How to carve a pumpkin

Today, we learned to carve a pumpkin into a Jack o' lantern. Our class helped me remember step by step exactly what to do. They wrote amazing functional stories today. If you are  unsure how to carve a pumpkin, you must stop by our classroom and see their wonderful work on our bulletin board.

First, you need to get a pumpkin, scooper, and knife.
Next, you cut open the top.
Then, you scoop out the inside of the pumpkin.
Last, you carve the pumpkins face.

Class picture

Scary faces

Silly faces

Our ghost Jack O' Lantern 

Helping me scoop out the seeds

Popcorn Words/Letters

Every other day, I pull out a sight word or letter from my popcorn bucket. If students can correctly tell me what every sight word or letter is, they receive a tally mark. After getting ten tally marks, they receive a popcorn party. Our class is so smart!!! We had our first popcorn party last week. I am so proud of them!!!

Our sight words: I, a, the, see, can, like, my
Letters we should know by now: A, B, E, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V

New sight words will be added soon!! Keep checking for updates.

Family Fun Night

Don't forget that family fun night is tomorrow, October 25th, at Merrill Road Elementary. It will be from 5 pm to 8 pm. I accidentally put in the homework that it was Wednesday but went back and scratched it out on every paper. I must have had wedding brain that day (10  more days until I am married) !!! Sorry!

You may wear costumes but please make sure they are not scary. Have fun!

Christopher's Fight

Our school held a pep rally to support Christopher's fight. He is  a sweet little second grader and  is battling cancer. We made a sign for Christopher and let him know we are here for him always. We love  you Christopher!!

Can drive

Our can drive ends Friday!!! So far, I have not received any cans. The class with the most cans gets a party. We can do this!! 3 more days!

Conner's Amazing Acres

Wow!! Our first field trip was so much fun! Thank you so much to our amazing chaperones for joining us on our adventure. Thank you parents for making sure your child was on time and ready for the day. We went on a cow train, saw a corn maize, had a picnic, went on a hay ride, and even fed chickens. Ask your little one what their favorite part of the field trip was and leave a comment.

Listening to the farmer

Waiting to go on the cow train

So excited for the field trip

The cow train

Feeding the chickens

Looking at the horses

On the hay ride

Having fun!

Feeding the cows

Close to the horses

Our little farmers

Red Ribbon Week

Below you will find activities for our Red Ribbon week. Let's all participate and show we will be a drug free and healthy school!! 

Monday- "Put a cap on drugs" Students and faculty may wear a hat to school.
Tuesday- "Give drugs the slip" Students and faculty may wear slippers to school.
Wednesday- "Go for the goal" Students and faculty may wear their favorite team attire.
Thursday- "Sock out drugs" Students and faculty may wear crazy socks to school.
Friday-" We say NO by wearing red" Students and faculty should all wear red.

Pictures coming soon!

Conner's Amazing Acres

Our first field trip is to Conner's Amazing Acres on October 5th. This is one of my favorite field trips!! Students get to visit the farm, pet animals, go on a hay ride, go through a corn maize, and ride a cow train. It is so much fun!! Permission slips will be sent home as soon as they are given to teachers. $8.50 is due along with the permission slip and medical form on September 28th. Chaperone cost is $5.00.

If you would like to chaperone, you MUST fill out the volunteer form online through Duval County Schools. The link is https://dcps.infomart-usa.net/app/index.php?aid=28.  If this form is not filled out by two days before the field trip, you will not be allowed to attend the field trip with you. Please keep in mind that if you chaperone, you are not allowed to bring siblings along with you. This is a Duval County rule.

A few rules we have in our class:
1. We stay together as a class. Chaperones may be given two names to keep an extra eye on but will never leave our group.
2. Chaperones are never allowed to buy things for students (even your own child) while on a field trip. This is not fair to the rest of the students.

Enjoy a few pictures of my previous classes on this field trip. Can't wait to take our class on this super exciting field trip!!

Open House

Wow!! We had such a great turn out. Thank you all so much for coming. I loved getting to see all of you again and I know your little one loved showing you around. I will be getting with you all about your conference date asap.

I will pick one name from our mystery jar in class to see who gets to take home the special prize!!

King and Queen

Every week in PE, a Queen and King is picked for staying on green and making the right choices. They are recognized by the Kindness Queen and given a special note to take home. Way to go!!!

Meet our very first King and Queen!!!

Dance Dance

Wow!! I can't believe it has already been three weeks. To celebrate all of our hard work we danced to If You're Happy and You Know It at the end of the day today. They loved it!

Flag Raising

Today was our first Flag Raising in the courtyard. It is always the first Friday of every month. Students get to watch the safety patrols raise the flag, say the pledge, and listen to exciting news from our principal, Mrs. Gray. They were so amazing today!!!!

Sitting criss cross applesauce while we wait for the whole school to meet in the courtyard

The birthday teachers helping Mrs. Houser raise the flag

Saying the Pledge of Allegiance 

I have the most amazing class. They were so respectful as Mrs. Gray was talking. I am so proud of you all!!

Literacy Centers

Literacy centers are part of the literacy block. They allow students to work independently or with a small group of students. Literacy centers are geared towards reading, writing, phonics, and phonemic awareness.

ABC/Word Work Center: Students get to spell words using magnetic letters, put together alphabet puzzles, use play doh to make letters, and much more. 

Library Center: Students get to pick out any book they would like and read. They may read to themselves or their partner. 

Write the Room: Students walk around the room using a clip board and write as many words as they can. 

Read the Room: Students get to wear silly glasses and use a pointer to read any words they find around the room. 

Big Books: Students get to read/look at pictures in big books on the carpet. 

Computers: Students get to go on the website starfall.com. 

Listening Center: Students get to listen to a story being read to them. After they hear the story, they get to rate the book and draw a picture of their favorite part. 

Pocket Chart Center: Students get to match pictures with its beginning sound.


Ask your child what their favorite center is and leave a comment. Thank you!

Marvelous Mustang-September

What is a Marvelous Mustang? Every month a student is picked for displaying our character trait of the month. They are recognized in front of the whole school! Their parents get to proudly watch them walk across the stage as the principal reads a paragraph on why they are the marvelous mustang.

This friend (I don't mention names with pictures for safety reasons) is our first Marvelous Mustang for many reasons. He truly represents what it means to respect your teacher, friends, and belongings.

*He speaks to his teacher and friends politely.
*He always asks to borrow before he takes something. I've even seen him offer his pencil and colors to a friend who could not find theirs.
*He treats everyone with kindness. I love that when he is on the playground he will play with anyone.
*When we are on the carpet listening to a story, he always pays attention and participates.

Wow!! I am so proud of you!

Leave a comment telling him how proud you are and I will be sure he knows!! Thank you!

Magazine Help

If you have any magazines that you do not need, please send them in by Wednesday. We will be cutting out pictures of magazines to get ideas for writing stories. I truly appreciate your help. Thank you!!