Category Archives: Reading

Homework and more

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Parents, I enjoyed speaking with you at back to school night.  We have such amazing support from you as parents, so much so, I know I wasn’t able to visit with a few of you.  I know you had the chance to chat with Ms. Lily, she is fantastic.  If you need to contact me, please email me.

I wanted to make you aware that we may have hand-foot-mouth spreading in our classroom.  This spread last year as well.  It generally starts with a sore throat and then the rash appears later.  I have not said anything to the students, but if they are complaining of an unusual sore throat, it may be best to keep them home in order to keep it from spreading further.  I know as parents it is sometimes hard to know if they are really feeling ill and wanted to make you aware that this is a possibility.

Reading in the classroom has really taken off and the students are enjoying their personal libraries.   Thank you for your donations, they really are going to a great cause.  I hate to even ask, but we could really use an increase in beginner early emergent books. If you have any to share, please do so. I would even be willing to take character books at this level.  If you are interested in getting in some volunteer hours by creating some early emergent books for the classroom, please let me know.

I spoke with the students Thursday about work that needs to be completed outside of the classroom.  It is expected that all students read 20 minutes daily.  This could include being read to, as well as, reading to others.   We have completed most of our back to school reading assessments and we see a huge difference in students who are consistently reading.  Please help your child be successful by helping to establish a reading routine in the home.  I will not require a sign off sheet, unless I come to find it necessary.  Please don’t fall into the misconception that MMA does not require homework.  We do, it is just not traditional in nature.

I also talked to the students about their first home project for this month.  They are to present a personal talent, hobby or interest.  This is a great warm up for getting to know each other more and becoming comfortable presenting in front of the class.  I will not be creating a due date, but it needs to be completed by the end of the month.  They are required to have a visual aid and a completed written work according to their ability level.  Level 3’s will be talking the SAGE written test on the computer in the spring and home projects would be a great opportunity to practice typing.  Some students ability level is just learning to write their own name, this would be a great opportunity for your child to dictate what they want to say and you could write it out using a highlighter.  Your child could then practice tracing over your highlighter writing.  I really want this to be their own work.  I had to smile when a little girl last year came up to me and said, ” My mom isn’t finished with my home project yet.”  You know what your child’s ability level is and encourage them to spread just a little further.  This should be fun and create excitement and love for learning.  I dislike stories of students who are forced to stay up past 10:00 p.m. rewriting their home projects, because they were not perfect.  Some examples ideas for this project:  A student who takes karate could demonstrate or teach some karate moves to the class, this would qualify as a visual aide.  Then they could write about how karate is good for the body and mind.  You may have a child who is a great skier and they could present a project on one of their favorite skiers.  I had a student last year create a poster board with pictures of him in front of significant places in his life., such as the hospital he was born.  He then wrote a little bit about each picture.  A student who just learned a new skill, like tying shoes, could teach the class and write out the steps needed to complete the process.  The sky is the limit on this project.  Please have your child bring their work once it is completed and we will work to present it that day.  This works well to have a few each day rather than a large number all at once.

I forgot to mention to the students that we have P.E. on Monday.  Please make certain your child is dress for this activity and has proper shoes.  Thanks.

Donating Books

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Hi families.  Kacee, our curriculum specialist, has asked for families to consider donating books to your child’s classroom.  This year we are implementing a new reading program called the daily 5.  A large component in this new program is “good fit books”.  Students will have certain times throughout the day where they will “shop” for books that are on their interest and reading level, from the classroom library.  Each child will have space in their own cubby to store about 5 books.  When we have our established reading time, students will already have books picked to read.  This helps to use reading time wisely and avoid problems with students who spend all of reading time looking for books.  I have been working hard to grow our classroom library this summer, but could still use your help.  I am looking for books that your own children enjoy.  If you have books from your own collection you are ready to pass on, please, don’t hesitate sharing.  If you are great at shopping yard sales, consider picking up a few books for the classroom.  D.I. and Savers are a great place to find books for very inexpensive. I also was told the county library is having their yearly sale tomorrow.  I am especially in need of chapter books that are appropriate for young reader.  Please keep in mind we have all levels of readers, so really most anything will be well accepted.  The only books we try to avoid are popular character books like Barbie, Dora, etc.  I figure if everyone could donate at least 2 books this would help us greatly.  Thank you so much for your help with this.  I find it so important to help students foster a love of reading.

Our Last Week of School

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I cannot express how impressed I have been with the sense of compassion and teamwork this class has developed.  The unforeseen obstacles we have faced this year have strengthened and helped these children grow in ways that they would not have otherwise.  They have grown and expanded into an amazing community and have learned life skills that will take them far in life.  They have learned to recognize differences, needs and strengths in one another.  I know some of you had the opportunity in sit in on our compliment circles and see how they are able to lift each other, recognize service, and celebrate who they are.  I have seen the beauty of them becoming leaders and helping their fellow classmates.  Teacher have come to me and expressed how impressed they are in the friendships and teamwork they witness with this group.  These opportunities shape these young people for the better and I feel so fortunate to see this first hand.  I have shed many tears of joy in seeing them develop further into amazing people this past year.  It took a little longer than hoped because of our unique challenges, but we normalized into peaceful focused work cycles.  The academic progress these students have made is so exciting.  Upper el teachers are thrilled to hear how well prepared in large math these students from our class are for next year.  Our reading has soared!  One of the reading specialists was nearly in tears of joy as we were going over reading scores.  These kids have made great strides and it takes all of us as a team to make this happen.  Please, please, please, continue to have your children read regularly over the summer.  It is so important to keep this momentum going.

As this year comes to an end, I am already planning for next year and wanting to make you aware of some of the changes you will see happening.  This was a transition year for many of students and we thought it best not to change too many things at once.  One thing that will be different will be home projects.  Projects will have assigned due dates and guided topics.  They will continue to be due monthly.  We will also be having book shares monthly.  Our first home project for next fall will be a little different in nature, it will be a show and teach.  I will be sending further details, but you may want to be thinking with your student over the summer about something they enjoy doing and how they can teach that to the class.

I am trying to replace the sadness I feel in not seeing them over the summer with excitement for all the new things next year will bring.  I have grown alongside them this year and love that this journey will continue as we meet together again next fall.  The Montessori philosophy is beautiful in so many ways, but one particular strength I appreciate is that I as a teacher get to know and grow with your child for more than a year.  I love knowing that with our soon to be level 2’s and 3’s, that I have already developed a knowledge of who they are and can continue to grow in that knowledge in order to help them reach their potentials.  Often times, like in traditional school, by the time you really start to have a great feel for the child and their needs, the school year is already winding down and they move forward into the next class, only to start the process all over again.  I love that we have the ability to develop a deeper understanding of each unique child we teach.   I love them all and I celebrate how amazing each child is and thank you for allowing me to be apart of this great work.

We will be honoring the moving forward of our level 3’s into upper el on Tuesday.  The bridging ceremony was changed from 11:30 to 11:00 a.m.  Level 3 parents are invited to attend.  It will be a short ceremony, followed by a picnic lunch for level 3’s joining upper el.  Level 3’s please do not bring something to warm for lunch this day.  Level 1 and 2’s will be having lunch in the classroom.

Wednesday is crazy hair day.

Thursday is crazy sock day.

Friday is pajama day and yearbook signing.

Don’t forget that all week is dismissal at 1:00 p.m. in order to provide time for conferences.

Week of February 10th

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It was nice meeting with you over Parent Teacher Conference.  I enjoy your children so much and it is nice to sit with you and celebrate the individuals they are and the growth they are making.

I know I mentioned the importance of reading at home at least 20 minutes daily.  We will be starting our heart chain this week, for every 10 minutes they read at home they can add a heart to our classroom chain.  We will measure how long it takes us to complete it one time around the classroom.  Remember the sight word link is available on the blog.  This is a great way to build fluency which many of us spoke about during conferences.

The International Festival was great fun.  I am certain the students shared their excitement about many of the things they saw and experienced.  We need to start working on our next home project.  This is especially important for our level 3’s.  Upper El is just around the corner and it is now we need to start preparing.  Level 3’s will be required to bring in a completed typed page to accompany all presentations.  The SAGE test requires that all essays are to be typed.  This is the time to prepare.  If your level 3 is having a hard time finding a subject of interest, we are currently focusing our cultural studies on Asia, dinosaurs, flowers, weather and invertebrates.  These are all wonderful areas to explore further outside of the classroom.

Level 1’s and 2’s are required to continue bringing in home projects.  I still want this to be your child’s work.  Please gage this according to your child and their reading level.  Remember that our goal is to make learning enjoyable and interesting to your student.  I would like to see our advance level 1 and our level 2’s bringing in a hand written paper to accompany their presentations.  For our more beginning readers, please read information with your child and have them dictate to you what they would like to say.  Then have them copy their dictations into their own handwriting on a separate paper.  All projects are presented to their classmates.  The next project is due the end of this month.

We will be exchanging valentines this Friday.  We have 23  students in our classroom.  Please remember if you choose to bring candy with your cards they need to be in sealed envelopes.

 

 

Celebrating Equality

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This week we have been studying about Martin Luther King Jr.  We read a book about the March on Washington and his famous “I have a dream speech”.  The children did journaling activities and we discussed what segregation was like in our country.  We have also been reading a chapter book about the life story of Rosa Parks.  In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. there will be no school Monday.  This may be a great opportunity for you to take time and further these discussions with your children.

The level ones begun their zoology unit on reptiles this week.  Our entire class was able to participate in this kick off with a visit from Scales and Tails.  The kids had such a great time seeing and learning about the reptiles they brought to visit.  It was an afternoon well spent.

We have been busy doing mid year reading assessments.  I really want to stress the improvements we see with the students who are consistently reading each night at home for 20 minutes.  I understand how busy life is, yet this is so valuable.  Please remember to make this a routine with your children.  We have some fantastic volunteers who come to help with our classroom during the week.  If you or someone in your family would like to get in some of your volunteer hours by coming and reading with the children, we would love it! We can always use help with reading.

Reminder that Sees candies fundraiser is due on the 23rd.  Please do not send cash.  Chocolates will be delivered in time for Valentines.

I hope you enjoy your long weekend and I will look forward to seeing your children’s smiling faces on Tuesday.

Reading, Reading, Reading

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I wanted to remind everyone to have your child read everyday for 20 minutes.  If you are able to read with your child for that 20 minutes even better!  I understand how busy life is, I would like to encourage you to find the time to sit and read with your children as often as possible.  I have included a link for sight words on our blog. (Right side under reading)  I would like for your to print these off and use them with your child.  They start with pre primer and go through third grade.  Everyone in our classroom is at a different level, your child may be a second grader and need pre primer cards or be a first grader and ready for third grade cards.  Have fun with these, maybe print a second set and have your child use them for memory matching or by playing go fish.  Be creative!

I also sent home bag books with several students.  Please return these Monday morning in order to receive your new book for the week.  I did forget to send home reading logs with our other students.  Please look for these on Monday night.  Thanks for all your support and happy reading!