Farm Field Days Fieldtrip

The "Chicks" waiting for the sheep shearing.

Here goes!

He was finished in no time.

Forbes Elementary students rock!

  Did you know goat is the 2nd most consumed meat in the world, behind pigs?

Thanks, parents, for coming to help!!

One of our learning stations.

This talking pumpkin answered our questions, and we answered his!

Bees are pretty amazing insects.

Future farmers of America!

Recent Star Students of the Week

Spooktacular Students!

Walk-a-Thon

Metamorphosis

One of our Painted Lady butterflies.

All five of our caterpillars-turned-chrysalids hatched!

Waiting on two more to hatch...

All survived!  We set them free on Friday.  Beautiful flight.

This 'n That

Laryngitis and teaching make for a tricky combination.  While I otherwise feel fine, this voice thing has gone on for a week, and has me flummoxed.  If you know of any cures, please email me!

The Read-a-Thon was so much fun.  We read:  to selves, with a buddy, listened to reading, read aloud, did an art project that went along with a book, watched a Reading Rainbow episode, read with Mr. Rencher, and welcomed Chopper 5 to our school.  Not to mention the Chick-fil-A cow came and read to us...sort of... He didn't actually read, but had the students read for him.  Love, love, love that establishment.  They are so good to our school.

I think when we get back to school tomorrow (Monday) some of our Painted Lady butterflies will be out of their chrysalises.  Drat that we couldn't be there.  Maybe one of the five will wait for us...

Speaking of class pets (of the non-human variety...I pretty much have 18 human-variety), Jimmer and Fredette are finally back in our classroom, after taking a MUCH too long summer break.  These leopard geckos are the greatest.  Jimmer is 7 years old and Fredette is 6 (and was given to our class last year by my intern, Shelbie Loveless.  I think Jimmer enjoys the company.)  They love to be held and they love to eat.  I may be asking for cricket and meal worm donations from time to time.

Speaking of donations, THANK YOU SO MUCH to those of you who donated to the Alpine Foundation to help us get a classroom document camera.  I'm reaching for the moon, as I'd like a wireless one.  SO handy in sharing student work and moving around the room...such as to our butterflies or geckos.  If any of you know a source for a technology grant, please let me know.  I am on a quest, to be sure.

We'll make it another great week.  Thanks for working with your child, especially with math and reading.  You're the best.

Read-a-Thon

Scenes From the First Week of School

Tuesday:  Children entered classroom with first-day jitters.  One lost tooth, two bandaids, a couple of nervous tears, several read-alouds, and a few rules.  Children left smiling.
Wednesday:  Two more lost teeth (I think I'll create a missing tooth club!), less jitters, a few more rules, a few more read-alouds, beginning a routine, no jitters, smiles all around.
Thursday:  Everyone's teeth intact, buddy reading, reading to self, more read-alouds (with strategies), 100's chart pictures, I Have--Who Has, chat and off-taskness begins.  However, smiling kids and teacher.
Friday:  Well-mannered students look me in the eyes and greet me, thank the lunch ladies, write thank-you notes to our custodians, continue developing number sense, read to selves, buddies, and choral read, identify story elements in read-alouds, chat, chat, review classroom rules.  Good day.  Good week.  Good times.

It's that time of year again!

I love this time of year.  When the stores have aisles filled with new pencils, crayons, paper, and backpacks I just wander through all the new school stuff, inhaling the wonderful fragrance and color.  My favorite part  is preparing my room and thinking of the students that will soon fill the desks, the energy and enthusiasm for learning that will be taking place, and the friendships that will be made.   Each school year brings new people in my life.  The time spent in the classroom making connections with my students and seeing them grow and make progress is what gets me excited about beginning another school year.  I love seeing the excitement on the kids' faces when they come to Open House.  I am ready for routines, schedules,  rules...and fun :)!

Please look for a letter this week about the before-school-starts DRA testing.   I look forward to meeting you and sharing a wonderful year together.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Krueger