Our First Full Week
Our first full week was definitely a busy one. With the assistance of one very helpful mom in our classroom, we now have busy bird feeders hanging outside our window. The hummingbirds don’t seem to want their photos taken for some reason, but butterflies and caterpillars don’t mind at all! We brought a few inside to watch their transformation. Thanks again to the wonderful parents in our room for helping me keep these caterpillars fed. We could not do it without you.
To help launch our inquiry into animals, we hosted guest speaker, Gail Dawson, from Carolina Wildlife Care. She is also the illustrator of Squirrel On the Run, a book about volunteering at a wildlife rescue center. Ms. Gail introduced animal adaptations and classification while helping us explore the artifacts in our classroom. She then led a discussion about sketching with the eye of a scientist. Ms. Gail was so impressed with our students and their skills as inquirers, she asked if she could visit with us on a monthly basis!
To help launch our inquiry into animals, we hosted guest speaker, Gail Dawson, from Carolina Wildlife Care. She is also the illustrator of Squirrel On the Run, a book about volunteering at a wildlife rescue center. Ms. Gail introduced animal adaptations and classification while helping us explore the artifacts in our classroom. She then led a discussion about sketching with the eye of a scientist. Ms. Gail was so impressed with our students and their skills as inquirers, she asked if she could visit with us on a monthly basis!
Our class pet, Via the hamster, made her introduction to classroom this week. We became a little more familiar with her throughout the week. On Friday she was able to join our circle and the kids were amazing with her. Via made her first home visit with a classmate over the Labor Day weekend. Many of you have been asking about weekends with Via, so I will be sending out those dates that have been requested already. Please send in a written note as permission for Via to come home with your student because this is much easier for me to keep up with than a mixture of emails and notes. We will share Via’s adventures in morning meeting tomorrow.
Speaking of morning meeting, we have begun sharing news and journals. Please involve your child in discussions about current events and news at home. You will often be surprised at the questions and perspectives they share. Remember they need to share at least one news article and one journal entry each month.
This Coming Week...
This week we will continue our inquiry into animals and will host another animal expert. We have completed MAP testing in reading and will complete MAP math on Wednesday afternoon. Please remember school pictures are tomorrow but we also have P.E. Pictures will be first thing in the morning and P.E. is at 10:00 so please send shoes/clothes to change into if needed. We will make our first trip to Sandhills library on Friday 9/7 and would love for you to meet us there if possible. We will leave the school right after lunch at 11:30.
Special Area Schedule
Monday- ArtTuesday- P.E.
Wednesday- Computer
Thursday- Music
Friday- CFI library
Important Dates
September 4- Fall PicturesSeptember 6- Opening Picnic (For more information, check Center Connections.)
September 7- Sandhills Library
September 27- Curriculum Night (More information to come)
September 28- 11:30 Dismissal
Couch potatoes during Independent Reading.
How quickly metamorphosis begins!
Our First News and Journals Discussion
Adaptation Challenge: Try tying your shoes without thumbs!
Our small teacher introducing the subject of a sketching session.
Reviewing Addition and Subtraction Facts: Our first timed math test!
We will continue these 5 minute assessments throughout the year.
Via's First Visit to Circle
