National Tie Day??

Buddy Class

Students were paired up with their buddies from Wendy's class on Monday afternoon. We'll meet every other week to play games, do projects, and learn from one another.  Each student was paired up with 1 or 2 big buddies and will keep this same buddy throughout the year.  INQUIRE with your child what your buddies name is and what connections they have with their buddy. We played 2 whole class games with our buddy class - one to learn more about each other and the other called, "Just Like Me" and then went outside to play a cooperative game, "Fishy Fishy, Cross My Sea."  Buddies then explored the lower playground together getting to know one another!  

Firefighter Presentation

Today, children learned some important fire safety skills. With a lesson from four Montpelier Firefighters, students learned what "is hot and what is not" by identifying items they should not touch because they could be hot, or start a fire. For example, coffee cups, lighters or matches are not for children to touch. The firefighters also demonstrated what a fire alarm sounds like when it is detecting smoke or a fire, and what to do - "get out of the building, and stay out of the building!" We even heard about what it is like for fireman to get ready to go to a fire. Because it's such a obscure and scary uniform that they wear -with all the gadgets and layers, your children received exposure to the outfit so in case of an emergency, they won't be scared if a firefighter comes to help!  Students were also able to practicing crawling low in case there was smoke and rolling in case there was a fire on their clothing.  Some students shared their "family fire plan" and others look forward to making one with you.  INQUIRE with your child what this may look like and then make a plan for your family in case there was a fire - where would you meet outside of your home?   INQUIRE with your child about the fire safety skills they learned, and how you might go about making your home safe from a fire.

Painted Ladies

On Friday afternon, after the bussers, car pick up, and after school friends left, our walkers found 2 butterflies in our butterfly home. The painted ladies had released themselves from the chrysalis late in the afternoon. Unfortunately, only a handful of friends experienced the release, but we're hoping for a few more next week!  If you read this over the weekend, please share with your child about the painted ladies making their presence in the world! 

Apple Day

Friday was coined apple day in our classroom.  We started the day peeling, slicing, and making apple sauce.  As the aromas from the crock-pot filled the classroom, children completed a variety of science learning about apples and the life cycle they have.  We strengthened our fine motor skills through a sewing activity, learned about graphing and making predictions in math, and read a variety of books that took us through and taught us about the life cycle of the apple.  Thank you to all those who contributed materials for our cooking project! 

Learning Partners

This week, we kicked off and learned about reading with a partner. 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 partner reading, 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.  Reading partners during reading time are also considered learning partners - students are paired during many different times of the day.  During writing, these writing partners help each other develop ideas, listen to their friends stories, and help them when they are stuck. During read-alouds, learning partners turn to one another to share ideas about the story, and engage in dialogue regarding the book.  Throughout the year, learning partners may change.  

Signs of Leaf-Eaters

Engaged in puppet show! 

Puppet Show with Benji Bear

Each month, parent volunteers - Melanie and Royce Meyer come to teach us through a program called 4 Winds. This science focused program is developed through the Four Winds Nature Institute.  The year long theme for the year is focused on Ecosystems and we'll look closely at how living and nonliving things contribute to the earth's environments.  

This month, we focused on signs of leaf eaters.  Students listened to a puppet show to learn about the different types of leaf-eaters, completed a scavenger hunt outside to find evidence of various leaf-eating or shelter-building insects or spiders, and finally used magnifying glasses to look closely at examples of leaf cutters, leaf miners, leaf skeletonizing, etc.

News from the Nature Institute...

On a September day, schoolyards are busy places, filled with the buzzing and stirring of not just children, but thousands of insects and other small creatures. A closer look reveals an ecosystem in action, with a whole host of hungry leaf-eaters busily feeding and hiding in the schoolyard plantings. In fact, by early fall, it’s hard to find a leaf that’s still completely intact.

There are two main ways these hungry leaf-eaters feed on leaves. Insect with sucking mouthparts, pierce the leaf and simply sip out the plant juices, leaving behind discolored patches where they fed. Critters with chewing mouthparts feed on leaf tissue in a variety of ways. They can leave scattered holes, feed along the leaf edges, or just eat the soft tissue between the veins, revealing a leaf skeleton. Some are even called leaf miners for they only eat the tissue between the top and bottom surface of the leaf. Their feeding can look like pale windows or tunnels that snake across the leaf like roads on a map. Leaves can also be rolled, folded or covered in silk to create a shelter or safe dining spot.

So get out your magnifying glasses, it’s time to take a closer look and try to read the stories written/eaten in the leaves.

Right in your own backyard, thousands of small creatures are dining out. Small shrubs are great

places to look for these hungry leaf-eaters and their predators. Spread an old white or light colored

cloth on the ground underneath a shrub and give it a good shake. Several different kinds of critters will fall to the ground and be visible on the sheet. See how many different kinds of critters you can find. Gently return the critters to their home. Then check the leaves for signs of feeding. How many different eating patterns can you find? Can you find a perfect leaf?

Thank you to Melanie and Royce for a fun-filled, engaging and explorative lesson.

Sing-A-Long

(videos are not viewable via email - you must go directly to the website)

To get ready for our kindergarten sing along students made a butterfly crown to wear before getting together with friends from all 5 classes.  We're wrapping up our study of butterflies this week and early next week and wanted to take time to celebrate all the hard learning each student has done in the last few weeks. All five classes joined together to sing our favorite song - first comes the egg.  Sorry the video only shows the first part. INQUIRE with your child how the rest of the song goes!  Each month throughout the school year, we will join together to sing as a whole grade. The songs are directly connected with the science and social studies learning taking place in the classrooms. 

Sharing Reminder

A reminder note that went home a few weeks ago about sharing....
I've loved all the news we hear from children each day and also hearing/seeing that special picture/item from home!  Please read this over and remember to help your child be prepared - and not bring toys!

Dear Families,

     We are going to begin the sharing component of our Morning Meeting next week. Here is an overview of morning meeting, and what you/your child can expect from sharing.

     To start meeting time we often begin with a song, then children greet each other by name. Sometimes, “Good morning” is passed around the circle. Other days we may pass a handshake or a “high five.” Every day, your child begins the day by hearing his or her name called out by a classmate in a friendly and cheerful manner.

     Next, children have a chance to share some news of interest with the class. Usually four children share each day. Sharing might be about a visit to a grandparent, store, library or friend’s house. It might be sharing a special rock from a collection, or a special happening with a friend or sibling. After the child shares, he or she asks classmates in the circle, “Are there any questions?” In the conversation that follows children learn much about each other, especially respect for someone else’s ideas. Please help your child to be prepared to share on his or her sharing day. Also, help your child remember to not bring toys, stuffed animals, or cars to school for sharing. Sharing will begin the week of September 22nd.  

     After sharing, there is an activity for the whole class. Some days it might be singing, or learning a poem. Other days it might be a game. The activity time helps the class feel their strength as a group. They learn how to cooperate and solve problems. They can have fun and learn a lot together.

     The last part of the meeting time is called News and Announcements. Children read a message from the chart with a preview of the day’s activities, and reading the day’s schedule. Ask your child about meeting. It is one of the favorite parts of our Kindergarten day!          

Sincerely,

      Jill Closter

Cut here and save

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Sharing Schedule

Monday- Abby, Ason, Chase

Tuesday-Charlotte, Dean, Indy

Wednesday- Lily, Lizzy, Miles, Nora

Thursday- Orion, Wesley, Will, Zoe

Conference Time - Sign Up Information!

I would like to schedule a time to meet with you to discuss the first six weeks of Kindergarten. These conferences will not include children, but if you'd prefer your child to be involved, that is fine with me. We want a chance to meet with just you this fall to hear from you and share our observations of the transition to Kindergarten.  We will have student –led conferences in the springtime where your child will prepare and lead the conference.  

There will be no school for students on October 23rd and 24th. This time is reserved for parent-teacher check-in and inservice for teachers. 

Please click on the link below to sign up for your conference.  When you get to the wiki, please use the table to sign up for a time that works best for you.  Click the EDIT tab and then type your name into the box next to the time you would like for your conference.  Once you have entered your name, click on the SAVE button.  Please let me know if none of these times will work for you, and we can try to find an alternate time!  I look forward to seeing you all again! 

http://closterconference.wikispaces.com/home

Singing

Morning meeting is a great time to sing songs, play games, and get to know each other. Today, we invited Mrs. Koch's class in to teach them the, "Tall Tall Tree" song.  The video clip is short, but INQUIRE with your child how the rest of the song goes!

ECO in the forest...

Larry

Outdoor Classroom

We traveled to Harrison field and forest for ECO on Thursday afternoon.  Although we did not follow our routine schedule, due to a PE class using the field, students still had a great afternoon.  On our walk their, students paired up with a year long buddy from Mrs. Wrigley's class and looked for signs of fall, and different objects in nature of a certain color (INQUIRE with your child about their color necklace!) We then did some learning about safety in the forest before setting out to explore and find different leaves around the forest. Mr. Jarred came to help us document our outing s by helping students use ipads to take pictures of what they found (to be used for a writing task back in the classroom).  Larry, from North Branch Nature Center will continue to join us throughout all our outdoor adventures this year.  

Mr. Jarred, tech integrationist

Assembly

Each month, we join all Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade classes in the auditorium for an assembly.  This past week, Screech (our school mascot) joined to help us learn about C.A.R.E.S. Teachers from around the school performed skits modeling expected behavior from each of the five areas.  We have begun to learn all about C.A.R.E.S. and what our school wide rules mean for us. INQUIRE with your child to recall what each stands for.  (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control)