Week 6

Weekly Greetings!

The open house last Monday was a wonderful way to start the week! I wish that I had taken the time to snap some pictures, but I was too busy eating the great food and enjoying the fellowship of so many that attended. Thank you to all those that came into the class to see all the student's work and visit more with me before the evening ended.

Our week was full of new unit materials in each group, and we are settling into a good routine throughout the day. Show and Tell on Friday was the highlight, though only four students remembered to bring something. Everyone seemed to enjoy hearing about the special items that were brought, and learning to ask questions. I have posted a few pictures from that day.

As we move forward this week, the students will have PE on Tuesday and Thursday with the itinerant teachers. In addition, it will be the biweekly Thursday for the music teacher and councilor. Please read the additional letter attached to your child's homework on Monday, which explains the Language Arts concepts being covered this week. The 1st and 2nd grades will have a spelling list each night in preparation for their test on Friday. The words are a part of the reading program and though we also do a daily lesson in spelling, it may be helpful to them if you quiz them on Thursday night.

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall as much as I am!

Kind Regards,
Julie Brown

Week 5

 Weekly Greetings!

Even though we had only had two days of school last week, it was really great to have everyone in attendance. On Friday, we went on our Fall outing to look at signs of the season. Also, the students gathered leaves for an art project that we did when we returned to class. The students were so enthusiastic about discovering other things such as dried grasses and moss that they came back with full bags of things to examine! Here are just a few photos from that day.

This week we will be starting new units in each group and please read through the curriculum letter attached to your child's homework on Monday, which explains the concepts being addressed this week. Also, the 1st and 2nd grade will have spelling words that correspond with their reading lessons. On Friday, we will have Show and Tell and I will send a reminder home on Thursday. If your child still has their "All About Me!" bag, they can bring something to share in that.

If you would like to order books for your child, I will need the money and forms returned to me by Tuesday. In addition, please remember that there is an open house from 4pm to 6pm on Monday. I hope to visit with you all there!
Have a great week.

Kind Regards,
Julie Brown

Week 4

Weekly Greetings!

This coming week will only be two days due to the hunting days allowed this year, but we did have a very full schedule last week! Not only did the students start PE with the itinerant teacher from Tok, but we did many fun activities in and out of the classroom. As we continued to work on class unity, there were more "All About Me!" bags brought in to share, and each age group made a puzzle to display how they are a special part of our class group.  The puzzles are displayed on the outside of our classroom door. The Kindergarten kids made a "K", the first grade had a number 1, and the second grade had a number 2 to represent their grade level.

In Science, we have been doing a short unit on our "5 Senses", as that is how each one of us experiences the world around us. The students did two special projects during the week. One was a "5 Senses" puppet, and then on another day they used all their senses when we made a popcorn glove.

On Friday, the class took a field trip to Tok to see the district greenhouse there. The trip was to conclude our healthy habits unit and introduce the need to harvest foods during the fall in preparations for winter. Rita Abel, and Bonnie the horticulturalist for the district, gave us a wonderful tour of all the fresh vegetables being grown through this project. The student got to help harvest and sample some of the fresh foods right of the plants.

I think the children really learned a lot and enjoyed their experience there. A big thank you to Butch Dillard and Betty Jane Bryant for helping to chaperone!

When we were done at the greenhouse, the group got some recess time on the Tok School playground before we went to lunch at Fast Eddy's. They really had a great time on every piece of equipment there.

By the time we got to lunch, it was getting later than we had planned and unfortunately in my hurrying, the one picture of the class I took having pizza was blurry...I will say though, that the group got a complement for being well behaved from the servers attending us there. For such a large group, I am really proud of how well they did on the trip! We were pretty rushed to catch the bus when returning to Northway, so on Thursday this week when we return to school, I will spend some time going over all that the class learned on our outing.

Also on Thursday, the PE and Music teacher will be at school for their special activities with the students. The councilor had to reschedule for September 24th due to a personal matter. On Friday, we will look at the fall changes and preparations for winter during this season, and we will take a short walk around the school area to gather colorful leaves for an Art project.

There will not be any homework this week, as it would be just one day. Look for the nightly homework to start again on Monday, September 22. In addition, that afternoon from 4pm to 6pm there will be an open house at the school. Please come in to visit and see all the wonderful work the students have done that is exhibited in our room. In closing, the book orders are due by Tuedsday, September 23^rd.

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown

Week 3

Weekly Greetings!
Our four days last week were packed with lots of special events. Not only was there a very successful 3 on 3 basketball tournament for the upper grades that took place at the end of the week, but we had a number of visitors to our classroom. As we finished the "Six Keys" to a successful year, Ms. Bryant shared a puppet story about a little girl named Raspberry Jane, who was applying those principals to her life in the village. The students loved watching the hand made doll as the story was told.

Also, the biweekly visit from the district music teacher and councilor started last week. Everyone present in the class learned some new songs and played percussion instruments during their music time. We even had a parent volunteer participate.

The councilor read a story called "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" It is a helpful guide to daily happiness that I also use in our classroom. I read it on the first day of school, but we have since gotten a new student, so it was a nice review. In addition, each student colored a picture that will be put on his or her locker. Ask your child what it means to be a "Bucket Filler".

On Friday, a few students remembered to bring their "All About Me!" bags to share something about themselves with the class. It was a fun time, and if your child forgot they can still bring it in during the week and I will make a time for them to share.  We are all trying to get to know each other better and build a strong sense of unity in our classroom.

At the end of each day, the class has some time to play with the classroom toys, finish any incomplete assignments, and take care of the classroom pet. The pet helper for the day has a choice to watch the hamster while he gets some exercise in a plastic ball. The kids really have fun following our pet as he weaves his way around many obstacles in the room.

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea about the things placed throughout the room during the playtime.

This week we will be finishing up with our "Smart Start" review, and I have a field trip planned to Tok on this Friday to see the district greenhouse there. Please sign the permission slip with more information that I will attach and send home with my weekly parent letter. The greenhouse ties into the "Healthy Habits" science unit that addressed good foods. We will also be looking at the fall changes and discussing preparations for winter with harvesting local foods.

Please remember there will not be any school next Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 15,16,17,  for moose hunting. Classes will only be two days that week.

Have a wonderful week!
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Brown

Week 2

Weekly Greetings!

The first week of school was full of fun, and adjustments to being back in a school routine. I was so pleased to see every student in class each day and eager for a new year of learning. Also, thank you for getting all the paper work signed and sent back in! Every student in our class returned the forms by the Friday deadline!

On Thursday, we got a new student that balanced the class out to an even number of 14! We have 7 girls and 7 boys as shown below by the real graph we made to show our class numbers.

In addition, everyday the students learned about a special key to having a successful year in school. All of the 4 keys covered last week will be on a page in an individual book for each student when we complete the last two keys this week. The pictures to follow were from the key "Love and Belonging".

 In Science last week, we began a short unit on "Healthy Habits".  We reviewed the need to wash hands regularly, and on Thursday Rita Abel visited us from the UA Cooperative Extension Service. She specializes in nutrition education and she did a wonderful job sharing the need for healthy foods with fresh vegetables from the district greenhouse for the students to sample. Rita also had a number of handouts with information the students took home. We will continue this theme for the next week.

 

This week we will be covering the last of our" Six Keys for Success" in our classroom. The last two keys will be:

5.) Valued Purpose- The book used will be another Rainbow Fish book called Hidden Treasure and the main point is that each one of us are special and we will be having valuable learning experiences while in school this year. The craft will be a golden key with a shell filled with precious treasures in it to tie into the story.  For a symbol we will pat our hearts because the students are full of gifts and treasure in their hearts that they will discover this year. For the treat they will get a rich Dove chocolate, just like each one of them is full of rich hidden treasure inside.

6.) Success- The book used will be The Little Engine That Could. We will discuss how to be successful by not giving up and “thinking we can” do things even when it might seem hard. For a symbol we will use two thumbs up and again every student will make a golden key showing a trophy for success. An Almond Joy treat will be the special treat for the key because the students will be filled with joy when they succeeded.

When we finish the last of the six keys, we will revisit each key and discuss everything the students remember about what that key will look like in our classroom. Each student will have their own key book to help them remember what is needed for a successful year. Then I will read The Hare and the Tortoise, and discuss never giving up despite how impossible something may appear. Each student will make a school promise that will be recorded on a worksheet with a picture showing themselves keeping their promise. The promises will be posted on the class Commitment Wall and displayed all year.

Also on Thursday this week, I will be handing out a cloth bag to each student to keep for "Show and Tell" days every other week. The bag will say "All About Me!" and have their name on it. I will model and share about my family and things I like on Thursday, to help them get some ideas of things to share. On Friday this week, they will have a chance to share about themselves. Please look for your child's clothe bag that will look similar to the one pictured below, and encourage them to bring something in it to share.

 

To conclude, I will be sending homework home except on Friday each week, and I will start this week. The students will get a sticker when it is returned, and on Friday they can pick form the prize box if it has been done everyday. With the homework starting this week, I will also have a Scholastic Book Club order form attached and if you want to order books, please return the form and payment to me by Wednesday Sept 23rd. 

I am looking forward to another great week, and I hope you are enjoying the lovely fall season. 

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown