On to Second Grade...

And so it ends...

I wanted to take the time to thank you all as parents for the amazing semester I had teaching your children. It seems like only yesterday I walked into such a different classroom and saw such different students. It amazes me to see how quickly and brilliantly they have all grown; as learners, as friends, and as personalities. So many bloomed so beautifully and gracefully and I couldn't be blessed more than to watch it all happen in front of my very eyes.

I also want to thank you for instilling your trust in me as a new face, teacher, and part of your family. I could only imagine the stress and emotions you felt as a parent to see your child take such a sudden turn in their year as a first grader. I am sure many of you experienced tears, worries, and frights at home in fear that they couldn't adjust. I am filled with joy and emotion to say here today that I have made such a bond with EACH AND EVERY ONE of these children. They forever implanted a concrete paw on my heart as my very first class and very first love of teaching.

Lastly I want to personally thank all of my chicken nuggets, my dudes, my "girlfriends": my students.  I love you all the same and in many, very different ways. Your smiles, your silly jokes, your dance moves, your hugs, and your stories will be very missed. My job was to come every day and teach you something new, but at this moment I have realized that you have done the very same for me. I know I have told you so many times, but there are some things I can't help but tell you again:
1. You are capable of anything, everything, and even more.
2. The world is full of bullies but don't be one to yourself.
3. You are so important.
4. You know how to get out of the "dip" so don't get stuck!
5. There is always someone who believes in you: YOU!

So with so much love and gratitude:
peace out!

Ms. Davis

Donors Choose!

I have started a Donors Choose project for a listening center for next year's 1st Grade Class!
If you like to donate click the link below!

Also, use the code LIFTOFF for Donors Choose to match your amount!

Thanks!


Listening to Reading Center

Preposition: It's on a mission...

to tell us it's position!

Today we labeled the room with tons of prepositional phrases. Some were so silly! 

Here a few of our favorites!

 

Dante and Rohan: next to the calendar

Ryan: on the rug      

                                                           Jaelynn: around the Coke bottle

Emerald and Niko: through the door   

                                                   Micah: up Ms. Davis's back

List and Acrostic Poems

Below are examples of the poem grades we created last week.

The list poem lists out ideas we connect with the expression "OUCH!"
We brainstormed our thoughts first and listed our personal favorites.

The acrostic poem describes our personalities using the letters of our names. 

Geographical Locations Book-Major Grade

Parents,

This week we finished up our geographical locations book: our first major grade in social studies for the fourth nine weeks. We drew and described land forms, shelter, food, weather, and clothing for four different places in our world. This was done as a whole group and independent assignment. Below was the classroom example we did together and had a conversation about. This may help you understand the model for your friend's major grades. This will go home in the next Tuesday folder!

So we went on a 3D shape hunt...

this is what we found!

Check out this song we practice in class!

3D Shapes

New Class Novel

We have started a new book in class! I am so excited to read to our friends The BFG by Roald Dahl. 

Even better the movie by Disney is being made and will be out on July 1st. Just in time for the end of the year and a summertime treat.

The BFG is full of adventure, fantasy, and characterization. 

I put the trailer for the movie down below. 

A book I am currently reading, actually LISTENING to is 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.

 It's a great read and I am listening to it via Audible.com and the app back and from school. I highly recommend Audible. You get your first book free and it's an awesome way to get in that reading time without having to set it aside from the rest of your day. 

All About Animals

To continue with practicing research, we will be writing an All About on our favorite animals. Starting Friday we will be in the computer lab writing notes on an animal of our choice. Below is the list with each friend's chosen animal. Take time to discuss at home and get them excited. Please do not share other friend's animals, we want it to be a surprise come presentation time!

                                                 Micah Alexander-zebra

Matthew Becerra-electric eel

Luis Cervantes-eagle

Lauren Chan-sea lion

Carolina Dale-tiger

Dante Deynes-rhino

Jerry Diamond-wolf spider

Rohan Dsouza-blue shark

Ryan Dubey-duck

Terry Eneh-snake

Jaelynn Fuentes-wolf

Makenna Gilbreath-African elephant

Emerald Huynh-ladybug

Joleigh Kan-blue jay

Jonathan Laurier-lion

Nicholas Lekousis-Great White shark

Daniel Maresh-pig

Andoni Marinez Diaz-cheetah

Daniel Navraez-Great White shark

Jibril Seck-tiger shark

Gabby Hernandez-frog

Forward Friday

Here are what we are learning next week:

Reading: continuing biographies (read up on your friend's famous person found in the post below)
Writing: adverbs
Math: 2 dimensional shapes
Science: animal's physical adaptations
Social Studies: timelines

Go Noodle Champ #5

Love IT!

No Work, All Play #4

In math we have begun telling time to the hour and half hour. For the fourth No Work, All Play sit down with your friend and list out their daily schedule. Write the time in two ways: digital time and draw the clock in analog time. Here's an example:


Wake Up:




Go to School:

     






Make sure the times are only to the hour and half hour!
Bring this to school for 2 Dojo Points!

Biography Time

For reading and writing we will be starting biographies! Tomorrow in computer lab we will be researching our famous figures and begin writing our favorite facts to put on our biography poster. Friends stuck their hand in a hat to pick out who they will be researching. Here is the list of the chosen figures. Talk about them at home to get them excited!

Micah Alexander-1^st Lady-Michelle Obama

Matthew Becerra-author-Dr. Seuss

Luis Cervantes-author-Maurice Sendak

Lauren Chan-business leader-Bill Gates

Carolina Dale-athlete-Muhammad Ali

Dante Deynes-air/space explorer-Sally Ride

Jerry Diamond-teacher/helper-Jane Addams

Rohan Dsouza-author-Tomie dePaola

Ryan Dubey-teacher/helper-Juliette Gordon Low

Terry Eneh-business-Mary Kay Ash

Jaelynn Fuentes-athlete-Jackie Robinson

Makenna Gilbreath-athlete-Wilma Rudolph

Emerald Huynh-air/space explorer-Amelia Earheart

Joleigh Kan-artist-Georgia O’ Keefe

Jonathan Laurier-scientist-Benjamin Banneker

Nicholas Lekousis-1^st Lady-Eleanor Roosevelt

Daniel Maresh-1^st Lady-Jacqueline Kennedy

Andoni Marinez Diaz-author-Mo Williams

Daniel Navraez-author-Babe Ruth

Jibril Seck-artist-Carmen Lomas Garza

Gabby Hernandez-business leader-Sam Walton

American Symbols: Pictures and Meanings

Our Friendly Letters

Parents,

Just wanted to update you on our writing work this week which was friendly letters. Below I have my model that we did in class many times for certain topics regarding letter format.
One letter that I will be sending back home will be the letter written below, which was a Letter To My Future Self. I have sealed this letter to be opened in 2027 when your friends should graduate high school...(shocking, I know, I did the math and almost had a heart attack) 

You may keep this letter stowed away for their graduation day or open it, which ever you please. We had a hilarious time thinking about what we and our world will look like in 11 years! 

Important Things To Look For: Date in right hand corner, greeting with a capital letter, name of recipient capitalized, comma after name, body starting with a capital letter, closing starting with a capital letter, appropriate send-off, comma after closing, signature at the end of the page, name capitalized 

Another letter we wrote this week was a letter to our favorite Disney Character. My original plan was to use this only as practice but because of the utmost AMAZING quality of work and incredible ideas our friends had I will be using these as our Letter Writing daily grade. Another part of my plan was to mail these off to Disney World, because if I do so, they have a program where they will send a postcard back. I promised my friends this, so I will follow through. When you receive this grade back I will be including the rubric and a scanned copy of their original letter, since the other is off to the most magical place in the world!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Ms. Davis

ClassDojo Monster Design Contest

Friends,

Just wanted to share one of the many awesome entries for the ClassDojo Monster Contest!

Entries are still accepted till March 15th. Could be a great Spring Break project. You can take a picture of your completed entry and email it to monsters@classdojo.com

I used the free app GeniusScan to convert my photo into PDF form if you prefer. The selected monster will be featured in the new video series. Some friends were asking to the link for the old series so I'll post it below!

ClassDojo Big Ideas

New Reading

A new book our class has started together is The Doll People. We will be reading chapter by chapter together, making predictions, journaling, and testing our comprehension skills along the way. If you would like to follow along at home feel free, but don't get too ahead! The Doll People is full of mystery, action, and imagination. This was my very first book I read on my own when I was little and I still get excited thinking about it. 

For mom, dad, grandparents, or special someones: A book I'm currently reading is by Brene Brown. She is a social scientist starting a conversation on courage, vulnerability, shame, and worthiness. It's a great read and I highly recommend it. 

Our Forward Friday will be posted next Friday, March 18th. Be sure to be going over the review sheets emailed to you this week. If you have not received those documents please email me ASAP.

Other than that have an awesome holiday!

Ms. Davis

GoNoodle! Champ #3

 What a transformation!

Forward Friday

One more week till Spring Break!!!!! We can do it!

Here is what we are learning in class next week:

Reading: Fables
Writing: continuing letter writing
Math: continuing place value and composing/decomposing numbers
Science: continuing plant parts
Social Studies: starting symbols and the pledges

Remember to have your Class Dojo monster to me by Friday!

Class Dojo Monster Design Contest

Class Dojo is holding a monster design contest. I am sending home the entry forms! If you choose to participate I need them by Friday, March 11!

Here is the example they included:

No Work, All Play #3

Contractions in action!

Complete the contraction dominoes activity sent home in the clear baggy. Time your friend each time to see if they can do it faster and faster. Sign the back of the "cheat sheet" and date it to receive 2 Dojo Points! Please make sure to send it back to school!
The game should look something like this: