November 30, 2018

Happy last day of November!

Parent /Teacher conferences WILL NOT be made up as a school-during a school day but if you missed your parent teacher conference because of the snow day and you still want to meet with me please contact me to set up an appointment. Report cards are coming home on Friday and may look very different from what you are used to. Don't hesitate to contact me with questions or confusions!

PLEASE remember that we are very busy at school and the sharing of toys, jewelry, hair accessories, and cash should not be something we are doing at school. It is confusing and distracting. Thank you.

We have been having so much fun learning about the solar system this week! We know what makes day and night and that the sun is our closest star. How exciting! We are still working in Panama and attempting to get our 3-D printer up and running. (It's a bit more difficult than I thought!)

Books Read: Out In Space, Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, Stars! Stars! stars!, Eight Spinning Planets, Good Night Moon, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, There's No Place Like Space, Sun: Our Nearest Star, What Makes Day and Night?

During writing time we are working on a new unit~ writing pattern books. Books like; I like..., I see..., I can....    These are helping to build stamina in both reading and writing as beginning readers are often first successful reading books with a consistent, repetitive pattern throughout. Although this is a short unit, it is going to be a powerful one!

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters we learned this week are Crazy Camel and  Lizzy Lamb

In math we are working with teen numbers, Monster Squeeze, playing games with partners, formation of numbers, making pictures to match the number written, addition and subtraction practice and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 

December 7- Report cards home

December 24-January 1-  Christmas Vacation

November 9, 2018

My middle son, Patrick

Dear Families,

 What lovely weather we have had these past few days! It is so nice to be able to continue our treks outside on these beautiful fall days. We have been taking the role of scientist as we spend time observing the season using all of our senses. 

A bit of help that I need... please assist your child by making sure there are no toys or other distractions in their backpacks or pockets. We have had many instances of students "giving, trading, sharing, lending" items and we honestly don't have the time for those distractions in our day. I really need your help with this and I thank you in advance. 

A turkey project has come home with your child this week. Have fun creating together and please send it back in when finished~

If you have not signed up for conferences yet, please do. I can't wait to talk about your student's first trimester of kindergarten. 

We are continuing to tell stories across pages in our writing blocks. Sharing work with partners and adding details  has added to our good work!

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The character we learned about this week was; Baby Barnaby

In math we are working with teen numbers, recognizing teen numbers through movement, formation of numbers, addition and subtraction practice and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 

November 12- Veterans Day Observed- No School

November 19 & 20- 1/2 Day Students- Parent Teacher Conferences (Please sign up)

November 21, 22, 23 No School for Thanksgiving Break

November 2, 2018

Dear Families,

              Wow~we made it through Halloween week and got so much done! The month of November is going to be VERY busy with a lot of disruption in our schedule. Pleas look below for no school days. There are many! 

               We have started a new science adventure called : Go2 Science. The students seem to be enjoying our time in Panama and learning about many features of the rain forest and more importantly the blue morpho butterfly and are getting a heaping helping of science based vocabulary  and process.

              The picture book tally sheet that is attached to this newsletter is for you to fill out at home for each picture book  you  read with your child in the month of November. Please go back in time if you would like and continue to the end of the month. Then send the forms back in so we can add to our classroom total and to our whole school total. It will be fun to see how many picture books we can read in November! 

              2 reminders: as the weather is cooling down and the snow has arrived, remember we go outside on days above 10 degrees and as long as it isn't rain or ice. Fresh air is so important and I ask you to help me by sending your child with warm clothing and to make sure they have an extra set of clothing in case of emergency.  PLEASE have your child keep their toys at home...

Upcoming Events

November 6- NO SCHOOL

November 12- NO SCHOOL

November 19 & 20 Parent/teacher conferences- 1/2 days- Dismissal after lunch

November 21,22,23- NO SCHOOL

October 26, 2018

Dear Families,

Happy Friday! PLEASE no costumes to school on Wednesday! Thank you!

Toys are becoming difficult in the classroom and I would like to ask you to help me by keeping all toys at home...Thank you! 

It is getting cold outside and we go out 3 times a day as long as the temperature doesn't go below 10 degrees. Please make sure you are bundling your little peanuts up for a more comfortable experience outside. Thank you!

In science we are learning about the changes we see in fall and the life cycle of a pumpkin. We also are delving into bats and owls!

Books Read: The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, When The Leaf Blew In, Autumn's First Leaf, Pumpkin Patch Puppy, The Silly Scarecrow, The scarecrow's Hat, Click, Clack, Boo!

During writing time they are starting to; add details to enhance their illustrations, add words (letters) to their pictures, rehearse what they want to say about what they wrote, take turns sharing their ideas and writing with partners and showing movement in their drawings for a fun effect. We talked a lot this week about being BRAVE writers and adding more and more letters to our words and words to our sentences.

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters this week were: Arnie Aardvark and Jenny Jaguar

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-31, sorting, using math manipulatives, identifying shapes around us, sorting, describing, and comparing objects,  putting together is addition and taking apart is subtraction, 10 frame practice and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 
November 6- Professional Development- NO SCHOOL
November 11- Veteran's Day (Thank you to all who have served)

November 12- No School Veteran's Day Observed

November 19&20 1/2 Days of school- Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 21-23- NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break

October 19, 2018

Dear Families,

We have been learning about fire safety this week and we were joined by the Woolwich Fire Department on Monday as they shared their knowledge with us about safety. We learned about the fire truck and how to keep safe. Some students were unsure if their family has an outside meeting place if they have to evacuate their house. Do you have one? Have you practiced your escape route with your family? Have you changed the batteries in your smoke detectors lately? I care a lot about you all and want you to stay safe!!!

Books Read: Firehouse, Curious George at the Fire Station, Clifford the Firehouse Dog, My Fire Engine

During writing time they are starting to; visualize places and people to write about, add words (letters) to their pictures, rehearse what they want to say about what they wrote, take turns sharing their ideas and writing with partners and show movement in their drawings for a fun effect. We talked a lot this week about being BRAVE writers and adding more and more letters to our words and words to our sentences.

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters we learned this week were Rosie Raccoon and.Hippy Hippo.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-30, sorting, using math manipulatives, identifying and describing triangles, reviewing spatial vocabulary and concepts (top, below, between, next to, around, over, under, left, right), dot cards, five frames, addition is "putting together"and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 

November 4- Clocks Back!
November 6- NO SCHOOL- Professional Development
November 12- No School-Veteran's Day Observed-Thank you to all families who have served our great country!

October 5, 2018

Dear Families,

A huge THANK YOU for those who traveled to Rocky Ridge apple orchard with us this week. It was wet and cool but awesome! I think it is important for children play outside in all types of weather. We have small pumpkins we will be painting in art and will come home later in the month. 

We made applesauce on Thursday with the apples we got at Rocky Ridge and after lots of turning and squishing, we ate the delicious treat! I hope you found the apple core I sent home with the attached instructions for planting your own apple tree. 

In science we are learning about the life cycle of the butterfly and have begun our apple unit. We currently have 12 caterpillars in chrysalis, 2 caterpillars still munching. Hoping the weather stays mild until they can travel to Mexico!  We have learned so much about the caterpillar life cycle!

Books Read: Big, Red Apple, Mr. Brown's Magnificent Apple Tree, Wiggle's Apple Book

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters we learned this week were; Daisy Dragon and Timmy Tiger.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-10, sorting, discussing a graph, using math manipulatives, 10 frames,  finger counting, working with shapes and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 

October 8- NO SCHOOL- Columbus Day
October  11- Harvest Hustle here at WCS
October 12- Professional Development Day- NO SCHOOL

September 28, 2018

Dear Families,

PLEASE remember to dress your student in play clothes, layers,  and boots/sneakers on Monday for our trip to Rocky Ridge Orchard. If you signed up to chaperone I am counting on you coming with us. You can ride the bus or meet us there. We are leaving right at 9:00.

 Thank you for those earbuds/headphones that came in this week. We will hopefully be starting next week with some guided technology practice.

Thank you to those who have helped to jump start the Harvest Hustle! I appreciate it~ 

In science we continue to learn about the life cycle of the butterfly. We currently have 10 caterpillars still munching and we have 4 in chrysalis as of this morning.  Hopefully they will become butterflies soon so we can release them for their flight to Mexico before the cold weather sets in! We have learned so much about the caterpillar life cycle!

Books Read: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Busy Spider, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, and many other Eric Carle favorites!

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters we have learned this week were; Actress Annie and Daisy Dragon.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-10, sorting, discussing a graph, using math manipulatives, using 5 frames, practicing with quick looks at collections of dots, finger counting, working with shapes and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are still learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events:

October 1- Field trip Rocky Ridge~If you signed up to chaperone I am counting on you to be there~ 

October 8- NO SCHOOL-Columbus Day 

October 12- NO SCHOOL- Professional Development Day