Sunday, October 29, 2023

Week 9

 

The view of Elmore Mountain on Tuesday morning this week.

We had another wonderful week at The Elmore School.  We are well into our first trimester and routines are well established.  

During our literacy block, students are participating in Phonemic awareness drills which involves producing rhyming words, identifying and manipulating sounds in words, and matching letters to sounds to read words.  Students practiced the consonant digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ph, ck), and learned the vowel teams ee and ea for the long e sound.  On Tuesday we read a Scholastic News (non-fiction) article and Leaf Critters, and we had an impromptu  lesson on responding to a question with a complete sentence.  On Wednesday students took the STAR reading (early literacy for grade 1) assessment to be progress monitored.  And during writing students reviewd the writing process for writing a personal narrative and began the revise and edit phase.  

During Math, grade 1 is continuing with solving word problems that involve addition and subtraction.  Grade two has finished unit one and will take a unit assessment next week.  Grade three is representing and solving for the unknown in story problems that involve multiplication.

Students have been learning about the Government.  This week we learned about the purpose of a government (To keep people safe and help people work together), and we learned about various services that are provided by the government (police, fire departments, libraries, public schools, military), and that all of these services re provided to help people stay safe and help them work together.  

We had ECO on Thursday.  During ECO our focus is on heredity.  Students listened to a story about how Bobcat Got Its Spots, then we had our focus lesson called "Track of the Cat" which focused on inherited traits, adaptations, and learned behaviors. Students compared similarities and differences of wild cats to house cats.  During forest choice We had a Kelly Kettle demonstration and then some students were able to try lighting a fire in the Kelly Kettle, students used peelers to whittle wood, and many chose to make a leaf pile to jump in!  We ended with sit spots - a time to reflect, and a thankful circle.  Thank you to our parent Volunteers who joined us this week!

We began our day with a fun tag game called Cat and Mouse!

Next week will students are invited to dress in a costume during school in Tuesday.  This will be a fun way for us to celebrate Halloween together.  Please consider comfort and safety (of self and others) when sending kids in costumes.  Students do not have to wear the same costume they plan to ware trick or treating.  An older costume or pieces of a costume are just fine!

Third graders received copies of their own Dictionary this week.  These are generously donated every year by the Morrisville Rotary.  Funds from their annual Duck Race go toward purchasing these Dictionaries every year.

Please email me your lunch orders for the week.

Family Hot Lunch next week will be provided by Jen Schoeberlein  (TBD).

Other Announcements

  • No Library next week (do to the Halloween party set up)
  • School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits. 
  • Students need sneakers for PE on Thursday next week
  • ECO  -  Thursday Nov. 2nd  - Please let me know if you would like to be a parent volunteer.
  • Friday, Nov. 10th - No School (Veterans Day)
  • Nov. 20 - 24 - No School (teacher PD 11/20-11/21 - Thanksgiving Break)








Saturday, October 21, 2023

Week 8

 

Students made pine cone bird feeders during their ECO class on Thursday.

As the days continue to get shorter and cooler, we had another busy week at the Elmore School. Students learned about adding describing words to their sentences as a way to add details and they learned how to write a powerful conclusion.  During math first graders began their second unit with a focus on solving word problems involving addition and subtractions; second graders used graphs to label tape diagrams, and then compare to find the unknown; and third graders are diving into multiplications with a focus on matching tape diagrams to equations with unknown factors or products.  Additionally we had ECO on Thursday and Chinese lessons on Friday!

During ECO on Thursday we were at our campsite for the first time this year.  Our focus lessons was about trees inheriting traits from their parent trees.  Students explored the trees to find a "mother" tree and a "baby" tree to compare the traits (bark, leaves, shape, color etc.).  During forest choice students made leaf rubbings, made tree tee, made pine cone bird feeders, and sampled roasted apples cooked over the fire in foil pouches.  


On Friday, we had our first Discover Dairy lesson, where we learned about the calf we have adopted as a class.  Please see the letter about this program in your child's Friday folder.  We also had another family hot lunch provided by Deidre Keith. Students enjoyed a taco bar with a choice of hard or soft taco shells and toppings, and fruit kabobs.  For dessert, they had chocolate cream pie!  Thank you Deidra for the tasty lunch!  In the afternoon we had fun Friday, followed by our third Chinese lesson with Dan Peterson!  This week students learned numbers 1-5,  "vowel" sounds, and 4 primary characters.  

Please email me your lunch orders for the week.


Other Announcements

  • Library is Monday - remember you books!
  • School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits. 
  • Students need sneakers for PE on Wednesday
  • ECO  -  Thursday October 26th  - Please let me know if you would like to be a parent volunteer.
  • Early release - Friday October 27th. Pick up at 12:10pm - we will have lunch prior to dismissal
  • Friday, Nov. 10th - No School (Veterans Day)
  • Nov. 20 - 24 - No School (teacher PD 11/20-11/21 - Thanksgiving Break)
During PE, students are learning throwing skills.










On Thursday afternoon students were treated to sing along with Jon Gailmor while he was filling in as Guest Teacher!




Saturday, October 14, 2023

week 7

 

Students had fun learning about fire prevention at the Elmore Fire Station!

Fall is in full swing now as the warm summer -ike weather we had a week ago has given way to cool, wet fall weather.  We had another short but full week at the Elmore School.  On Monday students and teachers had had the day off  in honor of Indigenous People's Day.  I hope you were all able to enjoy and extra day off to spend with your family.  

This week was National Fire Prevention Week.  On Wednesday students at the Elmore School participated by visiting the Elmore Fire Station where we learned about fire safety, first hand from firefighter, Captain Jason Tallman.  Students learned how to spot potential fire hazards around the home; what to do if they hear the smoke detector go off;  what to do if their clothes or some one else's clothes catch on fire (Stop, drop and roll); how to call 911; how to crawl below the smoke to escape; they learned about some of the equipment firefighters use; third graders were able to try on their firefighters clothes; and finally, they were able to go into the firetrucks! Thank you to Jen Schoeberlein, Paige Bowen, Deidre Keith, and Andrea Audet for chaperoning this field trip.
Homework:  On Wednesday, students had a packet go home to work with their family on creating a fire safety evacuation plan, and learn their street address and phone number.  Please help students complete these assignments and return it to school next week.  


During ECO on Thursday we hiked to the beaver pond on Elmore Mountain to learn about the habitat at the Beaver Pond.  Students made observations of the area and recorded their observations in their ECO journals.  We will return in the Spring to compare the area.  Thank you to Meg Batchelder, Paige Bowen, and Jess Boutin for volunteering to hike with us!
  

This week during Writer's Workshop students learned about bringing their character's to life by including voice, action, feelings, and details.  During phonics they learned about the r controlled vowels rule spelled with er, ir,  and ur.  These are particularly challenging because the all make the /r/ sound.  Younger students worked again on long vowel silent e words and words short vowel sounds.

During math, first graders completed their first unit where they worked on adding and subtraction within 10 and where they represented and interpreted data.  Second graders are comparing data to find the difference using bar graphs and tape diagrams.  Third graders began understanding concepts of multiplication as equal groups of something.

On Friday we were treated to another amazing family hot lunch of Mac and Cheese, salad, and worm cake for dessert!  Thank you to Van Anda/ Hart family for this delicious lunch!
Next Friday will be a Taco bar and fruit provided by Deidre Keith.

Please email me you school lunch orders by 7:00 pm Sunday.

Other Announcements

  • Library is Monday - remember you books!
  • School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits. 
  • Students need sneakers for PE on Wednesday
  • ECO  -  Thursday October 17th  - our first day at our campsite!  Please let me know if you would like to be a parent volunteer.
  • Early release - Friday October 27th. Pick up at 12:10pm
  • Friday, Nov. 10th - No School (Veterans Day)
  • Nov. 20 - 24 - No School (teacher PD 11/20-11/21 - Thanksgiving Break)

























Sunday, October 8, 2023

Week 6

Students sit along the banks of Lake Elmore as they paint the landscape of Elmore Mountain, a fall tradition at the Elmore School.


Wow!  What a fabulous week we had for our notorious sixth week of school!  The weather was amazing (if you like warm, sunny, dry days) , the fall foliage was at peak, and we began E.C.O..  

The weather this week, along with the beautiful foliage, provided the perfect day for us to do our annual fall landscape painting of the Elmore Mountain.  This tradition began long before I started teaching at The Elmore School, and is something the students anticipate and look forward to every year.  The children use acrylic paint sets that we consider a special privilege because it is such a special project, and third graders are given stretched canvas for their painting, something they look forward to.  Every year I am amazed by the care and attention students give to this art project and their work is always lovely and unique.  




We also had a wonderful day for our introductory ECO session!  After introductions, students played a fun tag game featuring crows and ravens, before gathering for snack and a story about fire making.  Then the children chose their nature names (animal) for the year.  Later in the year they will do research on their animal and create a project as they become animal experts.  Students made nature name necklaces which we will use this year during ECO. After name necklaces students had "forest choice" when they made kindness rocks, friendship bracelets, and leaf rubbings.  In preparation for next weeks hike to the beaver ponds, we ended the day by noticing and wondering about beavers by looking at a taxidermy beaver.  


During our literacy block students have been participating in phonemic awareness drill (hearing and manipulating sounds in words), and they are learning phonics (spelling rules that make the sounds we hear in words).  During Writer's workshop, students are completing their first drafts of their personal narratives.  This week they work on crafting introductions that hook the reader.  We also began guided reading groups this week! 

During math students are continuing to interpret data in charts, tables, and graphs to represent, interpret, and compare responses to surveys.  Third graders are beginning to represent data in scaled graphs as equal groups which will lay the foundation for the beginning of multiplication.  

Next week, on Wednesday October 11th we have our first field trip of the year.  We will be walking to the Elmore Fire Station where students will learn about fire safety.  If you indicated you would like to chaperone for this field trip, please plan to be at the Elmore School by 8:30 am.  We should return to the school around 10:30.

On Thursday, we have our second E.C.O. session of the year.  We will be hiking to the beaver ponds on the Ridge Line trail on Elmore Mountain.  Students should bring hiking shoes or sneakers (extra socks), a packable snack, and a water bottle.  The extended forecast looks like showers and cool temperatures, so please send a rain coat and rain pants if you have them.  We do have a supply of rain pants for students who would like to borrow them.  

Thank you Paige Bowen for providing us with a delicious chicken soup, bread, salad, melon, and maple blondie "brownies" for hot lunch on Friday.  Next Week (Oct 13th) will be Mac and Cheese provided by The Van Anda Family.  

Please email me your school lunch orders no later than 7:00 pm on Monday evening.  
*due to the ordering system, lunch orders submitted in the morning may not be accepted for that day or the following day.

Other Announcements

  • No School - Monday, October 9th (Indigenous People's Day)
  • Library is Tuesday - remember you books!
  • We will do banking on Tuesday this week. 
  • Students need sneakers for PE on Wednesday
  • Field Trip to the Elmore Fire Station - Wednesday, October 11th 
  • ECO  -  Thursday September 12th  - hike to the beaver ponds
  • Early release - Friday October 27th. Pick up at 12:10pm
  • Friday, Nov. 10th - No School (Veterans Day)
  • Nov. 20 - 24 - No School (teacher PD 11/20-11/21 - Thanksgiving Break)























The End!

Our third Grade Graduates! Our last week of the school year was packed with fun, making memories, hot weather, and goodbyes. On ...