Happy Valentines Day - reminder please bring swimsuits, towels, etc. for PE tomorrow!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Week of February 4 to February 11
This week's blog covers academics, social emotional, and projects.
Academics
In Language Arts, we have entered into the orange books. We are making our way into longer reading books and free writing. Your child should be able to read you a book of his/her favorite at home. During math, we have reduced our class size and are working rigorously on reading graphs, word problems, and our subtration/addition facts. They are also working on counting by 5s. We were unable to do our science project this Monday because of the rain and will make it up next week.
Social Emotional
We have been diving into choices and consequences. Each child gets the opportunity to understand that he or she has the power to make a choice. At the same time, they are learning that each choice has a consequence. If they break a rule of the class, they choose an appropriate consequence for their choice. We will usually work on it together. During our class meeting this week, we solved a problem. That problem was taking other's things when we find them. They decided that the item should be returned and all involved should tell the truth. We will be addressing more items in our agenda box tomorrow.
Projects
The children voted on baking cakes! They also voted on giving them to sick children in Children's Hospital. We have been writing letters home asking for the $5 it will take to buy supplies and transportation costs. Unfortunately, I have called the Children's Hospital and they do not have visitation for children. So, I will have to break it to the class. I have contacted Volunteer San Diego for more options on who we can serve with our baking. If you have ideas or connections, please call or e-mail.
Thanks so much for reading this.
Meital
p.s.. Much needed technical help for this blog, if you're good at tech. stuff and want to help, please call or come by with notice.
Academics
In Language Arts, we have entered into the orange books. We are making our way into longer reading books and free writing. Your child should be able to read you a book of his/her favorite at home. During math, we have reduced our class size and are working rigorously on reading graphs, word problems, and our subtration/addition facts. They are also working on counting by 5s. We were unable to do our science project this Monday because of the rain and will make it up next week.
Social Emotional
We have been diving into choices and consequences. Each child gets the opportunity to understand that he or she has the power to make a choice. At the same time, they are learning that each choice has a consequence. If they break a rule of the class, they choose an appropriate consequence for their choice. We will usually work on it together. During our class meeting this week, we solved a problem. That problem was taking other's things when we find them. They decided that the item should be returned and all involved should tell the truth. We will be addressing more items in our agenda box tomorrow.
Projects
The children voted on baking cakes! They also voted on giving them to sick children in Children's Hospital. We have been writing letters home asking for the $5 it will take to buy supplies and transportation costs. Unfortunately, I have called the Children's Hospital and they do not have visitation for children. So, I will have to break it to the class. I have contacted Volunteer San Diego for more options on who we can serve with our baking. If you have ideas or connections, please call or e-mail.
Thanks so much for reading this.
Meital
p.s.. Much needed technical help for this blog, if you're good at tech. stuff and want to help, please call or come by with notice.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Blog for February 02-06
Hello Rainforesters:
The following is the blog for the week of February 02-06. It will cover academics, social emotional, projects, and upcoming events.
Academics:
Everyone should have gotten their report cards. If you have any questions or concerns, please do call me. My phone is now working again, (858)568-6335. We have been working so hard to get into the next book in Language Arts, which is officially the first grade book. We are starting next week and our goal will be to finish the series so that all of our children our ready for second grade next year. Please please please have your children read to you on a daily basis. This is the age for them to start reading like crazy! I know it's fun to read to your little ones, but even more important that they show off their new skills and get into literature that they love!
We are embarking on a baking project. In this project, they are writing you a letter asking for $5 for supplies. They are doing a rough draft and a final. If you cannot afford $5, please send what you can. If you can afford more, please send what you can. In math, we are moving some children around to make more room in our class. We are working on counting by 2's, 5's, and using them to add and subtract. We are also working on word problems and timed additioin and subtraction. Our science project is going well. This last week, we took our science journals out into the field and measured the temperature of different surfaces. We went to the ice rink, into the garden, we measured Jules' and Eli's backs, and we sat in the middle of the field! The temperature was 98 degrees! Thankfully, it will be raining for the next four days, so we will have a chance to see the temperature drop and dress accourdingly.
I have announced that if the various items of clothing are not picked up by Friday, they are going to the Lost and Found! Talk to your children about this. A lot of them have been picked up, but some are still here. The Lost and Found is like the final frontier for jackets. You don't want yours to go there!
In P.E., we are done with the dance party. Next week, I will be teaching swimming. If your child signed up for this, please send them with a bathing suit. They will be changing at lunch so that we can use our time wisely. Today, we played football out in the field. We have some exceptional throws in our class!
Social Emotional
We got a new student! His name is Julius! He shared with us today his boy scout uniform. He seems to have taken to the class very nicely and is starting to connect and bond with the other children. In our morning meetings, we played the color game which requires you to work with a partner. One partner says a color and the other has to say that same exact color back. It requires that we listen. We also played the ABC game on a different day, which is a great game for around the dinner table. We have been working on one voice at a time and freezing. When I sound the noise maker, they are to freeze and listen. If they don't, they get to go to freeze training. Which is basically a whole lot of moving and freezing, moving and freezing, moving and freezing. We also have one voice at a time training. This is a game in which one person talks for an entire minute while the others listen. If they make it, they've passed the training. If not, try again!
Projects
The Baking Project has emerged out of two weeks of making pizza. The children have chosen to bake cakes and then take it to children's hospital. They will gift the kids there with cake. Hopefully, they'll be able to enjoy it. We need the funds to make this a success. They are sending you letters. Once we get the funds, we will walk to the store, and buy the supplies. After that, we will bake. Jaime has been baking with us for the past two weeks. We could definetely use more volunteers for baking and especially for when we go to the market. Also, if there is someone who wants to take on contacting the hospital and setting that up, that would be great. The children will als be taking their favorite book to read with and to the other children. Be thinking and talking with your little one about which one they want to takie.
Upcoming Events
A four day weekend is coming up. Next week, we have Friday and Monday off! Whew! That would be a great time to plan some play dates and sleepovers with friends in the class.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for pictures, coming soon
Love,
Meital
The following is the blog for the week of February 02-06. It will cover academics, social emotional, projects, and upcoming events.
Academics:
Everyone should have gotten their report cards. If you have any questions or concerns, please do call me. My phone is now working again, (858)568-6335. We have been working so hard to get into the next book in Language Arts, which is officially the first grade book. We are starting next week and our goal will be to finish the series so that all of our children our ready for second grade next year. Please please please have your children read to you on a daily basis. This is the age for them to start reading like crazy! I know it's fun to read to your little ones, but even more important that they show off their new skills and get into literature that they love!
We are embarking on a baking project. In this project, they are writing you a letter asking for $5 for supplies. They are doing a rough draft and a final. If you cannot afford $5, please send what you can. If you can afford more, please send what you can. In math, we are moving some children around to make more room in our class. We are working on counting by 2's, 5's, and using them to add and subtract. We are also working on word problems and timed additioin and subtraction. Our science project is going well. This last week, we took our science journals out into the field and measured the temperature of different surfaces. We went to the ice rink, into the garden, we measured Jules' and Eli's backs, and we sat in the middle of the field! The temperature was 98 degrees! Thankfully, it will be raining for the next four days, so we will have a chance to see the temperature drop and dress accourdingly.
I have announced that if the various items of clothing are not picked up by Friday, they are going to the Lost and Found! Talk to your children about this. A lot of them have been picked up, but some are still here. The Lost and Found is like the final frontier for jackets. You don't want yours to go there!
In P.E., we are done with the dance party. Next week, I will be teaching swimming. If your child signed up for this, please send them with a bathing suit. They will be changing at lunch so that we can use our time wisely. Today, we played football out in the field. We have some exceptional throws in our class!
Social Emotional
We got a new student! His name is Julius! He shared with us today his boy scout uniform. He seems to have taken to the class very nicely and is starting to connect and bond with the other children. In our morning meetings, we played the color game which requires you to work with a partner. One partner says a color and the other has to say that same exact color back. It requires that we listen. We also played the ABC game on a different day, which is a great game for around the dinner table. We have been working on one voice at a time and freezing. When I sound the noise maker, they are to freeze and listen. If they don't, they get to go to freeze training. Which is basically a whole lot of moving and freezing, moving and freezing, moving and freezing. We also have one voice at a time training. This is a game in which one person talks for an entire minute while the others listen. If they make it, they've passed the training. If not, try again!
Projects
The Baking Project has emerged out of two weeks of making pizza. The children have chosen to bake cakes and then take it to children's hospital. They will gift the kids there with cake. Hopefully, they'll be able to enjoy it. We need the funds to make this a success. They are sending you letters. Once we get the funds, we will walk to the store, and buy the supplies. After that, we will bake. Jaime has been baking with us for the past two weeks. We could definetely use more volunteers for baking and especially for when we go to the market. Also, if there is someone who wants to take on contacting the hospital and setting that up, that would be great. The children will als be taking their favorite book to read with and to the other children. Be thinking and talking with your little one about which one they want to takie.
Upcoming Events
A four day weekend is coming up. Next week, we have Friday and Monday off! Whew! That would be a great time to plan some play dates and sleepovers with friends in the class.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for pictures, coming soon
Love,
Meital
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Week of January 19-13, 2009
Hello everybody!
This week's blog will cover:
1. Academics and Standards
2. Roots and Wings
3. Special and Upcoming Events
Academics
In Language Arts, we have been reading up a storm! Each child has chosen a library book that they have been reading this week. Ask your child about the book. We have been moving fast through our lessons and learning new aspects of language arts. Such as titles of stories, quotation marks, the two different sounds of e, and comprehension.
During Math, we have introduced hundreds, tens, and leftovers. The children are writing three digit numerals and identifying the placements of the digits. They also started adding two digit numerals. We have been working more and more on number families and getting subraction and addition facts out of one number family. Next week, we are going to start more specific groupings so that each child will get to go at an appropriate pace for them. During Social Studies, we talked about and attempted to watch the presidential inaguration. We've also done some Obama art that you can see over our door where our mandalas used to be. We've been learning "My country tis' o thee" so if you hear them singing it at home, feel free to join. Hopefully, some children will have the guts to perform at the next all school pow-wow. On Monday, we will start our energy efficiency project. Stay tuned. For P.E., we've been having a dance party. They have learned the cha cha and the electric slide, sort of. I've also been noticing that they've become even more liberated in their free form dancing. Broadway, watch out!
Roots and Wings
We've been holding classroom meetings every day. At first it took them about five minutes just to form a circle. Now, they are doing it in under three. We have been giving amazing compliments and appreciations to one another, with the help of our froggy friend, the Compliment King. Some students volunteered to make a crown for him and others volunteered to make an agenda box. In the agenda box, students get to write about problems they are having or a project they want to propose. We discuss it during our class meetings. Which brings me to my next subject...special events....
Special and Upcoming Event
Next Tuesday, we are going to have a pizza party. Instead of buying pizza, we are going to make pizza. Jaime Nilles (Eli's mom) has been kind enough to go to the store and buy all of the ingredients. If any other parents would like to help with the cost of this event, that would be greatly appreciated. We will also need rollers for the dough and Jules mentioned that she has aprons for everyone, not sure if that's true or not. This would be a great time to come in and volunteer. Classics for Kids is tomorrow, ask your child how they enjoyed it, and if you still haven't sent in the $6 it's not too late. If you're experiencing financial difficulty, please let me know, so I can notify the administrators. They would like to know how they can best support these families.
On Monday, Miss Alannah is going to show me how to put pictures on the blog, so next week should be a lot juicier!
With Much Love,
Meital
This week's blog will cover:
1. Academics and Standards
2. Roots and Wings
3. Special and Upcoming Events
Academics
In Language Arts, we have been reading up a storm! Each child has chosen a library book that they have been reading this week. Ask your child about the book. We have been moving fast through our lessons and learning new aspects of language arts. Such as titles of stories, quotation marks, the two different sounds of e, and comprehension.
During Math, we have introduced hundreds, tens, and leftovers. The children are writing three digit numerals and identifying the placements of the digits. They also started adding two digit numerals. We have been working more and more on number families and getting subraction and addition facts out of one number family. Next week, we are going to start more specific groupings so that each child will get to go at an appropriate pace for them. During Social Studies, we talked about and attempted to watch the presidential inaguration. We've also done some Obama art that you can see over our door where our mandalas used to be. We've been learning "My country tis' o thee" so if you hear them singing it at home, feel free to join. Hopefully, some children will have the guts to perform at the next all school pow-wow. On Monday, we will start our energy efficiency project. Stay tuned. For P.E., we've been having a dance party. They have learned the cha cha and the electric slide, sort of. I've also been noticing that they've become even more liberated in their free form dancing. Broadway, watch out!
Roots and Wings
We've been holding classroom meetings every day. At first it took them about five minutes just to form a circle. Now, they are doing it in under three. We have been giving amazing compliments and appreciations to one another, with the help of our froggy friend, the Compliment King. Some students volunteered to make a crown for him and others volunteered to make an agenda box. In the agenda box, students get to write about problems they are having or a project they want to propose. We discuss it during our class meetings. Which brings me to my next subject...special events....
Special and Upcoming Event
Next Tuesday, we are going to have a pizza party. Instead of buying pizza, we are going to make pizza. Jaime Nilles (Eli's mom) has been kind enough to go to the store and buy all of the ingredients. If any other parents would like to help with the cost of this event, that would be greatly appreciated. We will also need rollers for the dough and Jules mentioned that she has aprons for everyone, not sure if that's true or not. This would be a great time to come in and volunteer. Classics for Kids is tomorrow, ask your child how they enjoyed it, and if you still haven't sent in the $6 it's not too late. If you're experiencing financial difficulty, please let me know, so I can notify the administrators. They would like to know how they can best support these families.
On Monday, Miss Alannah is going to show me how to put pictures on the blog, so next week should be a lot juicier!
With Much Love,
Meital
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Week of January 13-17, 2009
Hello,
We hae been having fun and learning hard! This week's blog will cover the following:
1. Academia and Standards
2. Special Events
3. Roots and Wings
Academia and Standards
Getting back into the swing of things with our newly formed more specific groups for Language Arts. A lot of children have moved up since the beginning of school and are continuing to excel. That said, we are very focused and crunched for time in order to get everything in during our hour long academia standards. We have also started to a library book check out program. One day a week, we go to the library so that I can do assessments. During this time, each child picks out a "just right" book to read during SSR (sustained silent reading) for the entirety of the week. During this time, they will also complete a book report. If they are bringing home their books, please make sure they bring them back to school. Reading to your child is great but more like entertainment and relaxation. Having your child read to you is wonderful wonderful practice and I highly encourage it. I have committed to finding the time, somehow, that each child will get a chance to read their library book to me. In Math, we are working on counting by 2's, number families, adding and subtracting, and word problems.
In Social Studies, we have been focusing on Martin Luther King and his day coming up. We've had so many wonderful discussions and read some really great books. They are, My Brother Marting, Martin's Big Words, and Ruby Bridges.
Special Events
We performed a poem entitled, You Can Be Like Martin, Yes You Can! at the all school Pow Wow. It was a great hit. It was particularly notable because many of our children who are emerging readers took on reading in front of the whole school. They learned courage and perseverance. Although, I had to extract one of them from hiding minutes before the performance. We also visited the upper grades wax museum and hall of scientists. On Thursday of next week, we will be going to a Classics 4 Kids concert. It costs $6 and if you can send that in, that would be groovy! A big Thank You to Judith, Jaime, and Roekmini for arranging and organizing the Friday envelopes. That is a HUGE help and much appreciated.
Roots and Wings
Many of you know, we are inserting positive discipline in our class. One of the mainstays of this theory is classroom meetings. We have been conducting those daily. The children work together to form a circle and are timed daily to see how efficient they are being. We have also been giving and receiving meaningful compliments. That means once you say a compliment such as, 'you are nice' you add on the reason why. So it becomes 'you are nice because you helped to do the Friday envelopes'. This gives the other reason more specific feedback on what others are enjoying about them.
I hope this blog has been informative and if you have any other questions or concerns, come on in, give a call, or drop an email.
Much Love,
Meital
We hae been having fun and learning hard! This week's blog will cover the following:
1. Academia and Standards
2. Special Events
3. Roots and Wings
Academia and Standards
Getting back into the swing of things with our newly formed more specific groups for Language Arts. A lot of children have moved up since the beginning of school and are continuing to excel. That said, we are very focused and crunched for time in order to get everything in during our hour long academia standards. We have also started to a library book check out program. One day a week, we go to the library so that I can do assessments. During this time, each child picks out a "just right" book to read during SSR (sustained silent reading) for the entirety of the week. During this time, they will also complete a book report. If they are bringing home their books, please make sure they bring them back to school. Reading to your child is great but more like entertainment and relaxation. Having your child read to you is wonderful wonderful practice and I highly encourage it. I have committed to finding the time, somehow, that each child will get a chance to read their library book to me. In Math, we are working on counting by 2's, number families, adding and subtracting, and word problems.
In Social Studies, we have been focusing on Martin Luther King and his day coming up. We've had so many wonderful discussions and read some really great books. They are, My Brother Marting, Martin's Big Words, and Ruby Bridges.
Special Events
We performed a poem entitled, You Can Be Like Martin, Yes You Can! at the all school Pow Wow. It was a great hit. It was particularly notable because many of our children who are emerging readers took on reading in front of the whole school. They learned courage and perseverance. Although, I had to extract one of them from hiding minutes before the performance. We also visited the upper grades wax museum and hall of scientists. On Thursday of next week, we will be going to a Classics 4 Kids concert. It costs $6 and if you can send that in, that would be groovy! A big Thank You to Judith, Jaime, and Roekmini for arranging and organizing the Friday envelopes. That is a HUGE help and much appreciated.
Roots and Wings
Many of you know, we are inserting positive discipline in our class. One of the mainstays of this theory is classroom meetings. We have been conducting those daily. The children work together to form a circle and are timed daily to see how efficient they are being. We have also been giving and receiving meaningful compliments. That means once you say a compliment such as, 'you are nice' you add on the reason why. So it becomes 'you are nice because you helped to do the Friday envelopes'. This gives the other reason more specific feedback on what others are enjoying about them.
I hope this blog has been informative and if you have any other questions or concerns, come on in, give a call, or drop an email.
Much Love,
Meital
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Week of January 4-10, 2009
Salutations and Greetings! Welcome back from a period of rejuvenation.
We started the new year off with much excitement. The blog will contain: roots and wings, academia, and announcements.
Roots and Wings
Many of you know we are now working with two profound leaders in the world of education, Megan and Aisha, the founders of Roots and Wings. They are working on transforming our class into a center of positive discipline. If all goes well, they may work with other classses. Today, we did a lesson called, The Almost Perfect School Year. As a group, we outlined what is important to us, what our beliefs are. Once we got that down, we narrowed down what people do and say in accordance with those beliefs. The children came up with some beliefs, such as,
We believe people should have fun. The doing of that is sharing with friends, inviting friends to play, going on field trips, and having a good time no matter what. They saying of that is 'will you play with me?', 'I like you', 'I am your friend', etc.
The children came up with five different beliefs and complete definitions of what to do and say in order to fulfill on them. Then, we all signed the papers. We will also be sending home a copy for you to have and reinforce at home. Tomorrow, we are having a class meeting and are focusing on forming a circle, using team work. We are also focusing on giving compliments, not the kind that says, 'you are nice', 'you are my friend' but the kind that are more focused, specific, detailed, and give real feedack to someone else.
Academia
There have been some switches that took place before the break. They are in full force. Please keep reading with your child at home. It's very important! In math, we are taking on addition, subtraction, number families, word problems, money, measuring, and much more.
In Social Studies, we've been discussing democracy. Democracy is what makes our country so great and unique in that our forefathers were the first to implement democracy in modern day.
We have distinguished between representative and direct democracy. We then put it into action. We voted! The children voted to have a cupcake day this Friday. Which leads me into announcements....
Announcements
We will be having cupcake day this Friday. Please bring in cupcakes if you are able. I am fully aware we normally shy away from this much sugar, but, seeing that they voted so unaninamously on it and that we rarely do this, I thought just this once it would be okay. Ty did mention that he thought the sugar would be a little too much for him. We are committed to a healthy classroom and will maintain our level of fitness and nutrition consciousness.
I am in need of parent volunteers for Thursday during lunch. Is there anyone who would like to help? Please write or call.
Goodbye for now,
Meital
We started the new year off with much excitement. The blog will contain: roots and wings, academia, and announcements.
Roots and Wings
Many of you know we are now working with two profound leaders in the world of education, Megan and Aisha, the founders of Roots and Wings. They are working on transforming our class into a center of positive discipline. If all goes well, they may work with other classses. Today, we did a lesson called, The Almost Perfect School Year. As a group, we outlined what is important to us, what our beliefs are. Once we got that down, we narrowed down what people do and say in accordance with those beliefs. The children came up with some beliefs, such as,
We believe people should have fun. The doing of that is sharing with friends, inviting friends to play, going on field trips, and having a good time no matter what. They saying of that is 'will you play with me?', 'I like you', 'I am your friend', etc.
The children came up with five different beliefs and complete definitions of what to do and say in order to fulfill on them. Then, we all signed the papers. We will also be sending home a copy for you to have and reinforce at home. Tomorrow, we are having a class meeting and are focusing on forming a circle, using team work. We are also focusing on giving compliments, not the kind that says, 'you are nice', 'you are my friend' but the kind that are more focused, specific, detailed, and give real feedack to someone else.
Academia
There have been some switches that took place before the break. They are in full force. Please keep reading with your child at home. It's very important! In math, we are taking on addition, subtraction, number families, word problems, money, measuring, and much more.
In Social Studies, we've been discussing democracy. Democracy is what makes our country so great and unique in that our forefathers were the first to implement democracy in modern day.
We have distinguished between representative and direct democracy. We then put it into action. We voted! The children voted to have a cupcake day this Friday. Which leads me into announcements....
Announcements
We will be having cupcake day this Friday. Please bring in cupcakes if you are able. I am fully aware we normally shy away from this much sugar, but, seeing that they voted so unaninamously on it and that we rarely do this, I thought just this once it would be okay. Ty did mention that he thought the sugar would be a little too much for him. We are committed to a healthy classroom and will maintain our level of fitness and nutrition consciousness.
I am in need of parent volunteers for Thursday during lunch. Is there anyone who would like to help? Please write or call.
Goodbye for now,
Meital
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