Gracyn and I reviewed some topics and went on in textbook and with worksheets to cover citizenship, jobs, needs and wants, currency, and U.S. symbols. We read about people on the move and started a pioneer project, building a covered wagon, which we will finish in our next class.

Gracyn continued working on her pumpkin craft that she began last week. Today, she painted the pumpkin orange and the stem brown. She also picked out the picture that she wanted to use in the project. It needs a few final touches and will be sent home soon.

This morning, Gracyn took a mid-chapter checkpoint quiz to understand her comprehension of the material learned so far. She did a great job. Then, Gracyn worked on two different lesson enrichment worksheets. The first, a riddle worksheet, gave 2 blank number sentences along with a riddle. From the information given, Gracyn had to write one addition sentence and one subtraction sentence using part-part whole or adding to subtract strategies. The second worksheet consisted of writing the missing number within an addition sentence and then matching it to a subtraction sentence. Gracyn used cubes as models. Finally, Gracyn had fun following the step by step directions of a Frankenstein monster directed drawing page.

So glad to be back with Gracyn! Today we started a new Junie B. Jones story as our read aloud book. Our strategy focus was predicting content from the titles. We played a game with words from our word wall and created sentences for the words chosen. Our read together book was "Emma's Good Day" and we used context clues to determine unknown words. Gracyn read "Country Animals" on Raz- Kids as her independent book with accuracy and comprehension. She is close to moving to her next instructional level.

Today we read Chapter 4, "Henry" in our Magic Tree House novel, "Dinosaurs Before Dark". We then completed follow up comprehension questions, in which Gracyn scored 4/4. While reading, we discussed how the author creates a mind picture with statements such as "his eyes were bright and alert" and "His long jaws were opening and closing. Like a giant pair of scissors." We worked on writing answers in complete sentences with proper spelling (sounding out / copying), punctuation, and capitalization. Next, we completed a sight word poem entitled, "On Halloween", in which she practiced writing the sight word "out". She wrote the word five times to complete the poem and then we read the poem about some of the things that come "out" on Halloween. Finally, we played ZAP! with the new set of words (Dolch Primer list). Some of Gracyn's tricky words today were: who, ate, pretty, eat.

Today Gracyn did a lesson on properties of matter. She picked three items from around the school and made a chart describing them by size, color, weight, shape, and length.

Gracyn was very excited to tell me about the new gymnastics class she is taking! I am glad she is able to continue her training outside of school. We warmed up and stretched. We then had fun creating a new game using a beach ball. Gracyn had to perform various skills on the balance beam and then catch the ball immediately after finishing the skill. This added an extra challenge to keeping her balance. She enjoyed it very much. We also practiced her front and back walkovers.

Gracyn continued the concept of using addition to solve subtraction problems. Using cubes as models, Gracyn completed both vertical and horizontal subtraction problems by first adding. We focused on the part part whole aspect of each problem along with addition and subtraction clue words.

Today we played "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in its entirety in three places on the keyboard, and reviewed previously learned pieces. We played through a new song "Clouds", introducing the notes A-B-C on the piano keyboard. We reinforced the counting of half notes and proper technique, which Gracyn is mastering. It was an excellent lesson.

Gracyn reviewed words by playing "Basketball". She received one point for reading the word and an extra point for shooting a ball into the basket. We went to the library today. Our shared reading was "The Potty Book for Girls". Gracyn completed writing her story, "Halloween Fun". She added 2 more sentences and a strong ending sentence.