Getting ready for winter to begin!

Hey all,

This was a great way to (almost!) end last week! We have lots of thanks to give to our AMAZING PTO for their amazing efforts to make our school the best place it can be for our kids. Through their hard work, we get to have amazing residency programs for our kids and many other great learning opportunities! Thanks so much from this appreciative staff member!

Kids are working steadily on their writing at Writer's Workshop. This week we did a handwriting check-in and I'll be look over them this weekend. Next week we'll do a refresher course as well as having handwriting sheets to practice. We also have started an opinion writing prompt piece for us to check in and see how the kids are doing with their organization, handwriting, and use of complex language.

We'll finish our read aloud this week, the epic tale of Moomintroll, the first moomin to live through a winter. We'll begin our new read-aloud after break. The kids are so much fun to read to! I am looking forward to our many discussions about the next book we read.

In science, we have started to learn about land forms. We used the Smartboard as an introduction to the unit and the kids enjoyed it a lot. 

Check it out here: 

http://www.learningliftoff.com/1st-grade-science-activity-spot-landforms/#.VsSbFPkrLIU

We'll be starting to build some of our land forms this week before putting together big models for the kids to display their knowledge. They'll be writing, reading and creating to build our content knowledge about this subject.

Here are the NGSS here that we will be covering:
http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/2%20combined%20topics%206.11.13.pdf

This will be it before break, folks. It has been a great stretch since I have been back. I have you and your kids to thank. So, thank you. Have a wonderful time with your families, and I look forward to seeing your children's bright sunny faces when we get back from break.

Best,

~B

February, or March? The weather is confusing me!

Sorry for the long break, folks. Life has become infinitely more complicated... Thanks for understanding. It has been messy outside, so thank you ahead of time for sending your children in with the appropriate clothing for outdoor recess. We try to get them outside as often as possible.

Well, we have really settled down into our old routines and are working hard in class. The kids are all finding their strides and settling in. Today was one of the best literacy times we have had this year. The kids were focused and worked super hard.They are continuing to work on their sight words, writing and reading. Check in with your child to see what they are reading and writing about, as well as which sight words they are working on reading and spelling. Watching them continue to grow is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

In Writer's Workshop we have been working on our opinion writing pieces. Yesterday we started to write about some bus topics, which continue to be a hot topic. More to come about the buses below... Next week, the kids are going to do a writing prompt to show what they know about this kind of writing. They will have three options to choose from and the use of the graphic organizer that we are using in class to help them in their work. It will not be timed to help alleviate stress and anxiety. We are only interested in seeing their best work! We will be looking at spelling conventions, organization, handwriting, and content when looking at their writing.

Next week in science, we will be starting our unit on the landscape around us and how it changes. We will be discussing and looking at different kinds of land forms and how the weather changes them. I always look forward to the melting snow in this unit when the river runs behind the school toward the parking lot and makes its own path!

We have been talking a lot about the bus in our class, as this continues to be a time in the day that is often challenging, scary, and unpredictable. We have been doing writing around this problem, talking about this problem, and encouraging people to solve these problems on their won by using Rumney CARES. That said, if your child comes home with bus issues, please get in touch with Mr. Rosen or I. We are committed to making our buses good places for our kids and it will happen faster with your help. The school has started making steps by assigning seats, but it is only a start.

I hope you got to look at your child's report card. Please be in touch if you want to meet and discuss it or if you have any questions. I am always happy to meet and talk about anything.

I think that's about it for now. Please be in touch if anything comes up.

Warmly,

~B