Homework Revision

Dearest Families,
I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to complete the homework packets.
I want to be honest, I am not in favor of homework packets, no matter how meaningful I can make them.  I have vacillated back and forth on how to do this and am coming up short.
Having said this, this is what I would like to try instead:

• Practice sight words nightly (if you need a new list, please write me a note in the planner)
• Read 15-20 minutes with your child every night
• I will send home two sheets of math homework to complete every week based on the topic we are currently studying (starting next week)

Nothing will be due and you can complete the work according to your personal family schedule.

If you would like extra practice in Mathematics, I would like to suggest going on:  www.ixl.com or go to our math series website (please let me know if you need the user name and password).

Some parents like the reading sight word books and I can help with access!
Instead of me printing off the books for each child, you can go at your leisure to Think Central and choose predecodable or decodable books for your learner to read.  I am here to help if you need a quick tutorial, please let me know how I can help.

I feel there is a time and place for homework.  Let's see if this works better for most.

Warmly,
Mrs. C.

No Uniform Friday (November 2, 2012)

Families,
On Friday, November 2nd, you can donate $1.00 to benefit the Future Problem Solvers and children will not have to wear their uniform.
On this day, the child can wear anything they wish as long as it is in compliance with the school dress code.
If you choose for your child to participate, all they have to do is bring in $1.00 and give it to me.
It is that easy!
Thanks,
Mrs. C.

Colonial Kids Creative Classroom

Dear Families,
There is so much I want to catch you up on! And I will, I promise!

First, let me tell you about our in-school field trip:

Our class will be participating in an in-school field trip on Monday, November 5th!   We will have guides from St. Augustine Guides joining us in early November to kick off our American History Unit.  We will be learning about colonial kids through hands on experiences.

           

Colonial Kids Creative Classroom was written to give students information on how hard life was in colonial times. The guide, in period clothing, explains each chore that the students will do and why. These chores are all part of colonial life in St. Augustine. Students play a big part in this section as they answer questions orally and play a Colonial riddle game.

           

They will then participate in all of these chores:

1.     Corn shelling and grinding with mortars and pestle

2.     Weaving wool on a simple loom/making wool yarn with a drop spindle

3.     Basic chain weaving with palm leaves which were used for baskets

4.     Stringing shells for jewelry

5.     Writing with a quill pen on parchment/signing a parchment for the teacher

6.     Playing a Colonial riddle game.

7.     Playing with colonial toys

8.     Making a ball & cup toy to keep

Each classroom or school receives a parchment that the students sign with the quill pens.

Each student receives: A ball & cup toy, a palm chain and a shell necklace and a quill pen.

Check out the web site at: www.staugguides.com for more information on the program.

We need parent volunteers for our Field Trip Experience here at school.  Please email me if you can help us Monday November 5^th 12:00 – 1:15pm.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Hello Families,

Parent Teacher conferences will take place next week.  I have sent home notices to the parents who scheduled an appointment during Open House.
I still have slots available and so would like to meet with all of you.
I have openings available from 8:15 - 8:30 and 8:30 - 8:45.
The meetings at this point will be on a first come, first served basis.
Please write me a note in your child's planner indicating what day you would like to schedule with one alternate day and time in the event that slot is no longer available.

Available Days and Times:

Student	Conference: Day/Time *please note- subject to change- I will confirm in your son/daughter’s planner*
	Monday, October 22- 8:15-8:30am
	Monday, October 22- 8:30-8:45am
	Tuesday, October 23 – 8:15-8:30am
	Tuesday, October 23 – 8:30-8:45am
	Wednesday, October 24- 8:15-8:30am
	Wednesday, October 24- 8:30-8:45am
	Thursday, October 25- 8:15-8:30am
	Thursday, October 25- 8:30-8:45am
	Friday, October 26- 8:15-8:30am
	Friday, October 26- 8:30-8:45am
	Monday, October 29- 8:15-8:30am
	Monday, October 29- 8:30-8:45am
	Tuesday, October 30- 8:15-8:30am
	Tuesday, October 30- 8:30-8:45am
	Wednesday, October 31- 8:15-8:30am
	Wednesday, October 31- 8:30-8:45am
	Thursday, November 1- 8:15-8:30am
	Thursday, November 1- 8:30-8:45am
	Friday, November 2- 8:15-8:30am

The time slots are 15 minutes only.  Kindly arrive with questions you would like ask to help move the meeting along.

See you then!
Mrs. C.

The Three Little Pigs and S.T.E.A.M.

Hello Families,

What a blast we had today in Reading class!

One of the goals to be assessed this quarter in Reading is your child can retell stories they have read (RL.K.2) and identify characters, setting and details in a story (RL.K.3).

I chose the Three Little Pigs by Margaret Hillert.  In order to prepare our next generation of world class citizens, we have been tasked with finding ways to integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics into our lessons.

The children and I explored engineering and retelling the story as they recreated the three little piggies' houses.

Watch a segment of what happens after the children construct their houses in the sidebar. 
I have privacy settings set for the video, it will not be going viral...It may still be processing--please check back later.

Enjoy!

Warmly,
Mrs. C.

Lending a helping hand

Hello Families,

Sometimes I feel in order to be the teacher I want to be for your learner, I would have to be cloned four times over. 

One person would plan, another would handle administrative duties (like paperwork), another Mayte-me would be an on-site social worker, and lastly the other would be a co-teacher to help me meet the needs of all of my learners.

As cloning can be such a controversial subject and I still have all of my work to do, I have gone another route, I have solicited volunteers. 

My dear sweet, malomee (pancakes....soooooon) left our school. 

One of the gifts she shared before leaving was putting me in contact with her awesome, no task is too big or too small, how do you work with this mess, volunteer, Kathy. 
 
Kathy is a retired teacher with energy, expertise and patience that leaves me in awe.
Kathy has made so many of my dream lesson plans come true by lending a helping hand. 

I am so grateful to her for all she does for me and the children.

I owe Kathy a dinner, at least.
No one can replace her, but, alas, there are only so many hours in the day.

So if you think you want to laminate, prepare bulletin boards, file and organize....let me know!
Many hands lighten the load!!

Becoming a volunteer for my classroom is easy.  Follow the directions here.

Join me in thanking Kathy for what she does and continues to do effortlessly!
Three cheers for Kathy!

Warmly,
Mrs. C.

How sweet it is to be your child's teacher!

In this post, I want to share a little bit of today's joyous learning experiences.  They may seem random.  By this time of night, I am rarely able to string together a cohesive thought.
Accept my apology in advance :-)


Every child learns differently.  I try to engage what are called modalities of learning.  They are visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile.  What does that mean?  Well, I try to deliver lessons and give children the opportunity to learn the material through sense of touch, motion, hearing and seeing.

Izaiah getting better and better at letter formation

Differentiated learning, in my opinion, is making sure that each learner gets what he or she needs.

We gave centers a try today.  I took a deep breath and had faith in my abilities to guide and that the children were ready.  

Oh me, oh my.  Apples were at the table with me.

"Oranges" worked on writing

Nothing could have prepared me for what ensued.

I had yet to see the children so engaged, having meaningful conversations with each other.  All they needed was the opportunity.  My heart soared.

These children are "blueberries".  They worked on letters and sounds.

My "grapes".  Reading and writing what they read about.

And if that wasn't enough, we had our apple tasting today!  We were able to incorporate measurement/data and writing standards to this delicious end of our day.

Gratuitous shot of teacher's kindergarten son helping make the apple cake.

Learners, get your taste buds ready!

YUMMY!  Thank you, Ms. Awilda for your help!

Two of my boys doing the happy dance at the table.

Thank you for the privilege of being your child's teacher.

Warmly,

Mrs. C.