Birthday Breakfast

Thanks to all families for continuing to support birthday breakfast - both by providing delicious treats and coming to join us for student celebrations.  We will have 2 more breakfasts this year - in May and June.  Please check the schedule on the right and  mark your calendars!  If you're willing to donate breakfast treats, please be sure to let me know.

Tulips - Signs of Spring

We headed outdoors to do some science this afternoon with a question in mind. What has changed about our tulip garden and what has stayed the same? Students took several minutes to make observations about the site - there is no more snow or ice, the plants look dead, and there are signs of tulips. Students also had to figure out where exactly they had planted their tulip.  To help aid in this process some used each other, trees, and windows as landmarks to determine the exact location. We were quite surprised to observe that our tulips are close to sprouting, while other tulips from other classes have barely emerged. We then did some thinking about why this might be so and what did and did not change about the site.  We will continue to watch the progression over the next week, journaling the changes to come!

Teeth Teeth Teeth

As children share each day at morning meeting, we are always destined to hear about a new loose tooth, lost tooth, tooth fairies, etc.  This morning, after hearing about two new lost teeth, we decided to figure out how many teeth total our friends had lost collectively.  Students set out to problem solve this real life scenario (thanks Lisa)  and do a bit of math!  Together, students figured out the class had lost a total of 66 teeth.  Our next step will be to figure out how many more teeth we have yet to lose.

Donation Needed

Please send in toilet paper rolls over the next two weeks for an upcoming bird feeder project.  Thanks!

Writer's Workshop

We have been learning about introductions and conclusions as we continue to write reviews. After every writer's workshop, writers share a part of their work with each other.  Today, students shared their introductions.  Students comment and offer constructive criticism to their peers as part of the learning process.  Students take suggestions and revise the next day.   

Friendly Neighborhood Helpers

Check out those pearly whites!

Prep talk from Dr. Ricca before the show!

So PROUD of our narrator!

Dentists don't like tooth decay!

Don't forget - brush twice a day!

Birds

Before vacation, students set out for Sabin's Pasture to continue learning more about Vermont Birds.  Before heading out, students learned how to use bird identification books, explored more bird calls and looked closely at bird nests and what makes each nest unique.  INQUIRE with your child what our state bird is. Can they tell you what makes different nests unique?  Keep a lookout for a new home school project to do with your child at home.  We will be having your child pick 1 bird they want to study closely - and are looking for you to help do a little research!  More details to come...

Practice, Practice, Practice

Does your child seem exhausted this week?  Well, don't be surprised if they are - all first grade classes have been putting in hours of practicing for their show each day this week.  The Cooperation and Self Control we have seen across the classes have been extraordinary.  You should be proud of their hard work and dedication to work on making it a stellar performance.  I look forward to seeing you this evening for the family night performance.  Do you have pictures?  I'd love for you to share if you do! Thanks for sending any along via email !

School Wide Challenges

On Tuesday, it was National Take a Wild Guess Day.  In the main office,in Pam and Zephyr had a vase filled with binder clips.  Each class participated in the challenge to guess how many.  Each class brainstormed mathematical estimates before voting on two for submission.  Although we did not win, our class had two very smart guesses.  Thanks Pam and Zephyr for providing us a fun school wide challenge.  

In addition to this, students were given a challenge of earning 100 hoots in 4 days by Screech.  At this time, our friends are well on their way to earning all 100.  On Friday, the day before vacation, we will celebrate our accomplishments with some extra choice time (if we reach the goal).  

Twins for the Day!

Bird Songs and Nests

Last Thursday, students enjoyed travelling to Sabin's Pasture to launch our new science unit on birds.  Students listened and looked for signs of birds on their way to Sabin's, stopping to notice each bird's distinct calls. While at Sabin's studenets learned and practiced a variety of bird calls and discussed the reasons for why and when bird's use their calls. Students were surprised to learn that some birds have multiple calls and that they use them for different scenarios.  INQUIRE with your child what bird has 2 calls and when they use each one.  For the exploration time, students worked in partners to prepare a nest for a predator/prey bird game.  Partners, who chose a bird to be for the day, worked together to design a safe nest for their eggs (golf balls).  Once the nests for suitable to hold an egg, they had to go hunt for food for their young.  The birds had a difficult job, however, because predators would sneak up on their nest to steal the egg.  Quick to get back to their nest, the only way to scare off the predators was to use the bird's call - the forest was soon full of birds singing away, hoping to scare off predators (adults) who were in search of the eggs.  A great day was had by all!

Opinion Writing

Students continue to explore opinion writing in writer's workshop.  After judging their collections and stating their opinions for why each object won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place, students published their writing.  We continue to stress the importance of revising and editing, even though it's only first grade.  Students are encouraged to read and re-read their piece to ensure it makes sense, has the correct punctuation, and most importantly includes the information expected in that kind of writing. For the judging of collections, students needed to ensure they wrote their opinion, gave lots of reasons, added details, and included a conclusion.  Students use a checklist and a rubric to decide what is missing and needs to be revised.

After publishing, students switched gears just a bit to begin using what they had learned about opinion writing to write reviews.  We have been reading and analyzing what elements are included in reviews of restaurants, places, toys, etc.  Students continue to write their opinion and supply reasons, but are learning how to do this with a more convincing, yet friendly tone.  Students are learning how to use these reasons to rate places and things, and learning how to include just enough information in their writing to convince, but not give it all away.  Looking at when, where, and who have been key elements that we include.  Students have been having a lot of fun writing reviews and finding the best ways to really persuade others to think like them!

Puppets in Education

This week we attended a puppet show in the auditorium put on by "Puppets in Education."  The puppets teach students about bullying, and cultural and physical differences.  The puppets are 3.5 foot tall and engage the students in thinking about the choices they can make when fronted with challenging situations.  INQUIRE with your child what they learned from the puppets during the show.  What 5 adults do they have in their life that they can go to when in tricky situations?

Outside

Warm weather is upon us and students are getting outside a bit more each day.  We are trying for an afternoon break each day to try and get some extra sunshine!  Please make a plan with your child about what clothing they should be wearing outside.  For the next few weeks, I will expect boots and jackets - with snowpants being optional.  The ground is still wet and muddy, and if your child is finding that they like to roll around, slide, etc, it might be a good idea to still send in and encourage snowpants.  This decision, however is up to you and your child.  Please let me know how I can help!