Ms. Nicky’s update 10-1-18

Happy Fall! It has been a busy month for us. We have started working on letteridentification, formation, and the sounds that letters make. We have also talkedabout numbers, and have been working a lot on counting objects and numbersense-having a sense of what numbers really mean. We are well into our STEM uniton Buildings. We have talked about buildings in our community, buildings around theworld, people who build buildings, what buildings are made of, what tools andmachines are used to build buildings, and what makes buildings strong. Thestudents have gotten to use Google Earth to explore buildings around the world andsome even used the app to check out their own home. We will end the unit with aDesign Challenge where students have to make a building strong enough towithstand the blows of the Big Bad Wolf. We have started having visits to the computer lab and the makerspace. As ofright now, we are not able to access the library. I am hoping a plan will get put intoplace soon so that we are able to visit regularly and check out books. I will keepyou posted once I find out anything. Parent-Teacher ConferencesFall conferences are October 1, 2, and 4. Our GOLD assessments will not yet becompleted, but I will be sharing the progress I have seen so far. I look forward toseeing all of you! Home-School ConnectionsThank you all who have sent in your Pete The Cat Getting-To-Know-You Shirt. Thestudents have LOVED sharing their work with the class and learning more abouteach other. If you have not yet sent your child’s shirt back, please do so soon. Wewould really like it everyone had a chance to share.Thank you for working with your child on their literacy and math homework. Wehave been practicing our letter-writing skills a lot at school so, hopefully, thestudents are able to do the work at home. As I’m sure you’ve probably noticed, thelowercase letters are much harder for the students to write. Don’t worry if theydon’t seem to be “getting it”. With continued practice, they will continue toimprove! Thank you, too, to those of you who have logged into the Seesaw app. I am hopingto get better at utilizing this as the year goes on, but please bear with me as I’mtrying to get it all figured out. I think it can be a great tool that will allow you tosee what your child is doing in class since a lot of the work that we do is not donein a format that can be sent home. If you have a suggestion of something youwould like me to share on there, please let me know and I will do my best to dothat. Our Music Teacher, Ms. TThis summer I reached out to our community and asked if anybody who had anymusical talents would be willing to come in and spend some time with our class. Ithink that music is so important for brain development and learning so, while I domy best in this area, it is not my strong suit. We were lucky that Ms. T., whoattended college for Music, volunteered to come and share her talents with us!She has been coming every Wednesday and, hopefully, will continue to come for thecourse of the school year. During her time with us, she teaches the studentsdifferent songs that correlate with the letters we are working on, the unit we arefocusing on, and any other ideas that she thinks the students may find enjoyable. Dressing for the weatherThe weather will probably start cooling down in the next could of weeks. Pleasemake sure your child brings a coat each day. Please also work with your child athome to help them become independent at putting their coat on and zipping orbuttoning it. ​This will save us a huge amount of time when we are trying to getoutside to recess, or when getting ready to head home at the end of the day. Important DatesOctober 1, 2, 4: Parent-Teacher ConferencesOctober 3-17: October count Days–This is when the state determines funding forstudents in our school, so please make every effort to have yourchild at school these daysOctober 4: Pajama Day-Bring $1 and wear your PJs to schoolOctober 4: FREE Parenting with Love and Logic Parenting Class (6-7:30 pm)-Childcare will be providedOctober 5: Believe Fundraiser ends (All packets due by 4 pm)October 10: Firefighters visit for Fire Prevention WeekOctober 15: NO SCHOOLOctober 18: FREE Parenting with Love and Logic Parenting Class (6-7:30 pm) -Childcare will be providedOctober 22: Parent Volunteer Training (4-5:30 pm)October 26: Trick or Treat