Science, Field Trips and Concussions!

Our weeks are very, very busy lately! Lots of things happening right now! I really love conference time! It's so much fun to sit down and talk with you about your amazing child! This is such a fun class and I love that they're so excited to come to school and learn new things!

That's why I'm excited to take our show on the road on Tuesday! We have a fun day planned. Uno Pizzeria for lunch...they get to make their own pizzas and pour their own drinks while they wait for the pizza to cook. After they finish eating their pizzas made with extra love, we'll get back on the bus to go to see a show at the Flynn Theater! If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a childhood favorite and the shows at the Flynn are always great!

We began a science unit this week that is a "stand alone" unit. It isn't part of any other time in our day although it links well with our geometry unit in math. Our science unit is called "Properties" and children learn to describe and sort items based on their properties. Our first lesson was called "What Am I?" They had a tray of science materials and we used their unique properties to describe each without naming them. Then using the descriptions, they had to "guess" which item I was describing. It's very hard for young children NOT to use words that imply a judgement...they want to say something is "pretty" or "nice" or "fun." They are so excited to be scientist while also disappointed that we aren't using fire, chemicals or materials that require safety glasses!

Our Fundations unit is really interesting because it's the first unit where the words are more than one syllable! The routine for spelling these words is to clap the syllables. So, the word "dentist" gets two claps. I ask, "What's the first syllable?" and they answer, "Den." They spell it and then I ask, "What's the second syllable?" and they say, "Tist." They spell that as well. After the word is complete they "scoop" the syllables. Two syllables...two scoops!

Our dear Cassidy had an unfortunate accident while in the ski lodge this weekend! She fell and bumped her head hard enough to have a concussion. Because her brain is still vulnerable to another bump right now, she's been staying in at recess and inviting a friend to stay with her! She's going to be completely fine (if I can keep her still while at school!) and is thankfully expecting a full recovery!

Reading Celebration...part 2!

On Friday, February 22nd, our entire school met in the gym at the end of the day to celebrate reading at HCS!

Ms. Stanley began by announcing the winners of the bookmark contest. There was a kindergarten winner, a grades one and two winner, and two winners for grades three through five. Our very own Hannah won the award for students in grades one and two! Yeah, Hannah!





Then Ms. Stanley began choosing winners from the big box full of Reading Logs! Children who returned their Reading Logs were entered to win prizes and awards. Our very own Linni won an award when Ms. Stanley drew her log from the big box of Reading Logs!



After all of the reading celebration excitement, we had a chance to see a wonderful performer! Stephen Grotto is a juggler and he rides a unicycle and is silly to watch! The kids loved him! He invited members from the audience to participate! Mrs. Johnson found herself up on stage holding flaming juggling sticks. A kindergarten friend found herself in a lawn chair balanced on his chin! Wow! And at the end, he created a tight rope of sorts and balanced on it while putting on a suit coat and juggling flaming sticks!



It was a very exciting assembly! I hope you all had a fabulous week! I heard lots of fun stories about your adventures! Play dates, lost teeth, Jay Peak, aquariums with penguins, visits to grandparents, Mardi Gras, dinners out, and even one trip to the ER! Sounds fun! Welcome back!

Pretzels With Mini

Today we had a special visitor! Brady's grandmother came today to make pretzels with us all! Even though her name is Janne Giles, we all called her "Mini" just like Brady. She had children help her make dough using yeast, water, salt, honey and flour. Then they took turns cranking the dough hook in the special bucket made for kneading dough. We set that dough aside and Mini took out a bowl of dough she'd made earlier (it had already risen) and each child was given a chunk of dough to mold into a shape. Most were shaped like their first initials! Then Mini helped each child brush on an egg wash and sprinkle either sugar and cinnamon or salt. Fifteen short minutes later they were out of the oven and toasty warm! Because of this special late morning snack, your child may not have eaten all of his or her lunch! Boy were those pretzels yummy! Thank you, Mini!

The slide show starts with Mini showing her dough bucket and greasing it so the dough wouldn't stick. Then you'll see children helping her add ingredients! At the end you'll see some colorful dough...Mini made each child a baggie of play-doh to take home! Boy, Mini was a big hit in our classroom!