Poet of the Day 11.19

Poet HD really wanted a poem about Alaska.  HD and Ms. Randall looked all over for a poem, together they couldn't find anything.  Ms. Randall offered to HD to write him an acrostic poem about Alaska.  A big thanks to Ms. Randall for writing this poem for HD!



 Mrs. Mock recommended the poem "Let's Marry" to ME.  This was a very long and tricky poem filled with funny rhymes.  ME did a great job reading the entire poem.  A big thanks to Mrs. Mock for the recommendation!

 

 Poet of the Day AP read Where the Sidewalk Ends from Shel Silverstein's book Where the Sidewalk Ends. AP's mom made a surprise visit and listened to her read the poem to the class!

 

Poet of the Day 11.18

Poet of the Day KM found her favorite poem Jimmy Jet and his TV Set by Shel Silverstein in our reading corner. KM remembered that this poem was her favorite from 1st grade!  After listening to KM's poem we found a claymation video of  Jimmy Jet and his TV Set (below).This poem is about what happened to a boy who did nothing but watch TV!

Poet of the day AP thought of this poem in her sleep!  When she woke up in the morning she quickly wrote it down so she wouldn't forget any of it.  What a great memory and a wonderful poem.

Poet of the Day 11.17

This poet of the day remembered her favorite poem from 1st grade during Poetry Cafe. She did a wonderful job remembering the poem, writing down the poem and sharing it with the class!

 

Thank You Colchester Police Department!

Yesterday we began talking about how we can give thanks; we are going to continue this conversation over the course of the week.  One way that our class decided to give thanks to our local police department is by writing letters.  Last week during our safety drill officers from the Colchester Police Department talked to our class about what do if we are in the hallways during a safety drill.  We learned a lot of new information about how police officers keep us safe both in and outside of school and what to do if we are in the hallways, a bathroom or outside during a safety drill.  To show the police officers our appreciation for all that they do we wrote them thank you notes! We are looking forward to exploring other ways to show our thanks to the many people who help, serve and protect us on a daily basis! 

Who We are Thankful for and Why?

Allison -- I'm thankful for Kyra because she is always nice to me and loves me.

Addy -- I'm thankful for my dad because he always takes us to birthday parties and places.

Kayden -- I'm thankful for my little sister because I have someone to play with

Mr. K -- I'm thankful for my brother because I always have someone to play with.

Harley -- I'm thankful for PPS so we can learn.

Kelsey -- I'm thankful for my brother because I have someone to play with.

Maddox -- I'm thankful for Ms. LaRose because she helps me work and she likes me.

Fiona -- I'm thankful for my mom because she does all these fun crafts with me.

Hailey -- I'm thankful for Ms. Maddie because she lets me go to her office.

Dakota -- I"m thankful for teachers because they help you do math.

Henry -- I'm thankful for myself because I help myself with homework.

Ben -- I'm thankful for my parents because they feed me!

Holden -- I'm thankful for my mom because she cooks for me.

Mario -- I'm thankful for my brother because he plays with me.

Leah -- I'm thankful for my brother because he teaches me stuff!

Devin -- I'm thankful for my mom and dad because they take me cool places and they let me get more than one cat.

Kaylie -- I'm thankful for my mom because she helps me eat, grow and does special stuff with me.

Lucas -- I'm thankful for my grandma because she brings me places and she does fun things with me.

Khadeija - I'm thankful for my mom because she takes care of me.

Madelyn -- I'm thankful for my uncle Ky because he protects me and he loves me.

Julien -- I'm thankful for Mr. Pecor because without him we wouldn't have enough exercise.

Addison -- I'm thankful for my parents because they help me do stuff.

Ty -- I'm thankful for my dad because he takes me places.

Our Week in Review 11.10- 11.14

Wonder of the Week 11.17 - Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Wonder #53


Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

I think we eat turkey on Thanksgiving because people might have thought it was good luck and thanks. (Julien)

I think we eat turkey on Thanksgiving because it is a tradition, we have just always done it! (Allison)

I think we eat turkey on thanksgiving because the Indians used to kill them. (Lucas)

I think we eat turkey on Thanksgiving because they stand for thanks. (Fiona)


Was turkey on the menu at the first Thanksgiving?

I don't think turkey was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving because no one knew about turkeys. (Kayden)

I don't think turkey was on the menu at the first Thanksgiving because not a lot of people shoot turkeys. (Addison)


How did turkey become the Thanksgiving bird?

I think turkey because the Thanksgiving bird because people eat turkey a lot. (Leah)

I think turkey because the Thanksgiving bird because it was honorable and it became the Thanksgiving bird. (Julien)


Can turkeys fly?

I think turkeys can not fly because they are too heavy for their wings to carry them.  (Madelyn)

I think turkeys can not fly because usually when you see a turkey they are not flying.  (Allison)

I think turkeys (wild turkeys) can fly but farm turkeys can not fly. (Henry)

I think turkeys can fly because their wings are too heavy! (Mario)


We Learned...

I learned that sixty five to seventy thousands turkey's are raised in a farm in Ohio. (Addison)

I learned that they don't kill the chicks when they are just born.  (Maddox)


Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

Was turkey on the menu at the first Thanksgiving?

How did turkey become the Thanksgiving bird?



Can turkeys fly?

We learned that wild turkey's need to fly to escape from predators and farm turkey's do not need to fly. (Fiona)


I learned that farm turkey's don't learn how to fly because they might fly away when people are trying to kill them.  (Allison)

Poet of the Day - 11.14

During our Poetry unit of study students are given the option to sign up to be “Poet of the Day”.  The “Poet of the Day” shares a poem during read aloud to the class.  The poem the student chooses to read can be one that they have found in a book or wrote themselves.  Students can sign-up to be “Poet of the Day” by clicking here or on the link on the classroom blog.

Poet KL read Snowball by Shel Silverstein.  KL did a wonderful job reading her poem accurately and fluently!

Poet AJ read The Crocodile’s Toothache.  AJ did a fabulous job sticking with all those tricky words in this poem, which was very long! 

Crazy Hair Day and "Show the Rule!"

On Monday we had a wonderful cRaZy HaIr Day! Below are some pictures of our crazy hair! 

 This week we are learning about Reflexive Pronouns during “Show the Rule.” We learned that a reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject in a sentence. They end with –self or –selves. Below are some examples of how we showed the reflexive pronoun rule!

Veterans Day

I know a veteran, my uncle, grandfather and great grandfather are all veterans.  They all served in the Army.  (Allison)

My two football coaches serve.  One is in the Army and one is in the Air Force. (Maddox)

My mom's uncle served in the Army.  (Leah)

My uncle was in the Army and he is now a police office.  (Madelyn)

My dad fought in a war.  (Ty)

My uncle works in the Army in a helicopter.  (Lucas)

My dad was in the Army.  (Kaylie)

My aunt was in the military. (Kayden)

My dad was in the Coast Guard. (Henry)

I think my grandpa's 2 brothers were in the military. (Devin)

Do People Still Write Poetry?

Wonder # 911 

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Welcome to Wonderoplis!
Have a great time.
Wait a second.  That's a horrible poem.  It doesn't even rhyme! Let's try this again..

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Welcomes to Wonderoplis!
Today's poetry Wonder is just for you!
There!  That's better.  Not a lot better, but a little better.

We have to admit.  We're a bit out of practice when it comes to writing poetry.  Actually, do people even write poetry today?


Do people still write poetry?

I think people still write poetry because we have lots of poetry books. (Addy)

I think people still write poetry but not the poetry they used to write.  (Julien)

I think people still write poetry because it is fun and people can learn lots of things. (Kaylie)

I think people still write poetry because it might be about people's lives. (Maddox)

I think people still write poetry because anyone can write poetry.  (Addison)

Are song lyrics poetry?

I think song lyrics are poetry because some songs have rhymes that make them poetry. (Henry)

I think song lyrics are poetry because many people sing rhymes which is poetry, so they are singing poems. (Allison)

I think poetry can be a song because I have written a poem that was a song.  (Leah)


Can you write a poem?

I think you can write a poem because poems are basically rhymes that are about something or about somebodies life. (Kayden).

I think you can write a poem because poems are found in a lot of songs and you can write whatever you want! (Madelyn).

I think you can write a poem because you don't need to ask anyone to write a poem. (Addison)

I think you can write a poem that is based on your life. (Leah)

I think you can write a poem because you can base it on anything that you want.  (Fiona)

I think you can write a poem because you have a brain and you can use it. (Allison)

I learned.

I learned the world does still have modern poets.  (Julien)

I learned that rap and other music can be forms of poetry.  (Maddox)

I learned that song writers are poetry writers at heart.  (Addy)

I learned that a guy named Tomas Transtromer won a Nobel Prize in Literature.  (Allison)

I learned that poetry is still found in songs.  (Madelyn)

I learned that people still write poems and they can be turned into songs later.  (Fiona)

PTO Clothing Exchange Information

• PTO Clothing Exchange info:  The Clothing Exchange is planned for Saturday November 15th from 9:00-11:00.  For those of you who are new to the event, this is how it works....

• We ask for donations of gently used children's (no adult clothing) clothing from parents, families and community members.  We are unable to accept underclothes, bathing suits or hats.  Clothing can be dropped off at Porters Point School on Thursday November 13th and Friday November 14th.  We are unable to do longer than that due to limited storage areas.

• On Saturday volunteers will arrive by 8:00 to put the presorted clothing out onto tables for shopping.  People may bring their own bags or use a plastic grocery bag we provide to shop.  The cost is $ 0.50/bag.  This year we will open the shopping to PPS families only from 9:00-10:00 (an admission ticket will be sent home) and then to the public from 10:00-11:00.  Any leftover clothing (last year we had none!) will be donated.

• Interested in volunteering?  Please visit the following Sign Up Genius link to sign up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c44afaf2fa20-2014

Information from the Main Office

o    For Maddie Sivo:  Our school social worker, Maddie Sivo, often meets with students during their lunchtime.  She sometimes allows students to invite friends to join them so they can all work on social skills and building positive friendships.  If you are not comfortable with your child being invited for these small groups, please let me know or contact Maddie directly – sivom@csdvt.org or 264-5918.

o    For Greg Kriger:  On Tuesday November 18th, PPS and Union Memorial are hosting author and parenting coach Vicki Hoefle at Mallets Bay School from 6:00-8:00pm.  Vicki Hoefle wrote the book Duct Tape Parenting, which gives parents a new perspective on what it means to be effective, engaged parents and to enable kids to develop confidence through solving their own problems.  This presentation is free and open to the public.  Free childcare is available and so is free pizza for dinner, but you need to register for both by calling Greg Kriger at 264-5927. 

Our Week in Review 11.3 - 11.7

Nutrition Week of 11.3

This week in nutrition Ms. LaRose taught about how various food items can be part of one, two, three, four or all five food groups.  We discussed how an apple is only part of the fruit food group, however, other foods like mac and cheese and pizza are part of one or more food groups.  Students couldn't believe that pizza can be part of all five food groups.

Ms. Warren taught students about food items that can be found in each of the five food groups. Students are working hard on learning all five food groups and Ms. Warren played an awesome (catchy) song about the five food groups to help students remember them!

On Friday, we had our first delicious healthy plate.  Food items that could be found on our Healthy Plate on Friday were: roasted chick peas, kiwi, red peppers, cottage cheese, soy milk with couscous and raisins!

Thank you to all parents who have signed up to bring in a food item for our next Healthy Plate.  You can click here to be directed to the Sign-Up.

Show the Rule

Since the start of the school year each week students have the opportunity to “Show The Rule”.  Each Monday students are introduced to a new writing convention or “rule.” As a class we discuss the meaning of the rule and discover how it is applied in literature. We then write our own piece as a group using the rule. Students then get to apply their knowledge of the rule through creative writing. In their writing, students must use the rule five times. Before students hand in their writing they go over the piece and highlight or underline all the places where they have used the rule. Students then look for the “rule” in their writing and read over the course of the week.  This week we learned that collective nouns are words that name a group of people, animals or things.  Below is a list of all the collective nouns we brainstormed.  

Can Fairy Tales Be True? - Wonder of the Week (11.3 - 11.7)

Wonder 912 
Once upon a time…see? We told you that’s how today’s Wonder starts out! But this is no fairy tale. No, sir! There’s more than a hint of truth in today’s Wonder of the Day.

Do you like fairy tales? Who doesn’t? What’s not to like? Princesses, castles, ogres, evil villains…fairy tales have it all!  Of course, they’re just made-up tales, right? There aren’t really princesses and castles and evil villains, are there?

Well…you might say, “Of course not!” But let’s think about this a bit first. We know that there are real princesses in the world. And there are castles, too. Evil villains?  Yes, we have those, too. Ogres? Maybe not…but maybe there’s some truth behind those fairy tales, after all.

Can fairy tales be true? 

I think fairy tales are not true because people make them up.  (Leah) 

I think fairy tales are true because a long time ago princesses were real.  (Kayden) 

I think fairy tales are true because some fairy tales are legends and legends are true. (Julien) 

I think fairy tales are true because they take place in the mid-evil times.  (Maddox) 

I think fairy tales are true because they can be based on a real story.  (Fiona)  


Was Snow White a real person? 

I think Snow White was a real person because dwarfs are real.  (Addison) 


Can you make up your own true fairy tale? 

I think you can make up your own true fairy tale because you can make it up from your life.  (Henry) 

I think you can make up your own true fairy tale because if you put your mind to it anything can happen. (Kayden)

I think you can make up your own true fairy tale because people write fairy tales all the time. (Madelyn)



I learned...

I learned that giants are in stories (folktales).  Kelsey

I learned that it is impossible to know if fairy tales are true.  Julian

I learned that there is usually a form of magic in fairy tales.  (Addy)

I learned that fairy tales have been popular for children for over a thousand years.  (Allison) 

I learned that some fairy tales can be short in length.  (Kaylie) 

I learned that fairy tales have been around since children worked in mines.  (Henry) 

I learned that fairy tales can be based off of people's lives.  (Dakota) 

I learned that mythical creatures are in fairy tales.  (Maddox) 

I learned that castles used to be real and are still real.  (Addison) 

I learned that there is usually some kind of enchantment, magic or talking animal in a fairy tale.  (Devin) 

Our Week in Review: 10.27 - 10.31