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POD: Lining up Buses at the End of the Day

Our day at Napan began with an indoor opening, as the playground was wet and frozen from the weather overnight. Once everyone was inside and settled, Ms. Brown did the morning announcements and introduced our new virtue of the month: Love. What a wonderful focus for December.

We moved into our regular opening routines and worked on identifying open and closed syllables for spelling.
Our spelling words today were: stand, high, go, and to.
Our dictated sentence was: She said hi to me.
We followed that up with our Hagerty listening games and our maze, before finishing UFLI Lesson 66.

In math, we reviewed telling time on an analog clock and practiced more addition. Everyone is getting much better at identifying the hour and minute hands.

After a fun outdoor recess, we came back in to work on our writing program, expanding our sentences using where, when, and why. Adding more detail helps create clearer, more interesting writing.

Next, we headed to the gym where we:
– did a quick workout,
– reviewed scooter safety,
– and played a few scooter games.

Just as we lined up and dressed for lunch, the skies opened and it began pouring rain, so lunch became an indoor recess.

After lunch, we went down to the library to practice our boomwhackers for the Christmas concert. The group is sounding better each day!
Then we visited Ms. Doucette, where we completed our weather journals and added some finishing touches to our climate posters.

We ended the day by reading from School Days According to Humphrey, watching a short video about what love looks like in a school community, and completing our Book of Gratitude.

Before dismissal, we packed our home-to-school folders with:
– Report cards, and Parent Teacher Request forms
– the December calendar.

Can you believe we only have three weeks until Christmas break?

Get lots of rest tonight, and I will see you in the morning!

POD: Entertaining Ourselves While the Teacher Sets-up!

The rain was coming down heavy to start the day!

POD: Christmas Bulletin Board Started!

Today was one of those rare mornings where the rain followed us to school, so we began our day with an indoor opening. Even with the weather, our breakfast program was open, and many hungry students were happy to start their day with something warm.

We kicked things off with Ms. Foresythe, who led us through our full morning routine:
– Hagerty listening games
– Spelling words
– Dictated sentence
– Show, not tell
– Maze

Everyone did a fantastic job staying focused.
We also continued our writing program, working on using capitals, punctuation, and writing multiple complete sentences. This is an ongoing goal, and we’re already seeing improvements.

In math, we reviewed:
– Representing numbers
– Addition
– Arrays
– Analog time (reading hour and minute hands accurately)

After recess, our JMH mentors arrived with activities ready to go, and they were especially on the ball today. It was great to see so much engagement and teamwork.

Just before lunch we went downstairs for PE. We did a quick workout to get our hearts pumping and then worked on rebounding, keeping our eyes up and hands ready.
Lunch was indoors again due to the rain.

After lunch we had art, where we started working on pieces for our Christmas bulletin board. It’s early in the process, but excitement is definitely building, and students are eager to continue tomorrow.

During social studies with Ms. Doucette, we talked about the climates of different places around the world. Everyone was assigned a climate region, and tomorrow we will begin researching to create small posters.

We wrapped up our day by reading from School Days According to Humphrey, watching a short video on responsibility, and completing our Book of Gratitude. Everyone made it to free choice time, which is always a great way to end the afternoon.

Before dismissal, we packed up our things and headed out for the buses—except for some of our Cubs, who have a basketball game at home against ECB tonight.

Go Cubs, and make us proud!

POD: Lunch Practice to Get ready for Tomorrows Game! Go Cubs!

It was a cold start to the day, but I am happy to say that everyone seems to be dressing much warmer for the weather. Hats, mitts, and winter coats make a big difference when you start the morning outside.

We began our day with a guest teacher, Ms. Sturgeon, who led our opening activities. The class was very kind and welcoming to her. When she moved on to another classroom, I came in and we shifted into math. Today we began working on multi-digit addition and the steps we need to take each time to be successful. Slow, steady, and accurate wins the race.

After recess, we headed to PE. We started with a quick workout, and our basketball skill of the day was using the backboard. Students practiced their shots and then moved into guidance.

During guidance, Ms. Leonard read The Boy with Big Feelings and talked about how different people feel and express emotions in different ways. Instead of going outside afterward, the class chose some free time in the gym, and I’m pretty sure I even spotted a scooter or two in action.

Some students had Burger King hot lunch today, while others went outside or joined basketball practice in the gym. We have a big home game tomorrow after school, and the team looks like they are ready. Go Cubs!

When we came back in, it was desk-cleaning time—and it was definitely overdue. We filled the garbage can, the recycling bin, and even a few book bags with treasures that were hiding in the back of desks.

Then we headed across the hall to see Ms. Doucette, who continued her lessons on The Seasons and The Equator. That is a very big word—what is the Equator, and why does it matter?

We finished the day by visiting the library before returning to the classroom. We read from our chapter book, where Humphrey and Aug are hearing teachers say how wonderful it would be to have them in their classes. Now the two are worried they might be separated. We are almost at the end of the book, and I truly have no idea what will happen next.

Before packing up, we watched a quick video on responsibility, and how using routines and checklists can help us stay on track each day. Our Book of Gratitude sentence starter was: “I was responsible today when…” Students had thoughtful examples to share.

We signed our home-to-school books, packed our bags, and headed home for the evening. Stay warm, rest up, and I will see you tomorrow.

POD: Boomwhackers for Music