As you know, our field trip to Shelburne Farms was canceled due to the extremely cold weather! However, the good news is...it was rescheduled! Yeah! On Wednesday, February 2, we'll be traveling to Shelburne Farms for the field trip! Kids will still need outdoor gear as much of the field trip takes place outside...looking for animal tracks! Kids also need a lunch from home that day! This week, eager children have been bringing in evidence of animals...rabbit fur...rabbit scat...a tree branch that was chewed by a hungry animal...these kids are definitely ready to get into the woods! If it turns out you can join the class, please send a note! We arrive at 9:30 and leave at 1:30!
Another bit of bursting news...I will not be with the class next week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to attend a technology conference. In preparation for my absence, I tried out some "new" technology and videotaped myself teaching Fundations...at least there will be 18 kids riveted by my award-winning performance...ha! I'm excited to learn new ways to use my nifty new smart board. I'll be checking my email daily if a question pops up!
The second quarter of school ended today and report cards will be coming home next Friday. It's hard to believe that half of the school year is done already! On the report card you'll find, among other important things, your child's reading level. We assessed students this month in order to report student growth! This is a crew of kids who are really excited about books and learning! More and more your children are choosing "just right" books from the library. And when I ask kids to choose books to take home to read, they ask to take more than one! Yeah! Happy reading!
Next week our class begins a new unit in math all about penguins! They're going to be living and breathing penguins all day for about 3 weeks! If you have any books to share, or information about penguins, please let me know if you're willing to loan us those books!
Have a great weekend!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tracking In the Chill!
As you know, we have a field trip to Shelburne Farms scheduled for Monday! The predicted temperature is for an overnight low of -20 degrees and a daytime high of 1 degree! I'm expecting it to be...cold! While Shelburne Farms will likely try to keep us inside as much as possible, I'm hoping that we can go outside for short trips to try and find animal tracks in the woods. Please be sure to send your child in warm clothing (it's an old barn and even inside is chilly!) and include snow pants, boots, a hat, mittens and maybe even a scarf to cover your child's mouth and nose while outside! I'm a little disappointed that it's going to be so cold, because this is a wonderful field trip! Wish us luck and warmth!
As part of our tracking unit, each child made an animal tracks field guide. They've become quite the experts when identifying animal tracks and what kind of tracks they see...waddlers, straight walkers, hoppers or bounders! They'll bring their field guides home to share after the field trip!
Our current math unit is wrapping up and we'll move on to a unit about penguins. This is an integrated unit which includes activities across the curriculum...math, writing, science and social studies! The kids will be living and breathing penguins for about 3 weeks...and so will you!
Your child will be bringing home a unique-truly once a year-homework assignment tonight! February 7th is the 100th day of school! To celebrate the very special day, each child is asked to make a 100th day project using 100 of...something! In the past children have a wide variety of 100 things to display! The directions are in your child's homework bag tonight!
Our technology educator, Jessica Wilson, came to help me install our "rock star" headset this week! I have a headset for the computer with a microphone attached. Children are beginning to read their Christmas stories into the computer for "publication." They're very excited to be movie stars!
Have a great weekend! Keep warm!
As part of our tracking unit, each child made an animal tracks field guide. They've become quite the experts when identifying animal tracks and what kind of tracks they see...waddlers, straight walkers, hoppers or bounders! They'll bring their field guides home to share after the field trip!
Our current math unit is wrapping up and we'll move on to a unit about penguins. This is an integrated unit which includes activities across the curriculum...math, writing, science and social studies! The kids will be living and breathing penguins for about 3 weeks...and so will you!
Your child will be bringing home a unique-truly once a year-homework assignment tonight! February 7th is the 100th day of school! To celebrate the very special day, each child is asked to make a 100th day project using 100 of...something! In the past children have a wide variety of 100 things to display! The directions are in your child's homework bag tonight!
Our technology educator, Jessica Wilson, came to help me install our "rock star" headset this week! I have a headset for the computer with a microphone attached. Children are beginning to read their Christmas stories into the computer for "publication." They're very excited to be movie stars!
Have a great weekend! Keep warm!
Friday, January 7, 2011
It feels good to get back in the school routine! I’ve mentioned to several of you that Christmas vacation is the best rest the kids get all year and it seems to jump start their learning! Everyone came back rested and ready to learn! Reading and writing skills are steadily improving and kids seem more confident!
Today you’ll see a math homework activity that is exactly like a game we played in class. Your child should be able to teach the game to you tonight! You’ll also notice a sheet to be returned to school…the game stays at home with you (to be played over and over) and the sheet comes back to me!
This time of year is really important for reading growth…the kids are really motivated and starting to realize that they “get it!” Try to find time to read each day…they are beginning to choose some books to practice each night. Some nights they’ll have chosen well, and other nights they’ll have chosen books too difficult to read independently. You’ll recognize the reading group book (it says “Reading A-Z” on the cover) which IS a just right book!
In preparation for our field trip to Shelburne Farms (on the 24th), we’ll begin learning about animals active in winter in Vermont! The lessons generally focus on animal tracks and other evidence of animal activity.
I’m so excited for you to read the stories your children wrote about Christmas! I’m thinking we can find a way to get them on the blog…I’ll work on it next week!
Have a super weekend!
Today you’ll see a math homework activity that is exactly like a game we played in class. Your child should be able to teach the game to you tonight! You’ll also notice a sheet to be returned to school…the game stays at home with you (to be played over and over) and the sheet comes back to me!
This time of year is really important for reading growth…the kids are really motivated and starting to realize that they “get it!” Try to find time to read each day…they are beginning to choose some books to practice each night. Some nights they’ll have chosen well, and other nights they’ll have chosen books too difficult to read independently. You’ll recognize the reading group book (it says “Reading A-Z” on the cover) which IS a just right book!
In preparation for our field trip to Shelburne Farms (on the 24th), we’ll begin learning about animals active in winter in Vermont! The lessons generally focus on animal tracks and other evidence of animal activity.
I’m so excited for you to read the stories your children wrote about Christmas! I’m thinking we can find a way to get them on the blog…I’ll work on it next week!
Have a super weekend!
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