Special Area Happenings at Hawley
Fall 2021-2022
Engaging and Developing Each Student's Multiple Intelligences in the Special Areas
The Hawley Special Area teachers are excited to share with you what your children have been up to in their P.E., Art, Spanish, Music, and Library classes. It is such a pleasure for us to work with and develop your children's skills, talents, and passions for and in each of our respective disciplines.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michlovitz, Ms. Giddings, Ms. Griffin, Ms. Crone, Ms. Basso, & Ms. Carlson
P.E. with Mr. Michlovitz
It’s hard to believe we're already in December! The school year is off to a great start. It's been so nice having everyone back in the building and having access to the gym!
Kindergarten
The main focus of the kindergarten curriculum at the beginning of the year is teaching basic movement patterns (skipping, hopping, galloping, etc…) , learning about personal space, and moving safely in the gym and outdoors. In addition, the students use a variety of manipulatives like bean bags and hula hoops.
Grade 1
The first grade activities build on what the students learned in kindergarten. We continue to focus on fundamental movement patterns, moving safely and using a variety of manipulatives. The first graders take these skills and use them in a variety of games.
Grade 2
One of the main focuses of the grade 2 curriculum is learning how to throw a ball using the appropriate technique. The students learn to throw with “opposition”. The right handed throwers step with their left foot. The left handed throwers do the exact opposite. Catching a ball is also an important skill for obvious reasons! These skills are incorporated into a variety of fun games.
Grade 3
The children in third grade play a variety of games that incorporate skills they learned from grades K-2. For example, early in the fall capture the flag was a wonderful activity that required cardio-respiratory endurance, teamwork, communication and the ability to safely dodge opponents on the other team and it’s really fun!!
Grade 4
In 4th grade the students participate in the Connecticut Physical Fitness Assessment. This rigorous test involves the PACER (cardio-respiratory endurance), Push-Ups (Upper body strength and endurance), Sit & Reach (hamstring flexibility), and Curl-Ups (abdominal strength and endurance). The students will complete the PACER test in early to mid-December. The other tests will be completed throughout the year finishing up around April.
Students Getting Active
Art with Ms. Giddings and Ms. Griffin
The art room at Hawley School has been bustling this fall. To start the school year, every student created a “DOT” to celebrate International Dot Day based on the story “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds. There is a beautiful display of all the students “DOTS” in the hallway. In September, the students recognized Hispanic Heritage Month by creating art based on Hispanic-inspired art. Then students explored the work of contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama also known as “The Princess of Polka Dots.” Students are now celebrating Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud’s 101st birthday by creating delectable art of delicious treats.
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
Hawley Celebrates International Dot Day
¡Bienvenidos!
Hola, my name is Marisa Basso and I work with grades K, 1, 2, 3 and 4 at Hawley and Middle Gate schools providing a first look at the Spanish language and culture. At the younger level, language is shared through songs, stories, games and fun activities. At the upper level, students explore and practice their new language via activities designed to foster creativity and communication skills.
Kindergarten
We have been getting comfortable listening to and being immersed in Spanish. Here is a look at what we have been working on this September, October and November.Our learning:
Greetings - hola, adiós, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches.
Introducing ourselves - ¿Cómo te llamas?, me llamo, mucho gusto.
Following classroom directions - levántense, siéntense, escuchen, miren
Números 1-10 and 1-20
Rainbow colors
Weather
Days of the week
Appreciating other Spanish-speaking cultures and countries
First Grade
We have been getting comfortable listening to and being immersed in Spanish. We have been reviewing many of the topics that were covered last year. Here is a look at what we have been working on this September, October and November.
Our learning:
Greetings - hola, adiós, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches.
Introducing ourselves - ¿Cómo te llamas?, me llamo, mucho gusto.
Following classroom directions - levántense, siéntense, escuchen, miren
¿Cómo estás? - expressing feelings/emotions.
Números 1-20
Days of the week review
Colors extended
Weather
Appreciating other Spanish-speaking cultures and countries
Second Grade
We will continue listening to and being immersed in Spanish. We have been reviewing many of the topics that were covered last year. Here is a look at what we have been working on this September, October and November.
Our learning:
Greetings - hola, adiós, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches.
Introducing ourselves - ¿Cómo te llamas?, me llamo, mucho gusto.
Following classroom directions - levántense, siéntense, escuchen, miren
¿Cómo estás? - expressing feelings/emotions
Números 1-20
Days of the week review
Months of the year
Colors extended
Alphabet and vowels
Weather
Appreciating other Spanish-speaking cultures and countries
Third Grade
We will continue listening to and being immersed in Spanish. We have been reviewing many of the topics that were covered last year. Here is a look at what we have been working on this September, October and November.
Our learning:
Greetings - hola, adiós, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches.
Introducing ourselves - ¿Cómo te llamas? me llamo, se llama, mucho gusto.
Following classroom directions - levántense, siéntense, escuchen, miren
To give and follow directions with words like levanta/ baja la mano
¿Cómo estás? - expressing feelings/emotions
Respond to calendar questions
Days of the week review
Months of the year/Seasons
Colors extended
Weather
Appreciating other Spanish-speaking cultures and countries
Fourth Grade
We will continue listening to and being immersed in Spanish. We have been reviewing many of the topics that were covered last year. Here is a look at what we have been working on this September, October and November.
Our learning:
Greetings - hola, adiós, buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches.
Introducing ourselves - ¿Cómo te llamas? me llamo, se llama, mucho gusto.
Following classroom directions - levántense, siéntense, escuchen, miren
To give and follow directions with words like levanta/ baja la mano
¿Cómo estás? - expressing feelings/emotions
Respond to calendar questions
Days of the week review
Months of the year/Seasons
Numbers 1-100
Telling time
Colors extended
Weather
Appreciating other Spanish-speaking cultures and countries
Music News
The first part of this school year has been an exciting one in music!
At the end of the last year I submitted a grant request to the Newtown Education Foundation for funds to purchase xylophones for Hawley. The grant was approved and we received 5 new soprano xylophones and 4 new alto xylophones in September/October for the students to use! The instruments are being used to expand our xylophone inventory and have an instrument for each student in the class.
After learning about the care of the newer instruments, the students worked in groups and individually to perform the melody to Pease Porridge Hot and also to master different borduns (accompaniments) to play with that melody. The students did very well; they performed as a class, all playing one of the borduns while the melody was played.They then paired off with another student and worked cooperatively to practice the parts individually and then perform for the class. The students were also encouraged to make up their own melodies that would fit with the borduns they already knew.
The younger grade levels started the year with learning the opposites in music-slow/fast, loud/quiet, high/low. They are enjoying their time in music!
We are now working on Kindness Songs in all grades. If anyone would like to go over the songs at home, all the Google Classrooms for Specials have a copy of the slide show in it!
Hawley's New Xylophones
Listen to the 3rd Graders Play!
Library News
The Library continues to be an active hub of the school, serving our students here at Hawley! We are open each day from 8:30 am through dismissal so that our students can come check out books, Chromebooks when needed, board games, and even Dash coding robot kits thanks to a generous grant from the Newtown Education Foundation! Throughout the fall, library classes have been filled with a variety of read a-louds encouraging our students to continue their love of reading, learn about and experience life through the lens of different cultures, backgrounds, and languages, as well as practice engaging in good library book care.
We are so fortunate to have over forty parents and grandparents volunteering their time to help keep the workings of the library run smoothly and we are so grateful! Thank you!!
The library has also hosted two Birthday Book Club celebrations thus far and we thank our participants for your donations as this program helps to put more books into children's hands.
With the help of our new library paraprofessional, Mrs. Nadine Topolski sorting, creating call numbers, cataloging, covering, and getting books ready for circulation, Hawley students have been able to check out 206 new books since the start of the school year.
Kindergarten
Understanding that the library is organized is a foundational skill that starts with our youngest learners in the library. Students tour the library seeing and browsing the different types of books found in each of the sections. We make special stops at some of our favorite sections, such as the dinosaurs, sharks, snakes, dogs, cats, Piggie & Gerald, Clifford, and Peppa the Pig sections. With the help of our Book Hospital and our student “book doctors and nurses”, kindergarteners diagnose why some of the library books are not feeling well (broken bindings, torn/missing pages,) and then work together to come up with a “care plan” that highlights proper book care. Students are also learning and understanding the job of the author and illustrator, the parts of a book, and what the “job” of the call number is.
First Grade
Our first graders started off the school year advancing their understanding of how the library is organized with a library scavenger hunt. They found all the sections of the library, looked to see what kinds of books are found in each section, and discovered some new types of books that they now love to check out like how-to-draw books, joke books, origami, and cooking books. They have been progressing in understanding how the call number is used to organize books on the shelves, and have had a lot of fun playing some hands on games like, “No! No! Never!” to share what items we should never have near our library books.
Second Grade
Identifying and sorting good and not so good book care has helped our second graders be great patrons of the library. They love to note, share, and work together to place books back on the shelf correctly, helping to make a community that cares about its resources. These students also took part in a “Dewey” section scavenger hunt, learning in more detail what specific types of books are found within each of the hundreds sections. They are now shifting gears and are getting their hands on working with our library database, Destiny Discover. Learning how to use the database supports our second graders in becoming independent users of the library.
Third Grade
An introduction to the verso information system that details the physical and background information of a book has helped our third graders understand all of the stakeholders involved in its creation, from the author and illustrator to the publishing company, publishing location, and book size. They are also developing their cooperative skills while working in mixed media stations to organize fiction call numbers. This practice and skill buoys the development of independence in finding resources within the library by understanding how call numbers are organized.
Fourth Grade
Creating a clean, final copy of a works cited entry has brought together the fourth grader’s skills in applying their knowledge of verso information with understanding the importance of giving credit to other professional work. While investigating and exploring the Dewey Decimal system, fourth graders used the book information for to create their works cited, practiced note-taking skills using a graphic organizer to prepare them for research, and then executed what they learned in two fun games, “Spin the Dewey Wheel” and “Tag the Dewey” section. Through this process, students learned how helpful it is to take clear notes so that they could use their own work to show what they have learned.