We're easily pleased!

I could have written that title for many reasons...but I wrote it in response to eating lunch in the classroom instead of the cafeteria. I'm not sure what Room 8 loves about it, but they were SO excited when we couldn't eat in the cafeteria on Election Day. (We are a polling place.) To top it off, they can sit wherever they want when they have lunch in Room 8. As you can see from these photos...we're a happy bunch!

Happy Birthday, Tiffany!

Tiffany turned 9 years old today! When we came in from our morning run, there were some delicious looking chocolate cupcakes sitting on one of the tables. The questions started flying, "Who has a birthday today?" Tiffany, who is so quiet, hadn't told anyone that I know that this was her big day.

After recess, much to the dismay of room 8, there were no grey hairs OR wrinkles. However, we did make a startling discovery! HIDDEN CURLS! Now Tiffany has some curly hair...but underneath a lot of her hair are RINGLETS!!! They're beautiful! Mrs. Vinum had called Tiffany's mom and asked her to come see how we celebrated birthdays in Room 8. So Katrina got to see and hear us sing the Room 8 version of 'Happy Birthday.' Tiffany had Bailee help her pass out the cupcakes...and then we all thoroughly enjoyed the DELICIOUS cupcakes in celebration of Tiffany's 9th birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, TIFFANY!

O'Keeffe painters!

Yesterday, Ms. van Ark taught Room 8 about Georgia O'Keeffe. After learning a little about her life and seeing some of her paintings, we tried our hand at painting flowers. Drawing the flowers LARGE was the key...







Once our flowers were drawn, Ms. van Ark showed us how to watercolor. We painted for close to an hour, with many Room 8ers painting more than one...I think Nate even painted three!














Here are some of our finished paintings...

Adam's Birthday

Happy Birthday (on November 1st) to Adam! One thing we do in Room 8 is look for grey hair. Now we realize some blondes actually turn white instead of grey, so for Adam, I was looking for white hair. I think we found one...if there are no grey/white hairs, then we look for wrinkles. Adam had no wrinkles...it could have been from sleeping a little later on his big day, but there were no wrinkles to be found.




For a celebration, his sister made cupcakes for Room 8 to enjoy. Our compliments to the chef. Don't you know his sisters love having Adam for a little brother? That's pretty special considering he has said that his mission in life is to "annoy his sisters"...no, not Adam!

Happy Halloween in Room 8

What a fun day we had in Room 8! Thanks to many of our parents...and spearheaded by Rachel and Diana, we had a great party. Look at our scrap book! Just hold the mouse over the page and it will turn.

Meet Garrett

We're in Red Ribbon Week and every student received a red wristband. Garrett asked if he could bring all his wristbands...well, I think he has about 30. We were impressed. He told us about every single one of them!

Garrett is an encourager! I can't remember a single time when he hasn't been positive and ready to help anyone who needs it. Today, we were working on a rock review. I noticed he was turned around in his chair, so I asked him what he was doing. He told me he was helping Mariah understand one of the questions and explaining to her how to interpret that pumice was an extrusive rock. The Encourager!

In the mornings, we run. It's amazing how much so many of the students have improved. We have one Room 8'er who has a difficult time. Probably about a month ago, she was far behind...Garrett was already finished. He asked me if he could run again and run with Ashley. I said OF COURSE! So here goes Garrett...sometimes he trots alongside her...sometimes he will stay behind, tell her to get a little ahead of him, and then when he sprints, for her to try to stay ahead of him. She definitely does better with Garrett encouraging her. I love to watch him. His heart is so big...

Garrett loves sports! He also loves math and is what I would call a math-whiz. Last year in 3rd grade, Mrs. Henry would send him to me so I could see some of the math he was able to do. Garrett also has an awesome brother - Andrew. What a wonderful pair of guys...and I've been fortunate enough to have them both.

Buddies and Bus Safety

Our buddies came today. They brought a little book for us to help them read...and then each Room 8'er had picked out a picture book to read to their buddy. It was a beautiful day so we were able to sit on carpet squares outside in the sunshine. After we finished the books, we took our little buddies to the 'big kids playground' and played on the 'big kids equipment.'

This year, there are two Room 8'ers who have a sibling in our first grade buddies class. Matthew has his sister...Katherine - and Ashley has her sister, Jewele. How fun is that! The top photo is Matthew with his sister. The second one is Ashley and Jewele.

Now, the bars became a big hit with the guys. Kade was perfecting the one leg hang... and Nate, well, he was perfecting falling off.



We also had our annual Bus Safety Drill. We get on the bus and listen to the driver (for us today, we were on Bus 4 with Michelle) tell us all about the safety rules. Then we practice jumping off the bus, like we would do in case of an emergency. Jumping off a bus is pretty exciting! Although, you don't want to really have to do that!

A Party for Room 8

Bailee and Sydney's moms are organizing a Halloween party for Room 8. THANK YOU!!! Some of you had written on the yellow paper at Back-to-School night that you would help with parties. I have given your names to Diana and Rachel. However, if you're not sure if you signed up...or if you just want to make sure to be included...send a note or contact one of them (or me...actually, you could just write in the comments section and Rachel and Diana will see it. Please don't put your last name...just write your first name or something like 'Judy's mom.'!) I'm not sure what all they need, but I do know they've already bought a lot. So even if you can't come in and help, some of you had written that you could help with some of the supplies.

As we say in Room 8 - We work hard...but we sure like to have fun!

Lindsey's birthday...and Adam's adventure

Happy Birthday to Lindsey! We haven't had a birthday in a while. We have to look for grey hairs...and since we found NONE in Lindsey, we looked for wrinkles. Nope, nothing there either. Lindsey must not be too old. Gina, Lindsey's mom, brought cupcakes...delicious cupcakes to Room 8, in honor of her birthday. Actually, they were made by her dad!


Adam had a great weekend. He and his dad went on a trip this past weekend and Adam brought a couple of things to share. One place he went was to Alcatraz...where he bought a baseball cap. He and his dad also biked across the Golden Gate Bridge! This led to an interesting discussion among Room 8'ers of why the Golden Gate had that name! Adam brought a model of the bridge to share with us. It definitely sounds like a fun weekend...just the guys.

In math, today we started double digit multiplication! Room 8 really enjoyed this! There wasn't a math paper to finish tonight...nor will there be tomorrow night. We're just practicing and practicing the skill of multiplying.

Regions brochures and P.E. with Ms. van Ark

Three days without the wonderful people who live in Room 8 is hard on ole Mrs. Johnston! I've been missing all of you...but have felt confident that you were in good hands with Ms. van Ark.

We've been studying about the four regions in California - coast, mountains, desert, and Central Valley. Ms. van Ark taught Room 8 about taking notes on the regions and then gave a lesson on making a travel brochure! Each student got to pick whichregion they wanted, and then using their notes and textbook, they are creating a brochure. From these photos, they are turning out great!




It looks to me like PE was a challenge! I'm thinking the goal was to pass a hula hoop around the circle without letting go of hands???



Tomorrow is Friday...and oh boy...I get to come back to Room 8!