We had another presentation from Mrs. Blakeslee's 5th graders today! We learned a lot of neat things about Mark Twain and the era that he lived in. We found out in his lifetime:
I know y'all are getting anxious to get your hands on the artwork...but you have to wait a tiny bit longer! The children chose 3 of their masterpieces each to display in our art gallery in the hallway during student-led conferences tomorrow. We sorted the rest today and put them in our portfolios that we water colored. Expect almost 20 pieces of artwork to keep...we've had a lot of fun!
It wasn't until 4:00 PM that I realized it was Tuesday and I forgot to pass out the red folders! Everything is in their yellow cubbies...I will stuff the folders tomorrow and send them home Wednesday! Please forgive me...we are so busy right now!
Congratulations to PP for winning the 1st grade bookmark contest. I bet the extras will sell at the school store...50 cents well spent! I enjoyed seeing everyone at book fair. It sounds like a lot of great books were purchased and at the same time...helped support our school! 
Yesterday, November 30, was Mark Twain's (aka Samuel Clemens) birthday. Mrs. Blakeslee's 5th graders have been preparing various ways to celebrate it and today they did a small presentation. One of the things they told us was that Mark Twain did not like bright colors because they depressed him. His favorite color is white...that's why all the pictures of him have him wearing white suits. To honor Mark Twain the 5th graders asked everyone to wear white tomorrow! We ate white sugar cookies to celebrate and colored a fact page delivered by the 5th graders.
Just a reminder...student-led conferences were rescheduled for after school THIS Wednesday, December 3rd. There are 3 times to choose from: 3-3:30, 3:30-4 and 4-4:30. This is a requirement for all students at a PYP-IB school. I will be at school until 5:00 that day to make sure everyone has a chance to participate. I'm not sure if the school sent out new forms or not but I've only gotten 1 back so far. If it is easier, just email me the preferred time or go to the bottom of this post and put it in the comment box. I will also put a sign-up sheet outside our classroom.
I wanted to wish everyone and their families a happy Thanksgiving. The children are a joy to teach, we've had a great year so far and I am thrilled to be their teacher! Everyone is extremely helpful and supportive...I truly feel blessed by all of you! Have a restful week. Sincerely, Mrs. Phillips 
Thank you to Mrs. Lang for coming to our classroom ALONE and taught the kids a little bit about repetition and patterns. They made beautiful snakes that shows exactly that!
As Thanksgiving approaches we are reminded about all that we are thankful for! Let this be your last opportunity to collect pennies over the break from school when you are out and about with friends and family. I will be taking our collection to the bank when we get back from the Thanksgiving holiday. 
The above confession was even signed! I concealed it to protect his anonymity...
The kids love doing glyphs...and I like to sneak in the crafts! Everyone made a turkey but if you look closely, they are all different! The questions this time were all about Thanksgiving preferences...what they like to eat, if they are staying in town or not, etc. 
Today in computer ancillary, the kids experimented with creating abstract art on the computer!
Keith Haring always wanted to draw. While attending art school in NYC he started seeing empty black pieces of paper on the subways and knew that this was the perfect place for him to draw. He began his career by making subway drawings every day. He is known for using simple pictures and bold black lines whose pictures left a lot to your imagination. He was known to say, If you want to know more…go to this amazing website.
Go here to play hangman. I like the animals game!
Go here to send an ecard.
Go here to watch animals, people and things morph into different things…just click away!
Go here to tell what YOU think is happening in each picture…just like we did when we read his book today! (look on the left for the word MORPH)
There's more do to...look around!
I know Keith Haring would LOVE to know how much we enjoyed learning about him and his work. We ran short of time…I challenge you to go further! Have fun!
In art ancillary the children learned about Piet Mondrian. They explored straight lines, primary colors, rectangles, squares and grids. 
An actual Calder...how exciting!
At the end of the day...we were totally exhausted! Thank you to all the chaperones...I couldn't have done it without you. Really.
Please try to wear a WHITE T-SHIRT...it makes it easier for me to spot my own class in the midst of millions! :-)
We can't seem to get elephants off of our minds...so I read a book about elephants and the kids went wild writing facts they learned! Challenge your child to tell you 10 facts...I bet they could!
Thank you RS for bringing you new friend, Harry! I've never quite seen a hot dog sized caterpillar. The kids were both grossed out and fascinated all at the same time! Loved it!.jpg)
We had great fun making mobiles...inspired by our favorite artist of the day, Alexander Calder! Come by to admire their beauty...I bet we keep them up all year long! 
The projects look great. It sounds like everyone had a great time working together as a family! Mission accomplished. We will share the projects and do a writing assignment in class Monday.
Be sure to double click the mosaic above to see the tiny details!
The plastic combs that come with the kit do not work. The metal ones are better...sometimes you can find them on the pet isle (flea combs) at the grocery store or pet store. I've heard that if you use a comb to use it every day until all eggs have hatched and are gone. I did not have any luck with this method in the past. The hot straightening iron works!
OK...keeping up with bulletin bulletin boards is not one of my strengths. I finally took these "What did you do over the summer?" plates off the wall. WOW is all I have to say! Those where done on the 1st day of the school and I had some very reluctant (if that) writers. I am so proud of the progress I am seeing with their writing! Many of the kids have started on their 2nd journals and I have been sending them home in the red folders. Take a look at them when you get them and check out their writing. They have so much to say! Way to go guys!
I went to school tonight after my appointments to get substitute plans ready for tomorrow and look what I found...adorable circus lions! I can't wait to see everyone on Friday!
If your child chose to participate in the March of Dimes Reading Champions program...the reading logs are due Thursday and I will turn them in on Friday when I return back to school. 
Today the children came to school talking about the sad news about baby Mac...the baby elephant at the Houston Zoo. He died Sunday night. I changed my plans for the day to fit in a writing assignment about the news. 
As you can see...we are short 8 toilet paper tubes. If you have any at home to contribute we could use them! We will use these on Thursday when I am out. If I am not here when you bring them...give them to the sub. She will give you a funny look! (just kidding...I will tell her to keep an eye out for them!).
Today we learned a little about Claude Monet and Impressionism. He liked painting the outdoors...especially water lilies and bridges. We gave it a try...
Last week in science, Mrs. Daniels asked the children to bring back “a pattern in nature” for her next lab class. 
I'm sure you heard the news...we finally finished Trumpeter of the Swan and watched the movie yesterday. The kids loved it! Be sure to ask your child how the movie was different from the book.
Today we learned about Georgia O'Keefe. We found out that her clear, bright paintings show the beauty she found in the simple, natural things around her. We also found out she loved to paint flowers...up real close...and so do we! 
Sorry SS...I had a crazy time figuring out who I put in the above mosaic twice and who I left out! It was too much trouble to redo it so you get yours showcased all by itself!
Thank you to the Lewis family...for finding a pencil sharpener that works in our classroom. Bravo!
We've totally mastered counting dimes and nickels. Be on the lookout...we will be adding dimes to the mix soon!
Just a heads up...next week we will learn about Alexander Calder...best known for his mini circus made from found objects. To go along with our study, I am asking each child to collect boxes, buttons, caps, rubber bands, wire, small boxes, tubes, string, etc...whatever is needed to make something you would find at a circus! This completed (at home) tiny project will be due next Friday, November 14th. The children will share their project with the class as well as use it for a writing assignment. Last year we did this in class and quite honestly, it was tough because 22 kids all at once needed something hot glued all at the same time! The kids really love this project and I know they will have a lot of fun with it...you will, too! 
Today we ended our study on Van Gogh by painting (with watercolors...by popular vote!) our own irises after viewing his. As usual...they turned out beautiful! Don't you love how everyones purple looks different? They did a great job mixing primary colors to make their own shade of purple! A big thank you to Mrs. Musters in 3rd grade...her Cybershot takes vivid pictures!
The kids had a real-world voting experience today...they even had to wait in a long line! They cast their vote for president as well as a vote for a few other items on our ballot! 
Today we had another fine art a la carte lesson! Thank you to Mrs. Reiner and Mrs. Partridge for leading the lesson. Their topic was color/mood and warm/cool colors. The kids had a fabulous time.
Absolutely stunning! The colors really turned out vibrant. We had fun with this...even the boys liked painting flowers!
Next week I will be introducing a new game that can be played in class, Booger Makes an A. It is found on Webkinz in the arcade. This game is SO helpful with addition, problem solving and fact families. I love this game...and so will the kids! 
Help the puppy find the bones he buried by clicking on the correct number square. Don't take too long or you will run out of time! This math game is a great way for kids to practice working with a 100's chart.
