The joy in giving

Putting quarters in the coin collection cup

Hat day/quarters day

In a season of getting, it's heartwarming to also give. This week was school spirit week coinciding with giving. Coins were donated each day, food was donated to be given to those in need, and cheerful cards were sent to a little boy in the hospital. The line leaders carried the little coin bucket and food down to the office each week, and we thank everyone who so generously gave!

Crazy sock day/nickels day

Everyday I see examples of how much joy kids receive in giving. Hand drawn pictures that they give to me, their quick response when a friend needs help (crayon spill, water bottle spill, someone hurt), and empathy when a friend is sad are all daily examples of ways they give to others. The school ordered cards for Carlos, a little boy who has been in Children's Hospital since August and who will spend Christmas there. His wish in a TV interview was to receive Christmas cards to decorate his room with. The class (and school) loved drawing their best pictures and writing a note to Carlos. Providing opportunities for kids to give to others is a gift for them, because they do get so much pleasure from it!

Sports day/pennies day

Pajama day/ dollar day

Crazy Hair day/dimes day

Excitement is in the air with our elf making project and with the anticipation of making gingerbread houses on Monday! The desks are all set up for the project, tons of candy is ready to go on the houses (and in mouths), and we will have a great time creating! It will probably go from 9 to 10ish with a simple craft for them to do afterwards during the cleanup. Thank you all for the candy donations- we have plenty at this point!

Only a sampling - we have so much more!

Happy elves!

Our Bear reports were completed and sent home this week. The kids have also read quite a selection of non fiction books about bears- Learning about bears was a great inspiration for their independent reading!

Hallway display for animals in winter

Bear books and reports

Elf making!

Assembling the elves

Almost done

Language arts centers included making a gingerbread cookie on Starfall, finding an elf in the dictionary to record the word and write a sentence with it, and highlighting words in poetry.

Leading the class in a poem

Listening Center

Poetry

Computers with gingerbread people

Vowel BINGO

Sight words BINGO

I found my elf in the dictionary!

Our example in science of communication with sound focused on technology, specifically with the invention of the telephone. The kids read a book about Alexander Graham Bell and then sequenced a series of telephone pictures and were amazed at how they changed over the years!

Wow- we've come a long way!

In math we have been comparing quantities by using colored counters, and using the vocabulary words of more, fewer, and difference. We also solved a very tricky subtraction problem about missing Oreo cookies after seeing a clip of a 'monster' paw grabbing them off a table to munch!

The missing Oreos

Some of our Gingerbread book collection!

We have been doing a lot of comparing and contrasting as we read the many versions of The Gingerbread Man. It's fun to recognize the similar story structure pattern yet discover all the ways the characters, setting, and ending can change!

Have a wonderful weekend and be ready for Gingerbread Houses Monday!
Mrs. Dagley