November 3, 2013

Weekly Greetings,

Despite only having four days last week, we were still able to accomplish a great deal. The students are progressing well in Math and some finish early enough to do hands on enrichment activities. I love seeing them thinking creatively with the Math manipulatives. Notice the different ways a few 1st grade students used the pattern blocks to fill in the same shape. Also, one day a Kindergarten student used connecting blocks to make an AABB pattern.

With Halloween festivities approaching last Thursday, we did fit in a few special activities to prepare for the event. As a full group of 15 on Tuesday, the Kindergarten and 1st grade were put in numeral order using paper pumpkins with numbers 1 to 10 written on them. Then the 2nd grade acted out digging hole for each child pretending to be curled up as a seed.

 By the 2nd graders pretending to water and care for each seed , they began to sprout, develop vines, and flower. As we imagined each phase of growth, the children stood up more and more until they were large pumpkins ready to be picked.

 Then we gathered the paper pumpkins, while counting how many the 2nd graders grew.

 After that, we read a fun story about The Run Away Pumpkin.

 As a final pumpkin event, the class designed a pumpkin face to for me to carve. Each student helped pull out seeds and we estimated how many there might be. The afternoon group sorted and counted 141. Our closest guess was 144.

On Thursday, part of our Halloween events was for each child to pick a character for face painting. Below is a picture of the 1st and 2nd grades in character. I was not able to snap a photo of the Kindergarten kids, because we ran short of time before their day ended.

 

 Please help your child remember to do their homework nightly. I have a party each month for those students that have completed their homework every night  it was assigned. We are starting a new month, so each student has a new chance to be a part of the end of the month party.

Enjoy your week. I know we will!

October 27, 2013

Weekly Greetings!

It was great to see so many of you last Wednesday for Parent/Teacher conferences. Even though it was a four day week, the students still accomplished a lot. We have been studying bats and spiders as part of the build up to Halloween this week. The Kindergarteners that were in school on Tuesday even made their own spider creations.

Twice a month, we continue to have Show and Tell on Friday after the councilor and Music teacher finish with their special activities. It is fun to see what some students bring in to share. Each one that participates really seems to enjoy being in front of the class, as you can tell from the pictures to follow.

This will be another four day week, as there will not be any school on Friday due to a teacher in-service day in Tok. Also, I will have a simple Halloween celebration for our class on Thursday before the group goes to lunch so that the Kindergarteners can participate. Please do not send any costumes to school that day and save the dress up for Trick or Treating later. Thank you.

October 20, 2013

Weekly Greetings!

Last week was another week with a number of students out due to sickness, medical visits, and other reasons. It seems like it has been a long time since we have had everyone in class on the same day...On Friday, there were only 7 of the 15 students in attendance for the making of pretzel letters. Those that were there really enjoyed kneading the sticky dough and creating the letters in their names, in addition to eating them with nacho cheese after being baked.

This week there will not be any school on Wednesday due to Parent Teacher conferences. If you have not been contacted yet for an appointment to come and discuss your child's progress, please call the school to confirm a scheduled time. Also note that this Friday will be our biweekly Show and Tell day. I will send a reminder home on Thursday with your child's homework. 

Every week, continue to look for the special "Home School Connection" letter that will be sent with my weekly letter on Monday.  It explains the Language Arts concepts covered for the week.  Also, the grade level readers attached to nightly homework are for you to help your child read throughout the week. They can be kept at home to reread with your child for fluency and comprehension practice.

Have an awesome week!

October 13, 2013

Weekly Greetings!

Despite and number of staff and students out on different days last week, the students in attendance accomplished much and enjoyed play and work time together.When students finish their morning Math lesson, they can go to the Math center and work with the materials provided there.

Students also enjoy the Book Nook and Listening Center on certain days after lunch.

On Thursday, I was hit with a stomach bug and had to leave school early. When I returned on Friday, there were beautiful  "Get Well" pictures and notes waiting for me. They were really special and truly lifted my spirits. A few days before, some of the students used a dry erase board to write another message to me and I will share it below. I am sure I have the best class there is!

Please remember to read the special "Home School Connection" letter that will be sent with my weekly letter every Monday.  It explains the Language Arts concepts covered for the week.  Also, the grade level readers attached to nightly homework are for you to help your child read throughout the week. They can be kept at home to reread with your child for fluency and comprehension practice.

Have a great week.

October 6, 2013

Weekly Greetings,

Last Friday, the class went on a fall outing to observe signs of fall. It was a small group due to 6 absences, but everyone seemed to have a good time gathering leaves to discuss later. During the student's center time, many of the leaves were used to make colorful crayon rubbings.

Each week, we have been evolving into a nice routine with the large number of students of varying ages that participate daily in our classroom. Though I plan to continue those routines this week, I realize that there were some tragic loses in the community over the weekend and I will be aware of the emotional issues that our class maybe dealing with through the week. Hopefully in maintaining our regular classroom structure each day, will give some comfort and normality for those students in attendance.  In addition, I will continue to send home nightly homework and on Friday there will be a Show and Tell time before lunch.

September 29, 2013

Weekly Greetings,

Despite only four days last week, we accomplished a lot. We are fortunate to have to have two great helpers in our class every morning and as you can see in the photo to follow, the kindergarten really enjoy their morning Math activities.

We are also pleased that twice a month, the students get a visit from the district councilor on Friday mornings. She always has a positive message for the group.

 In addition, every Friday morning the district Music teacher shares fun songs with the whole class.

 Last Friday was our Show and Tell day and a few students remembered to bring something to share. A couple students are even using the "All About Me" bag that I gave each student at the start of the school year.

As always, we will move forward in grade level concepts for Math and Language Arts. On Friday, I would like to take the class on a Fall Outing  to explore seasonal changes. I will be sending home a permission slip in a few days. I will be attaching a Scholastic book club form with Monday nights homework, and if you are interested in ordering any books for your child. Please send the completed order form back with money to cover the costs, and I will send it into the company as a class order.

Please look for nightly homework and remember that students cannot participate on gym nights if they have not turned in their homework.

Have an awesome week!

September 22, 2013

Weekly Greetings!
I hope you enjoyed the extra day with your child on Monday. Last week flew by, and due to many needed interruptions concerning TB testing and the 2nd grade MAP testing among other things, so I did not get a chance to relax and snap pictures during the week. This week the teacher in-service will make for a short week in the classroom, but there will still be a Spelling test for the 1st and 2nd graders on Friday. Listed below are some guidelines for you to help your child study the weekly list that will go home nightly.
Have them:
 1. LOOK at the word.
2. SAY the word.
3. STUDY the letters in the word.
4. WRITE the word.

 Also, be sure to read the special letter that will be sent with my weekly letter that explains the concepts covered for the week.  In addition, there will be grade level readers for you to help them read throughout the week. They can keep those at home to reread and practice.

With the colder weather, please remember to send your child with warm clothes and shoes. Occasionally, I would like to take the class outside to do special things but a number of students are not really dressed for a longer time out of the building.

On Friday, we will be having Show and Tell and I encourage you to help your child find something to share about and bring it in there "All About Me" bag.

Stay well and have a safe week.

September 15, 2013

Weekly Greetings,

 I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and that you could truly enjoy the fall weather that was so crisp and  beautiful!

Last week was full of activity. We finally had all the Kindergarten students in class for the week, so I captured a photo of them completing their "K" puzzle.

Now, each grade has their puzzle laminated and displayed on the back of our classroom door stating that "We All Fit Together". All the students are starting to settle into an understanding of how we can all work together as a blend of grades.

I also snapped a full group photo that is in the library area on our "We Are Great Wall". If you have not yet seen it, I will post it here. (This photo is minus 1 student)

We were fortunate to have a visit from Mary Timm, of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, to discuss trees with us on Wednesday afternoon. She had a beautiful tree book that she read to the students and she taught them a fun song about trees.

This week the 2nd graders will be testing on Wednesday and Thursday with a new program adopted by the district. They will start at 9:00am on Wednesday, so please make sure that they are here in time to eat and begin the test on time. The information provided will give us specific areas of strengths and weaknesses for each student, so that instruction can be adjusted to meet each individual need.

Please remember that every week I will continue to send homework home four nights a week. In addition, the 1st and 2nd grades will have new Spelling words each Monday to prepare for the test on Friday. Also, be sure to read the special letter that will be sent each Monday explaining the concepts covered for the week. Your child will do much better in class if you help them practice some of the concepts at home that will be introduced in our daily reading time each week. There will also be grade level readers for you to help them read throughout the week.

Have a great week!

Sept. 8, 2013

Weekly Greetings!

Last week just flew by, and I needed to go to the eye doctor in Fairbanks on Friday so the week was even shorter for me! I was not able to get pictures of the Kindergarteners working together on their "K" puzzle as
I had hoped because we still had one missing from the group. Hopefully, I will have pictures next week.

I thought I would post the first day photos of each group this week, so you can all see who is in our classroom family of 15 this year. I will start with the six Kindergarteners, minus 1.

Next are the four 1st grade students.

Then there are five 2nd grade students, as the older role models and leaders to the younger students.

 

 They are an energetic bunch, and I am fortunate to have Ms. Eva and Natalie in for the morning to help out.

This week I will continue to send homework home four nights a week. Please read the special letter for the 1st and 2nd grade that will be sent each Monday explaining the Spelling and vocabulary words for the week. Your child will do much better in class if you help them practice some of the concepts at home that will be introduced in our daily reading time each week. There will also be grade level readers for you to help them read throughout the week.

I hope you have a safe and successful hunting season!