Week 12

 

Students baked bread on a stick this week during ECO!

We had another busy week leading up to the first break of the school year.  Students learned about how selection occurs naturally (without human interaction) in nature, thus causing animal species to evolve and change over time. During ECO, on Thursday, students learned about coniferous trees.  On Wednesday the children read about different Dairy Cow breeds and then filled in a chart about the different features of each breed. During math, students have settled into a smooth routine consisting of a whole class launch (warm up), grade level instruction, and independent and partner work with their math menus. During Literacy we practiced manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness), we learned the welded sounds /an/ and /am/, and the vowel teams for the long /o/ sound spelled oe, ow, oa.  We are finishing up our unit on narrative writing.  This week students used checklists to review their own writing.  Reading groups are underway.  During these groups students work on fluency and comprehension.  We also read a Scholastic News article this week about what different animals do to survive the cold winters.

We had a glorious morning for ECO on Thursday! After walking to the state park on, we paused for a mindful moment and shared a "nature note" about something around us.  Then we played a fun game of Tree Tag.  During snack I shared a Native American tale called How Chipmunk Got It's Stripes. Then we went into our focus lesson of the day.  Children made observations about different varieties of conifers (evergreen) trees. Next they used magnifying glasses to examine one variety closely, and they made "close" scientific drawing of one area of their sample. Finally, they shared one observation they made and their drawings.  During Forest choice students baked bread dough on a stick over the fire, they made butter in jars, and some played camouflage. Thank you to our volunteers; Megan Batchelder, Eric Schoeberlein, and Tina Lyon.

Tree tag!

Making scientific drawings in journals

making butter!

On Friday students were treated to a movie in the morning.  We watched the 2006 remake of the classic story, Charlotte's Web.  We just finished this book as a read a loud. This was the first of their reading rewards of the school year.  Collectively they have read over 4,000 minutes at home this year!  Our next goal is 8,000 minutes! It's important for all kids to be reading at home and filling out their reading logs each night.  Research shows that the more time children read, the more successful they will be. (see this article).  First graders may be read to, while working toward independent reading.  Second and third graders should be reading independently (or to you) for 20 minutes (2nd grade) or 30 minutes (3rd grade).  Of course, you may also read to your child in addition to their independent reading, but this should not be recorded on their reading logs (with the exception of first grade). It is the students' responsibility to fill out their reading logs each night.  Building a regular routine for this time each day is beneficial.  Work with your child to find a time that works for all of you.

Students do not have other regular homework unless they have not completed their schoolwork during the school day (usually because they did not use their time well).  In this case, we will send home their incomplete work to be completed at home.  Additional spelling practice is encouraged, but is optional.

The first trimester will come to a close on November 30th!  Our first mastery report will be completed in time for our first parent teacher conference on December 8th.  I look forward to meeting with you.  Students are welcome to attend the conference with you.

December is just around the corner.  That means it is just about time to begin our favorite Elmore School tradition, Secret Pals!  Students will be picking names to find out who their secret pal will be.  They will then reflect on what they know about that friend, and plan a project that they will create for that student.  We will spend time during the month of December crafting and creating.  Secret pals will be revealed on Friday, December 22nd when students give the gift they made to their secret pal.  If you would like to volunteer to help students with projects please let me know.  We will have project time between 10-11:30 / 12:00 Monday - Wednesday.  Projects may involve cutting, gluing, painting, assembling, woodworking, sewing, pottery and more.  

Tis the season of giving! On Tuesday, December 5th we will be traveling to Copley Manner by bus to sing for the residents at Copley Manner.  We hope that this help to spread some holiday cheer to our senior neighbors.  Students should dress in a way that is respectful and neat.  Festive clothes are encouraged as we will be singing festive, seasonal songs.  We will also bring the residents homemade cards.

I am happy to let you know that we are planning to have winter recreation opportunities at Spruce Peak again this year.  Students will have the option to ice skate or nordic ski for a total of 6 weeks in January and February.  Additionally, we will be participating an a theater program at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, called the Curious Place Theater Program.  Beginning on  Thursday, January 8th, for 6 weeks, we will travel to Spruce Peak in Stowe where students will spend two hours in the morning immersed in the theater program.  We will provided a place to have lunch and then we will head outdoors for our winter recreation program before we travel back to the school for the end of the day.  I will need a couple of parent volunteers in the afternoon for our ski and skate program each week.  I will send home a sign up sheet in December.  We have a few sets of skis and boots (various sizes) for students to borrow as well as several pairs of ice skates.  Students may use their own equipment as well.  I encourage students try both skiing and skating.  The children must have a helmet to ice skate.

Special thanks to Paige Bowen for preparing Shepards Pie and cookies for dessert on Friday! Our next family hot lunch will be Chicken Soup on December 1st brought to us by Ashley Reynolds!  

Please email me your hot lunch orders for November 27-30.

Finally,  In a world where there is so much unrest and turmoil, we have so much to be grateful for in our community.  I want to express my gratitude for all you and all of your support.  Thank you for trusting us with your children everyday and thank you for all of the great work you are doing to raise these amazing humans!  I feel hopeful for the future because I see, everyday, the young humans that will one day be leading the world!  Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Other Announcements

• Library is Monday - remember to bring your books back.
• School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits. 
• ECO  -  Thursday Nov. 30th  - Please let me know if you would like to be a parent volunteer.
• Please let me know if you can donate some dry firewood and or kindling for ECO
• Nov. 20 - 24 - No School (teacher PD 11/20-11/21 - Thanksgiving Break)
• Nov. 30th - First Trimester Ends
• Dec. 5th - trip to Copley Manor to sing for the residence
• Dec. 8th - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences 
• December 25-29 - No School - December Break
• January 1 - No school - New Years Day.
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