Code, Code, Code

We enjoyed coding today.  Hour of code was a huge success!!!  The kids worked so hard to figure out the "code."  It was so rewarding hearing "I cannot do this" only to hear "I did it!!!"  

My Mindcraft twins both got to the completed certificate.  I wish I had a pic of that!  They spent the hour and half working so hard.  They felt so accomplished!

These two were so engrossed in the coding too.  They worked so well together figuring out the program.  

When I took this cute picture all of a sudden there were more....

Aren't they too cute? Yes!  They are.

Thank you for sharing them with me.

You are my HOME

One of the nicest things I have ever heard was last year one of my boys wrote in his paper that being in my class felt like being "home."  I still have his rough draft behind my desk and when I read it my heart swells.  Your children are my school family, and I love them with my whole heart.  All I want for them is to come to school happy, to feel safe and loved and to have fun learning!  Thank you for sharing them with me and our school family.  

The holidays bring out the sap in me!  💓

~Mrs. Roberts~

Engineer Expo is Friday

We are getting ready!!!  Engineer Expo is on Friday!!!

We hope you can come on Friday.  Blueprints are drawn, prototypes are  created and kids are happy which means teacher is too.  LOVE their little minds.  AMAZING!!!

Recyclables Needed for Engineer Expo

We are having our Engineer Expo on Friday, November 20th.  We will be creating a toy for children to use in the pioneer days. We have talked about how modern day technology was not available in those times and how we need to figure out ways of entertainment.  The students will make a toy and figure out ways to improve their toy.  

Please save any recyclables and have your child bring them in on Monday!  We will be creating the toys Monday.  We will continue to improve the toys during the week so keep sending in recyclables.  

1st grade will be presenting from 12:30-1:00 and 1:50-2:20.  We can't wait to show you our masterpieces!

Engineering Expo

50's Day and the New and Improved Pig's Homes

I cannot believe we have been in school for 50 days!  The kids had so much fun celebrating!!!

They looked so cute!

We also built houses that the wolf couldn't blow down.  They had so much fun!

This is equipt with a security system and a camera to watch for the wolf!

This is a "nocular" space house.  So creative!

It is a jet straw house.  

I am so impressed with all the houses the kids made.  Your kids amaze me!!!  Thank you for sharing them with me.

Field Day Postponed

Christie Families,

After much deliberation we have decided to postpone Field Day until late spring. With the forecast of heavy rain this afternoon, as well as a high ranging between 54-57 degrees during the morning Field Day events; we don’t feel it would be a safe environment for our students. As many of you know, Field Day often includes water games as well as other fun activities that would not be able to take place with tomorrow’s weather. We want to thank you for understanding, and we look forward to having this event later on this year! 

Christie Elementary

Field Day Update

At this time it looks like we have a flash flood watch coming in for tomorrow. If it does rain tomorrow, we will postpone Field Day until close to end of year. We want to be sure the fields are safe for student activity, and sadly, rain-soaked grounds (with cold weather) does not produce a safe environment for our students.

Will keep everyone posted along the way -

Important Information

Pumpkin Math

Today we had so much fun!!!  We did Pumpkin Math.  

My husband even came and lead a group.  

He has done this with both of our kids and he really enjoys it!

We also had Mrs. Reyes here.  Grace was soooo excited to have her mom here.  

There were nothing but smiles in our room!!!  After voting these were the final pumpkin faces each group chose.  

Fun, fun day!!!

Field Day Postphoned

All,

Due to the forecast calling for heavy rain tomorrow, field day will be postponed until next Friday. Unfortunately, at this time, it looks like it may rain next week as well. If it rains heavily starting on Wednesday of next week, we will once again postpone field day until May. We want to thank you all so much for your understanding – fingers crossed we have a sunny week next week!

Christie Elementary 

 

Ryan Steele

Principal

Pumpkin Math 10/30 - Volunteers Needed

Dear Parents, Next Friday, October the 30th we will be having our annual Pumpkin Math.  Each year we integrate this lesson with Science as well.  This will be in the morning.  In the afternoon the kids will have Field Day.  We need some volunteers!  If you would like to help me out, please let me know as soon as possible.  First of all, we will need you to bring a pumpkin that is de-gutted.  If you could please put an amount of seeds between 50 and 120 (or so) that would be great! If you have a scale at home that we could use to weigh the pumpkins, feel free to bring it.  You will be working with a group of either 4 or 5 kids.   ***It is very important that you have filled out your volunteer application and that it has gone through.  If you have not and want to come be a part of this fun day,  make sure you do so now!*** Contact me through email at heather.roberts@pisd.edu to let me know if you can come!  I am in need of 4 volunteers.  As soon as I have enough volunteers I will let you know via this blog. Thank you so much for wanting to help out. More information to come on Pumpkin math!

Special Note from our Principal

Dear Christie Families, 

We want to thank you for your flexibility as we moved to a blocked specials schedule for the first part of the school year. The instructional planning time gained by teachers during the blocked schedule was used to plan ahead and review the larger picture of the school year. As the first nine weeks has come to an end, we are excited to share that beginning November 1st, we will be returning to the traditional schedule where specials takes place each day. 

As always, thank you for your continued support!

Christie Elementary 

Red Ribbon Week is Next Week

Please look for the flyer to come home tomorrow!  

Pumpkin Design Challenge

I was so impressed with the way the kids worked together and created their pumpkins.  Our class was filled with creativity and fun!!

My own kids even continued the challenge at home over the weekend.

Friday -- Storybook Character Design Challenge

We are having our first Design Challenge this Friday.  The kids have designed a pumpkin as a storybook character.  We will display these in our classroom. They have already made their blueprints, and they are super excited to create!

We are still in need of the following items for our design challenge.  

Pumpkins (one per group)

paint

brushes

buttons

pipe cleaners

tacky glue

Styrofoam

cardboard

pom poms

felt

feathers 

googly eyes

ribbons

yarn

tin foil

fabric

and any other materials that you think would work

Thank you so much in advanced if you are able to donate any of the following items for our kids.  💓

What a Week!

So, I spent the last hour doing a post that just got erased.  I am heartbroken!!!  Let's see.  What did I say???

My favorite time of the year is my first parent teacher conference.  I love building the relationships with you for the success and growth of your child.  I promise you that by putting their sweet lives in my hands for 7 hours a day I will love and care for them as my own.  I already do!  They are my kids.  We are a school family, and I am so very blessed to be their first grade teacher.  Thank you for sharing them with me!  Please remember this Monday, October 12th is a student holiday.  There will not be school for the students.  I look forward to our time together and our relationship building over the year. Please know I will do anything and everything in my power for your child.  They already have my heart.  Please tell them I will see them in Tuesday.  💓

This past week was filled with music.  We were all a part of a system learning about sound energy, vibration and pitch.  The kids put their talents to use when they created their instrument based on their blueprint.  

We had guitars,

maracas, ---  SO, SO happy!

drums,

a few popped ballons, a lot of laughs and a blast!

We started our first Design Challenge today.  It will be a "Pumpkin" Storybook Character to design.  After voting, charting and picking groups we now have the following pumpkins being created.  Fancy Nancy, Scooby Doo, Elsa and Batman.  If you would like to donate a medium to large pumpkin please let me know.  

Some of the other supplies we are need of:  paint, brushes, buttons, pipe cleaners, tacky glue, Styrofoam, cardboard, pom poms, felt, feathers, googly eyes, ribbons, yarn, tin foil, fabric, and any other materials that you think would work. 

After seeing their blueprints today I cannot wait to see the finished projects!!!

I look forward to seeing you on Monday.  Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Christie e-News

Christie has gone digital.  The links for Christie PTA e-News for October are below.

English  -> http://elist.pisd.edu/eNews/0112_99_Christie_PTA__eNews_Oct_2015_English.pdf

Spanish  -> http://elist.pisd.edu/eNews/0112_99_PTA_de_Christie__eNews_Oct_2015_Spanish.pdf

 

Stay Calm and Shine On

When one of my sweet girls showed up with this shirt I knew it was going to be a fantastic day!!!  When another sweet girl showed up with beautiful yellow flowers for me I knew it was going to be the best day ever!!!

We had so much fun with Mrs. McGlamery (our incredible school counselor) today.  The kids laughed and laughed as she had them act out what to do to solve their own problems.  

I just love the laughter in the left above... 

In science we are learning all about sound.  We shared all the different sounds they hear.  

The kids will be making their own instruments next week, so please keep on sending anything they can use to make music!  

Cups

empty tissue boxes

beans

rubber bands

Cans

Paper clips

Popscicle sticks

Wax paper

Paper plates

Construction paper

Pennies

Pennies 

Balloons

In math you will notice the kids bringing home a homework sheet from the book.  Please have them do around 3-4 problems a night and send it back the next day.  We go over them together.  If they want do most or all of the problems please encourage them to but they are responsible for 3 or 4 problems.

Please continue studying the unit spelling words, spelling patterns and high frequency words that I send home weekly.  Please make sure they are reading at least 20 mins a night and that you are signing and initialing their communication log.  

Last but not least the kids are having a blast being an author and illustrator and sharing their own books.  They are so proud!  They do this as a challenge in our class.  It is their favorite challenge once they finish their work.  

Have a wonderful weekend!  I look forward to seeing you on October 12th.  I will send home reminders at the beginning of the week.  

Thank you for sharing your child with me.  I feel so blessed to be their teacher. 💓 

Help please

Thank you so much for the donations for our class, but we are still in need.  We have been learning about sound energy, and the kid's will have the opportunity to make their own instrument.  How fun for them!!!

We are still in need of the following items of you are able to donate.  

Cups

Cans

Rice

Beans

Paper clips

Rubber bands

Popsicle sticks

Wax paper

Paper plates

Paper tubes

Construction paper

Pennies 

Balloons

Thank you so much for helping the kids have things to build with after making their "blueprints" for their new instruments.  I cannot wait to see what music they can make!!!

Family Picnic Thursday @ 6:00 PM

Family picnic is tomorrow night!  **Thursday @ 6: 00 PM**

Bring a blanket/chairs, dinner, your family.  Come and hang out with other Christie families!  💓

Smile

Picture day is tomorrow!  Please tell your kids.... 

Science

We did just about the coolest experiment ever!  What happens when you mix dish soap, food coloring and milk?  The kids were ecstatic when they found out!!!  I was so excited I forgot to take pics, so this was my last Friday night!  

WHHHHOOOOOAAAAAA!!!!!!

I brought the experiment home and did it with my best friends who happen to have Cubs too.  We had a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th grader and college student at my house doing the experiment.  We had a blast!

We also made ice cream using the left over milk after our dish soap experiment.  We mixed all the ingredients and shook and shook and shook and shook and shook some more ....  Finally after we counted from 20 down to 1 about 112 times it was READY!!!

When we got to eat it the kids were so happy!  It was so refreshing and put a smile on all of our faces.

~Mrs. Roberts~