Room 111 Has begun to Blog!

Please Comment on Your Child's blog!

Room 111 has begun blogging!  You can read and comment on your child's blog by going to: www.kidblog.org/MsFarmersClass4/

Click on the blog that you would like to read and leave a comment.

For your child to go on and write a new blog, they can go to:

www.kidblog.org

Write in their username (provided to them on a laminated card)

Write in their password (first)

Click on: New Post and begin writing.  When they are finished they can click on “Submit for publishing.”  (I review all comments before they are published).

For your child to view their own blog and read comments on their own blog, they can click on the tab entitled “My Blog” at the top.

For your child to view blogs written by their classmates, click on the “All Blogs” tab at the top.  They can then write a comment and click on “Submit for Review” (I review all comments before they are published).

“What is a blog?” You may be asking.  A ”blog” is short for web log.  It is a journal of sorts that lives online and allows interaction between the author and reader.  Kidblog is a safe and simple  platform built by teachers, for teachers so students can get the most out of the blogging process.  Most importantly, Kidblog allow teachers to monitor and control all of the publishing acitivity.  Blogs can offer so much to a classroom.

Blogging Rules we share with the students:

First name only – never use your last name in posts or comments

Do not type e-mail addresses or screen names in your blog

Do not type home addresses or phone numbers

Make sure you are polite in your blog.

Be respectful of others’ ideas

Check for spelling, spacing, punctuation and capitalization.

Ideas for Blogging:

Journal about books being read, science experiments, topics being studied at school.  The ideas are endless.  Blogging allows more students to express their thoughts and opinions and write for a greater audience.

  

I-pads in the classroom and Math Night!

Using I-pads to Support Math in the Classroom!
We had the opportunity on Friday to have a classroom set of i-pads during math time!  The boys and girls enjoyed a math block using the math apps which supported the concepts which we have been learning so far this year.  The Telling Time Math app was great for supporting our latest lessons on telling time to the hour and half hour and the Penguin Math was perfect for supporting addition and subtraction.  The Penguin Math was also a timed race which the kids just loved playing -- while, at the same time, it was secretly helping their math fluency by timing them as they performed the addition and subtraction tasks (shh, don't tell them!)

Below are some pictures and some videos of the students enjoying the apps.  They enjoyed the i-pads so much that they continued playing with them throughout indoor recess, exploring apps in the Art Folder.  It was recess so I allowed them to use any app that they wanted.  During math time however, they were instructed to use only the two apps which I mentioned above.  For the last ten minutes of math, I allowed them to explore any of the math apps in the Grade One math folder.

Math and Technology Night This Thursday at 6:00 pm!

Math Night is teaming up with Technology for the first annual Math and Technology Night this Thursday from 6-7:30.  Bring your child and come explore the many apps on the i-pads in our school, witness how lessons are being used on the classroom's Interactive Whiteboards and get help using various FREE math websites in your own home!  It's a fun and informative night for everyone! 

Hamsters and chicks and 100th day...oh my!

 Snickers the Hamster Needs Home for February Break
Anyone interested in taking Snickers home for February break?  I'll supply everything you need.  You just need to pick him up and drop him off.  If you are interested, please e-mail me at farmer@bpsk12.org

Chick Hatching
I'm sure you have heard by now that we hatched chicks from eggs in an incubator.  What a special learning experience supplied by the Science Center.  Thank you Ms. P!  We observed and documented the experience in our Chick Hatching Journals.

Five Chicks Hatched From Our Classroom Incubator

Valentine's Day
I have sent home a list of all the children's names in Room 111 if your child chooses to write out Valentines to his/her friends.  Please email m if the list did not make it home and I'll send another.  We will exchange Valentines on Tuesday afternoon.  Due to our allergy policy, please refrain from putting ANY candy into the valentines.  Thanks and Happy Valentine's Day!

100th Day of School
We have been switching classrooms and experiencing 100th day activities in all of the first grade classrooms all week in preparation for the 100th day of school on February 14th.  Check out photos of a couple of the activities that your children have been participating in and ask them about the various ways to count to 100.  It's been great fun to go into other classrooms for "special" math!

Xtramath.com and i-ready websites
I have sent home the user names and passwords for the www.xtramath.com website.  If you have access to a computer, please try to have your child go onto this website 3-4 times a week.  It's fast, fun and sends me weekly reports on how your child is doing.  It helps me to determine who needs help and how I can help them.  It also lets me know if all is fine and allows me to challenge children further if need be.  If you need passwords or usernames to this website or any of the i-ready reading or math websites, please let me know and I'll get that information to you right away!  The i-ready reading website is also a favorite and the kids love using it at school when they can!

October Happenings

Field Trip To the Farm
Our field trip to the farm was enjoyed by all and thanks to Caterina Bouras you can view photos from the trip!  Just click on field trip photos listed on the right hand side.  Thanks to the help of all the chaperones who were there and to those who volunteered to go (sorry we could only have 4!).  It was a great day and the students returned back to school excited, exhausted and filled with farm facts and memories.

Scholastic Online Ordering
Click on the Scholastic Book Club title on the right to open to the latest books being offered by Scholastic.  I have recently sent home a letter describing how you can do this online, but if you rather select books from the flyer I sent home and send in money, you can do that as well.  One advantage of ordering online, however, is that we earn a free book for the classroom every time a parent places an order online.  It's also quicker, offers a larger selection of books and nothing needs to be sent to school in your child's backpack with the possibility of being accidentally lost or misplaced  So click on the Book Ordering link on the right and check it out.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at farmer@bpsk12.org  Happy Ordering!

Halloween Parade
Francis Wyman will hold its annual Halloween Parade on Monday, October 31st at 1:30.  All parents are invited to view the parade in the gym.  Please send your child to school with their costume on Halloween to be changed into later that day.  If part of your child's costume is something that can be worn comfortably all day then feel free to have him/her wear it.  The parade is purely voluntary so if you do not want your child to participate, they can go to the library during the parade.

Snickers the Classroom Pet
Hopefully you all received my e-mail announcing the addition of Snickers the Hamster to Room 111. In that e-mail I attached a Google Document for you to fill out if you want to take Snickers home for a weekend, Holiday break, Winter or Spring break, etc.  If you did not receive the e-mail or would rather just send in a note, that's absolutely fine.  Also, this is completely voluntary and there is no duty or obligation to house Snickers in your home.  However, if you do choose to do so, I will provide you with all the necessary shavings, toys, food etc.

Here's the link to the Google Document: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEp0RVZCUkdHdFI4eU1rRHhmNnI3VlE6MQ

A Big Hello!

Our Gang -- First Week of School

About This Blog
This blog will replace any paper newsletter from my room.  Be sure to put your e-mail in the "Follow by e-mail" section of this blog so that you can be made aware of all new classroom events, photos of your child, news, information, websites, resources, etc. that I will be posting.  You are also welcome to comment right on the blog and receive a response from me that may help not only you, but other parents with similar questions.

New E-mail address:
My new e-mail address is farmer@bpsk12.org  Please feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern and I will do my best to get back to the same day.  Please call the office with any emergencies.  You may also call the room at extension 6817, but the ringer is off during the day and I often don't realize that there is a message until the students leave -- so please call the office with emergencies.

Helpful Links
Please notice the various links on the right hand side of this page.  There are links for photos, free websites, resources, etc.  I will update them regularly and try to alert you to any new additions and/or changes.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
October 6:      Field Trip to Farm
Sept. 30th       Deadline for Field Trip Permission Forms/Payment: Sept. 30th (thanks to all who have
                        already submitted permission forms and payment).
December 7:   Progress Reports Go home
December 9:   Elementary Parent/Teacher Conference with your child's reading teacher.
                       No school for students

HELP! I Still Need Field Trip Chaperones:  I still need 2 more chaperones for the upcoming field trip to the farm.  If you are available and able to come, please let me know!

CORI Reports and Confidentiality:
Please know that chaperones and any classroom helper must have a CORI report filled out with Central Office and attend a Confidentiality meeting with Susan Astone.  (Those who have not been able to attend a confidentiality meeting may do so by coming into school 10 minutes prior to field trip departure on the morning of a field trip for a quick meeting with the principal or assistant principal.)

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES:
Please remember that Parent Teacher conferences this year are being held with your child's reading teacher.  However, if I see any concerns in math, social studies, science or social skills, I will contact you for an additional conference with me.  Also, please know that I am always available to meet with you before or after school on any day (except Thursday afternoons) if you have a pressing concern that you need to discuss.  And please always feel free to e-mail, send in a note or call if you need to touch base at any time.

Kids At Work In September

Using the Interactive Whiteboard during math

Counting the objects in our Mystery Boxes

Graphing Answers to the Question, "Do you Have the First Day Jitters?"