Rescheduled ECO with buddies

Next Wednesday, June 4th, we will spend a large part of the day with our buddies hiking in Hubbard Park. PLEASE send in a bag lunch with your child and appropriate clothes for outside!

Keyboarding

Students started learning the first steps of keyboarding this week. They learned that some keys you hit with fingers on the left hand and some on the right. Pointer fingers are fine at this age!

They also learned why the QWERTY keyboard is set up to make it harder to type!

Here are some of the sentences students made up in their practice:

Pigs pass pancakes.
I love my mom.

Fat bat and rat sat.

A dog loved a cat 9601.

Robbing raccoons reap wildly.

Library News from Mrs. Frye

It's that time of year - We're hoping to start the big book return!

Teachers will be receiving a class notice that lists students and the books they have checked out according to our records. If a book truly is lost, it can be replaced by 1) paying for the replacement or 2) giving UES Library a copy of the book (can be used as long as in good shape)

If students think they have returned books, have questions or want to "work off" the cost of the book, teachers will allow them to come to the library to work it out.

Please e-mail Mrs. Frey if you have questions or need further information.

VINS

Snack Program Info from Suzie Smith

The snack program will continue the first two weeks of June. Snack enrollment forms are in office mailboxes and due on Wednesday, May 28th. There is a small turn around time with the Monday holiday, so if included in students communication folder today it would give them more time to return it.

** Last day of snack is Friday, June 13th. **

I have included this information on the enrollment forms in bold, however, It would be very helpful if you reminded parents in your bulletins or blogs please. Perhaps you could ask parents to volunteer bulk snacks for the final short week.

Thank you for your help,
Suzie Smith

Morning Walk

A quick trip to Harrison this morning during morning meeting had students hanging their self made bird feeders.  We stayed for a few minutes of exploration.  Students were surprised as to how much the forest has changed since their last visit this winter!  

Check out those tulips!

80's Day

Today brought back just a few memories of my time in elementary school - the outfits were great!  Next Friday, we have "sport's day."   Have fun getting in the school spirit! 

ECO

We continue to be bird detectives outside on our ECO trips. INQUIRE with your child about the 4 different birds they encountered on their walk to Sabin's Pasture on Thursday (nuthatch, robin, cat bird, and chimney swift).  Did they see any while in their sit spots?  Also, INQUIRE with your child what they did to help birds living in Sabin's Pasture to create their nests? 

Ticks

I am sending along a link to the State of Vermont Health Dept's info page on ticks. Please remember to check daily for ticks on your child, especially when they have been in the woods!  

Dept of Health Tick Info

Boxes for Katje

We have been reading the story, Boxes for Katje by Denise Fleming. This story is based on true events and tells the story of a girl from Indiana (Rosie) who ships many boxes to a girl and her community in Holland (Katje) after World War II. Katje and her community are so thankful and the girls begin to exchange letters and begin a friendship. This past week we have been reading and rereading this story. We've explored a number of vocabulary words and completed activities that help us to better understand the story and these particular words (luxury, savor, generous, eager, sparingly). We are also using this book to look closely at how writer's make complete sentences and use the 5 w's and the h to expand their sentences to make them "wow" sentences. We are also learning how to combine our sentences to make these sentences better as we retell in writing the sequence of events of the story.  Next week, we'll be comparing the relationship between the two girls and doing a response to text in which students will take evidence from the text to explain how they know that one character cares for the other.  INQUIRE with your child about this story - can they retell the story to you, using details and elaboration?!

Finishing Strong

As the year begins to come to a close, we have been reviewing whole body listening and discussing what it looks like to finish the year strong.  As the weather gets nicer, the classroom becomes a sauna, students are realizing that it's becoming harder to stay focused!  As a class, we are striving to do our best every day, drink lots of water, and help each other stay focused on the task at hand.  And, of course, we try our best to squeeze in a bit of fun...as you can see in this picture!

To help your child finish the year out strong, remind them of C.A.R.E.S. and working hard at school.  Help them remember their water bottles and cool clothing so they don't melt!  Be sure to pack snacks, and remember to get lots of sleep. As days get longer, it can be harder to get to bed on time - but it's critical that students continue arriving each day well rested and ready to learn!  I'll do my best to keep the blog updated with current events, field trips, etc. Please continue to check the blog site to help your child be prepared for a change in events (ie. bringing a lunch for a field trip).  Thanks so much for helping your child be prepared for school each day!  

Nurse Contest

Please go to  http://www.schoolhealth.com/school-nurse-video-contest  and vote for our video entitled "Why Do All Children Deserve a School Nurse- Union" With enough votes we can win $3000 for our nurse office to be updated!

No need to sign into anything! Just VOTE! 2nd and 3rd place prizes are awarded by votes. We have a chance to win solely based on how much we love our school.

Thanks!

Sarah Mele, RN

Union School Nurse

Crazy Hair Day

Crazy Hair Day brought many unique hair styles to our class! Thanks to all the parents for helping your child with these funky do bops! Next Friday is 1980's day...start thinking of some outfits that would bring back the 80's!

More Supplies Needed :)

We are still looking for a few more toilet paper rolls for a bird feeder project.  In addition, we need some bird seed and a can of crisco.  PLEASE let me know if you can help with supplying materials for this project.  THANKS SO MUCH!

Book Reviews

Last week students published their reviews and put them together in an anthology.  Students grouped their reviews based on the topic. We have five total, including one on restaurants and food, places to buy things, movies and shows, games, vacation destinations, and places in and around Montpelier.  These published anthologies are on display in the classroom so be sure to stop by if you're looking for recommendations on games to play, movies to watch, places to visit, or looking for a good restaurant around town!  

This week, our opinion writing has shifted to a different type of review.  Students have been using what they know about opinion writing to write book reviews on books they've already read.  Following the same format for reviews of places and things, students are writing their opinion about the book, backing up their opinion with convincing reasons.  Students are learning to elaborate and provide enough arguments to convince their reader to read the book.  Today, we discussed what makes a good "snap shot" when providing information about what the book is about.  Students learned that not enough information will not be convincing enough and too much description of the book may give away the whole story.  We worked hard at finding that 'just right' sneak peak when telling our readers about the book.  

Lettuce Planting with Buddies

What a beautiful day to trek across town to visit the green house at the high school.  Accompanied by their buddies, students learned about our school compost program and what happens to the compost after it leaves the school.  Led by Gwen and Amanda, students played compost tag, planted lettuce, and tasted a variety of lettuce plants inside the greenhouse.  INQUIRE with your child what happens to their banana peel once they drop it in the compost bucket here at school? Where does it travel to? What happens to it? 

Bird Project - Home/School

                        

Bird Research

Optional Independent Project

This spring, students will be engaged in an integrated bird research project.  We will be studying a variety of Vermont birds and their habitats in the classroom and while outside for ECO.  Students will be immersed in reading and writing about bird survival, and designing bird homes.  All students will be looking closely at how birds are unique and will compare and contrast characteristics of particular bird species.

Each student in the first grade has chosen a Vermont bird to study in depth.  We are also extending their learning to home.  We would like you to help your child get started with this project at home. Please refer to the bird your child has chosen and help them research facts about their animal. They can use the web, books, and magazines to begin their research.  Please help them find information about these topics and any other interesting facts particular to their bird:

• habitat
• diet
• movement
• protection
• physical characteristics

We will be doing the majority of these projects at school. Help with the research portion of the project is greatly appreciated. Please help your child find information from the web, book stores, homes, and libraries.  Any materials collected can be used in the classroom as well. A web is provided to help you and your child organize the information.  Please make sure to label your resources to ensure they are returned to you.  Projects will be due May 22nd but if you finish earlier, please send it in!

Here is each child's chosen bird. If you have ANY good bird books at home or see any at the library, please send them in with your child (clearly marked so we can return them).

Ian- Black Capped Chickadee
Juliet- Blue Jay
Tatum- Pigeon
Rowan- Red-Winged Blackbird
Stella-Killdeer
Elke-Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Declan- Eastern Warbler
Owen-Wood Duck
Finn-Morning Dove
Adri- Eastern Screech Owl
Calvin-Kingfisher
Cate-Robin
Alex- Peregrine Falcon
Rye- Bald Eagle
McKenzie-Tree Swallow
Maya-Cardinal
Lucas- Red-Tailed Hawk

KHL

 Last week we set out to Kellogg Hubbard Library. Linda Pruit not only read us a story but toured us around the facility. Students learned all about how the library helps community members - not just kids! We hope you visit the library lots this summer. All first graders should have/get a library card.  

Teacher Appreciation Cards

We got together with buddies this week to honor different adults throughout the school.  This week is national, "Teacher Appreciation Week" and students worked along with their buddy to create cards for various teachers who help them each day.  Students then delivered their cards to show their appreciation!