Happy Holidays to Everyone!!

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of the wonderful families that I get to work with this year.
Your dedication and support of our academic endeavors really go a long way to the success your children experience.  I wish all of you safe, relaxing, and festive holidays; and I look forward to seeing you all back in the new year (Jan. 6th).

Students, if you would like to make this post fun, have mom or dad take a picture of you on Christmas morning with your favorite gift.  Send it to me and I will add it to the blog!  I'm sure that all of your classmates will be excited to see what Santa brings you!!

Adrian got a cool Switch & Go Dino Robot Toy!!

That looks like one cool toy Adrian!

Check out Adam's R/C Robot on a Motorcycle!

Santa brought Jazmyn this amazing
Princess Castle Playset!!

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, and joyous celebrations for any I may have missed!  Be safe, Have fun, and don't forget to read a book or two while you are on vacation!!

Sincerely,

Mr. Linnet

Next week's Homework Project: Make a Gingerbread House!

Hello Families,

To help get into the holiday spirit, I thought we would make our last project a fun and edible one: Gingerbread Houses!!  I am providing a link with some ideas to get you started, but I am leaving it completely up to you as to how you choose to make it.  I hope your family gets inspired and tries to make a homemade house of your own design, but if that seems too intimidating you can always purchase a kit to make it a bit easier.  Please email your photos of the Gingerbread Houses so that we can all see and appreciate your work.  Students may also bring them in to the class next week to share with the class.

Happy Baking and Decorating!!
-Mr. Linnet

P.S.  Yes, I will make one too.  I will post my pic this weekend when Skylar and I finish it!

Gingerbread House Ideas

Gingerbread House Recipe

Here is the Gingerbread House that Skylar and I made this weekend!

Here is Andreya's Lovely Gingerbread House!

Check out Robby's Graham Cracker House!!

Adrian's Amazing Gingerbread House!!

Next Week's Homework Project: Make a Worm Hotel

We have been reading and learning about animals in class this past week.  Friday we discussed "insects", so I thought why not let the kids do a fun activity where they can learn more about some of these crazy little critters.  I found this activity online and thought it would be great fun!  Start it on Monday or Tuesday, and wait about 5 days before the big reveal.  Hopefully the students will be in for a treat!!  I will also do the experiment in class so that we can all see what happens!!

Worm Hotel Project



Have fun with your Worm Hotels!!
-Mr. Linnet

Our Cornucopia Art Projects!

Here all of the Cornucopia Art Pieces that came back.  The students seemed to enjoy this activity and loved sharing their work with the class.

 Adrian made his from an image he found on him mom's phone.

He said he drew and painted it all by himself.

 This was Ana's cornucopia.  She found inspiration from the computer.

She actually painted hers on a canvas.  I have it hanging behind my desk at school!

 Jimmiel made this cornucopia at home, then painted it.

He said he enjoyed filling the cornucopia with different kinds of fruit.

 I absolutely loved how Robby made his Cornucopia.

He didn't use still life or an image to get his inspiration.

"I used my brain and painted what I remembered." -Robby

Isabel enjoyed this project so much that she made two!

The first is a simple, more literal view of a cornucopia.

The second is a true Kindergarten interpretation.

I appreciate how she chose to add herself to the piece!

Great job to all of you.  I hope that all of you do something creative over the holiday, and take some time out to read a little each day.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! -Mr. Linnet

Thanksgiving Projects: Hand Print Turkeys & Cornucopia Still Life Paintings

I challenged my class this week to get in touch with their artistic sides as we give thanks for the many blessings we have in our life.  Beside collecting almost 160 cans as a class to give to the homeless, we also worked on projects in class that give thanks for all we have.  The first project we did was to paint our hand to make an autumn-colored handprint.  After they dried, we went CRAZY with markers, turning our hand prints into Thanksgiving Turkeys!!  The students were very creative, and their artwork was AWESOME!!

 Here are a couple examples of the hand prints.

Students picked out the colors they wanted for the

fingers/feathers.

 Here are some of the finished Hand Turkey pictures.

They had a blast creating them, and all were so different.

 We did "Artist's Chair" when finished, and 

I loved how the students described their pictures.

 "This is an Electric Turkey"

"My turkey is playing with his friends."

"This turkey is running from a tornado."

"My turkey is eating a banana."

We also made a "Giving Thanks" Card that we will bring home to share with our families after the Thanksgiving Feast tomorrow.  We dissected a "Thankful" poem, highlighting some of the vocabulary and adding some of our own illustrations.  Then we wrote our own "I am Thankful..." poems to give to mom and dad.  I think they turned out really good, and you should enjoy reading them!

 Here's an example of the Card Cover.

 Here are a few examples of the inside of the cards.

The students helped come up with the poem we wrote!

In class, I also made a "Giving Thanks" Jar, where the students could write down on colored strips of paper what they are thankful for.  We are collecting the "thanks", and will share them aloud tomorrow after our Thanksgiving Feast.

 The class really liked this idea!  They were lined up all day long

to get a chance to put their "thanks" into the jar.

It will be a special moment sharing these tomorrow!!

Finally, I sent home an art project idea with the homework this week, and was completely blown away with the results that came back.  Students were encouraged to create a cornucopia display with their family (or find one from the internet), then sit down and paint what they see.  My budding little artist Ana brought back this masterpiece to share with the class.

I'm pretty sure more students will be bringing in their art tomorrow to add to the collection.  I plan on showcasing these at school so the older students can see what these amazing kids created!!  This year I am definitely thankful to be blessed with such amazing students.  I wake up excited to work with them each day.  How many people can say that about their jobs??

Enjoy the amazing art our class created to give thanks this holiday season, and enjoy the week off on vacation with your loved ones.  See you all in December! -Mr. Linnet

Report Card Conferences This Week!!

Just a Reminder that our school is having Report Card Conferences this week.  We will have minimum days every day this week (8:15-11:50am).  Your children brought home your Conference Time last week.  I look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your child's progress in class this year.  Please contact the school office or talk with me at drop off/pick up if you forgot your time.

Our Thanksgiving Feast is on Friday also.  Just wanted to remind everyone so that we have a great celebration.  Our class will be dressing up like Native American Indians.  If any of you can donate brown paper bags to our class, they will help with our costumes will are making.

Have a great week, and enjoy the following week off for Thanksgiving!!
-Mr. Linnet

Happy Veteran's Day (Nov. 11, 2013)

We had a brief class discussion today about Veteran's Day, and what Veteran's are.  We discussed how Veteran's serve in various Military branches to defend and protect America and it's interests.  We also shared family members in our family who have been part of the U.S. Military, so that the students could feel a personal connection to this holiday (if they have one).  After the discussion I shared a Veteran's Day website that is appropriate for children, played some of the games/activities on the site, and printed off one of the coloring pages to make Veteran's Day cards that I plan on distributing this weekend to one of the Veteran's Halls in the local community.  Here is the link if any of you would like to continue working on any of the games/activities with your children at home.  Enjoy the long weekend, and have a Happy Veteran's Day with your family.  I would also like to give a special thanks to the many men and women who have served this country, and even given their lives to protect our rights and freedom.

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!!          

                                                                                                      -Mr. Linnet

Veteran's Day Activities for Kids

This Week's Homework Activity: Make a Book Report Jacket

We made one of these in class this past week for the story "Duck on a Bike".  Our class had a lot of fun reviewing this David Shannon classic, that I thought I would let the students make their own jacket to a favorite book of theirs this week at home!  Students can pick any book they wish (except "Duck on a Bike"), or use one of the books in their book bag this week.  Follow the directions given, and create an exciting book jacket to bring in and share with the class on Thursday (no school next Friday!!).

Here is a sample from Luis, one of our Student of the Month winners for October, who did a terrific job on his Book Jacket in class this week.  Thanks Luis!!

Book Jacket Cover: List Title and Author (if known)
Draw a picture about the book.

Book Jacket Inside: Write complete sentences
to answer questions about the book.
Add another page to the original book
with your own picture and ideas.

Book Jacket Back: Create a Word List (3-5 words)
*Choose important words from the story.
They can be words used frequently in the story,
label words that help understand the pictures,
or sight words that all students should know.

*Don't forget to send me your pics.  I love putting student work up on the blog.  Keep working hard, and remember, your very FIRST Report Card will be arriving later this month.  I'm proud of the efforts you have all been giving! -Mr. Linnet

Math Resources Available through ConnectEd Kids

If your family has not yet checked out the resources available to you for our new Common Core Math curriculum, please take a moment to check out the link below.

ConnectEd Kids

At the start of each new unit, I will compile all the resources into one easy link for your family to use. There are videos, reteach and enrich materials, home-link games, and even copies of the homework (in case your child ever loses theirs).  None of the work is required for your child's grade (except what I personally assign in homework or class), but is available to help your child learn the math skills.  Parents often ask me for supplemental materials to help their child on things they are struggling with, and I am excited that the new math program puts all of these resources into your hands.

I shared the link with the class already, and mentioned to the students that they can earn Class Dojo points just for exploring this site at home.  The goal is to make it a site your family feels comfortable accessing on a regular basis throughout the school year to make learning math fun and easy.  I have attached the login codes for each student to the inside of their Friday Folders so that they are always available when you are working on the homework.

Let me know if your child has any issues using this site, and I will do what I can to help you out.  I can also login and show you at school if you need help getting started.  Enjoy!! -Mr. Linnet

Steps to using ConnectEd Kids:
1) Login to website (http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/school/y3g4).
2) Click on Mr. Linnet's Class (with the robot icon).
3) Click on your child's Name (with picture icon).
4) Enter the 3-image password (Number, Picture, Shape).
5) Check out assignments (that's how it is labeled) and begin exploring resources.
6) Watch videos, Print practice pages, etc.  Use this site as needed for your child!!

Take you children to Petco on October 12th for a fun adventure and check out some cool Reptiles!!

Reptile Rally next Saturday (October 12th) at Petco!!

I was sent this email and thought it was a great activity to share with all of you.  Kids at this age love animals, especially reptiles.  Here is an opportunity to get up close and see some amazing little critters.  I am also sending home a flyer in next week's Homework Folder to help you save the date.  I plan on taking my son to it, and hopefully I will see some of you there!
-Mr. Linnet

This Week's At-Home Project: My Five Senses Book

Hey Everyone, this week you are going to review the science skill about "The Five Senses".  You will need scissors, glue, and something to color with (crayons, color pencils, markers, etc.).  First cut out the pieces on the provided sheet, then glue them to the boxes inside the book to correctly identify which body part helps you learn about the world around you.  Then draw a picture and complete each sentence to tell about the things you see, smell, feel, taste, and touch in your home.  Finally, draw and decorate the cover of your book to make the person look like you.  When finished, you will have an incredible book that you can read whenever you want to review "The Five Senses".

The Materials for your Book.

Your completed Cover.

A completed book!

Don't forget to send me your photos when you complete your book.  Also, if you bring them in to class we can add them to the class bulletin above the cubbies in the back of the class!! -Mr. Linnet

Luis finished his Five Senses Book!

Matthew's Five Senses Book!

Andreya's Beautiful Book!

"Pp" Week Pictures!!!

Help me fill a post with as many "P" pictures as possible. Let your child use your tablet or smartphone to take and send me a picture of something that begins with the letter "P".  They can take pictures of foods, animals, billboards, people, anything!!!  (Pink Princess costume, pigs, pumpkin patch, pizza, pianos, puppies, paintings, popcorn, or peanuts are all great ideas that our class came up with!)

P is for Pineapple and Platypus. -Luis

P is for Party City!! -Brian

P is for Pumpkin Pinata! -Brian

The Perfect End to "S" Week

I spent Saturday in Sacramento, visiting the Reptile Expo.

We celebrated the day with Snakes and Spaghetti!

S is for Snakes!

S is for Snakes Slithering!

S is for "Smile, Snake!!"

S if for Spaghetti
(at The Old Spaghetti Factory)

S is for Sauce
(with sausage and some meatballs!)

Talk about a great way to enjoy the letter "Ss"!

-Mr. Linnet

This Week's Home Project: Kitchen Phonics "Make Apple Muffins"

I thought this week it would be fun to let the kids get messy in the kitchen with you as we review the letters "Aa" and "Mm" by having them help you make "A"pple "M"uffins!!

You can get creative and use any recipe you wish, but I wanted to help so I found an easy one on Pinterest that I thought could help to get you started.  Don't forget to send in those pics when you are finished (or let your child bring them to school as their snack next week)!  

Happy Baking my Phonetic Chefs!!

Pinterest Apple Muffin Recipe



Alternate Apple Muffin Recipe from Pinterest

Peyton's Apple Muffins look Amazing!!

Alex enjoying his Apple Muffins!