October Field Trip

Sorry for the inconvience but field trips are CASH ONLY!

We are going to Owens Spring Creek Farm Big Orange Pumpkin Patch. In October we will be learning all about pumpkins. To finish our unit we will be going to the farm get our very own pumpkin. Permission slips were sent home today. Please be sure to fill them out and return no later than October 17th. If you are interested in volunteering to come on the field trip we would greatly appreciate it. We need at least 8 parents(grandparents, aunt, uncle)!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Letter Exchange

Our class made 26 alphabet posters of the letter Mm.  It was a project students created with some guidance. They made mice out of the letter M.  We also included a brief paragraph about our class and state. 

We sent these letters to 25 other classes all over the United States. We will be receiving their mail soon as well and learn all about their class and state!

 

Here are some pictures of the students getting ready to mail their letters.

 

 



Look what we have been doing this month.

We have been working very hard in kindergarten and wanted to show off some of what we have been doing!

 

Counting our snack to see how many pieces we have!

We have been working on our writing posture and handwriting skills.

This is our interactive math activity, we're learing about position and location.

A little more of our whole brain learning, we are teaching our friends about action verbs. 

We all love practicing our reading skills with a friend.

More action verbs! This time we were looking and pictures and writing what the action verb was.

We love reading!

Whole Brain Learning

In my class I use a technique called whole brain learning though out the day. This is active learning where they are continually turning and talking to their friend about what we just learned. Here is a little excerpt about what whole brain learning is.

Some of the ques I might use are:
Teacher: Class
Students: Yes
Teacher: Mirror
Student: Mirror
(This means they repeat after me everything I say. This might be for something brand new that they don't know or understand yet.)

Teacher: Class
Students: Yes
Teacher: I want you to teacher your friend..... Teach
Student: Ok
(This is where if we are learning about something and I want to make sure they understand the concept I have them share with a friend and I am able to listen in and see if they have the concept.)

Definition
Whole-brain teaching is an instructional approach derived from neurolinguistic descriptions of the functions of the brain’s left and right hemispheres.
Basic Elements
Neurolinguistic findings about the brain’s language functions show that in the integrated brain, the functions of one hemisphere are immediately available to the other, producing a more balanced use of language. Whole-brain teaching emphasizes active learning, in which the learner makes connections that tap both hemispheres.
Another aspect of whole-brain teaching is managing the emotional climate, to reduce the “downshifting”–or primal thinking–that occurs during distress. To relax learners, instructors may offer clear, realistic predictions of barriers (such as, “Advancement may be sporadic”) and progress (such as, “Sooner or later, this will become easier”). Plus, instructors may try enhancing the learning experience with music or soothing colors.
In whole-brain learning, imaging is seen as the basis for comprehension. For this reason, learners are encouraged to visualize, draw, and use drama as they develop new ideas, in order to retain them. A reading teacher, for instance, might present new vocabulary words by building a story or skit that uses them–but doesn’t define them–in context. The teacher then might play music while reading the definitions, leaving time for listeners to draw images of the words. The teacher next might use guided meditation to build a relaxed state containing memories of success before the listeners hear the definitions again. And the learners might even act out the words’ meanings or construct stories of their own.
Reading
T. Buzan, Use Both Sides of Your Brain. NY: Dutton (1976).
G.L. Rico, Writing the Natural Way. Los Angeles, CA: Tarcher.
D.H. Schuster and L. Vincent, “Teaching Math and Reading with Suggestion and Music,” Academic Therapy, vol. 16(1), 69-72 (Sept, 1980).

Apple Day

Dear Parents,

In a couple weeks we will be working on a unit about Apples and their life cycle. On Friday September 28^th we will be having Apple Day in our classroom. We will be playing apple games, learning how apples grow, discussing about Johnny Appleseed, reading apple books, singing apple songs, making apple art projects, and eating apple snacks.

 

I am asking each student to bring two of their favorite colored apples on Monday September 24^th. We will be using these throughout the week to graph our favorite apples, taste test apples, and to make applesauce.

 

If you would like to donate any supplies for our Apple Day, please complete the form and return it to school by: Friday September 21^st. When you return the form, I will look at all of the responses. I will send a note home with your child to let you know what we need (that way we don’t end up with a lot of one thing and nothing else).

 

Thank you so much for your participation!

Mrs. Meck and Class

NEW K-2 Dismissal Time!!!

Due to our need for more instruction time, starting on Monday, September 17th all K-2 will now be dismissed at 3:00 in the back!

Students with older siblings will still be picked up from room 117 by their older brother or sister and dismissed at the front of the building. 

We will try and make it out by 2:55 to ease a little bit of traffic. Please make sure you are on time picking up your student.

 

Thank you for your cooperation!

September 11th We Remember

Kindergarten through Second grade remembered September 11th by making a handprint flag. It is now displayed outside of our mobile.

REMINDER DUE THIS FRIDAY!!!!

Below are Great Examples of the All About Me Page.

Dear Parents,

Approximately once a month, I will send home a special project for your child to complete at home. The family homework projects are special because your child gets to work with you and other family members to complete a fun activity. This month’s project is called “All About Me”.

I am sending home a piece of cardstock with All About.. on it. Please help your child decorate this page. You may include items showing his or her favorite thing to eat, favorite toy, favorite books, family members, ect. Have fun and be creative! You may use anything to help your child (magazines, pictures, paint, drawings, ect.) Make sure it is labeled with your child’s name. This will be turned into a class book for all of us to enjoy!

All projects should be returned no later than Friday September 14, 2012. This is the date that we will share our projects and make them into a book. I can’t wait to learn about the important things in your child’s like.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Meck

 

September 4-7

Thank you all the parents that came out for Meet the Teacher Night, it was very nice talking with all of you!

Just a reminder homework starts this week! Please look at the homework tab to be aware of the expectations. Students are to work on the packet in their folder day by day, read or be read to, and work on sight words or letters depending on their level. The sight word list or alphabet will be sent out on Tuesday.

We will also have an exciting monthly family homework project coming home this week!

I want to give a big thank you to all the parents who are remembering to bring snack on their scheduled day. The students are enjoying all of the snacks! For those that have snack coming up, please remember to bring enough for 27 students.

Curriculum officially starts this week please look under the tab, "What are we learning" to view the weekly topics. I suggest looking at this page each week to receive a weekly update on what is being taught in class.


Thanks for all of your support and patience as we get this school year in full gear.

Mrs. Meck