For Friday, January 30th

The vote was held, and as a celebration for earning 200 more hoots (showing C.A.R.E.S), the class has elected to have a pajama and stuffy day (many kids were absent for our last pj day).  Please help your child bring in any stuffy, that can fit inside their backpacks (and easily on their laps!)  

Lantern Making

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP

We need lots of volunteers to help during the Lantern Art Residency!  We hope to have 3-4 volunteers per session.  The schedule for the residency is below.

Please email the time(s) when you are available to Kristina Kane: kristinak@mpsvt.org  

You will receive a confirmation email/phone call within 24 hours of contacting us!

WEEK ONE
Monday 2/2	Tuesday 2/3	Wednesday 2/4	Thursday 2/5	Friday 2/6
8:35-9:20 Grade 1 Fiorentino	8:35-9:20 Grade 1 Freeman	8:35-9:20 Grade 1 Whalen	8:45-10:45 * Grade 4 Parker & Grade 5 Lloyd	8:35-9:15 Grade 1 Cody
9:30-10:15 KG Koch	9:30-10:15 KG Bates	9:30-10:15 KG Dostie	11:00-11:45 Grade 1 Mello	9:20-10:05 KG Closter
10:20-12:20 Grade 4 Adams	10:20-12:20 Grade 4 Kelley	10:20-11:05 Grade 3 Reed		10:20-12:10 Grade 4 Wendy
1:00-1:45 Grade 2 Beaupre		11:10-11:55 Grade 2 Mears	12:30-1:15 KG Wrigley	12:45-2:35 Grade 5 Pierce
1:50-2:35 * Grade 2 Blodgett & Grade 3 McLane	1:50-2:35 * Grade 2 Pine & Grade 3 Lara	12:45-2:35 Grade 5 Hickey	1:50-2:35* Grade 2 Quinn Grade 3 Hannah
WEEK TWO
Monday 2/9	Tuesday 2/10	Wednesday 2/11	Thursday 2/12	Friday 2/13
8:35-9:20 Grade 1 Fiorentino	8:35-9:20 Grade 1 Freeman	8:35-9:20 Grade 1 Whalen	8:45-10:45 * Grade 4 Parker & Grade 5 Lloyd	8:35-9:15 Grade 1 Cody
9:30-10:15 KG Koch	9:30-10:15 KG Bates	9:30-10:15 KG Dostie	11:00-11:45 Grade 1 Mello	9:20-10:05 KG Closter
10:20-12:20 Grade 4 Adams	10:20-12:20 Grade 4 Kelley	10:20-11:05 Grade 3 Reed		10:20-12:10 Grade 4 Wendy
1:00-1:45 Grade 2 Beaupre		11:10-11:55 Grade 2 Mears	12:30-1:15 KG Wrigley	12:45-2:35 Grade 5 Pierce
1:50-2:35 * Grade 2 Blodgett & Grade 3 McLane	1:50-2:35 * Grade 2 Pine & Grade 3 Lara	12:45-2:35 Grade 5 Hickey	1:50-2:35* Grade 2 Quinn Grade 3 Hannah

* In UES cafeteria. We REALLY need help with these double-class sessions! All other sessions in Art room.

See you at the Lantern Parade at 6:00 on Wednesday, 2/18!

(More details about the parade available at http://uesart.blogspot.com/ )

THANK YOU! J

ECO SCHEDULE

Please let me know if you can join us on any of the following days:

February 12th
March 12th
March 26th
April 9th
May 7th
May 14th

For each of these dates, we will be travelling to Harrison Field from about 12:15-2:15.

Also, see message below about next Thursday, January 29th for our Winter Fun  Morning at North Branch Nature Center. If you can volunteer, let me know.  Volunteers are needed for both morning and afternoon (even though your child will just be going in the morning).

ECO DAY @ North Branch Nature Center

The kindergarten classes will be going to the North Branch Nature Center on Thursday, January 29th for a day of winter fun! We will be using GMTA transportation and going in two groups, one group in the morning and one in the afternoon (see below for when your kindergartener will be going).  Students must dress appropriately for a day in the snow.

In order to have a successful day, we will need parent volunteers to help with activities.  Due to the limited number of seats on the bus, volunteers will need to meet us at North Branch Nature Center by car.  Please let us know if you can help!

Thanks,

The Kindergarten Team

Group 1- Ms. Closter, Mrs. Bates, and half of Mrs. Koch’s class

Leave UES at 9:00 am- return to UES 11:00 am (leave NBNC at 10:45)

Group 2- Mrs. Wrigley, Mrs. Dostie, and half of Mrs. Koch’s class

Leave UES at 12:15 pm- return to UES at 2:15 pm (leave NBNC at 2:00)

Keep at home books/BRING BACK BOOKS!

Books that are owned by the school/myself are now being sent home in children's book bags.  Please see the letter being sent home tomorrow and remember that these books are to be read, and then sent back to school.  These are not, keep at home books. Most books will now be of this kind, although once in awhile, other paper books might come home.  Thanks for looking carefully.  If you're not sure, ask your child...they know which are which!

Starry Night

This week, we have been learning about a new artist through our KinderArt program here in the classroom. The students are learning a bit about Vincent van Gogh's short life growing up in Holland. The students learned that he was a pastor early on until he realized he wanted to become a painter. They were fascinated to see the differences between his early work that was primarily composed of dark colors and some of his later pieces that included vibrant colors. They were also taken back by the fact that art became more important to him than the basic need to eat and were surprised to hear that he would rather buy art materials than food. They were very confused as they thought he should have been making a lot of money because he created such great artwork, but they found out that only 1 painting sold while he was alive. We will be looking closely at, "The Starry Night" and doing a replication of this piece, which you will b able to see at the end of the year Art Show!

Students are making many observations this week about, "Starry Night." Today, we looked closely at the exploding bright sky, the curvy lines of mountains, the little houses and lights in the town, and the shape of cypress tree. Students noticed the painting is filled with movement and will reenact with their bodies the movement of the stars and the cypress tree. 

Here is an interactive animation of starry night that the students will watch after making many observations of Van Gogh's, "Starry Night." Each day, we are noticing new ways in which Vincent van Gogh created this piece. We have begun to practice our paint strokes in the style of Van Gogh. Tomorrow, we will practice just the moon, it's reflection, and some of the wind swirls we noticed in his work. Check out this link for the interactive animation.

van gogh

This morning, students studied pieces of vanGogh's "Starry Night" in individual puzzle pieces.  Working cooperatively, students put the puzzle back together.  This activity really helped students focus in on different components of the art piece.

This afternoon, step 1 was started - the background.  "Call me, Vincent Van Gogh!"  

MLK Jr.

On Tuesday, 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.I was impressed with all that the children shared and reflected on about making peace in our world. 

Independence

Every day, children are growing and learning.  This does not happen only during academic blocks, but all throughout the day.  Children are learning to empathetic problem solvers, and are becoming more responsible every day.  Students are learning new ways to take care of themselves and increasing their independence every day.  This is very apparent as we get ready for recess every day.  We have many proud Kinders who can fully dress themselves (including putting the extra flap over their boots, zippering, and putting on mittens/gloves AND tucking them in.  It is amazing to see all the growth throughout the year with each child!

How-To Writing

We began a new unit of writing this week.  The new unit is nonfiction based, focused on writing how-to procedural pieces of writing.  Students explored the idea that just like there are lots of different types of dogs, there are also different types of writing. We've been exploring and researching model how-to writing done by other children and adults, looking to see what it entails.  This unit, over the next few weeks will help children elaborate and be specific, learn how to use transition words, and begin to learn about nonfiction features.  

Surprise!

What a nice surprise for a Tuesday back after the long weekend.  Some students noticed that the Eastern Swallowtail (who made its chrysalis back in the fall) finally came out to meet us.  These are supposed to winter over, so we are wondering if it perhaps came out a little too soon.  Keeping a caterpillar is not ideal, however, sending it out into negative temps is not either.  Our class is doing some thinking....

Sharing

We continue to have shares each day at morning meeting.  Students have been sharing a lot of news.  This time is used to practice public speaking skills, listening skills, and responding with questions.  INQUIRE with your child what they have shared at morning meeting?  Do they need help preparing for their share before the day starts?  Perhaps you could drop some hints to help them develop an idea!

Lately, students have been teaching us new greetings.  Once the greeting is taught ,it is sent around the circle.  Each day at morning meeting, we begin by making all friends feel welcome and a part of our classroom community!

Good Morning Brother Sunshine

Each day, students join together for our good morning song to start morning meting.  It is their clue that our day is beginning!

YAY! Published Narrative Writing.

We have just completed our second unit of study in writer's workshop.  Students celebrated their hard work at a publishing party with Mrs. Wrigley's friends this afternoon.  Students paired up with each other to read aloud their published stories and enjoy a special snack.  Over the last few months, children have been working on telling true stories from their lives.  We have been focusing on telling about a moment across many pages and including a beginning, middle,and end.  We've looked closely at what makes stories interesting, learning about speech bubbles, character action and character feelings.  Most recently, students learned how to make their reading easy to read - writing all the sounds in the word, putting spaces between words, matching pictures and words, and including end punctuation.  Students have used tools (checklists, word walls ,letter charts, etc) to help them remember these steps.  Over the course of the unit, students looked at ways to make stories more interesting and every day practiced re-reading their stories to make sure they made sense.  Story telling voices came out each day as they prepared for their writing.  This past week was devoted to choosing one of their drafts and learning how to revise and edit their writing to make it even better.  All students felt proud this afternoon to show off their hard work.  Stop by the classroom to read your child's newly published writing piece (they're hanging on the wall as you walk in)!  

Guidance

Mrs. Franke joins us every Tuesday morning for guidance.  Last week, students learned about personal space and what their bubble looks like and this week learned about what a tattle is and how they can help their friends!  INQUIRE with your child what personal space is and have them give you an example of a tattle  - perhaps they can share what to do instead of tattling!

VT Animals

Students have chosen a VT animal to "be" or begin to learn a little more about.  Over the next few months, we will be learning a little bit about how VT animals survive in our state and your child will become extra familiar with one in particular.  Students began exploring a variety of books this week and came up with the idea to have some "VT ANIMAL STUFFIES" available to explore with at choice time.  So...if you haven't heard already, students can bring in (small - backpack size) stuffies or figurines, books, magazines, etc that feature any animal that resides in the wild in VT.  If you don't have any, no worries - these materials will be used as a community material, and available to all.  If your child does choose to bring something in, be sure they know that this item will not be going back and forth to school - once it goes back home, it stays at home.  Also, materials are used only at designated times and will be shared by all.  Thanks for reinforcing these expectations at home before sending something in! 

On another note, INQUIRE with your child what their VT animal is.  Perhaps you can do a little research with your child to help them learn a little more about it.  

Word bird continues to greet us every morning to teach us a new word that is appearing in many of our reading books and stump us during writing.  (The last few weeks words were: you, my, and to in case you were working on these at home.)  These words are often "trick words" and can not be phonetically sounded out.  Some of the words, however, that word bird has presented are phonetically spelled, but it was important that students become extra familiar with these words early on to help them read beginning readers.  

Our class is also focusing on reading and writing CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant) words.  We looked closely at all words in the at family last week and are learning about the in family this week.  As students become more familiar with word families, it helps them decode new words and helps them spell words at a more fluent pace. This strategy - recognizing familiar chunks in words - has been helpful to students who are at all levels of reading and writing. Whether they're working on words that are 1, 2, or 3 syllables, students are learning to look for familiar chunks inside of these words. Over the last few weeks, we have been using word families to help us with this strategy and to begin looking closely at differentiating short vowel sounds. Often the short vowels can sound similar, so students have been practicing tapping out each sound in order to correctly identify what short vowel it is. Word families, often called phonograms or chunks, provide predictable patterns in words and help us to decode a wide range of new words. The english language is unpredictable and confusing to early readers so it is important for us to help them understand the patterns seen across words. After students learn the most common 37 word families, students will have essentially been able to decode 500 words.

Happy New Year

We re-looked at the hopes and dreams we created at the beginning of the year this week. We also reflected on what we have learned in the year 2014 during Kindergarten and wrote about all the different things that we wanted to get better at this year. I am amazed at the originality and effort the student's are putting into their writing this week. Some of the things the students reflected on learning were: tying shoes, reading words, reading books, writing stories, counting really high, sharing, being nice to friends, solving problems without getting mad, using their words, and raising quiet hands. Ask your child what they've learned this year and inquire about what their goals were for the rest of Kindergarten.

Sing-A-Long

This month's sing-a-long happened this week.  Students in all classes gathered together to sing, "Mole in the Ground," a song about animals who do lots of different things come winter. This song connects with our science unit around animals and adapting to their surroundings during seasonal change.

Unscramble the Eggs

Unscramble the eggs or shall we say, numbers, is just one way students are learning to understand teen numbers and sequence numbers of increasing/decreasing order.  As we learn more about less and more, students are practicing identifying numbers that come before and after given numbers, and continue to practice writing numbers without reversals.  Students are continuing to decompose numbers using math hands and are learning about groups of tens when looking at the teens.  INQUIRE with your child how they show 16 with their math hands. 

Brrr...Stay Warm

This is just a reminder of UES' delayed opening procedure (in case we see one later this week??).  There has been some confusion in the past, so thought you may find this helpful.  In the case of delayed openings for bitter cold (which has happened in the past) there will likely be 'indoor recess' for the morning when it states, "playground opens."  This year, Kinders are going to the small gym, where quiet coloring/books are available.  This is not mandatory, but an option for students dropped off before classroom doors are open. Also, on these days, we will not have our regularly scheduled morning snack so please prepare your child's bellies for their next feeding at 11:45!  

UES DELAYED OPENING PROCEDURES 

9:30     Teachers arrive. 

10:00   UES playground opens; IAs arrive, buses begin to arrive; we're open for business!

10:20-  UES doors open; students go to classes; transition time; UES schedule officially begins.  Students will proceed as normal where the schedule would be normally at 10:30.  Lunches will not be effected.

Welcome Back!

  

I loved seeing all the big and bright smiles on Monday morning. It is so nice to be back into routine. This week, we are re-establishing community, and even celebrating our newly turned 6 year olds! I'm amazed at how many teeth were lost over the break! 

Thank You!

Thank you to all who contributed to the gift certificate for Stowe, for the many wonderful ornaments, lotions, chocolates, candies and jewelry.  Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.  Thanks a million! 

Guest Classes

We love having other classes from around the school join us to share their hard work.  Before vacation, Mrs. Pine's 2nd graders stopped by to sing us, "Frosty the Snowman."

The Giving Tree

WOW!  We continue to have amazing guest readers.  So many family members are finding time to come share their love of reading and their favorite books with us.  Thanks Carol for coming in to share, The Giving Tree with us before vacation.  There are still many spots available for late winter/spring so if you'd like to join us with your coffee on a Friday  morning, please do!