well as the office (akorschgen@cpsk12.org).  Also, if someone else is picking up your child, if possible, please give them your student's green card.

Parent Pick Up

Please remember to have the green card when you pick your child up at parent pick up.  This helps to ensure the safety of your child.  Not all teachers or staff members at parent pick up know everyone, so this allows them to know the student is allowed to go home with you.  We appreciate your understanding!

ST Math

I know there has been some difficulty with a few levels of the ST Math homework (specifically Pie Monster).  We cannot access the homework version of ST Math from any school devices (computers, laptops or iPads), so we cannot help without the device.  If your student is having difficulty, please contact me and then they can bring in their device to school (with your permission) and I can help them at school.   

Grinch Day

Monday is Grinch Day.  If your student has a Grinch shirt or would like to wear a green shirt they may.  We will have a Grinch snack and drink, as well as Grinch reading, writing, math and art activities.  It should be a fun day.

Sing a Long and Holiday Party

The All School Sing a Long will be next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in the gym.  It will last until approximately 1:35 p.m. and then we will have our Holiday Party.  Ross and Mottaz classes will be together for the party in the cafeteria.  Thank you to everyone who has signed up to bring in items or help at the party.  If you haven't signed up and would like to, here is the Sign Up Genius.  Students may wear PJ's on Tuesday for the party.  Please keep in mind the weather when they wear their pajamas because it will still be cold.  

Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!

A few things :)

Today was John Henry's birthday! :)  He brought in treats to share with the class.  We had them at the end of the day.  Your child ate one treat & drink at school & the 2nd treat came home with him/her in your child's backpack.

Also, coming home with your child today, is a sheet with a few reminders for the next 3 days before break.  Here is the sheet.  

Ugly Sweater Day

Tomorrow is Ugly Holiday Sweater day.  If your student would like to wear an ugly holiday sweater tomorrow, they can.  The uglier the better.  J  If they don’t have an ugly holiday sweater, but have other festive holiday clothing that is fine also.

Grinch Day

On Monday, we will be having Grinch Day.  We have fun activities (reading, writing and math) to do throughout the day.  We also have a Grinchy snack and drink for the students to enjoy.  If your student would like to wear a Grinch shirt or a green shirt on Monday, they can. 

Holiday Party

We will have our school sing along on Tuesday from 1:00-1:35 p.m. in the gym.  Both classes (Ross/Mottaz) will have their holiday party from 1:45-2:30 p.m.  in the cafeteria.  Your child can wear pajamas to school on Tuesday as part of the party (make sure that the pajamas are warm because it is so cold!).  Here is the Sign Up Genius for the party.

Headphones

A lot of students have lost their headphones or they are broken.  Please check with your student to see if they need new headphones.  We use them quite a bit in the classroom as well as when they have media.  If you would like to donate head phones to the classroom, that would be greatly appreciated!

Have a fabulous evening!

Ms. Mottaz

Fantastic & Fun Friday!

What a FANTASTIC & FUN Friday!

Emily Arrow!
Yesterday, Emily Arrow surprised us at RBE by making an appearance during the 4th & 5th Choir assembly!  We were singing the "Smallest Gift of Christmas" and during the 2nd time through Emily Arrow brought in Bow (her ukulele) and joined in!  The reactions are priceless!

We enjoyed singing with Emily Arrow today during the assembly today.  She sang almost all of the kid's favorite songs!  We were able to snag a picture with Emily Arrow! :)

 At the end of the day, Emily Arrow toured our school to see all the door decorations and we sang "The Dot" song.

What a super cool experience that we had with Emily Arrow!  She was talking at lunch today that the experience that she had at RBE has been so special.  Take a few minutes to go here to see videos and pictures of our experience with Emily Arrow.

Pizza Party
We enjoyed our 1st Semester Pizza Party this afternoon!  We enjoyed pizza, chips, apples & a brownie.  Plus we had an extra long lunch and watched a Magic School Bus video.  Yummy food was had by all!

Self Elf
Lots of kiddos have mentioned that they have an Elf on the Shelf, but in our classroom we have LOTS of elves watching over us everyday.  Each kiddo made a Self Elf that in hanging in our classroom.  They turned out really cute.  I  provided some red, green & white paper and cotton balls.  They designed their own elf attire.  Below is a picture of our room with our elves & then I took a few close-ups of some of the elves so you could see how cute they turned out! :)

Winter Party
The Winter Party Committee has been hard at work putting together an AMAZING Winter Party for our class.  Below is a message from them.  I can't wait for all the fun!! :)

Ms. Mottaz's and Mrs. Ross' classes are combining for the holiday party on Tuesday, December 20! Students can wear their PJs to school that day, and will enjoy hot chocolate and snacks while making snowflakes in the RBE cafeteria. 

Below is a link to a sign up genius if you're able to help provide party supplies. Please come and join the party!

Thank you for your support, and Happy Holidays!

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C094FA4A82BA75-rossmottaz

This Week's Learning:

• Math: We started geometry this week.  With Mrs. Ross the students worked on partitioning shapes into equal parts.  The students learned that partitioning into halves means 2 equal parts, thirds means 3 equal parts & fourths means 4 equal parts.  We worked on identifying a shape partitioned into halves, thirds and fourths, and also partitioning a shapes in halves, thirds and fourths.  With me, we are talking about what makes a shape.  Geometry has a LOT of vocabulary that students need to have memorized so that they have an understanding the shapes.
• Polygon: A shape that is closed,with straight sides and angles
• Side: A line on the outside of a shape
• Angle: A place where 2 angles connect
• Triangle: A polygon with 3 sides and 3 angles
• Quadrilateral: A polygon with 4 sides and 4 angles
• Parallel: 2 lines that never intersect
• Intersect: 2 lines that cross
• Reading: This week we worked on writing summaries from books winter/Christmas books that we read.  One of the activities is that we made Summary Snowmen.  They turned out SUPER cute & are hung in the hallway.  Come by & checkout all the great summaries that were written!
  
• Writing: We finished publishing our second personal narrative.  Yay!!  The second personal narrative was a lot less directed and less conferencing with a teacher.  I will be reading and grading these according to the Small Moment rubric that I shared earlier (below).
  

Next Week's Learning:

• Math: With me, we will continue to work on geometry and Mrs. Ross will start teaching 2-digit addition & how to set up a problem.
• Reading: We will be learning about theme.  We will be using the Christmas/Winter books that we read this week and talking about the theme of those stories.

• Word Study: We will continue to practice 2nd Grade No Excuse Words next week.  These words are: went, any, first, might, friend, find, first, favorite, before, about & thing.  These words are harder because they don't fit regular vowel patterns.  Please practice with your child on these words - I haven't graded the spelling test, but by quickly glancing over them it looks like scores might have gone down this week.
• Writing: Shhhh!  Secret Christmas gift writing will be in the process next week!  Mrs. Carey (art teacher), Mrs. Ross & I collaborated with each other.  At the beginning of the week, we will be writing about a holiday tradition or our favorite thing about the holiday and in art the kiddos will be making something special that matches what they wrote.  Over the last two rotations of art, the students have made a clay project and next week  we will be writing about them.  Our goal is that these gifts will be coming home by next Friday, but it might be Monday.  

Giving Tree

If your child chose an ornament from the Giving Tree, please remember that gifts are to be returned by Tuesday, December 13, unwrapped.

CPS App

There is a CPS app.  The district is asking for you to install the app on your smart device.  You can go here for more information.

Lost & Found

There continues to be an abundance of  lost items.  Please checkout our Lost & Found to make sure that you collect any of your child(ren)'s lost belongings.  Items left at the end of the day on December 20 will be donated to the Salvation Army.

Sweatpants Needed in the Health Room
There are occasions when students need to change their pants & with the weather turning so cold the Health Room is in the need of gently used sweatpants.  If you have any sweatpants (sizes 6-10) that you are able to donate, please send them in.  Thank you!

Ugly Sweater Day
Next Friday, December 16, will be Ugly Sweater Day.  Buy one or make one!  I can't wait to see what everyone's ugly sweaters look like! :)

Parent Pickup
Students come out to Parent Pickup at 2:40.  It is really cold to be sitting outside for 10-15 minutes.  So please try to be there to pick up your student as close to 2:40 as possible.  Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend!