Ms. Kaley's Classroom Room 24

Hello Everyone!

March Calendar Addition:

I didn’t realize there wasn’t any school for student’s on March 19th.  Please add to your calendars that there is also no school on March 19th.

Reminder that I will be going out of town for the AMS Annual Montessori Conference.  I am excited to go as it one of, if not the largest conference for Montessori teachers in the USA.  Thousands of teachers come from all over the world and I always get to experience new tips and confidence.  I love meeting and hearing other Public/Charter Montessori teachers talk since we are own special breed amongst the Montessori world. I will be out March 22nd, 23rd, and 26th.  Other teachers from our school and administration will also be attending.

If your child is sensitive to routines and consistency please help reinforce that we will be sticking to our routine as much as possible.  Ms. Misha and Ms. Nikki will continuing their lessons and helping check off on Thursday and Monday.  Ms. Lori, a parent in our class, will be our sub for all 3 days I am out.  For Friday, I am normally there with the students as the only teacher.  Now that studio has ended, Ms. Nikki will be in the classroom on Friday with Ms. Lori.

Past Week:

This past week in group lessons Geometry was worked on by 2nd and 3rd graders.  1st graders worked on learning how to write fractions.

Level 1s: writing fractions

Level 2s: Drawing right angles with a protractor

Level 3s: SAGE geometry, data, and measurement questions

In cultural this past week: Botany

Level 1s: Stems (parts of, kinds of, stems we eat)

Level 2s: Parts of a tree and tree rings; why trees are important to humans

Level 3s: About honey bees, plant pollination, kinds of pollinators, Cheetos pollination simulation

In language groups the Antelopes worked on expanding sentences.  Taking a simple sentence such as ‘The girl walked.’ to adding more details using our who, what, where, when, whys, an hows to give more details.  The Badgers and Crocs worked on figurative language.  Badgers did an introduction to Onomatopoeia and Personification.  Crocs did Onomatopoeia and Personification, but also went over Similes and Metaphors.

We also had Scales and Tales stop by Thursday afternoon to show us some reptiles and then on Friday, the Planetarium van came!

Upcoming Week:

This upcoming week we have the COW and Ms. Rachel coming for monthly Botany

Tuesday- The Opera is coming to perform.  Assembly at 9:30-10:15.  No Music, just PE.

Wednesday- COW (12:30-1:45) and Ms. Rachel (1:50-2:50)

Friday- Early Release.  We will be going over St. Patrick’s Day and do activities

Language groups will go over Poetry this week and learn how to write Limericks and rhyming poetry

Saturday- School Gala

Supply needs/Reminders:

If anyone would like to donate any forks, we still have spoons, but are in need of forks.  If you are sending your child with a lunch that requires a fork or spoon, please pack them their own.

Remember that slippers and water bottles are an essential need for the classroom.

Pants with holes in them do need to be repaired or not worn at all.

Have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week!

Ms. Kaley

Hello Everyone!

On January 31st in the evening there is our annual Chili Cook off.  Our class and Ms. Stef’s will be making chili in the afternoon on Wednesday Jan. 31st.  Any parents who wish to help out, please email me. I am looking for 3 volunteers.  The students will get the COW again on the 31st, so while they are doing their computer assignments, students will be called to help.

President reports due FRIDAY! Jan. 26th– Students who are finished may bring theirs in early to share.  Reports are due by Friday.  Again, all project information is on the Projects tab at the top of our blog.

Class party- Valentine’s Day is approaching!  Our class party will be in the morning on Feb. 14th since it is an early release day (beginning of Parent Teacher Conferences- Mid Year).  Our room mom is working on some activities and will need volunteers to help out.  Please keep an eye out soon for her sign ups

Gala basket- The school’s annual Gala fundraiser night is Sat. March 17th.  Each classroom gets a basket theme then the baskets are bid on through a silent auction.  Our room, Katie, will be needing donations for our basket soon.  Keep an eye out for that email as well!  Thanks everyone!

Past Week:

We focused on Zoology and Physiology this week in cultural.

Level 1s:  Reptiles.  Parts of, facts about, and different kinds of reptiles

Level 2s: The tongue and how we taste.  Parts of a tooth and teeth care

Level 3s: Annelids.  Earthworm facts and built a pillow earthworm for parts of an earthworm

Level 1s and 3s focused on fractions this week while 2nd graders checked in with me on time.  A lot of our 2nd graders are struggling with telling time, so on Monday I will be holding an open lesson to review time.  Any student may attend, but it is an opportunity to review and go over it again.  Level 1s are learning to name fractions based on a picture.  So, if the picture of a circle shows 3 equal pieces and 2 are shaded gray, they are naming that fraction as 2/3rds.  Level 3s are beginning to name fractions on a number line.  This is a difficult lesson and when the directions have an explanation where they have to decode what it is asking them to do, many of our 3rd graders struggle with what they are asking.  Here is the page we worked on this week that a lot of the 3rd graders had questions about:  3rd grade Fractions on a Number Line

Upcoming Week:

Colder this week.  Have your child remember their cold weather attire for recess

Monday– Lexi’s Celebration of Life at 2:30.  Heather, I know Janessa’s was Sunday, so if you want to email me to schedule a time to do Janessa’s Celebration of Life let me know 🙂

Wednesday– COW 12:30-2:30

Friday– President reports are due!

PTC sign ups will be posted next weekend!  They begin Wednesday Feb 14th and run until Friday Feb 16th.

Have a great rest of your weekend and upcoming week

Ms. Kaley