I can do my own kids getting sick in a car...
I can even do a huge plant spilling topsoil all over my white carpet (what was I thinking with white?)...
BUT I CANNOT DO MICE...
I'm sure the kids will all come home and tell you, so I thought I'd just come right out and tell you myself...
I jumped onto a chair this morning and stayed there awhile after my classroom was visited by a mouse...I'm sure it's a friendly mouse, and YES, I know how much bigger I am than it...but...
I DO NOT DO MICE!
OK, now that we've gotten that all out in the open...back to the whole reason I have this blog...let's talk about YOUR kids and their week!
Language Arts...
I LOVE poetry...I never thought I would say that! The kids have been reading some incredible poems this week...Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Robert Louis Stevenson, to name a few. While reading these poets' pieces, we have discussed rhyme, rhythm, lines, stanzas, similies, onomatopoeia, and more...but importantly, we have been finding the meaning in their words. The students are such "deep thinkers" and used the elements of poetry to analyze some pretty tough poems. I have been incredibly proud of their work. On top of all of the reading and analyzing we've done...the kids have been WRITING poems...and HOLY MOLY, I have a classroom full of AMAZING poets!! I don't know in what fashion we will be publishing these poems, but we WILL be publishing these poems. They are great!
Along with our poetry unit, we have been finishing the first drafts of our biographies. The typing of the biographies has taken quite a while, but now they will now use those drafts to have a peer conference, as well as a teacher conference. I expect final drafts completed by next Friday and then the practicing will begin!! As of right now, we are aiming to present our Hall of Presidents and First Ladies the first Friday in January...it will be a morning production...and I promise to have full details by next Friday (have I said that before?!) About "costumes"...please do not spend any money on a costume...first of all...the kids do not HAVE to dress like their person...it makes the wax museum more interesting looking, but is not necessary. They must have something on, or with them, that represents their famous person. If you click on the link for the May 2008 entries in the blog, you can watch a short slide show of our wax museum from last year...just as a guide. It is important to begin thinking about what your child will bring or wear. If you have any questions, as always, feel free to email me.
Social Studies...
We finished up our Political Science unit...we read about important monuments, memorials, and symbols of the US, as well as learned about National holidays such as Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Now we are focusing on Peoples of the Nation and World. We have been discussing different cultures and how they celebrate their holidays. Next week we will be investigating certain countries and how the lives of the children there compare and contrast to our students' lives.
Math...
In math we are working on multiplication. I have grouped the kids for different indicators and each day I meet with different children depending on the needs of those kids. The students that are not meeting with me are working independently on the skill taught the day before or on an extension of what is being taught. Everyone is making great progress, but some of the kids really need to continue to practice multiplication facts...they need gentle reminders!! http://www.multiplication.com/ is a great resource with fun games to help the kids acquire their facts.
I thought I'd leave you with a poem written by Grace Lee after this morning's escapades...I tell you, I've never heard so many poems about mice in my life...but this one sums it all up really well....
Mrs. Wills is Afraid of a Mouse
by Grace Lee
My teachers afraid of a mouse.
She has a mouse in her schoolhouse!
She jumped on a chair, like it was a nightmare,
My teachers afraid of a mouse!
Mr. Ray came in with a start.
He put out a mousetrap, (his part.)
Mrs. Wills just stood, as far away as she could,
Mr. Ray came in with a start.
Our class thinks the mouse is gone.
Mr. Clutz's class he might've gone.
Mrs. Wills is still scared, would she go near? She didn't dare!
Our class thinks the mouse is gone.
I hope our class is right! Have a great "mice free" weekend...like I plan to!
