Week 12

 

Students stand with their newly named snowplow and Vtrans driver on Wednesday
at the unveiling of the snowplow name "Snowy Owl"

I have just a short update this week as we wind down the last few days before our first break of the school year and the end of the first trimester.  It's hard to imagine that we are already 1/3 of the way through the school year, but here we are!

In literacy students are finishing our first writing unit.  This will conclude with an on-demand writing task where students will do there best to show everything they have learned about writing a good personal narrative story.  

In Math level 1 is currently working on recognizing a quantity between 20-40 using ten frames and base ten blocks (or cube sticks) and how much more to get to the next ten.  Level 2 is focusing on regrouping to make the next ten when adding within 100 ( 26 + 8 = _____ regroups to 30 + 4 = 34), and level 3 is focused on using the distributive property to multiply number up to 10  

(8 X 6 distributed becomes 4 x 6 = 24  + 4 x 6 = 24   24 + 24 = 48 so 8 x 6 = 48). 

On wednesday, the school was visited by Vtrans to unveil the snowplow name, "Snowy Owl" along with our school's name.  During the month of October The Elmore School submitted our name proposal as part of the Vtrans Name a Snowplow Program.  The students spent the morning of October 22nd immersed in democracy as we choose a final name to propose.  We began by nominating names.  When we had several names to choose from, we narrowed our choices down with a "primary". Students were able to vote for their top 3 choices until we had our top 4 names.  Then students were asked to write a persuasive paragraph for their nop name they liked the most.  Students read their paragraphs aloud to the class in an effort to persuade the group.  Finally, we set up a voting booth where students voted by secret ballot.  Students were very excited when "Snowy Owl" won the vote as we recently became the Elmore Owls!

ECO was canceled on Wednesday.  We have rescheduled for December 8th, which means we will have ECO three weeks in a row in December.  If you were scheduled to volunteer this week and would still like to join us, please let me know.  Additionally, if you are able to join us on Dec. 1st or 15th, please let me know.  December 15th will be our last ECO until March.  

Please continue to be diligent about monitoring your students for any Covid-19 symptoms.  If your child has any symptoms, keep them home and attain a PCR Covid test.  Any student with symptoms will need a negative PCR covid test before coming back to school.

• Please EMAIL me lunch orders for Monday and Tuesday. 
• There will be no Library or Recorders on Monday next week
• Nov. 23rd - 1st Trimester ends
• Nov. 24 - 26 - Thanksgiving Break
• Fri. Dec. 3rd - early release (12:00) 

I'm so thankful for you all!

Week 11

 

Jason Batchelder visited the school this week to teach us about Homing Pigeons

We have reached a point in the school year where students have settled into a groove.  The know the routines and are able to settle into tasks and transition to the next "thing" with ease.  It excites me when students express their enthusiasm for what they know is coming next whether it be writing and reading,  math, or science.  Likewise, when students are disappointed they have to stop what they are doing, I know students are engaged in their schoolwork.  Yesterday, Superintendent Heraty stopped by for a brief visit while students were finishing up math menus for the week.  It made me pause to wonder what someone just coming into the room would think about what they saw.  As I looked around the room, I saw just about every students working independently on a variety of tasks.  Some students were finishing practice pages or math puzzles, while others were playing a game on the floor or focused on a math game on their iPads.  As students finished one task they seamlessly moved on to another.  Almost no student was working on the same task (unless they were playing a game together).  I  Was able to circulate around the classroom to check in with students or offer help when needed.  While it might look like discord to some, it is just the opposite to me.  This is exactly what a well-orchestrated, student centered classroom should look like and it is harmonious!  

This week during literacy, students worked on final drafts of their personal narratives during writer's workshop.  We began more intentional reading groups.  During these groups students will be exposed to a variety of texts with a focus on a variety of reading skills. While some groups will focus on comprehension, another groups may focus on fluency.  Some groups will function more like a book club, doing a book study where students will be reading a chapter book together.  

During math, level one* students used ten frames and base ten blocks show numbers between 20-50, and how many more ones to make the next ten.  Level two* learned how to find the perimeter of equilateral triangles and squares. Students made connections to doubles facts we worked on earlier in the school year.  Level three* students began learning about multiplication.  These students used arrays and number bonds to break apart and distribute (the Distributive Property) a number into easier parts to solve.  We practiced this process with easier numbers (multiplying by 2, 5, and 10) this week to become comfortable with the process so when we are multiplying by harder numbers we will be comfortable with the concept. 

Wednesday, the class had a special guest speaker.  Jason Batchelder (Sadies father) brought 3 of their homing pigeons to the classroom to teach us about the unique qualities of these beautiful birds.  The students were very respectful and had great questions for Jason.  Each student had a chance to feel one of the birds and every students went home with a feather brought in by Jason.  We even got to choose names for the three birds!

We have begun our first science unit which focuses on Plant and Animal Structures and Survivals.  

    In this unit, students explore how parts of plants and animals are essential for survival. Students will        also make observations of parents and their offspring, determining how they are similar and how their        behaviors help offspring survive. (Mystery Science).  This week week we learned that all animals need     to learn how to survive on their own.  Animal parents (including humans) have the important job of            teaching their offspring how to survive before they grows up. Offspring learn from their parents and        rely on them to meet their survival needs when they are young.  Additionally,  animals have different        behaviors and body parts that help protect themselves from danger. The color of an animal’s fur, feather,     skin, or scales can help them blend in with their habitat. Camouflage helps both prey and predators            survive! (Mystery Science)

On Wednesday we finished our read-aloud, Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.  On Friday students were treated to the movie, Tale of Despereaux.  This was a 3rd Reading reward of the year!  We are now onto our next summit with reading minutes!  

Thank you to the DiMatto Family for providing Hot Lunch this week!  I also wish to thank the Sargent's who provided Hot Lunch last Friday!  We do not currently have anyone signed up for lunch next week.  If you would like to provide lunch on Friday, November 19th, please let us know.  Otherwise, we will have our regular school lunch options available on Friday.  

We have ECO next Wednesday, November 17th from 9-12.  Our focus will be Giving Thanks.  Jess Wills has volunteered to chaperone.  Please let me know of you would also like to join us.  It is great if we can have two parents.  I'm also looking for a donation of 3-4 pieces of Firewood for the day, as well as some kindling.  

We will be doing Secret Pal projects during the month of December.  This is a very rewarding project; a transition at The Elmore School, whereby each students will have a Secret Pal whom they will design and create a project for.  If you have been looking for a way to help, and you enjoy helping children do crafts and don't mind a little chaos,  please let me know if you would like to join us a day during this time.  We will typically be working on projects during the morning between 10 and 12, but could be flexible depending on your availability.  All volunteers must have completed the background check.  

Reminders:

• Please EMAIL me lunch orders for the week
• Library is Monday - please remember to bring your books!
• 3rd graders need recorders and books Monday
• PE is Tuesday and Friday - Students need sneakers! Please arrive a little early so everyone can be on time!
• Trimester 1 ends Nov. 23rd
• Thanksgiving break is Nov. 24-26
• Early release Dec. 3rd (noon)

Students find ways to collaborate during a rainy indoor recess on Friday.

Week 10

 

Students lowered their masks for a brief moment to capture their smiles
as they show off their new school shirts!

I can hardly believe we just completed our tenth week of the school year!  I guess the saying is true, "Times flies when you are having fun!"  Students showed their school spirit this week as we all wore our new school shirts to school on Tuesday.  Thank you so much to Heather Hill and local community members who made this happen.  We are truly honored to have these shirts!  

This week students selected one of there personal narratives to edit, rewrite and make their best.  I hope to wrap up our first writing unit in the next week.  Reading groups have begun, though I am still finishing up some reading assessments.  At this point I have enough information about students to form groups.  These groups will begin meeting more regularly in the coming weeks.  Second and third graders learned about two types of syllables: Open syllables, and Closed syllables.  Their spelling words this week focused on words with open syllables, but some had open and closed syllables.  

Students collectively read, a record, 2,134 minutes at home this week!  They have summited Pico Mountain and we are now onto Jay Peak!  We voted on our next reading reward today.  Students choose to watch a movie as a reading reward.  We are very close to completing our read aloud chapter book, Tale of Despereaux, so I hope to be able to show this movie to the class sometime in the near future!

Keep up all the great reading!

This week in Math we began by focusing on measuring and comparing length with nonstandard and standard measurement tools.  On Thursday and Friday, third graders learned about finding the perimeter of squares and triangles and area of a rectangle. This lead into our next unit which will focus on multiplications!  First and Second graders transitioned from measuring and comparing length to using a numberline as a tool for Addition.

Wednesday we had our second ECO Lesson.  Originally we planned to do a focus lesson on "Sun Stories and Sundials", however we shifted our focus to "Becoming Squirrels" when we learned there was snow in the forecast.! This lesson focused on animal adaptations and how animals get ready for the winter, and then what might happen during the long cold winter if an animal runs out of food.  We played a fun tag game called Biologist, and we had our first campfire and roasted apples with cinnamon and sugar over the fire.  

On Thursday students had a lesson on Economics.  We reviewed the meaning of Goods and Services as well as Producers and Consumers.  After reading A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban, we discussed what a bargain is.  Then students were given fliers from stores and they were told they had $50 to spend, with the idea that they try to "purchase" as much as they could for $50 without going over.  Students worked in groups of three students and had a recorder, and a reporter.  They had to keep track of the items they purchased, how much each item cost and the total amount spent.  In the end two groups over spent, so that ended up being another lesson in budgeting and over spending!  

In Art this week we learned about One Point Perspective.  Students began composing a drawing using this concept.  Next week we will finish them.

In Music we sang a fun movement game focusing on slow and fast tempo called Willowbee.  Then we had a focus lesson around note values.  We learned about the whole note (4 beats), the half nate (2 beats), the quarter note (1 beat) and the eighth note (1/2 beat), and were able to play a quick game of note value 4 corners.

Several folks have asked about doing the Friday Ski and Skate Program this year as was done in the past prior to Covid.  It does look like some form of this will take place this winter, but details are still being worked out.  As soon as I know more information on this I will let you know!

Hot Lunch next next Friday is being offered by Penelope's family.  Stay tuned for the munu!

PIZZA DAY!  We are having another school lunch pizza day on Wednesday,  November 10th!  I will take a count at school next Monday to find out how many are planning to have Pizza. 

Please Email me other lunch orders for Monday, Tuesday next week.

• 3rd graders: please remember recorders and books on Monday
• There is no Library on Monday next week.
• Students need sneakers for PE on Tuesday and Friday
• There is NO school on Thursday, November 11th (Veterans Day) - Teacher Professional Development
• ECO is Wed. November 17th.  
• Nov. 23rd.  End of First Trimester
• Thanksgiving Break is Wed. Nov. 24 - Fri. Nov. 26. 
• Early Release (12:00) Friday, Dec. 3rd.

• Click HERE for the link to register for school-based vaccination clinics.
• The state has also scheduled two local clinics:

Morristown Elementary Dose 1 Date – 12/17/2021
Morristown Elementary Dose 2 Date – 01/07/2022

Stowe Elementary Dose 1 Date – 01/11/2022
Stowe Elementary Dose 2 Date – 02/01/2022

The LSUU School District has begun the antigen Test to Stay (TTS) program. If you would like your child to participate in this program, please provide consent HERE. Only if your child is unvaccinated and a close contact would this apply but it is important to sign the consent form prior to a potential situation as the system takes at least one day to upload a consent form.