I was away at an all day math meeting yesterday, and it was so nice to be back in the classroom today!  There is nothing like sitting for most of the day to make me appreciate the bustle of the classroom.  We spent some time playing a new math game called bump today.  While we practiced adding two dice together, but more importantly worked on being good partners and good sports.  We also did some snowman problem solving and began a snowman project based on the book Snowballs by Lois Ehlert.

This afternoon while we were partner reading using books from our classroom library, using sticky notes to mark pages that we wanted to share because they were funny, exciting, or interesting in some other way.  A pair of partners approached me breathless with excitement.  They had marked a page because they could read the words in this book that was a "real" book (rather than one of the little leveled books that we use to practice reading words).  Their excitement was contagious as they shared the page and read it together to the class, and this led us to a discussion of the pay off for all of the hard work we do, learning sight words, using our fingers to point to words, getting our mouths ready with beginning sounds, and making sure we practice reading in some capacity every day- we are all really learning to read!

A belated thank you to everyone for coming to conferences.  I appreciate the extra effort it can take to make an evening meeting!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday- based on children's writing it sounds like you did.

This week we spent some time learning about Hanukkah.  We read lots of Hanukkah stories, compared Hanukkah to Christmas, noting lots of similarities between the two, and played dreidel with our third and fourth grade partners.  Eliana also very graciously helped everyone make a candle.  Next week we will shift our focus to Kwanzaa.

We are also wrapping up our exploration of rocks this week.  Today we used clay to model the rock cycle and the constant changes that rocks undergo.  We also created a rock story with movement to help us remember this cycle.

It felt really good to return to the forest for ECO on Wednesday.   The last several sessions we have been breaking into small groups and working through stations.  I think cooking over the fire is definitely a favorite- this week we roasted apples.  The weather looks good for next Wednesday as well, and although it is an early release day we will have ECO.

Thank you for helping your child come to school with appropriate clothing for going outside.   Hopefully the snow will return soon, and recess is much more enjoyable when we are all warm and dry or as dry as we can be!

Bees wax candles.

A group effort- nearly everyone in the class helped create this!

Walking in the forest.

About a month ago we planted some corn and pea seeds and we have been using our science notebooks to document their growth.  When we draw or write in our science notebooks we try to make our drawings as accurate as possible, paying attention to details like color and shape.  We have also been working on labeling as much as we can.  Yesterday we completed our final plant drawings- it is amazing how much these seeds can grow in a plastic cup with moist paper towel!

In case you haven't heard, tomorrow is pajama day!  Children are welcome to bring one stuffed animal as well!

Report cards will be sent home tomorrow- please look for these in your children's backpacks!  While they are meant to be informative about your child's progress in school, nothing can take the place of an actual conversation.  Please, if you haven't done so already, sign up for a conference time!

In math we have begun a unit on patterns.  Through this unit we are spending lots of time identifying, extending, and creating patterns.  Everyone is having a great time using a variety of materials to make all kinds of patterns.

At the same time, we are continuing our year long emphasis on number sense with a focus on teen numbers.  Children have been working on recognizing, building, and writing teen numbers.

ECO will be at school again tomorrow- please send warm clothing!!

Just a few quick notes and reminders:  although we will be at school tomorrow for ECO we will still be outside.  Please send your child with warm clothing.  If you have not returned the tool permission form it must come in tomorrow if your child is going to use the peelers.  Finally, don't forget to sign up for a parent conference with the online scheduler.  If you go to the school web page, www.waitsfieldschool.org, and look under quick links on the right side of the page there is a link called online scheduler.  Looking forward to meeting with all of you soon!

Today I have sent home a list of ideas for working on number sense with your child.  These include many different ideas for counting and practicing number recognition, some of the most important math skills we work on in kindergarten.

I have also sent an ECO permission slip for using tools.  In the near future we would like to use peelers to make cooking sticks that we will eventually use to cook over our fire.  As with all ECO routines, we have very specific protocol that we will follow when using the tools and there will be lots of pre-teaching with an emphasis on safety.  There is also a place to check for permission to receive emails from North Branch Nature Center and a media release permission box.  The most important one is for tool use!  Please return the permission slips as soon as possible!

The online scheduler for parent conferences will open tomorrow, November 8th.  Directions for signing up were sent a few days ago by Kathi.  If for some reason the available days and times don't work for you please let me know as soon as possible and we can try to find a different time.

Journal writing about the day.

Making tea with a kelly kettle.

Today in your child's yellow folder or backpack there is a packet of math games that I have collected from various resources.  They vary in level of difficulty and skills, but hopefully there is at least one that will appeal to everyone.  We have played Build a City, Five Frame Fun, Bingo, Rocket, and Plus One in class, so everyone should be familiar with these.  If your child is like my son, he or she may enthusiastically play the games at school but prefer not to play them at home- that's fine!  I'm sending them along as an option, but not something that has to be done.

Next week during ECO we are planning to make tea.  This is something we will probably do several times during ECO, and I also love the option of having a warm drink after a cold winter recess.  If you have an extra travel mug that your child could bring in and keep here for the year that would be fantastic.  I have permanent markers in almost every color of the rainbow, so your child could label his or her mug and we could find a place to store it in the room.   If you don't have one, I have some extras at my house.

Playing Sneaky Snake, a fun math game.

Shaking hands after a good game!