Happy November! Halloween was an event to remember! Thanks to all the parent volunteers for making our celebration so magical. We loved parading around the school to the sound of the High School Band and enjoyed the festivities held in the gym for Kindergarten, First and Second Graders. The classroom party was simple and sweet! Be sure to see the Gallery for all the photos. If you have more photos to add to the Halloween album, please send them in on a cd, flash drive or share a link to your Dropbox (medium or large size photos please). Thank you!
FALL BREAKFAST POTLUCK
You should have received an email from Brittany Change to RSVP to our Fall Breakfast Potluck on November 12th, 7:30-9:00 a.m. in the Learning Lab across the hall from our classroom. This will be a catered potluck, so all you need to bring is your family! The menu will be a hot breakfast buffet including scrambled eggs, bacon, seasonal fresh fruit, breakfast potatoes, assorted bagels/muffins, orange juice and coffee. The cost will be $5.50 per child and $7 per adult. In order for Cafe Lab to know how much food to provide, please RSVP to Brittany with the number of adults and children in your family who will be attending the potluck. You will be billed directly through Cafe Lab. We need to provide this information to Cafe Lab by Monday (November 4th) afternoon.
SYLLABICATION
To help children become better readers and spellers, we will be introducing the rules for syllabication (dividing words into syllables). Understanding syllable rules helps children identify the correct vowel sound and give children a strategy for "chunking" longer words into manageable parts.The first rule we learned is that a syllable is a word or a part of a word with one talking vowel. This week we will learn about closed syllables.
MATH NOTEBOOK
Each week, the children work on a number story (or word problem) in their Math Notebook. Children will complete math word problems, reflect on their problem-solving strategies, and record their thinking. This notebook will give us a chance to differentiate the curriculum and give the children opportunities to explain their mathematical thinking. Last week, we worked on some Halloween themed word problems. Solving word problems can involve many skills. Children need to read carefully, locate information, identify the question they will be solving and decide upon the operation (i.e. addition or subtraction). Word problems allow kids to be creative thinkers and through sharing and reflecting, we hope they will learn that there are many ways to solve the same problem.
NAME-COLLECTION BOXES
In math, we introduced the idea of a "name-collection box." A name collection box is a diagram that is used for collecting equivalent names for a number. Children are learning that numbers can be represented in many ways (with tally marks, coins, number models, arrays, roman numerals, number words, etc). The name collection box provides a way for students to show what they know and continue developing their number sense.
FALL BREAKFAST POTLUCK
You should have received an email from Brittany Change to RSVP to our Fall Breakfast Potluck on November 12th, 7:30-9:00 a.m. in the Learning Lab across the hall from our classroom. This will be a catered potluck, so all you need to bring is your family! The menu will be a hot breakfast buffet including scrambled eggs, bacon, seasonal fresh fruit, breakfast potatoes, assorted bagels/muffins, orange juice and coffee. The cost will be $5.50 per child and $7 per adult. In order for Cafe Lab to know how much food to provide, please RSVP to Brittany with the number of adults and children in your family who will be attending the potluck. You will be billed directly through Cafe Lab. We need to provide this information to Cafe Lab by Monday (November 4th) afternoon.
SYLLABICATION
To help children become better readers and spellers, we will be introducing the rules for syllabication (dividing words into syllables). Understanding syllable rules helps children identify the correct vowel sound and give children a strategy for "chunking" longer words into manageable parts.The first rule we learned is that a syllable is a word or a part of a word with one talking vowel. This week we will learn about closed syllables.
MATH NOTEBOOK
Each week, the children work on a number story (or word problem) in their Math Notebook. Children will complete math word problems, reflect on their problem-solving strategies, and record their thinking. This notebook will give us a chance to differentiate the curriculum and give the children opportunities to explain their mathematical thinking. Last week, we worked on some Halloween themed word problems. Solving word problems can involve many skills. Children need to read carefully, locate information, identify the question they will be solving and decide upon the operation (i.e. addition or subtraction). Word problems allow kids to be creative thinkers and through sharing and reflecting, we hope they will learn that there are many ways to solve the same problem.
NAME-COLLECTION BOXES
In math, we introduced the idea of a "name-collection box." A name collection box is a diagram that is used for collecting equivalent names for a number. Children are learning that numbers can be represented in many ways (with tally marks, coins, number models, arrays, roman numerals, number words, etc). The name collection box provides a way for students to show what they know and continue developing their number sense.
CHANGE 4 CRANES FUNDRAISER
We are getting ready to launch our Change 4 Cranes fundraiser before the Thanksgiving Holiday. We are asking each family to send in a sturdy container from home that we can reuse as a donation container. In our effort to “go green,” we do not want to purchase new containers and are hoping to reuse containers you would be recycling or throwing away. Some ideas include 24 oz. yogurt tubs with lids, oatmeal cylinders, plastic baby wipes boxes, etc. Containers need to be able to keep coins and paper money secure. We have Change 4 Cranes decals to decorate our containers. Please send in as many as you can. We need them by Friday, November 21st. Thanks for your support. We'll give you more details as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
MS. HARRISON TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCE
I will be away from school on Thursday because Amy Landry, Kathy Iatarol (first grade) and I were chosen to present at the ISACS (Independent School Association of the the Central States) Annual Conference in Indianapolis. Our talk is based on a professional development model that we have presented to ESH and Lower School Faculty to help inspire the use of technology as a tool in the classroom. We hope to inspire other teachers and share our own learning.
ISACS PRESENTATION: Generating Teacher Excitement with Tech Playdates
Learn how a group of teachers at one school is scheduling regular Tech Playdates for fellow teachers, assistants, and administrators to generate interest and excitement about technology use in the classroom. Playdates are providing them with an opportunity to explore various technology tools, collaborate, and to brainstorm and share meaningful curricular uses. Learn why they decided to implement them, the steps they took, and the results they've seen. Get a feel for what one of their Playdates is like as you explore how N-2 students can visualize, document, and reflect on their learning using photos, video, and audio during a mini Playdate.
The children will be left in the capable hands of Ms. Atiya. Please direct any relevant information about dismissal, absences, etc. to her ([email protected]). Also, don't forget that Friday is Faculty Professional Development Day so there is no school for all grades.
FLASHLIGHT FRIDAY
Each Friday, we will dim the lights and read by flashlight! We began this fun, engaging activity on Halloween.
Enjoy your Sunday and this extra hour as we "fall back!"
We are getting ready to launch our Change 4 Cranes fundraiser before the Thanksgiving Holiday. We are asking each family to send in a sturdy container from home that we can reuse as a donation container. In our effort to “go green,” we do not want to purchase new containers and are hoping to reuse containers you would be recycling or throwing away. Some ideas include 24 oz. yogurt tubs with lids, oatmeal cylinders, plastic baby wipes boxes, etc. Containers need to be able to keep coins and paper money secure. We have Change 4 Cranes decals to decorate our containers. Please send in as many as you can. We need them by Friday, November 21st. Thanks for your support. We'll give you more details as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
MS. HARRISON TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCE
I will be away from school on Thursday because Amy Landry, Kathy Iatarol (first grade) and I were chosen to present at the ISACS (Independent School Association of the the Central States) Annual Conference in Indianapolis. Our talk is based on a professional development model that we have presented to ESH and Lower School Faculty to help inspire the use of technology as a tool in the classroom. We hope to inspire other teachers and share our own learning.
ISACS PRESENTATION: Generating Teacher Excitement with Tech Playdates
Learn how a group of teachers at one school is scheduling regular Tech Playdates for fellow teachers, assistants, and administrators to generate interest and excitement about technology use in the classroom. Playdates are providing them with an opportunity to explore various technology tools, collaborate, and to brainstorm and share meaningful curricular uses. Learn why they decided to implement them, the steps they took, and the results they've seen. Get a feel for what one of their Playdates is like as you explore how N-2 students can visualize, document, and reflect on their learning using photos, video, and audio during a mini Playdate.
The children will be left in the capable hands of Ms. Atiya. Please direct any relevant information about dismissal, absences, etc. to her ([email protected]). Also, don't forget that Friday is Faculty Professional Development Day so there is no school for all grades.
FLASHLIGHT FRIDAY
Each Friday, we will dim the lights and read by flashlight! We began this fun, engaging activity on Halloween.
Enjoy your Sunday and this extra hour as we "fall back!"