a quick couple things before break

Just so you know, your children are correct when they say that the Sarah Morton mini book is optional. It was something I put together, but never used. And, rather than throw it away, I thought the kids might enjoy.

Friday, I'd like to schedule a GAME DAY. We will take time to do a craft or two and PLAY. So, your child may bring in a game (non-electronic) to share. It must be able to fit in their backpack! Thanks.

Also, I'd like to make an ALL CALL for reading books/sight word cards you have at home. Please return them (in their cozy, protective, very sophisticated, plastic bag) each and every day!

Lately

So, what have we been doing lately?

-reading some great Mrs. Toggle books and changing the characters to be US
-focusing on short i (we searched around the room for short i words-find some at your house)
-working with a poem entitled Zip (ask your child if they know it)
-reading, reading, reading, & thinking, thinking, thinking
-talking connections in text (text-->self, text-->text, text-->world)
-visualizing what we see/picture when we read/hear a story or poem
-talking about what we read through our story element cards
-making our names with Legos
-adjusting to winter snow gear

Have you told the school what you'd like to see on a revised website.
Click HERE for the SURVEY.
Thank you yet again!

Welcome to Winter!

Please check the snowpants that came home with your child tonight.
It seems everyone came WITH snowpants today, but not everyone left with them.
It might be helpful to post a comment if your pants are not your own...then others can know where they are.

On this note. It is helpful to LABEL your items.
The kids can wear it to school and by the end of the day, they forget it is theirs.

Thank you.
It will help make out transitions easier and faster.

WHOLE School Assembly

The whole first grade (especially me) would like to thank Miss Heather for creating such a lovely memory of our trip to Old Fort Western.

At the assembly we had some very brave souls who spoke in front of the whole school. Many more wanted to, so I needed to pull names from a hat. Seemed fair enough. And, photos are hard to get from far away in the gym. I apologize for the blurry, but you get the picture. Thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope your family time was wonderful.
Before vacation we...
-read Sarah Morton's Day and Samuel Eaton's Day.
-compared our lives to those in the past.
-polished pennies (Sarah had to polish brass...)
-made a "pocket" to wear and keep treasures in.
-talked about the trek on the Mayflower
-ate some beef jerky and saltines (one of our books said they ate something called "salthorse and hardtack" on the Mayflower)...it was the only thing that I could connect them to.

Our first grade assembly was excellent today. Photos to come...as soon as I upload them.

Reminder... Craft Fair will be held THIS Saturday at WCS!!! Please come, even just to walk through. Traffic will help the crafters want to come back again next year!

Long Ago and Far Away

What a fabulous program Old Fort Western has for exposing kids to how things USED to be... If you are asking what they learned, try asking about each station. The kitchen, the bedroom, the textile room (with weaving loom), and wood (outside).

Thank you so much for your generous donations to our extra snack fund, and so quickly too. It's a great back up for those who forget.

First grade will be responsible for organizing a brief school assembly on Monday, November 30. 9:10ish? We will be showing slides from our Old Fort Western Trip and some of us will be speaking quickly about how things are different now. You are welcome to join us.

Lastly, I have everyone scheduled for an upcoming conference. If you forget when your time is, please email me or call the office (Karen has the schedule too). If you are unable to attend, please let me know so we can find a better time. See you soon.

Old Fort Western

Hello.
Reminder...tomorrow is our trip to Old Fort Western in Augusta.
It is a wonderful experience to see what life was like long ago.
The staff dresses in period clothing and educate the kids in different rooms of the Howard House.
Please dress warmly. Winter coats, hats, mittens.
We will be eating lunch there.
I hope to have photos to post this week.

Happy Birthday IG

We have recently been:
-celebrating IG's birthday
-reading lots of bat & Halloween books
-continuing work with blends
-talking about what we do when we come to words we don't know
-playing "I have, Who has" with sight words
-counting dimes, nickels and pennies (hard!)
-working on being a team...listening when it's time to listen, talk when it's time to talk, helping partners and following directions.

Our basket looks great! Thank you for your donations. I hope to see you November 13, at the pasta supper.

Please be on the look out for a conference sign-up sheet. I have a few dates available before Thanksgiving. If none of those work for your family, please let me know and we'll find one after the holiday.

October 19

Book Fair
The book fair is open to the kids, at some point, each day. This Thursday it is open until 7pm. If you send money, it is helpful if you specify what you expect to be purchased. Please note that there are computer games, erasers, bookmarks and posters available. If you'd rather your child just purchase books, please just note "books only" on their money envelope. Thank you.

Basket
Please remember to look for planes, trains and automobiles as you are out and about. Our basket is in need to a few items. Okay, more than a few, but it does have ONE airplane. :)

We have been...
-working our way through each letter formation for lowercase letters (c, o, a, d, g...so far).
-beginning our Small Moments book in writing.
-working with a writing partner. Who is your child's partner-how do they help each other?
-starting to bring home reading books. Please send back to school each day.
-playing the "I have, Who has" game to practice sight words.
-making little words out of the big word p-l-a-n-t
-becoming very fast at our letters and sounds
-identifying and reading blends. Ask your child what a blend is...(cl, bl, cr,, dr, sw, sl, sk, sm...)
-reading books by Vera Williams (author of A Chair for My Mother)
-using the number line and number grid as tools to solve problems (can be tricky to count hops)
-combining pennies and nickels.
-playing a game called before and after. Deal 6 cards, then 2 face up in middle. You can place a card on the face up cards if they come before or after. (Use a set a playing cards, ace through 10)
-visiting the motor lab on Fridays to have fun and work our muscles.
-working at being active, engaged listeners.
-beginning to see, though rarely, the focus benefits of a quiet classroom.
-hearing the teacher say, "down on your beautiful bottoms, cross your lovely legs and focus your magnificent mind."

Book Bags & Baskets

BOOK BAG
Tonight you will find an addition to your nightly homework.
Your child has a plastic zip-lock bag with a book log, a reading group book and a book of interest. Please listen to your child read the reading group book. This is a familiar story, as we have read it together. The book of interest is up to you. Read it if you want...or not. We can only do so much. I understand. Please record the books you are reading with your child in the book log.

Return the book bag each and every day, please!

Thank you and happy reading (and listening)

BASKET
Our class is compiling a basket (as a fund raiser) to be raffled off at the WCS Pasta Dinner.
The basket theme is Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I'm thinking this screams "boy basket." Any donations are greatly appreciated.

Writing Celebration!

This week we had an Author's Tea (really lemonade).
Students took turns sharing the story they took time to "fancy up."
I am so proud of their growing ability to choose a topic and tell their story.
They are writing longer and across the pages of a booklet. Some are even adopting a technique we noticed in Kevin Henkes' books, the repeat..."they came back and back and back." :) Exciting.
Then they took that story home. You probably saw it.
Well, JH's family took his story one step further. Please view.
This is amazing. (click on "This is amazing")

Also, thanks for taking time to preview our first grade curriculum this evening.
Any feedback is welcome.

Daffodils

On Friday we planted daffodils in the playground garden with Amy. Everyone dug a hole, put a handful of mini-bulbs, covered them and wished them goodnight for the winter. Now all we can do is WAIT...

Reminder:
Wednesday Evening is Curriculum Night for 1st grade parents. 6:30-7:30 in room 7.
Friday and Monday are NO SCHOOL days, due to a Staff Development Day & Columbus Day.

Exciting:
-I think the class is settling into the routine of completing some "paper" stations each week.
-We have chosen a story to "fancy up" and share with the class. Ask your child what his story is about and what it means to "fancy up." :) Author's Tea...Monday.

AND...if you have yet to see your child's photo on the blog, please let me know. :)

I've Died and Gone to Ice Cream Heaven

OK, so, really, I heard someone say that yesterday!

Thanks to EJB's family and JH's family for making the ice cream happen!

What's New?

We have been...
-reading so many Kevin Henkes books.
-getting many assessments done, as to better service the class.
-identifying the number of syllables in words/pictures/objects.
-counting by 1's and 5's, making tallies, number before and after, telling time to the hour.
-writing about things we KNOW, things that have happened to us.
-writing in booklets! They are wonderful, longer, more detailed stories.
-working on automaticity of letter names/sounds.
-figuring out my mystery sentence. "The leaves are b________." What makes sense? Does it fit?
-earning tons of glass globs.

We WILL BE...
1. wearing our pajamas to school on Thursday, Oct. 1. If you are able to pick up bowls, spoons or vanilla ice cream, please let me know.

2. walking to school Wednesday, Oct. 7. We'll meet at the Topsham Fairgrounds again.

3. seeing parents for Curriculum Night on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 6:30-7:30. Come hear how to support your child at home with reading and math.

Wash Your Hands & Wear Helmets!!!

OK, so is sideways better than no photo, or no photo better than sideways???
(It IS vertical in iphoto...)

2 things
1. Mrs. Barter, our school nurse, came and spoke with kids about appropriate sneezing/coughing techniques...and hand washing. Ask your child how long you are supposed ot wash your hands. Holy cow!

2. We had a serious conversation today about the importance of helmets while riding scooters and bikes. Many kids told me they didn't or didn't have to wear helmets. I was surprised and didn't know if I should believe them.
I shared a story with them about my aunt, who was riding a scooter, crashed and had brain injuries...had to learn to walk and read all over again.
I have 2 extra girl helmets at home. If you need one of them, let me know and I'll send one home with your child. (they are in the Goodwill box right now) Safety First!

Everyday Math Games

Here's a site to go along with our math curriculum.
Try it out.
If you look at our Home Link papers that come home, you'll notice a number like 1-10.
This means Unit 1, Lesson 10.
That will give you an idea of what lessons have already been covered when you are trying to choose an activity.
Let me know what you think.

Math Explorations

Today we explored MANY math materials.
Calculators
Dominoes
Pattern Blocks
Attribute Blocks
Rulers
Base 10 Blocks
Geoboards

We talked about using these tools to help discover something, perhaps an answer to a question...
Actually it's good to explore, so when we use these materials again, some of the newness is gone.

Nice To Meet You!

Thank you for taking time to check out our class. It's always great to meet families, see you interact with your children and see the joy they get from sharing their classroom.

Open House

OPEN HOUSE
Monday, September 14th!
5:30 Meet the Principal (see photo to the right)
6:00 Visit Classrooms
6:30 Ice Cream Social (on the playground)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
First Grade Curriculum Night will be Wednesday, Oct. 7
6:30-7:30

Pajamas and Ice Cream

Catchy title, huh?
Well, we are well on our way to a whole class reward. It was a tie between Pajama Day and Ice Cream (their ideas). So, what is a teacher to do? Combine them, right? I'll let you know when this happens.

The mailbox was full today. Paper overload.
1. A personal info page (please update and return)
2. District-wide internet permission slip (I appreciate you doing a quick consent prior)
3. Book Order (due Friday, September 18) Please make one check made payable to SCHOLASTIC.

One last thing.
I told the kids I'd let you know...I said it was okay to search the milkweed for monarch caterpillars...and bring them in if they find any. Thanks. I know how sometimes messages acan get lost in the translation.

AND...my camera battery is charged. Watch out!

Meet Mrs. Anderson

Today, we...
- met Mrs. Anderson, our new literacy teacher leader.
She read us a book about the best place to read. (my camera battery died)
- played "top-it" in math. We always called it "war."
- used our slates (dry erase boards) to show the number before/after.
- went to computer lab (1/2 class at a time with Mrs. Stack).
- continued to work on our ABC book.
- practicing handwriting letter c and number 2.
- are working so well with our partners. Staying focused, playing fair, etc.

Reminder, please send coins by Friday.

A Week In Review

This week we have been...
-making a little version of The Bus Ride book.
- interviewing 2 friends and writing about them.
- reviewing letter names and sounds.
- having sentences make sense, when you get to a word you don't know.
- playing tug-of-war with a swimming noodle in PE.
- trying out our new gross motor lab classroom.
- started an ABC book.
- learned to play Monster Squeeze and The Bunny Hop (math games). (in photos)

Please send the following coins to school with your child by Friday, Sept. 11. We will be using them with our new Everyday Math curriculum.
- 10 pennies
- 5 nickels
- 10 dimes
- 2 quarters

Mark your calendars!
Monday, September 14. (5:30-7) Meet Mr. C./Open House/Ice Cream Social

"Creatures Came to Life!"

Here's what the students said about today...
IG said, "We made a book about ME." (really, everyone made a page about her)
HA said, "We used pennies and dice for math."
WH said, "We used pattern block templates to draw our shapes." (a stencil tool)
JH said, "We read a story where the creatures came to life." (Mrs. Smith's Incredible Storybook)

I say...
-we practiced thinking about meaning while they read (in a whole group activity)
-we are earning glass globs for positive behavior. The reward will soon be determined.
-we are practicing stopping & listening for directions when they hear a signal (ding, clap, etc)
-we were superb partners while playing the penny-dice game!

The FIRST day of FIRST grade

What did your child say they did at school today?
Did they mention...
-reading The Dot or The Bus Ride?
-working at reading stations with a friend?
-leading some playground presentations about what to do, and what not to do on equipment? (see photo)
-having Library?
-learning Oliver Twist rhyme? Simon Says?
-chilling out to music after lunch recess?
-starting some math calendar routines?

Those are just a few of our adventures on our first day together.
We will continue to talk about how to best work together and make a happy space where all can feel safe to try and learn.

Welcome Class of 2009-2010!

Thanks for visiting our classroom blog.
Please feel free to poke around and see last year's action.
Also, feel free to share the site address with relatives.
I know grandparents like to know what's happening in school too.
Check it often for updates about what happens in the classroom.
We welcome comments and I'll read them to the class.

I look forward to meeting everyone and getting started!

Sincerely,
Dana Greenleaf

Summer Activities

I've been thinking about the summer and activites to do with my own kids.

I've attached a new page to the classroom home page that has some ideas of places we've been in the past and places we want to try.

If you have places you visit and want to share with the class, please make a comment or send me an email and I will add to the page. Let's make it a collaborative effort.

Thank you so much.
Enjoy,
Dana

DQ

Puppet Shows

Parents, thank you so much for attending this event during school hours. This class was amazing, in the ideas they came up with, their ability to work together, voice, volume and improvisation.

Truly, the growth has been amazing this year. Writing and reading have improved by leaps and bounds. What was unrecognizable in September are now stories with meat and funnies. Very cool. Simple texts in September have turned into chapter books and confidence and love of reading. It's wonderful.

What is most important is to keep up your routines during the summer. Expect your children to read daily. Please. From experience, kids who do not both read and write over the summer lose proficiency, that just takes more time to regain. Please???

I'm moving on to post some DQ shots.

Farmer's Market...and SUN!!!

What a fabulous morning we had at the Brunswick Farmer's Market. We had a scavenger hunt for items sold that begin with every letter of the alphabet. Third graders were assisting us and rounding the price to the nearest dime. It seems hard to find items that begin with i, u, and x. I was proud of the students for their behavior and engagement during this outing. Thank you to all the grown-ups/families for supervising and joining in the fun.

Canceled Due to Weather

Field Day has been canceled due to weather!
Sorry...

Field Day Monday

Here is a list of items suggested to bring
1. bug spray
2. sunscreen
3. hat or visor
4. BLUE shirt
5. water bottle with name on it ( no glass )
6. plastic bag for wet clothes
7. towel
8. sneakers or water shoes (no crocs, flip flops or open toes)
9. a change of shoes for the bus ride home
10. 2 extra sets of dry clothes. Water activities are scheduled in the morning and afternoon, kids may want to change at lunch time, but MUST have dry clothes for the bus ride home.
11. they may wear bathing suits and shirts (boys) girls must wear shorts too

We can't wait and we're hoping for CLEAR weather, as there is no rain date scheduled.

Not Today...

We are NOT going to the Farmer's Market today.
We will go on Tuesday, we'll use the same permission slip.

Here's next week...

Monday...Field Day
Tuesday...Farmer's Market
Wednesday...Puppet Show Performance for Parents at 2:15
Thursday...
Friday...Dairy Queen w/Buddies

Upcoming Week

Hello.
Our upcoming week seems busy.
Here's what we know right now.
1. Monday is Field Day.
2. If it rains tomorrow...we'll go to the Farmer's Market on Tuesday, June 16.
3. We'd like to invite you (families) to view our puppet shows!!! Wednesday, June 17 at 2:15.
4. We have yet to set a date to walk to Dairy Queen. It's looking like either Thursday or Friday next week. (after lunch) I'm actually waiting to see the weather for next week.

Please email me if you have any questions. (greenleafd@link75.org)

Frog and Toad Show

Here are members of the Frog and Toad cast after the show.

Here's what the kids said:

MA said, "Toad didn't get any mail, so Frog sent him a letter."

KO said, "I liked the way Snail moved when he was walking."
(ask for a demo, for sure)

IG said, "I liked the part when the squirrels messed up the leaf piles."

MSMT has more shows for kids coming up...visit their website. The kids were interested in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe...

GRASSHEADS!

Grasshead city!

Remember to water, and get it in the sun!

Grassheads have been known to go dormant in the winter, and actually come back next spring.

Miss Kate, our BLOGSTAR!

This morning, Miss Kate came to talk to us about The Topsham Public Library's summer reading program. Kids have many opportunities to earn really cool, slimy, dirty and fun PRIZES.

Pick up YOUR summer reading bookmark at the library today!!!

Also, she told us it was the library's 5th birthday party THIS Saturday. 10-2:00. Birthday cake, face painting, games, etc.

Versions...(not a-versions)

Greetings.
We have been...
1. reading different versions of classic tales, like The Princess and the Pea, Goldilocks, This is the House That Jack Built, The Three Little Pigs, etc. Some of these versions are very clever! I apologize for not underlining the titles, but can't find out HOW!

2. watching the grass grow (our grassheads)

3. beginning to think, with a partner, about writing a puppet show. We'll invite you to a show!

Please let me know if you are willing to cut and sew puppets when we get to that stage.
I hope you are well, and can't believe our time together is so limited. :(

Saturday

OK, so here's the scoop on this Saturday, May 30.
I don't know about you, but I have yet to perfect being in TWO places at one time.

Hike and Seek
2-4pm
Start and finish at WCS playground
Families are encouraged to receive as many pledges as kids in their class.
Donations can also be made at The Friends of Williams-Cone website. (off our class home page too)


District Budget Meeting
2:00
Orion Performing Arts Center (Mt. Ararat Middle School)
This is the first of two votes on the budget proposed by the Board of Directors.
Referendum vote on June 9.

Growing! and Runways!

Oh...so, we have been growing mostly grassheads, but these are some cucumbers! I had a couple seed packs lying/laying? around so, why not?

The other photos are of building runways (similar to rollercoasters) for marbles to explore. If the marble fell out, adjustment was needed. It was mostly making the beginning more steep, so the marble would make it around the loop-the-loop. Sometimes the marble needed to be slowed down, so not to be ejected from the track... What fun science, really.

Bears and Books (or is it a dog?)

The stuffies were busy while the class was out to recess on Friday. It seems they love books too. I think they'd been watching the buzz about books, became infected and had to see for themselves.

WE HAVE GRASS!!! (and other sprouts) We did a little experiment. We put my grasshead in the closet. Ask your child what happened to it...and why.

This weekend...HIKE and SEEK.

It's Beach Day.

It has been an eventful week.
Today we had a little Beach Boys music, a pail of sand with word families to dig for, and a little picnic snack on our towels.

We have embarked on a poetry writing excursion. We have talked about seeing things in a fresh new way...(a pencil holder is like a cage for an elf) (a paper chain is like a keychain for a giant) The class has been most creative. You could help your child practice using objects in your environment. The other component of poetry is music. Authors use line breaks and organization of words to tell their readers how to read their work. This seemed a little trickier for most to produce, but they totally recognize it in others' work.

OOOhhhh, and we are patiently awaiting our first sprouts in our grassheads. Ask your child the ingredients and directions to make one.

SPIRIT WEEK

This week should be eventful!

Monday is CRAZY HAIR DAY
Tuesday is MISMATCH DAY
Wednesday is FANCY, DRESS-UP DAY
Thursday is BEACH DAY
Friday is PAJAMA DAY

ACES

Mrs. Martin organized a wonderful morning of exercise.
First grade went to three stations. Tractor Pull, Garbage Aerobics and Lummi Sticks.

We've started to read Flat Stanley and work on some projects for the weekend holiday.

It's MAY???

So, we had a good time learning the traditions of May Day. Who was the lucky one to receive your child's basket?

Wednesday ACES (wear sneakers)...will go off rain or shine.
Thursday Arts Festival 5:30-7 (book fair will be open this evening)
Friday Spirit Day (wear RED or Williams-Cone shirt/hat, etc...)

Speaking of SPIRIT, we are close to earning our own spirit week. We'll keep you posted.

Thank you for the snacks!

Twirly Birds

In this photo, we are outside trying out our Twirly Birds.

Here are a few upcoming events...
1. The BOOK FAIR is next week. Thursday it is opened until 7pm. If you send money with your child during the school day, please specify the book(s) you have decided to purchase, or books only (no erasers, posters, etc) (if that is your wish). This helps streamline the buying process.

2. ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) will be on Wednesday, May 6. Please make sure your child wears sneakers and brings a waterbottle this day!

3. ARTS FESTIVAL is on Thursday, May 7 from 5:30-7. This is a great community event. Our new school song, PE photography project, and sculpture will all be unveiled. Find a piece of your child's artwork on the wall, have a snack or go to an art station.

Update

We have been...
1. reading the series of Catwings books by Ursula K. LeGuin.

2. experimenting with twirlers as a continuation of our balance and motion unit. We are going to take the twirly bird outside today!

3. kicking off our new homework reading program, Read Across America! Your child reads to you, you record, and your child earns prizes.

4. needing extra snacks for those who forget. We are OUT.

5. enjoying the SUN!

On TV! thanks to Goodall and Volunteers

WCSH6 aired this about Williams-Cone School.

VideO!

Ok, so this is my first experiment with video. It's taking a long time to load.

There are a couple things that have popped up on the bulletin board in the lobby.
1. WCS night at Rollerworld. April 19...6-8 pm. $6 (this includes skate rental)
Half the proceeds go to our school.

2. Earth Day at Williams-Cone is April 22.

3. Walk-a-thon is May 2nd.

Math in Pictures