Book Reviews

The Pigeon Needs a Bath book review by:  Jackson G

P.U. I think The Pigeon Needs a Bath is the best book because flies buzz around him because it's so bad the flies are even disgusted.  It has punctuation so you know how loud to say stuff.  Another reason is he can't remember when he took a bath.  I give this book 5 stars!  Read to find out if the Pigeon ever takes a bath.

There is a Bird on Your Head book review by:  Kasen K.

Do you like books that make you laugh?  There is a Bird on Your Head is the right book for you because a bird was flying and landed on Gerald's head.  He didn't know what to do with it.  Then another bird came and the two birds made a nest on top up on Gerald's head and he did not like it at all.  He was very mad, he was not happy at all.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  When Piggie said, there is a bird on your head, Gerald yelled aaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhh!  He was so scared that he ran as fast as he could, that was my favorite part.  But my very favorite part was when he stopped screaming.  Read to find out of he ever gets the birds off of him.

Cat the Cat Who is That book review by:  Braylen I.

Cat the Cat Who is That is a good book for starters because there are few words.  My favorite part is the end.  Find out what friend he makes.  I give this book 5 stars and 2 thumbs up.

I Broke My Trunk book review by Thomas C.

I Like I Broke My Trunk because when Gerald his trunk he tells his friends.  Then Piggie ran to tell the story.Then Piggie does something bad, read to find out what happens.  I give this book 5 stars.

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late book review by:  Sophia K.

Hey, it's Pigeon here.  If you like to stay up late, I have a good book for you, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late.  I think Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late is the best book because whines and whines to stay up late.  But he doesn't get to stay up late, there is a big surprise at the end.  I give this book 5 stars.

Can I Play Too? book review by:  Chris C.

I like Piggie and Gerald because when Piggie said I love playing catch with friends, it was nice.  When Piggie and Gerald threw the balls at snake but they had not figured out that snakes can't play catch.  The snakes gets hit with the balls.  That is why I think Can I Play Too? is the best.  I give it three stars and two thumbs up.

Book Reviews

Waiting Is Not Easy book review by:  Taylor L.

Are you ready for my surprise?  Waiting Is Not Easy is a book about two friends named Gerald and Piggie.  I like the illustrations because when Gerald said groan, it covered up Piggie. Piggie has a surprise for Gerald.  Gerald can't wait for the surprise.  Read to find out what Piggie's surprise is. This is a good book for kids, I give this book four stars!

I Am Invited to a Party! book review by: Gwen R.

Do you like parties?  Well I know a good book for you. I Am Invited to a Party is the book for you.  Piggie gets invited to a party but Piggie and Gerald don't know what to wear. Read to find out what Piggie and Gerald do. I give this book 5 stars

Earrings book review by: Abella G.

I want it!  I need it!  I love it. Beautiful earrings, glorious earrings...for pierced ears.  She would do anything to get pierced ears like walk a dog for a whole year or clean her room for a whole year or EVEN be nice to her brother.  I give this book 5 stars. Read to find out if she gets her ears pierced!

My Friend is Sad book review by: Jacob S.

I love Mo Willem's books because there is a Mo Willem book that is called My Friend is Sad.  My favorite part is at the end.  Find out how Gerald feels better.  I give this book 5 stars and one thumb up!

Let's Spread the LOVE of Reading

Looking for a way to support the learning in our classroom and reading over the summer? We decided to create another Donors Choose project for high interest take home books. We would appreciate any support for you on this.  

For the next 7 days ALL donations up to $100.00 will be matched!  The box for the promo code is located right above where you enter your credit card information.  Use the code: SPARK

Thank you for your consideration!  

Mrs. Walter's Class Project on Donors Choose 

Science Life Cycle - Plants

Students planted seeds to watch the life cycle of plants,  We will compare the life cycle of our caterpillars and our sunflower seeds!

Science experiment

Students were given the opportunity to visit our Reading Buddies on Friday and see what experiment they created using the scientific process.  Our Reading Buddies shared their experiments, how they chose them and what they learned!

Book Reviews

Pigeon Books book review by:  Ashley A.

Hey Pigeon here...Do you want to laugh?  The Pigeon has a one track mind because...in all of the book the pigeon is focused on one thing like the Pigeon finds a hot dog or the Pigeon wants a puppy.  The author makes the Pigeon look like he is actually moving.  I hope you enjoy the Pigeon books as much as I do.  I give all these books 5 stars.

Can I Play too? book review by: Evie C.

Do you like to play too?  Gerald and Piggie wanted to play and a snake wanted to play too.  He wanted to play ball with Piggie and Gerald but he did not have any arms to play ball with.  My favorite part is the snake got hit with a ball and they decide to but the ball down and pick up snake and use him so snake can have fun too.  I give this book 5 stars.

Elephants Cannot Dance book review by: Alivia R.

Do you like to dance?  I think Elephants Cannot Dance is a good book because when Gerald said I will try to dance and he smiled at the same time he was talking.  Gerald was not jumping at the same time as Piggie because Gerald was not listening.  Gerald thought he will be able to dance but... he cannot.  But, there is a big surprise at the ending in this book.  Ages 10 or less can read this book.  I give this book 5 stars!

NWEA testing

We made the best of the rainy day after NWEA testing by doing kid zumba .  The students worked extremely hard to show us all that they have learned this year.  

Life Cycle

Students use a magnifying glass to take a closer look at
their tiny caterpillar.

Students were paired together and had to create an environment
where their caterpillar will live.

Students were shocked to see how tiny these caterpillars were and
are excited to see how much they grow in the coming days.

These environments are fragile and have to be placed in a safe
area of the room away from the sunlight.

Here is one of the larger caterpillars the students will watch grow.

Place Value

Students learn about place value by composing and decomposing numbers on the place value charts.  How many tens, what does that number represent in the tens column?  How many ones?  

Special teaching guest

Today Mrs. Houghton came and helped teach addition by using place value mats with two digit numbers.  The students loved having Mrs. Houghton challenge their thinking and push their understanding of place value and addition and even a little subtraction.  

Book Reviews

Writers write for a variety of reasons.  Part of our opinion unit, the students are asked to review books they would recommend someone reading or not recommend reading.  We are working on stating our opinion, giving reasons with details, and rating our books.  Below are a few of the first reviews we completed!

The Duckling Gets a Cookie
Book Review by:  Sophia S.

Do you like cookies?  If you like to laugh then I know a good book book for you.  It is called The Duckling Gets a Cookie.  He yells A LOT and he really wants that cookie.  I give it 5 and 1/2 stars...I SEE A COOKIE 

I Am Going
Book Review by:  Anna B.

Mo Willems is the Best writer and Mo has different books like Knuffle Bunny but my favorite book by Mo Willems is Elephant and Piggie: I Am Going.  Elephant is serious a lot and Piggie is happy.  He asks "Why, Why, Why" but he realizes he is just going to lunch.  He has punctuation that makes the book fun to read!  I give Mo 5 stars for this book!  

Knuffle Bunny
Book Review by: Nora B

I think that Knuffle Bunny is funny because Trixie's mom asked where's Knuffle Bunny and Trixie' family ran back to the laundromat to go look for Knuffle Bunny.  It makes me laugh because Trixie tries to tell her dad that she forgot Knuffle Bunny.  I give it 5 stars!

How Can I Get a Pet?
Book review by: Ella V.

Do you ask your parents for a pet?  Then read How Can I Get a Pet? because she keeps asking for pets.  Kim's mouse runs away and she found a pet called "Hermit Crab."  I give this book 5 stars and 2 thumbs up.  Read to find out if her mom let's her have that Hermit Crab.

A Big Guy Took My Ball
Book Review by:  Mrs. W

Mo Willems does it again!  If you love to laugh then you should read A Big Guy Took My Ball.  This story is about friendship and reminds us the importance of not judging others by their appearance and always including others.  This book gives readers the opportunity to sound like the characters and have fun doing it.  This book is off the charts funny and people of all ages will enjoy this 5 star humor.  Check out this fun Gerald and Piggie adventure.

Skippyjon Jones

We were pretty excited to have front and center seating for Skippyjon Jones.  We laughed a lot, as we enjoyed the musical of the book we love so very much!  Be sure to ask your child what their favorite part was and why.  

Sharing strategies

A large part of the learning in our classroom takes place on the rug, sharing our thinking.  Students explore a variety of strategies to solve math problems and make sense of their learning.  The conversations about how they completed the problem and their thinking process amazes me daily.  These students have created a learning environment where everyone feels safe and is willing to take a risk in their learning!  We revise our thinking often after listening to our peers.  Learning in our room is an area of continuous improvement and is refined daily.

Contractions

I

Students explored contractions this week and matched the two words with the contraction with a partner.  They loved spotting these in books and in our writing too!