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Mr.Ritzen                                                                                               
First Grade Teacher
Discovery Primary, Milton, WA

Click Here to view  the 2009-2010 Fife School District calendar.

 
Mr. Ritzen's Superheroes





                           Our Class picture arrived from the photographer on Friday, March 5th.

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Stellar job by Arjun,Victoria, Michaela, Anna, Ethan, Gabriel, Daton, and Eddie.
They posted an answer on the website to our last week's discussion question about
Mancala.  Their responses and answers to all past discussion questionscan be read 
in the Announcement Sectionof the website. A new question has about Making your
own rubric for outside of school has been posted in the D
iscussion Section of the
website and will run until Friday,March 26th.
Throughout the year there will be weekly
discussion questions that will typically run from Friday to Friday. I encourage students
to go and answer the questions with their family.  Remember to include your name in
the top box before you send your response.  I might take a day or two for me to accept
your answer and be posted on the website for other to view.  
  



                   

Find a Four Leaf Clover
Click above to try and
find a four leaf clover
      
Pot of Gold Wish                                       
After reading the story Leprechauns Never Lie by Lorna Balian students
will be asked this question:
  
If you found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and a Leprechaun appeared
and told you that he would add one thing to the pot of gold before you took it,
what would you want that one thing to be?  The pots of gold will be on display  outside the
 classroom. 


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Read Across America and Dr. Seuss' birthday is in March.  Students got a visit from The Cat in the
Hat on March 2nd to promote the importance of reading and share some important facts about Dr. Seuss.
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                       Click above to enter Seussville                                   The Cat talks about reading and Dr. Seuss.   
                          
                           

 Click below to read Green Eggs and Ham

Did You Know:
Bennett Cerf, Dr. Seuss' publisher, wagered $50 that Seuss could not write a book
using only fifty different words.  The bet came after Seuss completed The Cat in the
Hat, which used 225 words. 
The result was the book Green Eggs and Ham. Some
say he reached his goal while others say he used 51 words if you count “Sam-I-am”
as a separate word.  The students will be doing a study of Green Eggs and Ham by
finding and puting each of the different words in into a sentence of their own.

Click Here to see a list of words an the number of times they are used in Green Eggs and Ham. 

Click below to read student sentences usin the words in Green Eggs and Ham.  
              
                              5 character1 character
                                          


                                                                            
                                                      Click above to view Mr. Ritzen's Conference Schedule 
                                                    
     Spring Conference Rubric Envelopes will be sent home on Monday, March 8th.
As you all know, conference week is scheduled for March 17-19. Part of the purpose of these conferences will be to review
the rubrics and goals set in the fall and looking at the improvements your student has made to date, as well as coming up
with ideas for them to work on as the school year comes to a close. 

The system that we use in the classroom is based on the three point rubric of (1) Not Yet, (2) Sometimes, or (3) Often.
Please take time to go over each of the attached rubrics with your student. I have included a highlighter pen for your use
on the rubrics. Upon completion of the rubrics please come up with one goal after the discussion in reading, math, and
behavior.   There is a space provided at the bottom of each rubric to write the goals. These goals are ones that your student
can strive to reach for remainder of the year. 
  
In order to use your conference time as efficiently as possible, I would like you and your student to sit down together and
complete the rubrics and goals prior to our conference time. My intention is to be able to discuss achievements and goals
with you and your student, so please bring the forms to your conference.
If you choose you may turn in the form any time prior to your conference and I will have it on hand for your
scheduled time.
I appreciate your efforts in being a partner in your student’s achievement.  Below are links to each rubric included in the
packet.  If you need any of the supplemental materials mentioned, please email at dritzen@fife.k12.wa.us and I will send
them home with your student.   


                                                         
          Math Rubric                                                         Reading Rubric                                 Classroom Rules Rubric
 

                              Mancala Madness is Upon US

      Click below to view the tournament bracket

Our Mancala Tournament is set to begin the last week of February.
Students will play during lunch recess with the winner of the tournament
taking home the wooden tournament board and accompanying stones.
 Prior to each match the students raise their right hand and state the following pledge:
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 1.  I will play fairly

2.  I will pick-up what I take out.

3.  I will be a good sport. 






      Arjun and Jonathan recite the partner pledge
                                                                                  




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In the winter, students will learn to master an ancient game       

The class has begun its study on the ancient game of mancala.  Students will get
 to choose their playing stones and will be painting their own boards in the near
future. Many believe that Mancala could be the oldest game in the world. People
have been playing it for 7,000 years or more! 
Click here for a quick slide show about mancala. 

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Click on a picture to find out about count and capture games around the world.
                                                                            
Antigua Burkina Faso Cote d'Ivoire
Antigua Board Burkina Faso board Cote d'Ivoire board
West Africa Ghana Haiti
West African board Ghana board Hatian board
Middle East Nigeria Philippines
Middle Eastern board Nigerian board Philippines board
Uganda Caribbean Caribbean
Uganda board Caribbean board Caribbean board
Caribbean West Indies United States
 
Caribbean board West Indiies board Commercial US board

                              Decorating the Mancala boards.
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                        Lily                                                                                                 Jose

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Click here to see the rules for mancala in Mr. Ritzen's Class

  


                                Let The Games Begin!

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            Arjun vs. Ethan                                   Jonathan makes his move                                  Daniel battles Eddie



Click below to play Mancala Snails                                   Click below to play the more traditional version of Mancala
Mancala                or                      



 
 dictionary. fotosearch - search clipart, illustration, drawings and vector eps graphics images                                                  
This coming year will vault your student's urge to acquire new
vernacular. The class has started learning a new word everyday
until the end of the year to spice up their conversations and writing. 
The students were given their own "Words I Use When I Write" books
to write each new word.  Check back for samples of student writing
with some of our new words.  
Click below to view our vocabulary words through March 16th  
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We have had volunteers in our class during our reading rotations since October.  
A new sign-up letter (Click Here)  will be sent home in March to establish our next 
of volunteers.  This schedule takes us through March.  A new sign-up is for
creating a schedule for April and May will be made before students are dismissed
for spring break. Click on the month below to view each schedule.
  

        March                        April                         May                                                                 


              

                                                                                 
                                                 Click above to view our slide show gallery from September through February             



                                                                            
                    Jump to Reading/Writing Activities                 Jump to Geography Activities               Jump to Math Activities                         

                                                                      
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               Jump to Science Activities                         Jump To Citizenship/Participation                Jump to Seasonal Activities   


                       

                                                                  Cartoon of the Week!
Comics are another great way to pique your student's interest in reading.  Besides, it doesn't get any better when you
 combine the two art forms of words and pictures.
  
My plan is to post a weekly cartoon for you and your student to enjoy. 
                                
                                                                                                    Now click on the picture above to create your own comics online.
                


                                        
Reading/Writing Activities  (back to top)



pigeonshirt1.jpgAttention Parents: Our winter DIBELs took place January 29th     
Your student will be tested three times (Fall, Winter, and 
Spring) during the school year using DIBELS (Dynamic
Indicator of Basic Early Literacy) developed by the University
of Oregon.  A report regarding the results will go home with
your students after each assessment period. 
Click Here to get
more information regarding the DIBELS and reading
expectations for your student this Winter.  






                                                            
  

              
I have read some Jigsaw Jones mysteries to the class.
If you haven't had a chance to check out this series from Scholastic
books, I highly recommend them.  They are good old fashioned
mysteries told in thefirst person narrative. 
Click Here to check out the books in the Jigsaw Jones collection

Click Here to see the ingredients for a good mystery.   

Click Here for your own mystery writing plan sheet.

How well do you know Jigsaw?
Click above to find out!




Attention:  Keep reading 10 minutes every night (including
weekends). As soon as your student completes a Read and
Lead recording sheet have him/her bring it in to class. 
Remember the next goal is to complete four sheets by March 22nd (400 recorded minutes). We had 21 students reach
the first session goal an attend a rootbeer float party. 


Click here for Read and Lead important information directions and reminders!

Click here for a copy of the Read and Lead recording sheet.



             




Students during reading rotations have decoding practice, read stories to build fluency and comprehension, and independent seatwork practice of whole group phonic skills that have been taught.  The stretch and shrink technique is being taught to students when coming across decodable words that they don't know.  The stretch and shrink method is when students slowly merge the sounds of a word together upon saying the whole word.   This year your student will be working on the following skills:

           

 Catch That Sound Phoneme Isolation 
 
 1.  Tell the student a word.  
 
2.  Have the student break the word into phonemes by bouncing the ball each time they hear a different sound.                

           

                                              

                                                                                         
       
          
                                                                         


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We will make a game to listen for the individual sounds in words.  We are using
words with two, three, four, and five phonemes. 
Click here to find out how to play.

              







               Ethan holds up a word slide                                                                             
february_047.jpgWord families and word slides help in recognizing the
change in the beginning or ending sound to make a
new word.   This helps with spelling too.  

               
         Click on the picture to practice putting words into families. 
                                                                                                              
 
     



High-frequency and non-decodable words are an essential aspect of reading fluency.  Students will be introduced to five new words each week to master.  The words come from E.W. Dolch's list that make up from 50 to 75 percent of the reading material encountered by students.   A flashcard and picture cue for each word will be made by each student.  The students will do "Sight Word Spelling" on Friday which will be sent home in your student's weekly envelope. The words are introduced in order of decreasing fluency and the weekly and cumulative lists will be posted here.
            

                     
                                                   Words to know by Friday, March 26th                                                                            
                                                                            sit                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                            under
                                                                            which
                                                                            read                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                            fall 
                                                                            why 
                                                                            carry                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                            own                                                                            
                                                                            small
                                                                            found                                                                        
                                       
Click Here for our cumulative high frequency word list.



                                                                                                                          
Click on the picture to practice "see and say" words.                      Click above to play high frequency words hangman online

                                                     Do you want to play a game?
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                                   Victoria and Anna play a high frequency board game.




Students can make their own sight word dinosaur board game.  

1.  
Click here for a blank board to fill in with sight words.

2.  Click here for the the official rules to our sight word board games. 
















As the instant sight word practice continues with flashcards and picture cues to help kids identify the words.  We often play sight word bingo and other games.  



















 
One way to have students practice automaticity with words is to make a game of it.  Students play the game Roll, Say, Keep to practice high frequency words.  Click on the Dice to view the rules and print a game board and cards.  To make it a little more competitive we have also played with each student having their own board and trying to be the first to clear their entire board by rolling the die and reading the corresponding word.  Of course sometimes students roll a number without a word on it and lose their turn.  

Click here to be able to print out the game board and cards.


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               Christine and Zoë 






                     We will also play games using to Dolch Words in context phrases.   

The students will learn to play "Sight Word Battleship."  The game is similar to the version that many people are familiar with, however students use sight word phrases as grid points on their boards.
                                                                              
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  Click on the picture above for the official rules to Sight Word Battleship.                                Arjun and Jamie

                  

Click on the number to view the  different sight word game cards
        
 
Another sight word phrase game that can be played is "Rock, Paper, Scissors."  
Click here for a game board and directions.  
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                                                                                                                               Kaden and Bryan                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                      
             









Reading Comprehension:  As students become more fluent in reading, it is important to switch our emphasis from decoding to comprehension.  The students are learning to use the following checklist  when given a passage during a test taking situation.  Click on the picture at the left for a sample of a completed reading passage. 









Check the tasks as you complete them. 

_______ Read the questions first

_______ Highlight the keywords

_______ Read the questions. Cross-off the answers you are sure are wrong.

_______ Choose your answer.

_______ Put the number of the question where you found your answer.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                               

              

Click above to see our handwriting rubric.  



                 
 Click above to practice writing a letter online.














 What Sound do you hear Polar Bear?december_0011.jpg
     on-o-mat-o-poe-ia hear it again

The students have been learning about onomatopoeias. 
Onomatopoeia is a word or grouping of words that imitate
the sound they describe.  After reading the book
Polar, Bear,
Polar Bear, What
Do You Hear?  Students wrote sentences
with an onomatopoeia of a winter sound.  Click Here for a
list of winter onomatopoeias.
 
The writing is on display
on the wall outside our classroom.

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                                                                                                                                                                                 Jonathan's Writing


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                                                      Brian's Writing                                                                                                   Anna's Writing

                                                                                       

Onomatopoeia                              
         
   Click on the dog to go exploring onomatopoeias. 
 



Click above to veiw some onomatopoeia posters.

 

Students will also learn some strategies for
 spelling a word.  What word did the dog not
spell correctly?  He should have used one of
the strategies.  To view the strategies, click on
 the cartoon on the left.
 














 


















                                                                                     Geography   (back to top) 






If for some reason your student wants to plan a trip
to Mongolia don't be alarmed, it just means we have
started our roving tour of an Alphabet of nations.  






Click on the map above to explore the nations of our world 

                                                                                                                                                                                                            


                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                        

Alphabet of nations by They Might Be Giants!
Algeria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt,
France, The GambiaHungary, Iran, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Libya and Mongolia, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan Qatar, Russia, Suriname
Turkey, Uruguay, Vietnam West Xylophone,
Yemen, Zimbabwe




Click above to hear the "Alphabet of Nations"
by They Might Be Giants






There are no nations that begin with W or X. So They Might Be Giants
made-up the nation of West Xylophone for their song. An interesting
note is that
West Africa is said to be of the earliest places on Earth
were the Xylophone was played.






 

Students will practice giving each other directions (North, South, East, and West) on a street map
pretending they were mail carriers needing to navigate around stop at specific locations to make deliveries.

                                       
                     Click on the compass to practice directions on a city map.
     




Students have begun studying about
landforms. 
Landforms  are natural
features of the landscape, natural
physical features of the earth's surface,
for example, valleys, mountains, plains,
hills,or glaciers.
 
Click on each land form below for more information.

                  

                     

                


                          Click above to do a landform jigsaw puzzle.






                                                                                                         Math Activities    (back to top)




Students have learned to idenify even and odd numbers and play
various games using this concept and others at idenifying number
patterns.

               Daniel and Eddie play odds and evens.
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Click above to Paint by number by even and odd numbers








                                                                



Students have been learning to compare numbers using the
> (greater than), < (less than), and = (equal to) symbols. 
We like to call it:  PacMan eats the bigger number.








Click on Pacman to compare some numbers 




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You may notice that your student has been writing numbers in red and green.  Red Light, Green Light is an activity to slow the students down when they are forming their numbers.  We want the students to get a feel for the correct formation of each number and commit it to muscle memory. 

    









Throughout the year all 100 of the addition facts and 100 of the subtraction facts will be introduced and practiced
with the goal of mastery.   All of the math facts that will be learned this year are in Quiz Section of the website.
The students can practice and check their answers. Just click on the tab labeled 
"Practice Quizzes" at the top
left of the website.  The sequence starts at the top with Set A and works downwards to Set Z.  We have finished 
Addtion and Subtraction Facts through Set Z and are moving on to double digit addition and subtraction. 

 

Students are using independent learning when mastering their math facts.  As a part of our morning routine,
students come in and begin working on math facts using math flashcards they have made themselves to check
their own work. 
Students will also use cooperative learning with their math facts.  You might also notice that your
student has dots that are circled next to each math problem.   Each student puts a "double check" dot next to
each problem before giving their paper to a partner.  The partner then checks each problem and circles the
"double check" dot if answer is correct, or circles the answer if they find a mistake.  The partner will then give
the paper back and explain any errors that they may have found.  Once any errors are corrected, the partner
will sign their name to the back of paper indicated that the work has their seal of approval.  The students are
learning that we all make mistakes and it a good idea to get someone else's to check your work.  At the same
time students are finding out that looking over someone else's work is an important job that needs to be taken
 seriously. 


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 Daniel and Ethan check for accuracy in each other's work.                              A completed  math fact sheet
                          
   
                   

    Click below to play another math football game                                                                  Ready, Set, Hike!
 Football playoff's are almost here and students have gotten good at their addition facts, so we made a math game to get into the spirit.   


 1.  Click Here for the Official Rules!       
 2. 
Click Here for a printable football field
 3.  Click Here to print some mini footballs 
                
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                                                                                           Arjun and Jonathan                      Victoria and Anna

                                        


                              
So you think you are an addition wiz?   Well sometimes you will need to add more than two numbers together.   Click on the problem below for some different ways to connect   sums.  4  +  4  + 3  = 11



 After we have finished introducing and practicing all of our addition and subtraction facts the students' hard work will payoff by moving onto multi-step problems.  Your student should take pride in demonstrating that they can complete sheets with all 100 addition facts and all 100 subtraction facts.  






                                          
Click on the plus sign above to                                          Click the equal sign to check your
print out 100 addition problems                                          anwers.  (Like you need any help!)     
for you to solve.

                                              
Click on the minus sign above to                                         Click the equal sign to check you  
print out 100 subtraction problems                                      answers.  (Like you need any help!)
for you to solve.


The students will also be introduced to two digit addition without renaming.  Click on the train below to practice.
                                                

                                        27
                                     
+42


Click above to play                                       Click above to do a two-digit
a two-digit train game.                                  practice sheet online.


In addition to just working with numbers, the students will learn the process of using key words when solving math word problems.  We will identify the key words "in all" as a clue that we need to put two small numbers together to make a bigger number.  We will also identify the key words "are left" as a hint that we need to find the other small number that will add to make the given big number. 



           

 

There are 4 slices of pepperoni pizza and 4 slices of cheese pizza. How many slices of pizza in all?


               

 




_____+ _____=_____   


 

There are doughnuts in a box.  1 doughunut is eaten. How many doughnuts  are left in the box?


               

 




_____ - _____=_____   




Students will also learn how to collect and compare data.  In the lesson, students place ten each of green, purple, and yellow Unfix Cubes in a paper bag and then took one handful of cubes without looking and record and compare their results with other students.
  
  
In first grade reading and interpreting a graph is an important and generalizable skill that your student will use beyond school. 
           What’s a graph? quicktime video
Click on the graph above to put your data into a bar graph.                                         Click on the picture above to watch a short 
                                                                                                                                             movie that answers the question:  What is a graph?
        
 


Beyond the addition and subtraction facts students will practice skip counting as the initial step towards multiplication.  Students cut out their own counting by two shoes memory game.  Students lay the cards face down and have to turn over the cards in order of two's from 2 to 24.  We will eventually use these same cards to play counting by two's Musical walk. 
                                                                                        
                                   Click on the shoes to print out your own counting by 2's shoe cards.                




                                                                                                     
                                                                      Click on the picture above to practice more skip counting.




The students will also be trained in the concept of using tens and ones to count larger numbers.
 
                  

                                                             
                                         Click here to practice counting using tens and ones.


In first grade recognizing mathematical patterning is important.   Students are learning that a sequence must repeat itself three times to be considered a pattern.    We are trying to move students beyond AB patterns and expand on their knowledge of different types of patterning.
Making Patterns
Activity





 Click above to play.
 


        Click below to practice telling time to the hour. 


Students will be learning how to tell time using an anologe clock.  Students  will have their own practice clocks to work with at their desk.  


                

   
math games for kids math puzzles kids gamesTake A Telling Time Quiz!
            
                  








Students will be identifying and counting coins in math.  Each student will have their own "money bag" with real coins during our practice time.   
                                 
Click above to name the coins                                                      Click above to count coins           




                                               Science Activities    (back to top)

 

 

Students will be exploring the following units from the Foss Science kits.  Just click  on each unit  heading to visit the corresponding website for each science unit. 

                                             
Balance and Motion Unit



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Balancing objects is not as tricky as it may appear.  There is science behind what makes objects stable.   Some key  concepts that the students learned are: 

·      Something is balanced when it stays in a position on its own without being held there. 

·      You can tell something is in a stable position if the counterweights are below the balance point.  

·      The trick to balancing anything is to add counterweights below the balance point. 

             

                                                                                                          
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                                                                             Click on the picture above to view more balancing toys.
                                                                            Can you explain why each one can balance?


                   

And this year we explore the principles of balance and motion by examining the science behind what makes a good roller coaster work.  Some of the facts that the class found out are:


1.   
To make a coaster travel all the way around the track it must start high and end low.


2.   
 The hills or loops the coaster encounters must be in order from highest to lowest to give it enough force to travel up and over each hill or around the loop without being pulled.  
                                       

                                                          Click on the picture to design your own roller coaster.                  

Some of the things we will find out about spinning and rolling objects are:

         ·      You need force to start a top spinning.
                                          

·      Fast-Spinning tops are more stable than slow ones.  You can use a guide (paper clip) to steady your spinning top.

 

·      “Bigger” tops are more stable and spin longer.  Bigger can mean using large disks instead of small disks, or using lots of small disks. 
                                                                                             
 

·      Both tops and zoomers spin.
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·      Tops are put in motion by pushing the straw around.  Zoomers are put in motion by pulling on the string.  Both need a force to start.
                                                                                                               

 

·      You can speed up a zoomer by pulling on the string with more force.
                                                                                           

·      Things roll down ramps.
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·      Use two wheels the same size on an axle to roll straight.

·      Use wheels of different sizes to make a roller that turns.

·      Some things that roll are rolling pins, carts, pencils, and balls

·      Round things roll.





                                                              Air and Weather Unit      

           As students explore the science of air and weather, they will be
           keeping track of what they learned in a science journal.
 


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 september_043.jpg img003.jpg
Lily, Christine, and Ethan experiment with air in water.                                                 Christine's Journal



                                                                  How Does a Parachute Work? 


                        october.jpg    img004.jpg
                         Ann gets ready to test her parachute                             Anna's journal


                                                                      Air Compression 

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             Lillian's Journal                                       Lillian and Arjun compress air back and forth between plungers. 



                                                                               Clouds

                                       Students are learning about different cloud formations!

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Cloud Matching Game              Cloud Concentration Game




                          Jonathan's Journal

  
                                               Students also did chalk drawings of the cloud types

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                Victoria's                                                     Bryan's                                                     Lily's




                 Students will be monitoring temperature and rainfall just outside the classroom.

                                                                       Jonathan's journal
                  img015.jpg
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          Rose adds food color to our rain gauge.                                              Our thermometer is hanging outside our back window.
          Between November 3rd and November 20th                                        We have recorded a high on November 3rd of 60 degrees
          we collected over 4 inches of rain.                                                      and a low of 43 degrees on November 13th.

                                                                                More Weather Tools

               
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                           Lillian's journal                                                               Lillian tries out our homemade anemometer.





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Click above to get directions on how                               Daniel's Journal
to build your own windvane.

                                                           

                                      What makes the seasons change?


                                                     WINTER in the Northern Hemisphere

 While people in the Northern Hemisphere have winter, those in the Southern Hemisphere have summer.

                                                       Effect of Atmosphere 1

During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun’s light does not have to travel through as
much atmosphere to reach the ground. This allows more of the sun’s heat energy to warm the earth.

                                                       SUMMER in the Northern Hemisphere

      Just as before, when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere

                                                     Effect of Atmosphere 2

Does that help you understand the seasons a little better? Now, you can know with confidence that
your parents really don't have a secret button hidden that brings winter!


                            Animated MoonWhy does the moon seem to change shape?


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                                                                      Arjun's Journal



                                                              

                               Click on the picture above to check out the weather forecast for our area. 



       

                                                                            Insects Unit

The class will be introduced first to meal worms.  We will watch the progression of the life cycle of the meal worms with the anticipation that they would become darkling beetles.


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This is a meal worms under our microscope at 10x.                                We then looked at him using our microscope at 60x.
                                                               




They're Coming!  Our darkling beetles will begin hatching this year.


                     

The beetles are scavengers and usually live in dark, cool, moist places like under rocks and logs.


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                                                         The darkling emerges brown but should turn black soon.

                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                               

           
     
Egg 7-14 days           Larva 30-90 days         Pupa  10-20            Female lays
                                                                               days                         hundreds 
                                                                                                                of eggs



                                            Crickets  will invaded our classroom's science unit!
                                                                          






Life cycle of a cricket Crickets are jumping insects. Males of most cricket species make a loud chirping sound by rubbing their forewings together; they do this to attract females. Crickets chirp faster when the temperature is warmer. Crickets live under rocks and logs in fields, grasslands, and meadows. Many crickets are nocturnal (most active at night). The most common cricket in the US is the field cricket; the most common one in Europe is the house cricket (which is stockier).  Crickets undergo incomplete metamorphosis. They hatch from eggs that the female deposits in soil (or plant material) using her ovipositor. Immature crickets (called nymphs) look like small adults, but the wings and ovipositor (of the female) are not fully developed. They molt many times as they develop into adults. 



























cricket to label
Click above to learn more about the parts of a cricket.                       Click on the picture above to play "Insect Hunt"




                                                                                        
                                                   Click on the cricket to hear its calling song.






april_030.jpgIn science we will also get painted lady butterfly larvae.  The students will learn about the life cycle of a butterfly which is illustrated below.
                                  

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Painted Lady Butterfly Life CycleEgg: The Painted Lady begins its life cycle as an egg that is the size of a pin head. Eggs are pale green with 12 to 14 longitudinal ridges; they are laid on thistle, mallow, or hollyhock leaves. The incubation period is 3 to 5 days.

Caterpillar (larva)
: The caterpillar eats continually for 5 to 10 days before it pupates. The yellow-green striped, purple to black caterpillar has long spines on each segment. The caterpillar is up to 1.25 inches (3 cm) long. It builds a silky, webbed nest as it feeds, usually eating thistle, mallow, malva, hollyhock, sunflower, or canola. As the larva grows, it sheds its skin (this is called molting). The time between sheddings is called an instar; each instar has slightly different coloring.  

Chrysalis (pupa)
: When the caterpillar has grown to the right size, it pupates. It hangs upside-down from a leaf or branch, and attaches itself with a single silken string. An adult forms from the caterpillar, whose internal structure changes completely. The chrysalis becomes almost transparent when the butterfly is about to emerge. An adult will emerge about 7 to 10 days after the chrysalis has formed.

Adult
: When an adult emerges from the split chrysalis, it hangs upside down and pumps blood into its four wings, inflating them.Then it waits for its delicate wings to dry. It
can fly a few hours after emerging.

thButterflyColourfulShimmering.gif animated butterfly image by karbare11
                                                                                                                               
Click on the butterfly to see pictures and  learn about different species.



                     











             Wow! That’s Biodiversity!

Worldwide, there are approximately 28,000 different species (types) of butterflies. 
Students became a scientist who found a new species of butterfly. They needed to
color and name their new species in order to share their discovery with the world. 
With discoveries of the students in Mr. Ritzen’s class, there are additional species of butterflies in the world. 
            



april_042.jpgBiodiversity is the word we use to describe the variety of like on Earth.



Species is the word we use to organize types of living things. 
For example: Worldwide, there are approximately 28,000 different species (types) of butterflies.
 
    

           
           


 

                                                                     Citizenship/Participation  (back to top)

This year students will be on the look out for other people in the class that demonstrate a hard work ethic and
have demonstrated the ability to make positive choices.  Every Friday the Rocket Award will be given to a student
and their picture will be placed on the classroom website.  During our weekly Friday meeting, the classmates of the
Rocket Award winner will have an opportunity to share positive comments and observations about our honaree. All
Rocket Award winners get to sign the special book in the office and their family receives a phone call from the principal.
   


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                                Gabriel is our Rocket Award winner for the week ending March 12th.
                          Gabriel
 showed the trait of explaining himself clearly.  Ethan said,   
                          "Gabriel was able to explain clearly how to play the game Mancala."                                     
                                                       
                                                                                                                         
                                                                     
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                       


                                              In Apple-Pie Order

                                                      Every Friday our random "Desk Check" takes place.

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             Bryan passed our latest desk check of the year                Click on the desk above to view our clean-up rubric.
                

                                                                                                                                    

                       
                                                                               Learning Personal Responsibility                               
                                                                                                      
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                                                                             Eddie, Lily and Arjun hold up our rubric indicators

                                              
 

                                                           Responsibility and self-seliance are keys to success.

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                                       Kaden (in front) and Michaela (behind) take on personal responsibility by learning how to check-in


 

The students in Mr. Ritzen's class will be learning to be self-directed learners.   We do this by using the classroom system that emphasizes the importance of checking for accuracy in their work and listening with understanding.  We will really focus on the students becoming self monitors of their own work and behaviors.  We will be  using the following three point rubric that encourages students to evaluate themselves:  (1) Not Yet, (2) Sometimes, or (3) Often.  
                                                                    


                                                                                                

Click above to view the class behavior rubric.                                  Click above to view the morning 
                                                                                                                routine rubric checklist






Students are more than welcome to bring in a birthday treat for the class.  The class tradition is the birthday person gets to take the first bite after everyone else is served and sing happy birthday. The birthday person usually prolongs that first bite as long as possible making the others wait with anticipation.
   









                                                                 Class Points

Students can earn a daily sticker for their sticker book if we accomplish everything on our list for the day. Along with the daily sticker ten points are awarded toward the classroom citizenship party. We need to reach 450 points for our party.   Students can also earn sports and character cards for being consistent in their reading and taking on extra responsibilities.
 Once we have reached our goal we like to celebrate and set a new and higher goal.  The class just earned 450 points towards their goal of 450 points. We are currently have 120 points towards our 
goal of 500 points. 


  

ocotber_001.jpgOur 450 Points Citizenship Party took place
on Friday, February 26th.
  


                                                


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Students can earn stickers and trading cards by following directions, meeting an academic challenge, studying independently, and by helping the class complete everything on our daily agenda.  Each student has a sticker/trading card folder in which they keep their cache.  On Friday, students are allowed a little time for trading stickers and cards.


 













                        
                               


                                                                                    


Also on Friday (weather permitting) we will go out for ten minutes to allow students to earn hole punches on a card for each lap around the play field.  Once they have reached ten punches they get a healthy snack (some sort of fruit or vegetable).  Students are learning the importance of exercising their bodies as well as their brains at school. 
















In our computer lab students will learn many skills such as how to copy and paste and navigating and researching on the internet. 



                       

                                 



                                                                                            Seasonal Activities  (back to top)





                                        Great Job on the About Me Project!
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The students did an awesome job on their "About Me" Project.  Each student will have the opportunity to use our classroom document camera and project and share their work to the class. 

 
This project helps classmates learn about each other. They can combine photos, drawings, and pictures cut out from magazines to show their interests. The finished projects will be hung in the hallway. 
 

        Antonio shares his "About Me" to the class using the document camera.                                                                      
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September 17th was Constitution Day in the United States.

Students were given a brief overview of the Constitution 
and related it to their rights and responsibilities here at school.  
                                        














Victoria reads the classroom Rights and Responsibilities.


Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
                                       
Rights and Responsibilities of room #211 
                                                                                                                          
1.  You have the right to ask questions.

2.  You have  the right to learn in a clean classroom.

3.  You have the right to be head.

4.  You have the right to your own private space

5.  You have the right to learn.

6.  You have the right to be safe.

7.  You have the right to make mistakes.



                                                  
On October 7th, we learned about fire safety at Discovery.  Students learned about what to do in case of
a fire, escape routes, and being safe near the stove and other heat sources. 

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               Using the students as a model, firefighters demonstrated how fast a fire can grow in size.
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                                        The model grew from three students to 48 students in a manner of 4 minutes



Click below to print out a blank Safe House Mouse Planning Grid

What is your home escape Plan?  A Website question in 
October will focus on fire safety and preparedness at home.
       
               
                         

    Click on the school house to view the escape plan for our school. 
                        

                                                                                                                                                       Click above to play Sparky's Fire 
                                                                                                                                                       Escape Challenge






                                                          In October we will build Pumpkin Town.

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                                           Above students raise their apple cider to toast the opening of Pumpkin Town!

                       
                              Pumpkin Town is Here!
                                              Below is a picture of the 2009 version of Pumpkin Town. 

         While our town is great, we also came up with some ideas to make it an even better place to live.  
         A special thanks goes out to Barb White for painting the impressive backdrop of Pumpkin Town

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         october_0581.jpg
        Jose got the honors of cutting the ribbon to Pumpkin Town

Students did a great job in constructing the buildings and vehicles.
Click here for a complete inventory of our town and some ideas
for what else we might need to make our town a better place. 
A website discussion question will ask what would you add to
Pumpkin Town if you were the mayor? 




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Students learned how to make and label a life cycle chart.                                 


          
                               
     
Click on the pumpkin                       Then click above            
      to play the life cycle of                     to check your answers.
      a pumpkin match game




                            


                          Jose's Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Chart

The Mystery of the Disappearing Pumpkin

In November students will examine a pumpkin that was left over from Halloween.  The pumpkin will be placed in a
tub with dirt to be checked during the first week of December to monitor the decoposation process.  What the
students  will find is pictured below.
 


november_0181.jpg   december_001.jpg     december_004.jpg               
  Lane and Christine mash the pupkins!      A piece of pumpkin will be put under the           The soil that the pumpkin is kept in will
                                                                         classroom microsocpe and magnified.              make for good planting in the spring.
                                                                         The dark spots show the most decaying.


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                                                     Anna and Dayton show off the pumpkins that were carved during
                                                     during S.K.I.P. class.  Students will be monitoring the decomposition
                                                     process of the pumpkin in an outside bin with soil.  The soil and 
                                                     composted pumpkins will then be used for planting in the spring.


Students recently made pumpkin swirl ornaments.  It was a good exercise in following directions and fine motor skills. 
october_046.jpg                       october_047.jpg
                                              Kaden                                                                                                        Michaela





                                                       To  is cool

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November 3rd was election and day and students learned
the importance and responsibility of voting.  The students
filled our voter registration cards and then took part in voting
activity.  

  
Click here to see our voting results!

  Click here to get a sample ballot







                       



                    Ethan casts his vote!




                                                          Happy Thanksgiving!   
 
  
Silly TurkeyClick on one of  the reading turkeys to help dress him for Thanksgiving.Silly Turkey   

                                                           
                           
                  

                                                 Fill the Plate!
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  Students will make a Thanksgiving game to take home for the holiday.                   Click on the turkey for a copy of the official rules
 


 
                                           Talking Turkey
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                             Eddie holds up his craft project.                                                              Students made turkey door hangars
 
                  Students weaved Thanksgivingplace mats.
november_0221.jpg                 november_021.jpg               
        Jose's finished placemat.                                                                 Lily works on finishing her placemat.



                          

thanksgiving.jpg (138988 bytes)I read aloud Thanksgiving on Thursday to the class and did 
some activities that reinforced comprehension of the story.
Students can also
keep track of the vocabulary and the storyline
of the book by clicking on the links below for the first five chapters.

Chapter 1            Vocabulary             Online Questions
Chapter 2             Vocabulary             Online Questions
Chapter 3          Vocabulary              Online Questions
Chapter 4            Vocabulary               Online Questions
Chapter 5        Vocabulary             Online Questions
Chapter 6        Vocabulary             Online Questions
Chapter 7        Vocabulary             Online Questions
Chapter 8        Vocabulary               Online Questions
Chapter 9        Vocabulary             Online Questions
Chapter 10      Vocabulary             Online Questions
 
                     How crowded was the Mayflower?
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Click above to learn the parts of the Mayflower                                           14 students in an 8 foot square.




Our crazy hair day and to dress in purple and gold or crimson and gray 
                  for the Apple Cup was on Wednesday November 25th.
  
        Huskies                                  Cougars                              Crazy Hair
november_0231.jpgVs.november_024.jpgandnovember_025.jpg


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Right before winter break students received a goals notebook for 2010.
The first goal every student wrote down was to be able to read 40 words
per minute on a timed second grade passage during our June DIBELS
Testing.  Students also shared some goals they are thinking about
writing down.  Anna said that she is going to write down the goal of
making it to the second Read and Lead party in March. 








After reading some poems that were written in our Treasures Antholgy students will learn how to write an acrostic poem.  An acrostic poem usese the letters in a topic word to begin each line.  All lines of the poem should relate to or describe the topic word.  Below is the acrostic poem that the class wrote together about winter. 
 


                                          
       When it is cold
         It is icy 
        Near Christmas
        T is a snowman
        
Except for puddles
        Rainy days ahead

Click Here to write you own acrostic poem online.





The class did an excellent job during our two assemblies on Friday January 15th to honor a great man.
The class got several compliments and the audience was very impressed at how the students did.   
Click on the pictures below to view our PowerPoint presentation on the words of Martin Luther King Jr. 


                                               
              Part 1:  A Sneetch Can Teach!                                             Part 2:  The Words Of Martin Luther King Jr.



           
     
                                                                     Sylvester McBeans Sneetch Bell Game!
  Half of the Sneetches have bellies with stars, and half of the Sneetches have no stars on thars.
The problem is, all of the Sneetch Dads and Mothers want bellies that look like the ones of the others.
But here comes that sly guy, Sylvester McBean, and his magical Star-On and Star-Off Machine,

Who says you "You can't teach a Sneetch!"  Or, can you?  Click on the picture on the picture on the
left to play the game.
                   







 


mancala.jpg               heading.jpg       
                                                      In the winter, students will learn to master an ancient game       

The class will begin its study on the ancient game of mancala.  Students will get
 to choose their playing stones and will be painting their own boards in the near
future. Many believe that Mancala could be the oldest game in the world. People
have been playing it for 7,000 years or more! 
Click here for a quick slide show about mancala. 

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Click on a picture to find out about count and capture games around the world.
                                                                            
Antigua Burkina Faso Cote d'Ivoire
Antigua Board Burkina Faso board Cote d'Ivoire board
West Africa Ghana Haiti
West African board Ghana board Hatian board
Middle East Nigeria Philippines