Week 12

 

The view of Lake Elmore as we walked to ECO on Thursday.
Our first snow of the year!

We had another full week at the Elmore School!  We started out the week with our first PBIS ticket cash out on Monday followed by "Monday Funday" (because we did not have school last Friday).  On Tuesday we made Buttercup Squash Soup together with the squash grown in our garden, and we had a dance party to celebrate our first reading reward! On Wednesday students made woven paper placemats. On Thursday we had ECO, and On Friday we had our PBIS ticket cash out, family hot lunch , and Fun Friday!  To top it off we went from fall to winter with our first snow of the year this week!

Collaborative snow fort building at recess!

Students have been working hard to earn tickets for our PBIS rewards!  I have already noticed a change in the classroom dynamics, overall.  We began the week and ended the week with ticket cashouts at our "school store", and we ended the week with Fun Friday (which all kids are required to pay 5 tickets toward.). We have been posting and reviewing expected behaviors for each part of our day, so everyone knows what is expected.  I am optimistic about our progress the past two weeks!

Tuesday we used the roasted squash (left over from our muffins) to make squash soup!  We read the recipe and all the children had a hand in helping to make the soup.  Each student had a taste of the soup with their lunch!  It is always exciting for kids to participate in cooking especially when they grew the food, harvested the food, and helped to prepare the food.

Thursday we had a beautiful snowy ECO class!  Thank you to all the parents who scrambled to make sure their kids had warm gear for the morning.  There were a few cold fingers and toes, but for the most part, kids were comfortable.  We started the day with a fun tag game in the field (predator and prey game) followed by snack and a read aloud which lead into our focus activity which was on centered on gratitude.  We performed a Thanksgiving Address - a Native American tradition for giving thanks to all the the world provides.  During forest choice students whittled and made Thanksgiving sticks with messages of thanks written on them, baked bread on a stick over the fire, and made snow sculptures in the field. We ended the morning with a quiet reflection in our sit spots while sipping tree-tea before walking back to school for lunch.  Thank you to Caitlin Mahoney and Paige Bowen who volunteered tis week.

This week during literacy students have been writing their final drafts of their personal narrative stories.  Additionally we worked on Phonological awareness and phonics.  Reading groups met with me while students worked on silent reading a partner reading.

In math, 1st graders finished their unit on Number Sense to 50 while 2nd graders completed their unit on adding and subtracting to 100.  3rd graders began the long awaited unit on Multiplication!  

Friday we were treated to a tasty Breakfast for Lunch spread brought to us by the McCarthy's.  Students enjoyed pancakes with a variety of toppings, bacon, sausage, toast, and fruit salad!  Thank you to Kate McCarthy for all your effort!

It would be helpful it everyone could remind their children to pick up equipment they are playing with at the end of the day.  With the new snow this week, there were several shovels and scoops, and buckets left around the playground after kids left.  These should be put in the shed and the shed should be closed upon leaving for the afternoon.  Thank you so much for your attention to this matter.

Please email me your lunch orders for next Monday and Tuesday. 

Announcements:

• School Banking day is Monday.  Don't forget your deposits!
• No Library Next Monday
• Our next ECO is Dec. 1st.  Please let me know if you wish to volunteer!
• First Trimester ends Tuesday, November 22nd
• No School November 23-25 - Happy Thanksgiving!
• Early Release day (12:10) Friday, December 2nd.
• No School December 23 - 30 (school resumes on Monday, Jan 2nd)

Week 11

 

Students enjoy some time together partner reading.

We had another busy, short week at the Elmore School.  This week we began our PBIS reward system.  Students have been collecting tickets all week.  Due to our short week, we will be cashing in and depositing tickets on Monday.  Tuesday was election day and we had Farm to school!  And, Thursday we enjoyed another beautiful morning at ECO!

On Tuesday we participated in Election Day.  On Monday students held nominations and primary vote for their first reading reward on the year.  The three rewards chosen were: A movie, a dance party, and a history day. Then on Tuesday we listened to the book Today on Election Day by Catherine Stier.  After the students voted by secret ballot in our "voting booth".  When the votes were counted, Dance and Movie were tied so we had to have a write in vote between the two options.  In the end the majority voted for a Dance.  Next Tuesday afternoon we will have our Dance party at the Town Hall.

On Tuesday we also had Farm to School where students participated in making buttercup squash muffins using the squash we grew in our school garden, and they explored garlic and we have some garlic cloves we will be planting for next summer!

Thursday we had another gorgeous fall morning at ECO where students focused on biodiversity and what happens to an ecosystem when one of the species native to the environment is removed (and similarly what happens with a non native species is introduced to an ecosystem).  At forest choice students whittled sticks, roasted apples, jumped in the leaves, and made cordage under the coaching of two of our students. We ended the day with journaling in our sit spots while sipping Balsam tree tea, and then a Gratitude circle where students shared something they are thankful for.  Thank you to Caitlin Mahony for volunteering for ECO this week!  Please let me know if you would like to join us next week!

Please email me your lunch orders by Sunday at 6:00 pm

Family Hot lunch will by provided my the McCarthy family next Friday (TBA)

Announcements:

• School Banking day is Monday.  Don't forget your deposits!
• Students need to bring their Library books back on Monday too!
• ECO on Thursday!  Please let me know if you would like to volunteer.
• Students need sneakers for PE on Thursday
• First Trimester ends Tuesday, November 22nd
• No School November 23-25 (Thanksgiving)
• Early Release day (12:10) Friday, December 2nd.

Enjoy your weekend!

Week 10

We had a beautiful, sunny day for ECO this week at Elmore State Park!

 As I sit here at the end of our 10th week of the school year I am reflecting on some of the amazing opportunities these students have.  This week we participated in a special Farm to School opportunity sponsored by the Vermont Garden Network out of Essex Jct, VT.   Garden and Nutrition Manager, Cedar Schiewetz along with their Mobile Classroom Van came on Tuesday for a lesson on Nutrition and Healthy eating (very fitting for the day after Halloween!).  The students sampled squash soup and applesauce, played a fun tag game, and engaged in conversations around healthy eating and digestion, as well as the food cycle relationship between plants and animals (humans). Each child selected a seed packet to take home and plant on the spring.  We look forward to having Cedar visit again in the Spring!  

This week during writer's workshop students worked on editing one of their small moment stories (personal narratives), rewriting it in their neatest handwriting and illustrating in order to "publish it".  Reading groups are well underway with all students, and we continue to work on phonics as we learn new spelling rules.  This week are main focus was r controlled vowels (ar, or, ir, er, ur).  I didn't feel this all the students had enough practice this week on their spelling words, so I gave them the option to have their quiz today or wait until Monday.  About half did theirs today.  If you child has a list in their folder, they should practice over the weekend so they can be ready for Monday.

In Math we began a unit on Measurement.  First graders are measuring and comparing lengths with Non-standard units (paperclips), second graders began with Non-standard units and today began measuring and comparing length using inches.  Third graders used inch rulers to measure to the nearest inch, 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch.  

We continue our science Focus on Biodiversity during ECO this week.  Students compared two different forest habitats (one with coniferous trees, and one with deciduous trees) to see how each habitat may support different species of animals as the shelter and food sources differ.  During Forest choice students enjoyed jumping in leaves, roasted apples, carved wood, and crafted with cones and materials to make cottage.  Additionally, students made two types of "tree tea" which we sampled and compared back in the classroom during lunch.

Students are making observations in their ECO Journals about the forest habitat.

Big News!!!

The BIG NEWS is that on Monday we will be starting a new Positive Behavior Management System (PBIS). Former students from MES are familiar with this concept.  Beginning Monday, students will be rewarded for positive behavior  by receiving a ticket when they do something positive.  Each Monday students will receive 10 tickets just for coming to school!  I told them school is work, so they will be rewarded for showing up, just like I get rewarded (paid) for showing up to work.  Then throughout the day/week, they will have the opportunity to earn many more tickets for following the rules and expectations.  Students who continue to need reminders or or have several timeouts (breaks) without fixing their behavior may have to pay me back a ticket.  At the end of the week students can cash in their tickets at a "school store" where they will have several options worth a varied amount of tickets.  All students will have to pay 5 tickets for Fun Friday (free choice at the end of the day).  Students can decide to spend all their tickets each week or may deposit some in the class bank (jar).  When the bank is full the whole class will earn a reward.  We will be spending more time explicitly teaching the expected behaviors for every part of our day, and we will continue to remind them of the expectations.  The class was really excited about this new system and are looking forward to earning tickets next week!  If you notice carnival-type tickets with smiley face coming home, please remind your child to bring them back to school so they can cash them in or deposit them on Friday!

Please email me your school lunch orders for the week.

Thank you Deidra Keith for providing Tacos, fruit salad, and brownies for hot Lunch on Friday!

Announcements:

• School Banking day is Monday.  Don't forget your deposits!
• Students need to bring their Library books back on Monday too!
• Students need sneakers for PE on Thursday
• No School, Friday, November 11th (PD)
• First Trimester ends Tuesday, November 22nd
• No School November 23-25 (Thanksgiving)
• Early Release day (12:10) Friday, December 2nd.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Week 8

 

Representative Peter Welch paid a visit to the Elmore School This week!

We had a full week which began with a visit from Representative Peter Welch on Monday.  We had a casual conversation with the children which began with him reminding them that he met students from the Elmore School last year when we helped "save the post office" by showing up with signs of support for the Elmore Store and Post Office.  He shared a little about is role in government as a member of Congress.and then asked them to share a little about themselves.  We feel fortunate Mr. Welch would want to stop by our little school by the lake to meet with us.  

I finally finished reading assessments this week and we be starting guided reading groups next week!  

I will be looking at the data to determine what groups will be (they may consist of students from across the grades depending on the need of students.  These groups will focus on reading fluency and comprehension.

In math we are progressing along.  The 1st graders have been using graphs to compare sets and then expanded for (breaking teen numbers into tens and ones).  2nd graders began adding 3 equal addends by first adding the tens and then the ones to find the sum.  3rd graders have been working really hard this week on solving multi step word problems that involve comparison, addition and subtraction with and without regrouping.  This has proven to be quite a challenge!  

This week, with Peter Welch visiting, it was a good opportunity to learn about the 3 branches of government.  Students learned the three branches are the Legislative branch which makes up Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives (they propose the laws),  the Executive branch, consisting of the president, vice president , and cabinet (they pass or veto laws), and the Judicial branch consisting of the courts and judges (the interprets the laws).

In science we learned about Animal Habitat Diversity.  In this lesson, students solve the mystery of why a group of wild bighorn sheep would leave their usual desert habitat to visit a second, very different habitat: a local playground. In the activity, Habitat Scavenger Hunt, students record observations of the diversity of life found in the desert and the playground, as well as the physical characteristics of each location. Students combine these observations to create an understanding of how the living and non-living parts of a habitat support the animals that live there (Mystery Science).

At ECO on Thursday we had our first ECO class at our campsite!  We began with a fun tag game in the field, followed by snack and a story and we had our first campfire. Students explored plant diversity as they made observations about various coniferous needles to see how they are alike and how they are different.  During Forest choice, students made pine cone decorations, had a fire building challenge with the Kelly kettles, and Uma and Oliver lead a few students in making cordage.  Students also enjoyed playing in the leaves!  Thank you to Caitlin Mahoney of volunteering to join us for the morning.  

We DO NOT have ECO next Thursday.

Please email me your school lunch orders for the week.

Friday there is and early dismissal so we will not have Family Hot Lunch.  Students may order School lunch for Friday.  We will eat before dismissal.

Thank you to Paige and Rob Bowen for the frightening delicious lunch this week!  Students enjoyed Mummy wrapped hot dogs, jack o'lantern sweet potatoes, homemade applesauce, and monster mash cookies for dessert!

Announcements:

  

• Students need to bring their Library books back on Monday!
• School Banking day is Monday. 
• Students need sneakers for PE on Thursday
• Third graders need recorders and books on Friday.
• Friday, October 28th - Early Release Day.  Dismissal is 12:10
• First Trimester ends Tuesday, November 22nd
• No School November 23-25 (Thanksgiving)

Week 7

 

We had another incredibly busy week packed into four days!  Monday students had the day off and parent teacher conferences were held throughout the day.  It was wonderful to meet with families and share some information about how their students are doing so far this year!  Thank you for taking the time to join me for these important conversations. During the week I was able to complete the Primary Numbers and Operations Assessments with all the first graders!  Over all this data looks very strong! On Tuesday, we had Farm To School where students worked on harvesting seeds and they made seed packets (hopefully you saw these come home). On Thursday we had our second ECO session of the year where we hiked to the Beaver Pond on Elmore Mountain, and Friday was our Annual field trip to the Elmore Fire Station.

I am slowly plugging away at the reading assessments (F&P's).  I have complete first and second grade and part of third grade, so we are almost done!  Once these are completed we will begin guided reading groups where we will work on fluency and comprehension together.  During writer's workshop, several students have completed several small moment stories (personal narratives).  And this week we had our second spelling quiz of the year.  

I didn't have a chance to meet with math groups this week as I was assessing students during that time.  Instead students practiced math skills during math menu and Friday, students logged onto Dreambox (an online math program we will use as one of our options during math menu) for the first time this year.

Our theme this week was Fire Safety.  Students learned about having an evacuation plan (Get out , Stay out), Stop Drop and Roll, and we talked about calling 911 and what constitutes and emergency.  These things were reinforced during our field trip to the fire station on Friday were students also talked about potential fire hazards around the home.  They also practiced STOP DROP and ROLL and evacuating a room by crawling below the smoke and feeling the walls and doors with the back of their hand.  Then we made out way out to the bay where we watched deputy Tallman dress in his protective fire gear, and talked about the equipment a firefighter needs to fight fires.  Then the 3rd graders were able to try on their gear (something they have to wait until 3rd grade to do).  Finally all the students were able to go through two of the fire trucks!  Thank you to Fire Chief Jason Tallman, Firefighter Hunter Tallman, and Firefighter Adam Audet for hosting us and teaching us about fire safety!  And, thank you to Caitlin Mahoney and Steffany Mosley for chaperoning. In your child's Friday Folders please find a fire Safety planning sheet.  I've asked all the students to work with their family to make a evacuation plan and map it out on the paper.  Thank you in advance for helping them with this.  Children should also know their home address (number, road, town).

Thursday we hiked to the Beaver Pond On Elmore Mountain (off the Ridge Line trail).  Before we left, students were able to see a real (taxidermy) beaver, which Ms. Carrie brought with her from the NBNC.  Though there were no beaver sightings at the pond, we were amazed by all the evidence of beaver activities we were able to see both in and around the pond.  They certainly have been busy beavers!  Students also explored the pond to find various living organisms (water bugs and macroinvertebrate). After some time exploring, students made some observations in their ECO journals about what they saw.  Our plan is to revisit the pond in the spring to compare the two seasons.  Thank you to Rob Bowen for volunteering your time to join us this week at ECO.

This week we enjoyed a delicious family Hot Lunch consisting of Macaroni and Cheese and "dirt" cake for dessert provided by the Van Anda Family.  Next week hot lunch will be brought to us by the Bowen Family (details about that will follow)

Please email me your school lunch orders for the week!  And reminder that breakfast is also available.

Announcements:

• Students need to bring their Library books back on Monday!
• School Banking day is Monday. 
• Students need sneakers for PE on Thursday
• ECO is Thursday - Please let me know if you would like to volunteer.  We will be at the Elmore State Park for the morning.
• Third graders need recorders and books on Friday.
• Friday, October 28th - Early Release Day.  Dismissal is 12:10
• First Trimester ends Tuesday, November 22nd
• No School November 23-25 (Thanksgiving)

Thank you Elmore Fire Department for teaching us about Fire Safety!