Welcome to the First Post!

In an effort to communicate with our families more, we are sending home weekly newsletters. I want to include lots of information so you can have an inside look at our class. I decided that I would like to go  a step further and create a blog so you can get even more updates and include even more information!

I hope you enjoy being "A Fly on the Wall" for our class!
Here is a copy of the second issue of our class newsletter-

New class offered for students

With so many changes happening we are constantly reassessing what is best for the students. At our last Board Meeting, we decided that the classes work best with a smaller number of children. We currently have our Tuesday and Thursday afternoons available. We would like to get an idea of who would be interested in switching to an afternoon class on Tuesday and Thursday. This would be the same as the other classes but allow for even more individual lessons for the children. Please complete the attached response and return it to school so we can move forward with the plans. This will not register you for this class, but we will know that there is an interest. Once we have a complete class we will notify you of the change. This new class will happen after the holiday vacation. Please see a teacher if you have any further questions.

"Hot Work" Counting 1-9 with Objects

This is work that is out all year long. There is a basket of 45 objects (last month it was gourds and this month it is beautiful ornaments!). The children unroll a rug and bring over the number cards with 1-9 on them. They place the number one on the top left of the rug and then take the basket over to the place where the ornaments are and place one in the basket and bring it back. They place one ornament next to the number one. Then they flip over the next card, two and place it under the one. They then walk over to the ornaments and put two in their basket and return to the rug. They continue with this until they have counted out all the numbers to 9. In the end they have a rug filled with 45 ornaments! This work has so many benefits-

·          They can visually see the numbers grow as they move down the rug

·          They are moving a lot! They have to walk back and forth from their rug to the objects

·          They have to remember as they are walking what number and how many to bring back (this is called distal memory)

·          It makes the connection between numerals and quantity

·          There are so many opportunities for repetition To master the skill!

Stone Soup was a Success!

Thank you to everyone that attended our first School wide Stone Soup! The children had a great time scrubbing, chopping, peeling and eating the soup! Having your kids help with food prep is a great way to teach many fine motor skills as well as introduce new foods. During the week of prepping the food, the students had an opportunity to taste test many new vegetables…even an avocado! It was fun to see their faces as they experienced new foods!

Songs we are Singing

Melting Snowmen

Here's a snowman round and fat; (make circle with arms)
Out comes the sun and melts his hat. (touch head)
Here's a snowman with a scarf of red;
Out comes the sun and melts his head. (touch head)
Here's a snowman, fit as a fiddle;
Out comes the sun and melts his middle. (touch stomach)
Here's a snowman who waits for dawn;
Out comes the sun and he's all gone!