Help!

In an effort to decrease the noise level in our uncarpeted classroom (aka: echo chamber), I'd like to stick tennis balls onto the bottom of the desk and chair legs.  They'll allow the kids to quietly move in and out of their chairs.  If you've any old tennis balls left over from the summer or some your dog might have abandoned, we could sure use them.

Thanks!

A Wonderful Community!

Thank you to all of your winter clothes donations.  As part of our Community Based Learning, our class took part in collecting and donating over 400 winter clothing items made available, for free to those in need for the annual "Karen Kitzmiller Coat Drive".

In an effort to celebrate and extend the learning, each child donated an item for our classroom celebration. We cleaned our room, our desks, made a centerpiece, arranged food platters, and set a beautiful table.  Family members came and spent a quiet afternoon engaged in conversation with both kids and adults.  We then went outside to enjoy the afternoon sun.

It was the perfect ending to a very busy week and a wonderful way to build community both in and out of the classroom.

Thank you...

Angela, Zaida, Maxine, Owen, and Emily share food and conversation.

Alahna helps herself to some cider from the table the children set and decorated.

Alexander shares some food and a book with his grandparents.

Seth's Dad shares a story with Seth and Trevon.

After playing outside, Dan entertains the children with a wonderful and animated reading of "Scaredy Squirrel". (These books are hilarious.  Run, don't walk, and grab a copy from the library or one of our many local bookstores).

Henry and Mudge Field Trip!

Please be sure your child arrives to school by 8:00!


We will have an early snack (8:00-ish).


Bus will be leaving at 8:30
Back by 12:00.

Hoots Gone Wild!

 Screech Makes a Surprise Visit!

The kids are enthralled.

After earning over 100 "hoots", Screech pays a surprise visit.

4 Winds

We built a tree, complete with roots, bark, heartwood, and sapwood.
Ethan and Emily are the heartwood.  Can you tell??

It's a tree!

 Mr. Bradley introduces us to Screech and explains Hoots.

During All School Assembly on Tuesday, we meet "Screech".

Mr. Bradley explains "PBIS" and how all of UES will be noticing expected and sometimes not so expected behavior; ie/notice them remembering our school/classroom rules, sometimes going above and beyond  and acknowledging them (the students) for their behavior.

The Last Two Weeks in Class

Planting tulips for our Journey North Expedition (non linear and in clumps of three.  Aesthetically much more pleasing).

Sofa-Lofa working with Dylan...

Parent Night!
Tom (sitting at Emily's desk), Angela, and Emily.

Idalee explains and shares Number Corner with her mom and sister.

Taydence shows her mom "Taydence".

Sophie and her mom play a round of "Which Number Will Win."

Seth shows his sister our aquarium.

 NAP-

Dylan and Seth share lunch together.

We all found sticks to create a tripod.

Lyn explains the kinds of sticks that we should be collecting for our tripod.

Zachary gets us started.

Alexander chooses a good spot for his stick.

It's coming together...

Emily has one last stick to share.

An Enthusiastic Participant. Who Knew???

As promised...

I love this.

This is what engagement is all about...

Parents- A Vital Part of the Curriculum!

Last Friday afternoon, Dave Keller (Idalee's dad) popped in.  He had arranged to go to his older daughter's class, but alas, they weren't there.  The timing was perfect, as we were celebrating Tre's surprise birthday party and making merry; and what's a party without music?

Dave kindly offered to play and sing some songs he'd taught the children last year (Boom Ba Lady is an old favorite).  Unbeknownst to him was the fact that your children had tired of singing the days of the week as part of our math program.  The days of the week song, sung to the tune of Fr ere Jacques, had been sung ad nauseam for the last twenty some odd days.  Picking up on their boredom and seizing a learning opportunity, I suggested to the children that we should try to come up with a tune for the months of the year- a much more challenging feat.  Hands sprung up!  Alexander was the first to have a go with the pointer.  He sauntered up to the front of the class and in a lovely falsetto he tried to sing the twelve months of the year.  Have you tried this?  Have you tried this in front of your peers?  Let's just say, the boy has pluck!  However, by the time he got to August, things started to fall apart.

Our next volunteer was Seth.  Again, a lovely voice.  The voice of an angel!  However, those summer months are tricky.  I told the kids that we could work on it, and proceeded to the rest of our math lesson.

Fast forward to last Friday.  In walks Dave.  He soon becomes part of the merry making.  As he's playing and singing I have a Eureka Moment!  "Hey Dave", says I. "Do you think you can sing the months of the year?"

The children, not missing a beat (pun intended) start cheering.

Let's just say, the man can compose and perform under pressure. Not only did he come up with a diddy, if you will, he also included a game.  I am happy to inform all of you that we now, after many viewings of this video, have a months of the year song that's part of our daily calendar lesson.

Thanks Dave!

Folks-  I want all of you to know that I tell your children several times a week that I think that I have the best first grade class in the universe.  The same holds true for their families.

Thank you for all that you do, both in class and at home...

Paulette

ps:  I'm not sure if this is the one with Alexander dancing.  If not, I'll upload the other video.

Music speaks to all of us!