October 26 Update – International Festival, Original Works and Cooking Studio

Oct26

Good Evening!

Tomorrow our class will begin discussing country reports in order to get ready for the International Festival in December.  This home based project has been a favorite of the students and faculty since MMA opened in August 2010.  During this time, we have learned a lot and continually make changes in the hopes that this festival will continue to improve year after year.

In order to avoid 50 Germany or 15 Australia reports we have divided the country options up equally among each upper elementary class.  I will do my best to allow students the continent of their choosing, however the country they desire may not be available.  In this case, we will simply draw straws in order to avoid hurt feelings.  The reason for this method is to highlight the many countries that are overlooked each year for the more “popular” countries.   Rubrics and expectations for these reports will be going home on Friday, October 30.

If you have a student Cooking Studio, Ms. Kirsten has made a sign up sheet for the supplies needed in order to make your student’s cooking experience the best it can be.

We’re using VolunteerSpot (the leading online Sign-up and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming Sign-ups for the Cooking Studio Friday class.

Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/nVH2Ed
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It’s Easy – you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

Lastly, if your child has a piece of artwork they would like to submit to Original Works, the deadline has been extended until 9:00am tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27.

What is Original Works? For 26 years, this company has been coordinating with schools to turn children’s art into keepsakes. You can choose from one or more of the following: key chains, magnets, mirrors, coasters, notebooks, tiles, mugs, tote bags, water bottles, cell phone covers, night lights, T-shirts, quilt block, mouse pads, note cards, pillowcases, journals, pot holders, matted prints, and decorative flags.

Who benefits from this fundraiser? When you order, the profit goes directly to your child’s classroom!

What should I do if my child completed more than one piece of art? Each piece of art needs its own order form. If you want to order multiple pieces of art, please get additional order forms from Rachael Bush.

What should my child do with their completed packets? Return the art, order form, and check payable to MMA to the school. There will be a table at the entrance ready for your orders.  PLEASE do NOT give money and order forms to teachers.

We ONLY accept checks! Please make them out to MMA and include them with your completed order form.

When are order forms due? By October 27th. Look for the Original Works table in the school’s entrance!

When will orders arrive? Original Works art keepsake(s) will be sent home on December 2nd.

What if my child didn’t finish their art at school? Your child can complete, add to, or even replace their art at home. Use 8½ x 11″ plain paper and color or paint. Please no glitter, pipe cleaners, googley eyes, or anything else that makes the art 3-D.

What if parents don’t want to order? You keep your child’s art!

If you have additional questions, please contact rachael.bush@gmail.com

Red Ribbon Week – Classroom Volunteer Opportunity

Oct22

Next week is Red Ribbon Week.  In addition to an assembly and a variety of activities our school is having a door decorating contest.  The classroom that best exhibits this year’s theme “Respect Yourself Be Drug Free” will win a pizza party.

The time I am planning to set aside for this is 10:30-12:00, Tuesday, October 27.

If there are any crafty, creative parents with a brilliant idea who would like to organize small groups of children for an hour and a half on Tuesday morning to decorate our classroom door, please send me an email.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Important: Natural History Museum Field Trip Tomorrow

Oct21

Don’t forget our trip to the Natural History Museum is tomorrow, Thusday, October 22.

Please be sure your child meets their prearranged ride at 8:25.  Rides will be leaving at 8:40 tomorrow in order to make sure we arrive at the museum on time.  Any child whose ride has not been arranged tonight (most of you have done so, , thank you!), will stay at school with another upper elementary teacher.

Bring: Lunch that does not require heating, jacket, camera (stand alone camera only please)

Leave home: Electronics, toys, large back packs, phones

We will leave the museum around 1:00 to return to the school for the last hour of the day and students will be picked up from the school at regular release time.

Thanks to the parents who are joining us on the trip!  We couldn’t have done it without your help.

 

2nd Trimester Review and Fall Festival Update

Oct18

Thanks to everyone who made it to parent teacher conference!  I hope you have been able to decompress a little and unwind with your kids (even those of you who still had to work) during fall break.  I know I needed the rest, yet I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks of school!

Work Expectations

Each day your children are responsible for planning their work, and have done a great job so far.  Tomorrow I will be introducing a new step in planning the day.  This will include an expectations sheet with specific work required each week.  It will be up to your kiddos to plan and complete the work required.   This expectations sheet will likely undergo a few tweaks over the next couple of weeks as we work out the bugs together, but the format and use of the sheet will remain consistent.

Ask your children about it tomorrow after school, your interest will encourage them to utilize this tool to help them plan work that is appropriate for their ability level.  It will even serve to push those who need just a little nudge.

I am so excited to have received new measurement materials for our classroom!  They are cut and ready to be used!   Your children have taken to measurement like ducks to water.  They love weighing, measuring, filling and all things associated with measurement.   Last week we had a “walk off” to test which was further, a kilometer or a mile.  Ask your child which is further.

Book Reports

I have had several of you ask about book reports this year.  My focus so far this year has been on reading non-fiction in the classroom, and because your students are so engaged with their Scholastic magazines, I have not assigned any book reports (that isn’t the only reason).  I really want the reading they do during silent reading, and at home for pleasure, to be just that – pleasurable.  My experience last year with book reports were both positive and negative.

The experience was positive when the students were really excited about the particular book and type of book report that was associated with the book at the time (you have some really creative kids), but negative when the students could not find a book that excited them or when they had a great book, but didn’t like the style of book report.  It is partly because I’m wrangling with just the right way to go about it that I am delaying book reports.   In addition, we have international festival in December (don’t worry, assignments have not gone out for this yet) and Science Fair immediately following in January.  I do not want your children to be overwhelmed with home projects, particularly when the about of research they will be doing at home is going to be increasing very soon.

Fall Festival

 

And finally, the Fall Festival is this week! Mark your calendars for Friday October 23 from 4-7pm. We are in need of 12 volunteers, between mine and Ms. Holly’s class, to help run the Goodie Walk game and the Batman Obstacle. The volunteer slots are for one hour increments. We need 2 volunteers at the Goodie Walk per hour and 2 volunteers at the Batman Obstacle per hour. Please click   http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/nkztu  to sign up for a one hour slot. Remember this goes towards your 40 hours of volunteer time the school requires.

Thanks again for all you do to support your kids and our school community!

 

 

 

Natural History Museum Field Trip

Oct18

I wanted to share with you the possibility of not being able to attend the field trip to the NHMU this coming Thursday.  Due to scheduling conflicts we have not been able to secure enough drivers.  If by the end of the day Monday, October 19 we do not have enough drivers, we will have to cancel the trip.  If you are able to drive, please contact our room mom Chandi.