Wordgirl Online Comic Book

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you are all enjoying the break! Ms. Danielle, Emma, Lily, and I are having a great time together!

If you are having a difficult time finding something fun to read over the break, check out this Wordgirl comic book. Ask your mom, dad, or a grown-up to read it with you!

You can find it here.

Enjoy and Happy New Year,

Mr. G

Class Song: "Randolph the Blue-Nosed Muledeer"

Okay, perhaps it's not Rudolph worthy, however, it's funny!

Enjoy our latest class song:

Randolph the Blue-Nosed Mule deer

(tune, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)

You know Hairball, and Crackie, and Poppy, and Sloaney
Cat Whisperer, and Tiny Forrest, and Balderina and Pickle Pants

But do you recall…the worst behaved mule deer of all?

Randolph the Blue-Nosed Mule deer, had a very big, blue nose
And wherever he went, he really liked to throw balls of snow

All of the mule deer used run when he came around
They didn’t want to get hit, and fall down with a great big POW!

Then one snowy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say, “Randolph with you arm so strong, can you hit the Grinch with a big snow ball?”

Then all the mule deer loved him and dipped their noses in blue paint Randolph the blue-nosed mule deer said, “My friends all look just like me!”

Merry Christmas,

Mr. G

A Great Resource!

Here is a great resource that both child and adult can enjoy! The LEGO site offers games, comics, and videos!

Check it out here.

Have Fun,

Mr. G

Author Jan Brett's Website

Author Jan Brett has written numerous books that have become classics in the collections of both teacher and student. Some of these titles include Gingerbread Friends, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, and The Hat.

Ms. Brett has also retold and illustrated many well-known stories such as On Noah's Ark, The Mitten, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Her website includes 4,698 free activities, coloring pages, and projects based upon characters found in her numerous works.

These activities include on-screen computer games, videos, printable games, and more. Readers can even email Jan Brett herself!

If you are interested in checking out this wonderful resource, please go here.

Keep Reading,

Mr. G

Class Song: "Mr. G. Turned Into a Reindeer"

Please enjoy our latest class song:

Mr. G. Turned into a Reindeer
(Tune to, “Grandma got run over by a Reindeer”)

Mr. G. turned into a reindeer
In the morning on Christmas Day
He went to bed a normal human
And now he has two horns and four legs

Mr. G. turned into a reindeer
In the morning on Christmas Day
He went to bed a normal human
But now he lives in the forest and eats hay

He woke up and looked in the mirror
And he noticed some strange things
He had a bright and shiny red nose
And fur all over his body and his legs!

Mr. G. turned into a reindeer
In the morning on Christmas Day
If you want to buy him a gift
A bag of carrots would be nice
Or maybe some hay!

Stay tuned for our next class song entitled Randolph the Blue-Nosed Muledeer!

Thanks for reading,

Mr. G

How is Your Superhero Squad?

The Internet can be a wonderful tool, however, it can sometimes be difficult to find safe games and activities for your children to interact with.

Hasbro's Superhero Squad is a fun game that children will enjoy time and time again!

Check it out here.

Have fun!

Mr. G

The Grinch is Coming to Sharpsburg!

For those who haven't heard the news, on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008, the Grinch himself will be visiting Sharpsburg Elementary-ville for our "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Reading Night!

All students, family members, and teachers are invited to join him from 6-8 for reading, shopping, crafts, food, fun, singing, and more! You are even encouraged to wear your pajamas!

The Grinch reading program will run from 6-7pm and then the students will have an opportunity to shop for their friends and family in a safe environment at the PTO Christmas shopping event!

I know I'll be there, but "what will I wear?"

Here are some fun Grinch links to get you ready for a great night:

1) Fly over to Suessville and check out the Grinch's "Grow Your Heart Game."

2) "Stop the Grinch from Stealing" here.

3) A Grinch Coloring Game

4) Make your own Grinch gift tags!

5) Make your own Grinch Mask!

6) Print and play this Grinch Maze!

7) Print and complete this Whoville Word Find!

8) Print, complete, and color this Grinch dot-to-dot!

Have fun and I'll see you December 10th!

Don't be a "Mean One,"

Mr. G

Albert's Thanksgiving by Leslie Tryon

Leslie Tryon's book, Albert's Thanksgiving, is a great read aloud. Albert is a goose who is helping the area P.T.A. get ready for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast. The P.T.A. President, Patsy Pig, continues to send Albert letters asking him to more and more.

Included in the story is Patsy's request for Albert to make his famous "Pumpkin Pizza Pie," always a favorite of the area children.

Although overwhelmed and seemingly unappreciated, Albert humbly does what is asked of him and comes through, making the Thanksgiving celebration a success!

If you are interesting in the recipe for Albert's Pumpkin Pizza Pie, please see here.

If you would like to read more about Mrs. Tryon and her other works, see here.

Keep Reading,

Mr. G

Class Song: "Thanksgiving in Sharpsburg, Maryland"

Author Disclaimer: The following song is meant for fun; Mr. G's first grade class WILL NOT be coming to his house for Thanksgiving! :-)

Thanksgiving in Sharpsburg, Maryland
By: Mr. G.
(To the tune, “Sweet Home Alabama”)

Well the turkey is stuffed and in the oven
And the potatoes are all mashed up too
I’m so glad that it’s Thanksgiving
I’m ready for a feast, how about you?

Thanksgiving in Sharpsburg, Maryland
It’s time to eat and have some fun
Thanksgiving in Sharpsburg, Maryland
Is that pumpkin pie? Can I have some?

Mr. G’s class is coming over soon now
And we’ll all stuff our face, you’ll see
I sure hope there is enough turkey
Hey, some gravy just hit me!

Thanksgiving in Sharpsburg, Maryland
It’s time to eat and have some fun
Thanksgiving in Sharpsburg, Maryland
Is that whip cream? Can I have some?

Well, the food is flying everywhere now
Some turkey just hit (student name omitted) in the head!
The food is all over our clothes now
Guess we’ll have pizza instead!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mr. G

Thanksgiving Fun

Check out this cool Scholastic "The Very Thanksgiving" information page.

Learn about the first Thanksgiving!

Check it out here!

More Thanksgiving links are forthcoming!
Mr. G

Switcheroo Zoo-Make New Animals!

At the "Switcheroo Zoo," you can make your own new animals at this photo realistic virtual zoo!

Check out the Switch Zoo here.

Have fun!

Mr. G

Fun Brain

Funbrain.com is a great place to find math games, reading activities, kid-friendly online games, web books, and comics!

Check it out here.

Have Fun!

Mr. G

Parent Conferences- Thank you!

Dear Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),

I wanted to thank each of you who made it a point to attend your student's "Parent/Teacher" Conference. It was a pleasure to talk with all of you regarding your student and his or her progress.

I also appreciate all of your positive comments. I feel honored to be a small part of your child's daily life.

Please remember to keep reading every night with your child and again, thank you so much for your encouragement and commitment.

Sincerely,
Mr. G

Mr. G's Trick-or-Treat "Stay Safe" Pledge

Many students will soon be headed out in their costumes in hopes of attaining as much candy as they possibly can within the allotted "Trick-or-treat" time.

In an effort to encourage the students to be safe and smart while they are trick-or-treating, I have created this "Stay Safe" Pledge and encouraged each student to sign it and share it with their parent or guardian.

Mr. G’s Trick-or-Treating “Stay Safe” Pledge

I promise to:

1) Go with a grown-up.
2) Look both ways before crossing the street.
3) Not eat any candy until a parent/grown-up has checked-it.
4) Make sure it’s okay with a grown-up before I visit a house or knock on a door. 5) Take a flashlight.
6) Not go to any unfamiliar houses or streets without an adult.
7) Stay with an adult at all times.

Student Signature: __________________________

Teacher Signature: __________________________

Be Safe,

Mr. G

Class Song: Corn Dog

Before you enjoy our latest class song, I want to inform you of a little story that goes along with this latest "smash hit."

Mr. Guy, our faithful custodial engineer (custodian that is!) always comes around in the mornings and collects the attendance folders. Sometimes, if I am playing my guitar when he walks by, he will enter the room and I will play a verse or two of Elvis Presley's famous song, "Hound Dog," and Mr. Guy will dance and lip sing! The kids love it and it's a great way for the kids to get a laugh.

After this had happened a few times, one young lady in the class raised her hand and said, "Mr. G, can you play that Corn Dog song?" I immediately knew that I had to write a song!

Please enjoy our latest class song, "Corn Dog:"

Corn Dog
(To the tune, “Hound Dog”)

You ain’t nothin’ but a corn dog
Deep-fryin’ at lunch time (2x)

Well, your just a hot dog on a stick
But a lunch time I’ll be first in line

Well, I said, “Hey Mr. Guy!
It’s time to testify!” (2x)

Well, it’s time to sing this smash hit
Because you know it’s almost lunch time!

***This song was inspired by Mr. Guy, our faithful custodial engineer, and by one of our dear classmates.

Just for your information, I will be using this song as an example of how NOT to talk in the classroom (or anywhere else!) and Mr. Guy has agreed to stop by sometime and perform the song with me for the kids!

Thank ya...Thank ya very much!

Mr. G

Class Song: The Monster-Dash

Enjoy our latest class song:

The Monster-Dash
(To the tune, “Master-Mash)

I was walking to my classroom
Early one day
When I saw a werewolf in the hallway
He said to me, with a big, loud growl
You better run because I’m hungry now!

I did the Dash
I did the Monster Dash
The Monster Dash
I don’t want to be a snack
The Monster Dash
I ran with a flash
The Monster Dash

Then I was safe and sound
I thought I could not be found
When suddenly, right in front of me
There stood Dracula staring right at me!

I did the Dash
I did the Monster Dash
The Monster Dash
I don’t want to be a snack
The Monster Dash
I ran with a flash
The Monster Dash

I was tired now
I could barely stand
So I hid down in the basement
When I reach the bottom of the stairs
There stood Frankenstein in his underwear!

Keep Singing,

Mr. G

Wordgirl!

I love superheros; always have. Imagine my surprise when I was informed last year, by my students, that a there was a super-heroine named Wordgirl! I, of course, had to see what this was all about...checkout the following:

"WordGirl is a new animated series that follows the every day life and superhero adventures of “WordGirl” as she fights crime and enriches vocabulary usage, all in a day’s work. Disguised as mild-mannered 5th grader, Becky Botsford, WordGirl arrived on planet Earth when she and her monkey sidekick, Captain Huggy Face, crashed their spaceship. In classic superhero form, WordGirl possesses superhero strength with the added benefit of a colossal vocabulary. WordGirl has a family and friends who have no idea of her secret identity. As WordGirl, she battles and prevails over evil (albeit ridiculous and comical) villains.

Each episode introduces four new vocabulary words and will reinforce their meaning in a variety of contexts throughout the episode. The vocabulary itself is not necessarily a plot point. The show teaches new vocabulary words to children in a variety of fun and interesting contexts. WordGirl is a superhero spoof, so story lines are funny takes of familiar stories from that genre.

WordGirl enriches young audiences’ vocabulary, closes the gap for those who don’t grow up in language-rich environments, instills a love of language, and fosters better reading comprehension.

Only a superhero like WordGirl, endowed with power punches and dictionary strength, can put the word-wrenching scoundrels back in their place proving once again that crime doesn’t pay…but knowing the right word for the right moment is priceless." [1]

So, I get to watch super-heroes, comical super-villains, and learn new vocabulary words all at the same time? Wow, it's like Hong Kong Phooey with a point!

Wordgirl's website is jam packed with fun activities and resources: coloring pages, games, comics, and videos. I recommend it to you and your child for hours of meaningful fun and learning! To check it out, click here.

Keep Reading,
Mr. G

Class Song: Firststones

Enjoy our latest class song:

Firststones

(Tune "The Flintstones" Cartoon Theme)
by Mr. G

First Grade, meet the First Grade
They're the coolest kids around you see!

Working, in the classroom,
so that one-day they'll make history

Let's read, all the books that we can see
So that, we can work right on Wall Street!

First grade, meet the First grade,
They're the coolest kids in our time,
they have a fun time...

Oops, they fell in SLIME!

Keep Singing,

Mr. G

2008 Mock Election

As all of you are aware, the 2008 Election is almost here! In First Grade, we will be doing various activities to help your child understand the election process, identify the candidates, and learn about what the President of the United States actually does.

I would like to offer the following resources that I believe will provide you with a fun way to teach your child about a most important moment in our nation's history!

Election News Center

1) Weekly Reader: Election Center

2) Time for Kids: Election Connection

3) Scholastic News Online: Countdown to Election 2008

Election Games

1) The Road to the Capitol Game

Election Books

1. My Teacher for President by Kay Winters

2. Arthur meets the President by Marc Brown

3. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

4. Vote by Eileen Christelow (There are teacher resources included here!)

5. So You Want to be President? by Judith St. George


Don't forget to vote!

Mr. G

Class Song: "Stretch It Out"

Enjoy our latest class song...

Stretch It Out
[tune, “Twist and Shout”]

Stretch it out First Grade [stretch it out First Grade]
Stretch those sounds [stretch those sounds]

Come on, come on, come on
Come on, First Grade now [come on First Grade]
Stretch’em on out [stretch’em on out!]

Stretch-stretch-stretch-stretch

Well, let’s decode those words [decode those words]
Hear those sounds [hear those sounds]

Now put them all together now [put them all together]
Read that word out loud [read it out loud]

Stretch-stretch-stretch-stretch

Keep singing,

Mr. G

Class Song: Reading-Man

Enjoy our latest class song:

Reading-Man

(To the tune, "1960s Spiderman Theme")

Reading-man, Reading-man
Loves to read Captain Underpants!

Reads a book anytime
Watch him read while he flies!

Look out, here comes the Reading-man!

Reading-man, Reading-man
Reads a book whenever he can!

Books he loves, that’s a fact
He’s so smart and he doesn’t like cats!

Lookout! Here comes the Reading-man!

Lookout! Here comes the
READING-MAN!

Keep Singing,

Mr. G

Word Wall Words

I wanted to take a moment and update you on the weekly Word Wall Words(WWW) your child has been bringing home.

First off, when your child prints them for his or her homework assignment, it is best to allow them to print the WWW in their agenda notebook so that I can see them. However, if you would rather them print them on a piece of separate paper, that is completely fine. Your child doesn't need to turn in the paper. If you sign their agenda notebook I will trust that their homework has been done.

It's important that you continue to help your child learn these words so that he or she can recognize them and read them fluently.

Word Wall Words

Week 1- September 8th-September 12th

• go
• on
• the
• at
• am

Week 2- September 15th-19th

• we
• jump
• here
• not
• can
• and

Week 3- September 22nd-September 26th

• him
• it
• big
• to
• have
• who

If you have any questions about the WWW, please let me know!

Thank you,

Mr. G

The Honesty of Children

One of the things I love about kids is that they pull no punches. Meaning, they tell you exactly what they are thinking, when they are thinking it. Many times this can make for some hilarious moments in the classroom. One such event occurred yesterday and I wanted to share it with you.

I visited my general doctor a few weeks ago and he informed me that I am 30 pounds overweight! I was shocked, but shared the story with my students because they normally find such information amusing.

Yesterday, after forgetting that I even told them this, I asked the students why we were getting ready to read a story that we had already read 2 times before and I jokingly said, "Is it because I'm a big, mean, fat man?" One of my students immediately spoke up and said, "You are not!" I replied, "My doctor said I was thirty pounds overweight." To which she looked up at me, as serious as could be and said, "Well...YOUR NOT MEAN!"

You have to love the honesty of kids! I believe that we as adults would do well to strive to be more like them in this area...with a little discernment of course! :-)

Thanks for reading,
Mr. G

The Imagination Movers

Imagine my surprise when I asked my students today if they knew who The Imagination Movers were and all but three of them replied, "No!"

My wife and I recieved a free DVD from Playhouse Disney about a year ago and one of the features on the video was from a band that creates music for children called The Imagination Movers. The difference between these guys and alot of other children's music is that "The Movers" are actually quite funny and really have some creative songs that your kids will love! My daughter and I visit their website often!

They cover numerous topics within their music such as manners, eating right, and movement. If you or your child are interested in checking out The Imagination Movers, please click here.

Enjoy!

Mr. G

Class Song: I'm a Reader

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I enjoy bringing my guitar into the classroom and creating songs for the students to familiar tunes. My reasons for doing this are:

• It's a fun way for kids to learn to read.


• It's a great way for kids to practice reading fluency (reading like you talk).


• First grade students generally love to sing.


• It's a great way for students to learn sight words.

Periodically, throughout the year, I will be posting these songs so that you can enjoy singing them with your child. Please feel free to share them with whom ever you think may enjoy them.

I'm a Reader
(To the tune, "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees)

I thought reading was only fun in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Books would just bore me
That’s the way it seemed
Boring books haunted all my dreams…

Then I worked real hard
Now I’m a reader
Not a book or word
I won’t read
I can read (YEAH!)

I’m a great reader
I can read anything if I try!

We worked real hard
Now we are all readers
Not a book or word
We won’t read
We can READ!
YEAH!

Enjoy and keep singing,

Mr. G

FOSS Science Module for Solids and Liquids

Dear Students and Parents,

In Science, First Grade has been studying solids and liquids and their different properties. A property is something that we can discover about a solid or liquid by looking at it or feeling it.

Some examples of properties of solids would be- transparent, opaque, hard, soft, flexible, rigid, etc. Examples for liquids would be- transparent, viscous, opaque, fast, slow, and thick.

The following is an online activity offered by FOSS (the science program we are currently using) that encourages students to expand their understanding of solids and liquids and how they relate to each other. Enjoy!

Click here:

http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/SolidsandLiquids/index.html

Have fun!

Mr. G

Update on Lily's Condition

I want to begin by thanking all of you for your thoughtful words and prayers regarding our daughter, Lily Opal.

The tests for our daughter Lily went well. We found out that her kidney is indeed functioning, but that there is a partial blockage where the fluid exits the kidney.

We will be traveling to Children’s Hospital in four months to repeat one of the tests and she will be on antibiotics until then. The doctor will likely decide then if surgery is necessary. It will depend on what the test results show in four months.

Again, we thank you for your support and understanding during this time.

Gratefully,
Mr. and Mrs. Gross

Sid the Science Kid from PBS Kids

Here is a fun resource that enforces many of the concepts we will cover in both math and science this year! Enjoy!

Click here to check out Sid:

http://pbskids.org/sid/

Keep working,

Mr. G

My Daughter Lily's Kidney Condition

Dear Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),

I wanted to inform all of you that my newborn daughter, Lily Opal, has an enlarged left kidney that is not functioning properly. Thankfully, she is very healthy otherwise and her right kidney is working perfectly.

However, as a result, I will need to take some days off from school in order to attend her doctor's appointments and upcoming tests. I will be absent the following days:

• Thursday and Friday, September 4 and 5, 2008



• Monday, September 8, 2008

Please know that I regret missing 3 days so early in the school year, however, feel it's of utmost importance to be with my wife and daughter during this challenging time.

If you have any questions regarding this matter or any other, please email me at grosscha@wcboe.k12.md.us. I will be checking my email daily.

I appreciate your understanding!

Thank you,
Mr. G

Back to School Night

Typically, after meeting parents on "Back to School Night," I begin thinking about all the things I forgot to say and information that I most likely neglected to mention. I most likely will be adding some of this information to the blog in the coming weeks.

I wanted to thank all of you that were able to make it tonight and it was a pleasure meeting each of you. I look forward to working with you to assure your child's academic success.

If you were unable to attend this evening, please feel free to set-up a time to meet with me to go over the information I presented. You may email me at grosscha@wcboe.k12.md.us or call the school at 301-766-8321. For those who didn't attend, I will be sending home a packet with your student. If you have any questions, please let me know!

Again, it was great to meet you and I'm excited about the upcoming year!

Sincerely,

Mr. G

Book Review: Backbeard and the the Birthday Suit

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Backbeard the Pirate, the "hairest pirate who ever lived!" You may find him sailing upon his ship, The Five O'Clock Shadow, or at your local men's store trying on the latest fashions. Wherever you find Backbeard, you are sure to discover laughter.

Author Matt McElligott offers up a hilarious pirate story in Backbeard that is completely unique. Backbeard is a stinky pirate that decides he needs to clean up his act. He is so stinky that even his trusty parrot quits! Backbeard is then forced to replace "Polly" with a most unlikely farm animal. Backbeard goes forth to literally redefine what it means to be a pirate.

Backbeard and the Birthday Suit boasts amazing illustrations, appealing characters, and very funny vocabulary. I highly recommend this book to teachers for a wonderful read aloud and to students for some laugh-out-loud fun!

Keep Reading,

Mr. G

About Mr. G

As I enter into my 10th year of teaching elementary school, I can recall many common questions that students ask me about myself and my job. For me, it's important that my students realize that I have a life of my own and that I really don't live, eat, and sleep at the school building! The following are common questions that students ask and my answers. This should be a fun way to get to know your teacher! Enjoy!

How old are you?

I am 31 years old. And before anyone asks, no, I wasn't alive when large dinosaurs roamed the earth...

When is your birthday?

I was born on November 3rd, 1976 in Fairmount, West Virginia. Spare me the WV jokes!

What is your favorite color?

Blue

What is your favorite sport?

Ice hockey is my favorite sport and I enjoy watching numerous teams that include The Washington Capitals, the Detroit Red Wings, and the New York Rangers.

Are you married?

Yes, I am married to my beautiful wife, Danielle.

Do you have any kids?

Yes, I have two beautiful daughters, Emma Isabella and Lily Opal. The green bear that you see above is from my oldest daughters favorite cartoon, Boz the Green Bear Next Door.

If you are interested in learning more about Boz, click here: http://www.bozthebear.com/about/overview.asp

Emma and I visit this site often!

What is your favorite food?

A Cheeseburger (and fries!)

What is your favorite cartoon?

That is a tough one for me to answer. Many of the cartoons I enjoy are from when I was a child. Examples would be Masters of the Universe, Hong Kong Phooey, and The Amazing Spider-man.

Why are you a teacher?

I became a teacher mainly because I didn't have a very positive experience when I was in school and wanted to do my best to make learning meaningful, but fun and engaging. That is all just a fancy way of saying, "I don't want school to be boring for my students!"

Why do your play the guitar in your classroom?

Well, the most obvious reason is that playing guitar is fun! I have also found that when children sing words they are trying to learn, they usually catch on fairly fast! Keep watching the blog for some of our classroom's songs!

Do you play guitar in a band?

No, I do not. I have led worship at my local church in the past and I also sing with my wife.

Do you like SpongeBob SquarePants?

No, I do not. I know that many people (adult and child alike!) love him, however, I just don't get it!

I will most likely update this section throughout the year so keep checking back! If you have a question, please email me at grosscha@wcboe.k12.md.us and I'll be sure to answer!

Sincerely,

Mr. G