Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do

While waiting for our sing-a-long time to begin, we had a few friends decide to teach us some new songs - that they had created themselves.  I was so impressed with these students bravery to get up and sing to us - and also for their classmates for using such great listening skills and respect toward them as they shared their song with us.  Here are the next American Idol contestants.....

This month's Kinder sing- a -long song featured a culmination a snow and ice theme.  

Check out, "My Snowman." 

Numeral Formation

This past week during math, students have been focusing on number writing.  The children are shaking those bugs right out of their markers and working diligently to make sure they don't get the "backwards bug!"  We've been noticing that many of the numbers we've been writing lately have been backwards - or flipped.  We are beginning to see what happens when you call a 71 a 17.  The order of numbers is important and extra caution is being taken this week to make sure this doesn't happen. In addition to forming numbers - top down - we are working on reversals and ordering.  Today, students had fun turning single digits to double digits and then to three digit  numbers.  After sorting a 100's chart and noticing we have only 7 more days until the 100th day of school, students decided that it was important to spend extra time "getting really good at" writing numbers correctly.  We realized when spending a few days sequencing numbers, we got really good at it!  We've had a lot of fun using white boards for number practice this week.  If you'd like some extra ideas to help your child with number formation please see these ideas below.  In your child's report card, you will see additional at home supports to use with your child to help them master numbers 1-100!

• Form numerals with playdough, wikki stix, etc.
• Form numerals on geoboards using rubberbands
• Make numerals in a container of sand
• Write numerals on small chalk or dry erase boards
• Make crayon rubbings over sandpaper numerals
• Place shape erasers on premade outlines of each numeral

 If you click on this link, you'll find more fun activities/projects to do at home on a rainy day!

Fun Math Activities for Home 

Extra support

Do you want additional ways to support your child at home? I know many of you are enjoying the home reading program and finding it beneficial - some not at all. To save some trees, please let me know if you'd like more materials to help support your child at home in addition to reading. I have ideas for sight word practice and handwriting - but will only send materials home if you request so I don't waste additional paper!  Drop me an email if you're interested, have time, and are looking for additional ways to support your child.  No worries if you are way too busy and can barely find the time to read to your child each night!  You are all such wonderful and amazing parents, you amaze me. Let me know how I can best support you and help you support your child at home!

Snack Heroes Return!

If you're feeling so so about our new snack program, trust me, it's great. Do you have specific questions or need clarification on something specific?  Feel free to contact these helpful parents below (and make sure to thank them for all their work and motivation)!  Remember, snack forms are due back by Friday morning! 

Snack Program Coordinators: 

Richarda Ericson, ricruffle@yahoo.com, 225-6210 

Britt Richardson, vermontmediator@hotmail.com, 229-2704 

Suzie Smith, suzsmith@comcast.net, 223-3978

Winter Wonders Vacation Camp

February 25th - March 1st  

For children in kindergarten - 3rd Grade
Monday to Friday, February 25th to March 1st, 8:30am - 4:30pm
The week: $175 members, $190 nonmembers. 
Individual days: $38 members, $42 nonmembers

Come join us for wintry nature adventures and explorations at The North Branch
Nature Center. We’ll see winter birds, track mammals, learn about winter survival,
and build a fire. And of course, camp would not be complete without playing in the
snow! Come ready to play outdoors for all five days or pick your favorites.

info@northbranchnaturecenter.org
(802) 229-6206
713 Elm St, Montpelier, VT. 05602
www.northbranchnaturecenter.org

Donations

I'm looking for some paper cups and coffee filters (the pointy end kind) for some science experiments this week. Let me know if you can help out!

Read to Someone

Today we kicked off and learned about the last daily 5 choice.  The anticipation was high as kids have been eager to get this activity going.  After learning about sitting "EEKK" and the expected behaviors involved with doing read to someone, children tried it out for themselves.  While children read aloud, their partner listens and helps support their partner when they become stuck.  Reading aloud - and rereading books over again helps all children develop fluency.  INQUIRE with your child what "EEKK" looks like during read to someone.

The LAST Delay....for this week

For Friday, January 25

Due to the severe cold that is forecast for our region again Thursday night and into Friday morning, Montpelier Public Schools and the District Offices will again be on a 2 hour delay.

Buildings will be open for students at 9:30. Teachers will be in their classrooms from 9:30 on. The school day will begin at 10am. 

Busses for the elementary school students will be making their pick ups two hours later than normally scheduled.  If you do not wish to have your student waiting outside for the bus, the company asks that you place a backpack where your child would normally wait so the driver can know to stop.  

If you have any questions, please feel welcome to contact the Superintendent's office: 223-9796.  

Monday's high temperature is forecasted to be 27° F. That's ABOVE zero.

Noticing Acts of Kindness

I wish I always had my camera ready to capture each and every act of kindness I see throughout the day.  After watching for a few days, I noticed a friend helping out his buddy each day to ensure he doesn't miss the bus.  Without having to even ask, he goes out of his way each day to not only take care of himself, but his friends too.  What an empathetic class we have!

Weekly Workouts

The Coordinated School Health Team (CSHT) identified a need to increase opportunities for moderate to vigorous physical activity for our student. This week with the intense cold it was a perfect time to try the concept of "workout of the week."  Throughout the day, we incorporate these 5 minute school wide workouts into our day.  The goal of these workouts is to work out our muscles safely and pump some fresh, oxygenated blood in our brain to be ready to learn.  This type of break is a bit different than our routine singing, dancing, and whole class games.  We have started to add some music for increased motivation while doing the "workout of the week" to help provide motivation (some of these stretches are quite challenging!)  The children are encourage to work through each exercise and repeat the sequence as many times as is possible within the allotted time.

This week's workout is (if you want to try it at home):

20x crossovers

5x inch worm

10x scissors

repeat..

Here is our physical therapist, Liliane Sevard, modeling this week's workout.  

Hello Neighbor

Every morning (even on delayed start days) we begin our day with morning meeting. The first component of this meeting is greeting and saying hello to each of our friends.  Every child and every adult, each morning, is greeted and welcomed into our class community.  To make this exciting and fun for the children, a variety of greetings are used. From handshakes and highfives, to shoe and firecracker, to throwing 'snowballs' and making tracks, we try and incorporate something appropriate to the weather, theme, holiday, etc into our greeting.  INQUIRE with your child what their favorite greeting is? Can they name at least 20 different greetings? How about more?

Another delay for THURSDAY...please read!

I was impressed at the agility your children had when dealing with the zig-zag day. Although we had some changes to the routine of our day, the children were mature, flexible, and cooperative with the changing schedule.

And again, 

For Thursday, January 24....

Due to the severe cold that is forecast for our region again Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, Montpelier Public Schools and the District Offices will again be on a 2 hour delay.

Buildings will be open for students at 9:30. Teachers will be in their classrooms from 9:30 on. The school day will begin at 10am. 

Busses for the elementary school students will be making their pick ups two hours later than normally scheduled.  If you do not wish to have your student waiting outside for the bus, the company asks that you place a backpack where your child would normally wait so the driver can know to stop. 

Writer's Workshop

Your child will be bringing home a collection of writings that have been created over the last two months.  Some are completed, some are drafts, while others are pieces that have just been started.  Enjoy looking at the growth over time - perhaps you could sort the papers according to the date it was written.  You and your child will be impressed at how far they've come.  

Over the next few weeks in writer's workshop we will begin work on creating small moments. We are learning about what a small moment is and how to choose something to write based on the "million small moments" that happen to us during the day. We are beginning to understand that writers can write about anything and that it does not have to always be about a big trip or outing!  The students are starting to realize that they can create an entire story out of something that at first seems so small!  We have been looking closely at how Ezra Jack Keats has done this in parts of his story, The Snowy Day.  We are beginning to practice how to plan out our stories by telling a partner our story before even beginning to write.  We are planning a beginning, middle, and an end across three pages.  Students are excited to begin work in 'booklets' this week.

Check out the planning done - with just a finger and words - before even getting started!

Abenaki Play

On Friday, our buddy class, along with guest teacher, Paul Boffa visited and asked our students to participate in a play with them.  They plan to perform this play before winter break and need our help to sing, dance, and help make scenery.  Today, students from Wendy's class told us about the story of Old Man Winter and Gluskabe, a tale of the Abenaki people.  In the story, Old Man Winter has decided to stay on too long and the humans decide to ask for Gluskabe's help.  Gluskabe tricks Old Man Winter and everybody welcomes summer back.  Our buddies taught us a song they wrote themselves (with the help of Mr. Boffa).  Part of the song is written in the Abenaki language. I was so impressed with the children's persistence in learning this new song and excellent singing voices!  Our students look forward to helping the fourth graders out in the upcoming weeks. PLEASE SAVE LARGE CARDBOARD WE CAN USE TO HELP WELCOME SPRING BACK. If you'd like to help make scenery in the upcoming weeks, please let me know!

Danville Snowman

Have you checked out the enormous snowman in Danville? It was quite an amazing sight as I passed by it this past weekend.  Perhaps we'll get some new snow soon and our students can try and make one themselves!  We'll be looking at this picture after reading, The Biggest, Best Snowman and making text to self connections!

Snack Program is Returning to UES!

The snack program talked about this past summer is returning to UES thanks to a few wonderful parents who have been carefully restructuring the program.  Please be on the lookout for a snack sign up sheet in the next 2 weeks.  The program will start in February and orders should be completed prior to the month. If you'd like to input these snack orders in monthly for us, please contact me and I can arrange for this to happen. We look forward to encouraging healthy eaters!  If you have any questions after receiving information next week, please let me know. The children will be learning about the new program next week at an assembly led by our snack volunteers!

Accuracy and Fluency

Students continue to practice various accuracy strategies while reading increasing complex texts.  Students have been learning about the following accuracy strategies to decode unknown words:

• getting your mouth ready
• pointing to the words
• cross-checking
• skipping and returning
• flipping the sound
• reading through the word
• chunking
• noticing heart words

Although your child may be working on all these strategies simultaneously, some children are focusing on just one particular strategy. All children are working at reading varying levels of text, but we still go back to these main accuracy strategies to use when helping us decode.  INQUIRE with your child what strategy they are working on in their reading.  Can they help you read this poem?  We continue to read a variety of winter poems as a class, reread them to work on fluency, notice rhymes and alliteration, and visualize what is happening while checking for understanding. We add one poem each week to our "winter poem" book and look forward to sharing these with you at "books at breakfast."  More on this later...

This week, we sang a "so long, farewell" song to our high preference books from our book boxes. To become voracious readers who get better at reading, we learned that we need to be practicing our just right books more often- for longer periods of time.  Our book boxes are now filled with only just right books and we all hope that by end of first grade, we can bring these books back in as just right readers! For now, we all look forward to enjoying these great reads at free choice time!  

Celebrating MLK, Jr.

Today we read books and talked in length about who Martin Luther King, Jr. was.  We talked about equality and his dream and compared what it was like for a child 40 years ago to how we are treated today.  The kids noticed how different it is today and we thanked MLK for standing up for his rights and making the world a better place through peaceful problem solving.  Students made many connections with MLK, Jr. and noticed how he too showed many of the same behaviors we talk about.  One child reported, "he showed that C.A.R.E.S - you know, the A one." In further questioning her, she shared with the class, "MLK, Jr. showed assertion when he told everybody to be nice and treat people fairly."  In response, another child shared, "He also showed empathy - he went out of his way to be kind to other people who others weren't being kind to."  The conversation and thoughtful responses continued throughout the morning.  I was impressed with all that the children shared and reflected on about making peace in our world.  Tomorrow, we'll hear bits and pieces of the actual speech in a beautifully illustrated book by Kadir Nelson.  

School Delay - Wednesday

Due to the predicted dangerously cold weather, we will be on a 2-hour delay for Wednesday, January 23, 2013.
 
Classes will begin at 10:00 and the school will be open to receive students at 9:30.  

*At this time, I am not sure where students will report. Please send students to my room if they are unsure of where to go from 9:30-10:00. *

 

Friday Guest Reader

Melanie came in for her first visit to share some classic and favorite stories of her favorite books. Green Eggs and Ham, The Velveteen Rabbit and Stella's Dancing Days were enjoyed this morning by all our friends.  Although we tried to keep up and help Melanie read Dr. Seuss' most popular books, we tried our best. Thanks to all our Friday guest readers. The children continue to enjoy this time to relax and fall more in love with reading!  If you'd like to sign up, please do so on the following link!  See you soon!
 http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044AADAF2BA46-friday

Reflections

We spent some time over the last few weeks reflecting on what we have learned so far in Kindergarten. After looking at our fall hopes and dreams, we realized that many of us have conquered our goal and took some time to think about what we as indiviuals really hoped to learn throughout the rest of the year.  We connected this learning to noticing how much we changed, and even took some time observing ourselves as we completed another self-portrait.  Using oil pastels, students studied their unique features and set out to illustrate what they saw in the mirror. Check out the winter self portraits and hopes and dreams outside our hallways.

Snowballs

Students created their own "snowpeople" based on the book, Snowballs by Lois Ehlert.  While reading the story we noticed the author/illustrator must have used real materials in a collage format to make her illustrations.  We decided to take dig out our own materials to use to recreate her snowpeople in our own way.  Before concocting the snowperson, we made a detailed plan of the materials we would use and what it would look like.  After, we reflected by writing about what our snowperson was like or looked like.  Friday craft day is always so much fun!

E.C.O. Tracking

Our ECO science lesson focused on being "animal detectives" in Harrison Field and Forest today. We launched our lesson with an exploration of tracks in the sand, a nature museum style activity and drawing animal tracks on our work board before morning meeting. Students greeted each other at meeting by making a track with their fingers - some two-legged, some four-legged and some even had a tail! Together with Wrigley's class, we read Big Tracks, Little Tracks. 

Students learned to focus on thinking like scientists by making observations about animal behavior and asking questions. Before heading outdoors, kindergartners practiced by turning and talking with their neighbors at the read-aloud carpet, and sharing their observations and questions with the whole group about animal tracks, patterns of tracks, and discussing possible reasons of where the animals in the story could be going and why. Students learned to share their new format for thinking like scientists, and practiced many times by saying aloud their observations and questions in this way, for example "I notice the snow shoe hare tracks led to the tree, I wonder

if it was going into the hole at the bottom?" Students are learning to gather information to inform their thinking, continue asking questions and finding evidence to support their observations before asserting an idea as a "final" answer. As we discovered animal tracks in Harrison forest, trailed and traced back their tracks, students shared what they were thinking through I notice, and I wonder statements as well. 


We were lucky to have enough time to do some sliding in Harrison Forest! Lucky Kindergarteners! 

E.C.O. CHANGE

As a reminder, we will be changing our E.C.O. day to Thursday of this week.  On Wednesday, our class is welcoming a guest reader who will be reading to our class in honor of "Reading to End Racism," a school-wide event.  Please see more information regarding this program in your child's folder tomorrow or on the blog.  Included will be questions to ask your child.  

For Thursday, don't forget to help your child be prepared.  Temps are supposed to drop so helping them  to notice this change in weather is important. Some children think spring has already come...as a result of the last few warm days.  

Please remember to pack a water bottle for your child, and a separate snack. We will bring both with us in backpacks to Harrison field. Also, please help your child dress in layers of clothing, including boots, warm socks, warm/water repellant jacket, and either rain pants or snowpants, hats, and gloves/mittens. The ground is wet, muddy, and perhaps we'll see more snow during the day!  An  extra pair of socks and a change of clothes will help your child have dry feet the remainder of the day. Please review with your child in the morning as you help them dress, "how to take care of yourself" during E.C.O. Don't forget indoor shoes for P.E. in the afternoon!  

Report Cards

Report Cards will be distributed the first week of February.  Over the course of the year, I have been doing both formal and informal assessments of where your child is academically and socially at this point in Kindergarten.  This week, students have learned what an assessment (or to them- a by yourself activity) means and how important they are to a teacher.  They have learned that these activities are ones that they have to do ALL by themselves so I can see what they know - not their friends.  Although many are inclined to help out a buddy (we have such empathetic friends), we are learning to do only our own work.  It was also explained to them how a teacher looks at what each child knows in order to plan what to teach them.  The students did a FANTASTIC job of practicing real assessing behaviors: being quiet, saying the answers in their head, looking only at their own paper, not asking a teacher or friend for help, trying their best, and simply moving on if it is too hard.

Last month, more formal reading assessments were completed.   Each assessment took between 5 and 30 minutes and allowed me to find out where your child is at.  These assessments gave me information on students reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension and time was spent analyzing their reading to see what strategies they are using to solve words.  This will guide me to plan for instruction based on the needs of the student. Students have begun to work in small guided reading groups last week based on the data collected.  

I hope you are enjoying watching your child progress through their kindergarten year. Each day they continue to amaze me in their learning thus far in the year.  Thank you for continuing to support our classroom learning.  If you have any questions once report cards come out, please let me know!  More at-home support will be shared at this time.  These activities for at-home support are always optional.   

Animal Adventures

Ellie the Elephant and Fred the Frog have been on many adventures and have done such cool things with the kids.  Poor Ellie even joined the class in having the stomach bug.  Good things she had a bath!  Some other activities the animals have participated in include sledding, movies, art projects, tree shopping, and bowling!  I'm enjoying hearing about their (and your child's) adventures over the weekend.  What will Ellie and Fred do next?

What's Better...Bingo or Ice Cream?

Bingo Night and Ice Cream Social Friday, January 18th 6:30-8:00 pm Bingo is back! The Union School Parents Group will host a bingo/ice cream social on Friday, January 18th from 6:30-8:00 pm. As always, ice cream is free, and toppings and bingo cards will cost 25 cents. The Parents Group is seeking donations of new (perhaps unwanted holiday gifts?) toys, games, posters, frames, etc. for the prize table and ice cream toppings. Donations can be dropped off in the office by Wednesday, January 16th. We hope everyone can join us for this UES tradition.

P.E. News

Your children are happy skillful movers in Physical Education class! We have just completed a successful unit of gymnastics. The lower grades (k-2) learned basic gymnastics skills including a variety of tumbling techniques and balance activities.  There were many highlights to this unit, including watching students gain confidence and self-esteem while practicing a variety of skills at the gymnastics station.

In the month of January we will begin a throwing and catching unit in grades k-2. All grades will continue participate in cooperative games and activities.  Throughout the throwing and catching unit, students will develop an understanding of the basic principles of these important lifelong skills. They will understand how these skills require varying amounts of energy, and how they cause physical changes to the body.

 Parents and guardians are encouraged to come see their children in action during PE class.  Let us know in advance so we can have a seat ready for you.  You are welcome to participate if you choose to do so.  We love when parents come ready to participate! Also, for your children’s comfort and safety we need your help by making sure they bring their sneakers on PE days.

Birthday Celebration

Due to the vast amount of illnesses that affected our classroom on Friday, we spent a little extra time celebrating a friends birthday.  His family came in and shared delicious gluten and dairy free apple cinnamon cups, popcorn, and juice for us at snack time.  They also donated us a book for the classroom, The Grouchy Ladybug and taught us a little about telling time.  Because guest reader had been cancelled for the day (student was out sick), our birthday friend's family stayed and read us a few books.  Our birthday buddy also helped his family and read a book aloud to us.  Thanks! If you'd like to be a guest reader, please see the calendar below.  We have many free dates available. If Friday's are tough for you, please let me know and we can arrange for an alternative day.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044AADAF2BA46-friday

Responsibility

Our friends here are showing RESPONSIBILITY to help fix broken items in our classroom.  These friends spent part of their choice time working with Mr. Olmstead to fix the doll's crib.  Students continue to take care of classroom materials, pick up after themselves, and in addition are working hard to keep track of lost winter gear.  Friends have come a long way and spend extra time each day looking to see if they have everything from home.  Students then have been taking lost materials into their own hands and retracing their steps to pick up lost mittens, scarfs, etc.  NICE WORK FRIENDS!

Bug going around

Sounds like a bug is going right through our class. Many children have been out and I keep hearing from others of more getting it.  PLEASE, if your child is sick, keep them home! Although I will miss them dearly, I'd rather have the germs stay at home!  I hope your children feels better soon!
Today, we only had 7 children in our class.

Posts via email

Don't forget to check out the actual blog in addition to reading the posts on your email.  The blog is filled with pictures and videos that I don't think get sent in the automatic updates.

Thanks for all the great feedback regarding the new at home reading program.  This is just a reminder that your child will not be bringing books home every night.  We will aim for 3-4 nights a week.  Thanks for your support at home and help in building reading fluency for your child.  If you have any questions, let me know.

ECO

Next week, there has been a change in the ECO schedule. To accomodate a school wide event, "Reading to End Racism, " we have changed our ECO day to Thursday. If you'd like to join us , please let us know. If your child did not bring home the calendar for the winter/spring, let me know. I found one that had fallen out of a backpack!

Here is the list of dates when we will be traveling outdoors for ECO for this winter and spring. Please post them so you can help your child be best prepared on these days.

January 17th

February 6th

February 20th

March 27th

April 10th

May 8th

May 15th

This Week's Star Students

 

The first week of "Star Student" has been a success.  We have one more activity tomorrow and then two new students will be taking the box home for the weekend.  We have enjoyed learning more about this week's star students and helping them celebrate their individual talents, strengths, interests, and families.  We are all unique. We are all special. We are all important.  During star student, each student will be recognized for their hard work, dedication, and incredible heart.  We look forward to celebrating each and every one of your children over the next few weeks!