Ms. Kaley's Classroom Room 24

Hello Everyone!

This week brought on some extra energy.  We are working on our voices and attention to directions.  It will still take some time, but we will still be working on it and bring up more suggestions this coming Friday at class meeting.  If we are ever late outside to dismissal it is because the students are finishing up cleaning directions.

Reading volunteers:  Normalization lasts 1 more week and then volunteers can start helping out.  I want to first begin with reading volunteers.  Please email me if you can commit 1 or 2 days a week to help me with a reading group and some extra practice for beginning readers.  Let me know what days are best for you.

Friday volunteers: I would love if any of you or family members would like to help teach some practical life skills.  Anything from simple cooking/cutting/prep skills, sewing, knitting/crochet, present wrapping, a craft, etc.  Please email our room mother, Alicia Thomas, at tempygirl@gmail.com if you are interested and also write to her what you would like to offer.  Alicia, if we have interest, please let me know and I can set up a date or 2 for Oct.

Parent teacher conferences are coming up on Oct. 17-19!  It is also the time when the next project is due!  Your child will present a project on one of our cultural subjects on a lesson we have studied.  This can also include our Australia, science, or something from studio lessons.  I will be discussing this project more in-depth with the students this coming week and then next Sunday I will give you the guidelines for their project choice.

Studio begins this Friday!  Every student will rotate to experience 3 classes with other students from different classrooms.   I teach 3rd grade science.  Each lower el teacher will teach 1 specific grade level on either Science, Social Studies, or Art.

Dress Code in the Classroom:   Please remember that jeans are for Fridays.  Also, with the weather becoming chiller, solid colored sweaters with no hoods are allowed in class.  No hoodies may be worn while in class.  They can be worn outside for recess.  Please review the parent handbook for dress code for further explanation.

Hopefully you got to see our school perform for International Peace Day!  It was beautiful!  If you have Facebook, look up Maria Montessori Academy or Utah and our recordings, as well as others who were there, are on that page.  Our school also does updates through their Facebook page too, so give our page a follow 🙂

In group lessons this week:

Level 1s: International Peace Day and craft, geometric solids categorized by curved shapes vs not curved, vs both

Level 2s: International Peace Day and craft, labeling fractions, quadrilaterals family

Level 3s: International Peace Day and craft, addition and subtraction assessment, laws of addition

*Please remember I have your child in a Math group, Language group, and Reading group.  I see your child for math everyday to every other day (depending on the group), twice a week for a language lesson, and everyday to twice a week for reading group on top of seeing each grade level twice for fractions and geometry.  I also meet with your child everyday by grade level for a cultural lesson

In cultural this week: History

Level 1s: Days of the week/month review.  Timeline of my Life.

*Thank you so much for those who provided pictures.  This effort will count towards their progress report.

How can you help at home?  Be helping your child know the days of the week and the months of the year.  For instance, if you are in the car you can ask, “What day of the week is today?  What was it yesterday? What day will it be tomorrow?”  Once they get familiar, move to “What will it be 2 days from today?  What about 3?  What was is 2 days ago?”

Level 2s: Star lifecycle.  We made really cool star lifecycle models with play and plates to help the students gain an understanding of how stars change.  Did you know that hot stars are blue and cool stars are red?

Level 3s:  Timeline of life.  Students started a 1 page visual on the Paleozoic Era this week with the Cambrian and Ordovician period and what kinds of early animals and plants were there.  These are going to be our first in-depth lessons next time History rotates back around.

Thank you for those students who brought and presented their projects on Friday.  If your child was absent or out of town and hasn’t had a chance to present, have them bring their projects this coming week to accounted for.

Reading homework/MyOn: Reading homework will go out Oct.3. I am going to work on getting it copied and getting the folders ready with the week’s homework.  MyOn logins and passwords will also then be provided.  MyOn is a school provided program that works like Netflix for books.  It give your child little quizzes and helps keep track of their progress hat I can see.  I also give assignments through MyOn.  We will begin those assignments in Oct.

Have a great upcoming week and rest of your weekend.  Please check snack sign up for who is next!  I know the sign ups stop in October and we will need more parents to sign up!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Hi Everyone!

UPCOMING WEEK:

Book Report/Early Out: Just as a reminder, September’s book report is DUE FRIDAY!  Friday is also an Early Out day.  I look forward to seeing all the different presentations!

Positive Discipline: This Thursday is the free 1 hour Positive Discipline preview. Come by if you want to check it out and then see if you want to sign up for the all day Saturday course.  I found out the price for the Saturday course.  It is from 9am-5pm and it is $95 for 1 person and $150 for a couple.

International Peace Day: Is this Thursday!  We will be singing with children across the world!  We will be singing at 10:00am.  Our class is going to make Peace Doves to hang and have a discussion on what is Peace and what are examples of global peace.  I will be presenting this in the afternoon.

In class History project for 1st graders: 1st grade parents!:  This week we are going to have each 1st grader make a timeline of their life.  Could you please send in 1 picture (print out or actual pictures) for each year of their life so they can make an in class project.  Please send in by this TUESDAY.

PAST WEEK:

This week in group lessons:

Level 1s: Naming fraction families, geometric solids introduction, 1/2 of students completed Math assessment- other half this coming Monday

Level 2s: Naming and writing fractions, line review, time to quarter/half hour review, all 2nd graders completed Math assessment

Level 3s: Numerator and denominator review

In cultural this week: Botany

Level 1s: Lifecycle and parts of a plant

Level 2s: Parts of a leaf and how veins work on a leaf

Level 3s: Parts of a flower

2nd graders enjoyed going outside this past Tuesday and got to pick their own leaf. We then learned how to do a leaf rubbing and got to work on labeling real leaf parts from the rubbing.  2nd grade students enjoyed seeing real veins on a leaf and I showed them the little tubes in the main vein of a piece of lettuce  because it’s veins coloring was purple.

Our room mother, Alicia Thomas, is going to be working on Fall/Halloween party and will be needing help.  Please keep an eye out from her as she will be looking for parent and supply/decor help.  Thanks!

Have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week

Cheers!

Ms. K

Hello wonderful families!

Past Week:

Things are moving and grooving in room 19!  Thursday was very busy with Gary Hogge, a local Utah author, who came and spoke about writing.  We had his assembly in the morning and then the 3rd graders met with him at 2:00pm for a writing workshop.  Right after the morning assembly I went over to Junior High to interview for our JR High Peer Mentors.  This is a Junior High elective class that sets up our older students for the working world.  I had to interview them, they provided me with resumes, and they even learned to write a thank you card for after you interview.  Talking with Ms. Leigh, their teacher, we will be getting 2 ladies soon.  They have some training and certain assignments to do for their class while they are in our room.  I look forward to working with them and having them help out.

Something to practice at home: Part of grades 1-3 writing is to know how to write their first/last names correctly (Capital letters vs. lowercase), know their address, and their phone numbers.  Please work with your child if they do not know how to write their name correctly (I’m working with them too in class), know their address, and also their phone number.

Reading testing: I have gotten some questions regarding some extra reading help at home.  Ms. Emilee will be officially finished with the University of Utah’s reading assessment tomorrow.  This activity allows us to know what reading level your child is at.  The reading specialists also began DIBELS, a reading assessment for fluency and comprehension at grade level.  They got most of our students last week, but still need to work with 1st graders.  They will be finishing up too.  Once all these score are in, those students reading at a 1st grade level will be getting some take home weekly work.  I have been mentioning this, but it won’t begin for a little while longer.  If you would like to know your child’s reading level, please contact Ms. Emilee regarding their UURC scores.  Her email is etippets@mariamontessoriacademy.org

Math testing:  CBM is a program that works for reading and math.  Our school uses it for math.  I am getting the 3rd graders to finish their pre-tests to see what they know vs. what they don’t on a 3rd grade level.  I will also be doing the same with the 2nd and 1st graders.  We will complete 3rd graders and 2nd graders this week.

Group Lessons:

Level 1s: Geometric cabinet- Triangles
In cultural: Geography

Level 1s: Continents, longitude & latitude, The Equator

Level 2s: Parts of the Earth inside

Level 3s: The Sun

Upcoming

The co-author of the book series Positive Discipline is coming to our school!  She will be here for a few days to do a Parent Education night, a teacher workshop, then an all day workshop.  Thursday September 22nd is the free 2 hour workshop.  It will give a little insight to what the all day workshop on Saturday will be like.  If you like what you hear and see, you can sign up for the all day Saturday workshop.  The all day session does cost a fee.  I’ll double check the prices, but I think there is a poster hanging on the front of the school window as you come inside.  You get all sorts of resources to take home!  The book is fantastic, I highly recommend coming to the workshop.  This is open to anyone who would like to sign up.

The 5K is approaching!  Saturday the 17th is race/pancake breakfast day!

Tomorrow, the 12th, is our first Computer, Music, and PE classes!  Please provide your child some PE shoes that they can keep in their locker. 

September 21st is International Peace Day!  School around the globe are stopping at the same time to sing the same song.  Our stop time is 10am.  The mayor or North Ogden is attending, along with other community members.  Please visit http://singpeacearoundtheworld.com/teach-downloads/ to hear the beautiful song and lyrics.

Please be working on the book report!  Due soon, Sept. 23rd.  Projects are part of your child’s PTC Progress Report!

Have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week!

Cheers!

Ms. K

Hello Everyone!

Work cycle has begun!  I am trying out a new schedule that I have made for myself this year and so far it is off to a good start!  I am still working on how I want my work charts to be this year, so for now, the class is using a paper one.

Book Report for September is coming up!  

Can you believe it’s September!  I’m pretty excited.  Our first book report is DUE on SEPTEMBER 23rd (a Friday).  This book report is on your child’s favorite book.  It doesn’t matter what kind of book (graphic novel, comic book, chapter book, non chapter book etc.).  I ask that once your child has reread their favorite book or is ready to present their favorite book that they choose 1 project from this list:

Book Report Presentation Choices

*You may only do 1 choice once

___Book cover (make a new cover for the book)

___Oral report to the teacher and/or class

___1 page written report

___A wanted poster for a character in your book

___Poster advertising your book

___Design a bookmark

___Make a poem about your book

___Create a picture book about your favorite parts from the beginning, middle, and end

___Create a video about the book

___Dress up as favorite character and tell about the book

___Create a mobile with 5 events

___Write and draw an alternative ending

___Create a timeline with at least 10 events

___Draw a map describing places

___Create a travel brochure

___Make a puppet show explaining your book

___Create a board game

___Diorama of a scene

___Do a 1 page report about the author

___Create a week long journal as if you were the character

I am excited to see what everyone’s favorite book is!

Run for the Redwoods 5K- September 17th is the 5K color run at our school.  Please see the link in my previous posts about where to sign up and get all the information.

Local Author- This coming week Gary Hogge, a local Utah author will be visiting our school on Thursday.  He will do an assembly in the morning on writing and teaching our students how to become better writers.  We love having him come and get the kids excited for writing throughout the year!

Pizza Friday- Thank you to those supporting our Pizza Fridays!  Remember that each slice in $1.75 and that money is due by Wednesday!

This week in cultural:

Level 1s: Living and non-living, 5 classes of vertebrates, vertebrates and invertebrates

Level 2s: Nutrition: carbohydrates, fats, proteins

Level 3s: Sea sponges (Porifera)

Did you know that most of our class sat with the Level 3s and learned about how sea sponges filter water?  We watched a video that had a diver explain the different kinds of sea sponges (barrel, fan, tube, vase, and carnivorous) and watched him put a non-toxic green dye around them and saw how they shoot it back out through their osculum (top opening).  They all loved it!

Science- Scientific Method overview and experiment on which ice cube melts the fastest out of room temp. water, salt water, sugar water, and no water at all.  Which do you think melted the fastest?  Most of our class attended the science lesson, a few others were finishing their boomerang Aboriginal dot art paintings

Continent study- We are studying Australia!  Last week they learned where Australia was on the globe.  This week we went over the territories in Australia.  We also played Kai Wed, a game from Australia similar to keep the balloon in the air.  We invited our Upper Elementary mentor class, Ms. Stef’s to play.  They had a great time playing!  I also showed the class how to do Aboriginal dot art.  We looked at a few examples and then did the painting on a boomerang.

We also began our leveled geometry and fractions lessons this week too!

What can I ask my child this week?- Ask your child about how to be a bucket filler and bucket dipper.  Ask them why it is important to be a bucket filler.  Your family can brainstorm ideas on how to be a filler in certain situations

Have a great 3 day weekend and upcoming week!

Cheers!

Ms. K