We are not planning to ask parents to help us with our room parties because we feel you have already been so helpful with Fall Festival and today and Conferences are next week. We are grateful for your gift of time but your bosses may not feel the same. Our party activities will be within our three rooms and easily handled by staff. We will take pictures and post them later.
At around 10:00 tomorrow morning, the children will have a costume parade and then go to the Early Learner rooms for more fun. Since our children will have an off-schedule morning (having Spanish for only a short while) I ask that your child's costume be easy enough for them to put on themselves (I will of course help them button, snap, etc.) and that they wear tennis shoes instead of costume shoes. They will be in motion so please consider this when deciding on whether they will wear a mask. I cannot do hair or put on makeup in this short of a time but hats are not a problem.
Please let me know if you have any questions!!! :)
October 29, 2009
October 28, 2009
Busy Week
We have been on the go all week! Monday was our fabulous trip to Jeter Farm. The children had such a wonderful time petting and feeding the animals. There were pigs, calves, goats and sheep. Ask your child if they can remember the calves' names. One was Oreo, and the other was Snowflake. Look through our pictures and see if you can figure out which is which! The children also got to go on a hayride to the corn maze. We were lead to a look out tower and then to the pumpkin patch. Each child picked out their own pumpkin to bring home. We then headed back and washed up for lunch and had a picnic. The children seemed to love being there among all of their friends. Thanks again to all of the parents who were able to come and share this day with us. If you took pictures and are willing to share them with us please let me know and I can give you a cd to burn them or we can hook your camera up to our computer one afternoon to transfer the pictures. Thanks!!
Yesterday was exciting to the children because they got to meet our Bolivian Exchange Students while in their specials. The Bolivian Exchange students will be here for 6 weeks. They are all middle school aged, so they are considered more of the "big kids". They are all very sweet and loving children who can't wait to learn alongside your child.
This morning, Pattie was substituting for Autumn again and came in and read to our group. She read four different books to our class, but I only caught the title of two. She read By the Light of the Halloween Moon by Caroline Stutson and Trick or Treat Little Critter by Gina Mayer and Mercer Mayer and two others I didn't catch the title of. We were an awesome audience for Pattie. We then had our Early Learner Music class with Kim.
We've been having a hard time keeping all of our things organized during lunchtime. We all came up with a plan to make place mats for our lunch and fruit break (this way, our half-day students also get to make and use them). We colored our place mats with our "fancy markers", or as I call them, our dot markers. They all turned out very beautiful! The children loved using different colors and watching them blend together to make another color. I am going to laminate them so the children can use them at the table. They will keep all of their food together on their place mat.
We've also been working on some things for conferences next week. Please be aware that your child is expected to come to conferences with you! This is their time to shine and show you all of the wonderful things they have been working on so far this year.
Yesterday was exciting to the children because they got to meet our Bolivian Exchange Students while in their specials. The Bolivian Exchange students will be here for 6 weeks. They are all middle school aged, so they are considered more of the "big kids". They are all very sweet and loving children who can't wait to learn alongside your child.
This morning, Pattie was substituting for Autumn again and came in and read to our group. She read four different books to our class, but I only caught the title of two. She read By the Light of the Halloween Moon by Caroline Stutson and Trick or Treat Little Critter by Gina Mayer and Mercer Mayer and two others I didn't catch the title of. We were an awesome audience for Pattie. We then had our Early Learner Music class with Kim.
We've been having a hard time keeping all of our things organized during lunchtime. We all came up with a plan to make place mats for our lunch and fruit break (this way, our half-day students also get to make and use them). We colored our place mats with our "fancy markers", or as I call them, our dot markers. They all turned out very beautiful! The children loved using different colors and watching them blend together to make another color. I am going to laminate them so the children can use them at the table. They will keep all of their food together on their place mat.
We've also been working on some things for conferences next week. Please be aware that your child is expected to come to conferences with you! This is their time to shine and show you all of the wonderful things they have been working on so far this year.
October 23, 2009
Friday
We had a very busy and productive morning! We started off brainstorming about things we find in nature. These ideas are important for an art project coming up soon. I couldn't believe how many different and creative things they came up with. We then enjoyed an early fruit break so we could go to Spanish. Elena drove to D.C. today to pick up our Bolivian Exchange Students, so we had Bernie for Spanish. Bernie is a parent at CS and was Elena's substitute last year for 6 weeks while she was in Boliva with our CS students.With Bernie, they turned pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns and made paper bag puppets. Their puppets will come home today, but not their jack-o-lanterns, you'll receive those at conferences.
After Spanish class, the children came in for a story. I read Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever by Don Freeman and Lisa McCue. At the beginning of this story, Corduroy goes to the pumpkin patch with his friends. Since we'll be going on Monday, we did a journal page after the story was over about what we think we might see at the pumpkin patch when we go.
Then we worked a little more on our chart of real things and make-believe things. We had a great end to our school week!
DON'T FORGET!!!! We're going to Jeter Farm on Monday!! Unless you're driving your child, we will need their labeled car seat dropped off with them in the morning. THANKS!
After Spanish class, the children came in for a story. I read Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever by Don Freeman and Lisa McCue. At the beginning of this story, Corduroy goes to the pumpkin patch with his friends. Since we'll be going on Monday, we did a journal page after the story was over about what we think we might see at the pumpkin patch when we go.
Then we worked a little more on our chart of real things and make-believe things. We had a great end to our school week!
DON'T FORGET!!!! We're going to Jeter Farm on Monday!! Unless you're driving your child, we will need their labeled car seat dropped off with them in the morning. THANKS!
October 22, 2009
Thursday
We're still discussing what is real and what is make-believe. The children have really gotten into it and will frequently point out things that are real and things that are make believe that they see in books on their own. Thus, we began our math workshop this morning discussing our graph and more things we can add to both columns.
After fruit break and recess, Betsy's class came down to our room to spend time with their buddies. We began a project of making spooky spiders with our buddies. We'll finish next time.
Please let me know if you will be driving your child to the pumpkin patch on Monday and joining us. I need to know so we can make appropriate seating arrangements. We have all of the parent drivers we need, but you're more than welcome to come along and spend the morning with your child at Jeter Farm. :)
After fruit break and recess, Betsy's class came down to our room to spend time with their buddies. We began a project of making spooky spiders with our buddies. We'll finish next time.
Please let me know if you will be driving your child to the pumpkin patch on Monday and joining us. I need to know so we can make appropriate seating arrangements. We have all of the parent drivers we need, but you're more than welcome to come along and spend the morning with your child at Jeter Farm. :)
October 20, 2009
Tuesday
Going out in the mornings seems to be a big hit - the children are having a blast getting to see their friends and play for a few extra minutes. We will continue to go out each morning unless it is too cold out.
This morning after calendar, weather, and attendance, we finished reading our poems from our book A Little Bit Scary, by Gill Davies and Gill Guile. We continued to talk about real vs. make-believe. We started a group graph (one that we all work on together) to graph real things and make-believe things. We're mainly focusing on the pictures that go along with our poems, so our graph includes things like spiders, monsters, bath tubs, tooth brushes, beds, people, skeletons, etc. Ask your child what things we included on our graph.
Soon thereafter we headed off to two enrichment classes(Julie was not here today), Music and Spanish. We then headed out to recess where we heard the bell ring a bit early. Middle School has been working hard to weigh the trash output of Community School and encourage us to recycle more. A lot about their study can be found on www.350.org. We then celebrated today's trash-free lunch by eating with Ruth Ann's class. Thank you to everyone who made the extra effort to pack a trash-free lunch for their child! We'll continue to celebrate trash-free lunch all week, but encourage you to reduce the amount of trash we produce all year long.
Be sure to check Quick Notes today. Our first conference schedule is attached. Click here to look up your time!!
This morning after calendar, weather, and attendance, we finished reading our poems from our book A Little Bit Scary, by Gill Davies and Gill Guile. We continued to talk about real vs. make-believe. We started a group graph (one that we all work on together) to graph real things and make-believe things. We're mainly focusing on the pictures that go along with our poems, so our graph includes things like spiders, monsters, bath tubs, tooth brushes, beds, people, skeletons, etc. Ask your child what things we included on our graph.
Soon thereafter we headed off to two enrichment classes(Julie was not here today), Music and Spanish. We then headed out to recess where we heard the bell ring a bit early. Middle School has been working hard to weigh the trash output of Community School and encourage us to recycle more. A lot about their study can be found on www.350.org. We then celebrated today's trash-free lunch by eating with Ruth Ann's class. Thank you to everyone who made the extra effort to pack a trash-free lunch for their child! We'll continue to celebrate trash-free lunch all week, but encourage you to reduce the amount of trash we produce all year long.
Be sure to check Quick Notes today. Our first conference schedule is attached. Click here to look up your time!!
October 19, 2009
Monday
We started this morning outside, playing with all of their friends. The children seemed to like going out. We're going to try it for a while and see how it goes. Please remember on chilly mornings to send your child with a hat and gloves. If you need help getting these items for your child, please let me know. In addition to their hat and gloves, be sure to also send them with a heavy coat or layers. Layers work well for this time of year - as the day warms up they can get rid of a layer.
We had music this morning, followed by some spooky, silly rhyming poems. A couple of the children started talking about rhyming words, so I thought it was a great opportunity to read poems from our Halloween book, A Little Bit Scary, by Gill Davies and Gill Guile. We talked about real things vs. make-believe. We determined that monsters, vampires and werewolves are make-believe. However, the children decided that bats, bones, and candy are real.
Pictures have been posted of our Fall Festival On-Campus activities.
Reminder: Our trip to Jeter Farm has been postponed to next Monday, October 26th.
We had music this morning, followed by some spooky, silly rhyming poems. A couple of the children started talking about rhyming words, so I thought it was a great opportunity to read poems from our Halloween book, A Little Bit Scary, by Gill Davies and Gill Guile. We talked about real things vs. make-believe. We determined that monsters, vampires and werewolves are make-believe. However, the children decided that bats, bones, and candy are real.
Pictures have been posted of our Fall Festival On-Campus activities.
Reminder: Our trip to Jeter Farm has been postponed to next Monday, October 26th.
October 15, 2009
Thursday
We had an awesome and exciting morning! Thanks to all of our parents who came to help out. We really appreciate your time! The children had a blast and couldn't narrow down the morning to their favorite part - they loved it all! I've been working very hard to get pictures uploaded, so hopefully they will be on here by later this afternoon. :)
Reminders:
Reminders:
- NO SCHOOL TOMORROW! Have a great weekend and I'll see you Monday!
- Sleep items are coming home today - please send them back on Monday.
- New Pumpkin Patch Date: Mon., October 26th. Let me know if you can help transport. :)
October 14, 2009
October 12, 2009
Monday
A cloudy morning quickly got brighter when we celebrated Tallulah's birthday. Tallulah brought in a wonderful fruit tray, fruit dip, and skewers. What else would we make but fruit kabobs?!? They were awesome, filled with cantalope, honeydew, strawberries, and grapes. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to talk to the children about patterns. We then made a chart of who liked what fruits. The number of children who liked cantalope surprised me, but maybe thats because I'm not a fan of it myself!
We're getting all geared up for the pumpkin patch and our on-campus festival, please let me know if you have any questions! :)
We're getting all geared up for the pumpkin patch and our on-campus festival, please let me know if you have any questions! :)
October 8, 2009
Thursday
Quick post today: This morning we worked in Math Workshop Centers. We used magnet shapes to create our own patterns and sorted colored tiles into different bowls. We also had buddies this morning. During buddies, we went on a quick walk with our buddy from Betsy's class and collected leaves. We took our leaves back to the classroom and created leaf people, sea monsters, puppies, and carnival workers. They're awesome and will be on display for the next few days. Please stop by and give them a look!
REMINDERS:
REMINDERS:
- Scholastic Book Orders were due today. Please be sure to place your online order by midnight tonight(10/8). If you simply forgot to send in the form, please email me (katlync@communityschool.net) and let me know so I don't submit the final order. THANKS!
- Fall Festival money MUST be turned in by tomorrow, Oct. 9th. Thanks again!
October 7, 2009
Wednesday
Autumn, our Literacy Specialist came to our room this morning and read The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons and The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll. The children did a great job listening and foreshadowing what was going to happen next in the books. We had music with Kim after fruit break. When the children returned from music class, we read a classic Nursery Rhyme called If All The World Were Apple Pie.
If All The World Were Apple Pie
If all the world were apple pie,
And all the sea were ink,
And all the trees were bread and cheese,
What would we have to drink?
We then colored a picture of the world as an apple pie and drew trees made of bread and cheese. I then asked the children to think of what they would have to drink if they couldn't have water. Responses I got were : cranberry juice, apple juice, orange juice, cran-raspberry juice, and chocolate milk. These were great responses! I then wrote the children's words at the bottom of their picture. They're hanging up for everyone to see, so come in and take a look!
REMINDERS:
- I still need Fall Festival money from several people. The fee is $10.00 and can be sent in in your child's folder. You can either send in cash or a check made out to Community School. I must have the money no later than Friday, Oct. 9th. We have to buy supplies and can't without the money first! Thanks so much.
- SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS ARE DUE TOMORROW, OCT. 8TH.
October 2, 2009
Friday
We still have a small group! I hope our sick little ones are feeling better by Tuesday. We did our morning meeting followed by some literacy work. We played a game where we found letters all around our room. I was surprised how many they found. Naturally, one would assume the large letters down at their eye-level would be found first. Not this group! They were spotting small letters on cards and notes hanging up by my computer desk. They did awesome! In total, the group found 57 letters in our room. We also had Spanish this morning with Elena and our Seminar buddies.
We now have enough drivers for Jeter Farm. You may certainly still come with us and enjoy this day with your child. You can pay your admission upon arrival to the farm.
Please don't forget to send in your child's $10.00 fee for Fall Festival. We are buying all of our supplies next week and need that money to do so. The $10.00 goes towards your child's admission ticket for Jeter Farm and all supplies needed for our on-campus Festival. I need the money by Tuesday, October 6th. THANK YOU!
Please return sleep items on Tuesday! Have a wonderful weekend and remember : NO SCHOOL MONDAY, OCT. 5TH.
October 1, 2009
Thursday
We had such a small group today! Several of our students were out, leaving us with only four. The five of us took time during Math Workshop to talk about shapes. We learned about three shapes today: square, triangle, and rectangle. We counted all of their sides and corners. We also discussed how they are different and how they are alike. After we talked about them, we hunted in the room for those three shapes. We discovered we don't have many triangles, but there are a lot of rectangles and squares. Charlie discovered that if you turn a rectangle up on it's side, it looks like a door. We then picked our favorite a shape out of a pile and colored it with as many colors as we could find. They're beautiful and hanging up on our door.
After MWS we had fruit break and recess. We then went to Betsy's room for buddies. We talked about nature and things you find in nature. We went walking around campus looking for examples of all kinds of nature. When we went back to Betsy's room, we drew pictures of the nature we found. The children found great examples of nature. Some examples were : frog, walnut, leaves, bush, bird, tree, clovers, sap, and grass.
During science exploration, we tested out sinking vs. floating objects as a group. The children predicted what they thought would happen to the object when they put it in the water and then they tested it out. After everyone got to guess a couple times, I had them go around the room to find something they wanted to test. The objects tested were : a feather, a Scooby Doo toy, a little fire hydrant, and a cotton ball. These were all excellent choices. Ask your child what their object was and what happened when they put it in the water. After we tested our selected objects, we journaled about what happened. The children drew a picture of their object either floating or sinking and dictated their words while I wrote them under their picture.
We had a small group, but it was a great day!
After MWS we had fruit break and recess. We then went to Betsy's room for buddies. We talked about nature and things you find in nature. We went walking around campus looking for examples of all kinds of nature. When we went back to Betsy's room, we drew pictures of the nature we found. The children found great examples of nature. Some examples were : frog, walnut, leaves, bush, bird, tree, clovers, sap, and grass.
During science exploration, we tested out sinking vs. floating objects as a group. The children predicted what they thought would happen to the object when they put it in the water and then they tested it out. After everyone got to guess a couple times, I had them go around the room to find something they wanted to test. The objects tested were : a feather, a Scooby Doo toy, a little fire hydrant, and a cotton ball. These were all excellent choices. Ask your child what their object was and what happened when they put it in the water. After we tested our selected objects, we journaled about what happened. The children drew a picture of their object either floating or sinking and dictated their words while I wrote them under their picture.
We had a small group, but it was a great day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
