Happy turkey day!!

We have had a great week this week especially the last two days with our Thanksgiving rotations. The kiddos really loved going to all of the teacher's classrooms and learning something about Thanksgiving.  Especially Pilgrim Ashley!

In math we wrapped up our addition with two-digits.  Upon our return, we will be diving into subtraction.  So let their little brains get lots of rest over the break so they are ready!!  They can also practice their subtraction facts.  This will help tremendously!!

Here are a few websites:
http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_IslandChaseSubtraction.html
http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_MinusMission.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/earlymath/FS_NumberLine_minus.htm


I really hope that everyone enjoys their time with family next week.  Please let me take a minute to express my thankfulness for such a great group of supportive parents!  You guys are amazing!!

Week 11/10

My heart is so full!  The amount of generosity that our students have shown over the past few weeks is amazing!  We have had so many can brought in.  The winner has not been announced as of yet but the citizens of Wylie that are in need of these food items are the definite winners!  Thank you to all of you who made countless trips to the store and/or cleaned out your pantries.

We have still been working hard on our 2-digit addition problems. We have learned several different strategies.

We have broken apart the addends to add the tens and ones.

And we have drawn models to solve.

Next week, we will learn how to add using the 100s chart and an open number line.  We will put it altogether with the regular method on Wednesday.  I will be sending home practice problems next week for homework.  I am okay with students using any method that they feel successful with.  I know that sometimes they come home and say "that is not how Mrs. Halligan showed us."  Tell them I said it is okay as long as they get it right.  We teach several methods because we don't all learn the same.  Plus we want them to know the reason that we regroup and understand the place value behind it.  

Here are a few games online that they can play:

Fruit Splat - http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fruitshoot/fruitshoot_addition.htm

Soccer Math - http://www.math-play.com/soccer-math-adding-two-digit-whole-numbers/adding-two-digit-numbers.html

After the Thanksgiving break, we will be diving into subtraction!!! Woohoo!  Have a great weekend and stay warm.

Week 11/3

Welcome fall!  I have so enjoyed the cooler temps this week and even a little bit of precipitation.  We are diving right in to addition in math.  We will be adding two-digit number by next week using models.  Our strong focus is making ten.  I have shown them how that helps in adding one-digit and two-digit numbers.  By then end of next week, students will be adding two-digit numbers using the regular algorithm that you and I learned.  The most important thing is practice.  I don't care the particular strategy that they use, as long as they understand and get it correct.

Next Friday will be the last day to send in can/dry goods for the Wylie Christian Care Center.  We are in a grade level competition.  I am a very competitive person but especially when it is a competition for a great cause.  I am offering quarters for each can or dry good that students bring.  Be on the look out for information to come out next week regarding an extra incentive!

A few upcoming events:
-Week 11/10-11/14 Book Fair -
    **I will be taking my homeroom on Tuesday at 8:30.
    **Tuesday night is Family Book Fair night from 4-6.
-Thursday 11/12 Thanksgiving Lunch
-Week 11/24-28 Thanksgiving Break

Happy Halloween!

BOO!  I hope everyone is ready for the full night ahead of us.  I know that the kids are!!  We have had a great week learning about strategies that we can use to recall our facts.  We focused mainly on making ten and using doubles facts plus or minus one.  A great game to play at home is "Go Fish Make 10".  This game is played just like "Go Fish" but without the face cards and the 10 card.  Instead of asking for the match, they will ask for the number that would pair with their number to make ten. (ie: 4 would ask for 6)  They have played this in class and should be able to teach you.  The making ten skill will help them when we begin double digit addition next week.

Next Wednesday is picture retakes.

Also, just a quick reminder that next Wednesday is an early release day.  Students will be released at 12:30.  Please let us know if their transportation will be changed.

Have a great weekend!!

Week 10/20

We had such a fun week talking about 3-D shapes.  I am super confident that all of the kids did great on their unit test today.  I will let them know next week so they can share the news.  I really enjoyed meeting with all of the parents this week.  I know that we didn't get to meet with everyone as a trio, but we will get together and share what was discussed.  Anyone who maybe missed yours, please email one of us to reschedule.

Next week, we will be reviewing addition and subtraction strategies.  We will be working toward our goal of recalling all addition and subtraction facts up to 20. Please have students practice their facts nightly.  They can do xtramath or flash cards.  I will also be sending home login information for a new online math program called Sumdog.  It is a more concept based program and similar to the video games that we know they enjoy. I have listed some apps and websites that students can also use for basic fact and problem solving practice.

Websites:
http://www.mathplayground.com/math_monster_addition.html
http://www.mathplayground.com/number_bonds_10.html
http://www.mathplayground.com/tb_addition/thinking_blocks_addition_subtraction.html
http://www.abcya.com/math_facts_game.htm

Apps:
Math slide addition & subtraction
Math slide basic facts
Math museum
Math blast
Thinking blocks
Mathtastical

This week is Red Ribbon week.
Tuesday-crazy socks
Wednesday -hat day
Thursday - college shirts
Friday - dress up like your favorite Superhero or everyday hero. (Costumes must follow all dress code rules. No masks or props.  Wear appropriate shoes for PE or recess.)

Storybook pumpkin decorating contest-
Students are invited to decorate a pumpkin like their favorite storybook character. Pumpkins will be turned in to the library Thursday morning before school.  Winners will be announced Friday at Coyote Call-out.

Have a great week!

Week 10/13

The fall air has finally blown in and I am loving it.  We had a lot of fun this week learning about 2-D shapes. Your kiddos identified 2-D shapes by counting their sides and vertices.  They really loved learning about the "special" shapes that we don't normally see and hear about.  We learned about the septagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, undecagon, and a dodecagon.  Ask your student if they can remember how many sides and vertices these shapes has.  We also composed and decomposed 2-D shapes.  Compose and decompose are vocabulary words that we have used previously to describe adding and subtracting.  I liked watching them make a visual connection with shapes.  We put different shapes together and identified the new shape that we created.  We also looked at how we could break up a shape into new smaller shapes.  We will do more with this on Monday.  Next week, we will be getting into 3-D shapes.  The hardest part of 3-D shapes is identifying what shapes make up the 3-D shape.  We will be creating 3-D shapes for them to take apart and put together.  I encourage you to look at 3-D shapes at home and talk about what shapes create it.  For example. a cereal box is a rectangular prism and is made up of 6 rectangles.

Here are a few technology tools that you can use at home to practice geometry:
Shape Shoot - http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/earlymath/shapes_shoot.htm
Star Matica - http://www.starrmatica.com/standalone/starrMatica3DEarthExploration.swf

I look forward to seeing everyone next week for parent conferences.  Have a great weekend!

Weekly update

Good evening parents.  I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend of FALL weather.  I did!  I had to dig out jackets and sweatshirts.  We finished up our unit on place value last Friday.  I was very proud at how hard they worked.  Our next unit, which we will begin tomorrow, is Geometry.  We will learn how to identify attributes of 2-d and 3-d shapes.  We will be using technology in class this week.  Tomorrow they can bring any device that takes pictures.  Tuesday through Friday, we will be using a geoboard app.  There are several that are free. As always, we have class iPads and actual geoboards that can be used if the students don't have access to technology.

Thank you all for returning your parent conference forms.  I will be sending home confirmation of your date and time.  I look forward to meeting all of you.

Upcoming events:
10/22-anti-bullying day Students are encouraged to wear orange.
10/24-Fitness Friday - come join us and help us earn the golden shoe.  It takes place during our PACK time (9-10).
10/24-End of 1st nine weeks
Week of 10/27 - Red Ribbon week
Monday-wear red
Tuesday-crazy sock day
Wednesday-hat day
Thursday-college shirt day
Friday- dress as your favorite superhero
10/31-"SUPER" coyote call-out @ 2:00