Primer Mid Spookober Newsletter
October 10, 2015
Notes from the classroom
What a magical time we had with pumpkins these last two weeks. One specific moment unfolded at the garden when students started to dig the guts of the pumpkin out. Most of the children were eager to get their hands involved while others opted out. What amazed me was the stark differences in the comments of the children who touched the guts. Adjectives included "Awesome", "Sticky", "Slimy", "Disgusting", and "Fun." Students separated the guts and seeds.
Our Master Gardener took the seeds home, cleaned them and roasted them so that the students could try them the following day. Almost all of the Primer students loved the pumpkin seeds. As you get your pumpkins ready for Halloween night you might have your chid help you prepare some pumpkin seeds.
Reading: wrapping up our work on connections and moving to decoding strategies
Writing: using the author's craft of senses in out small moment stories and the writing process
Math: 2D shapes: attributes, decomposing and composing shapes
Science: ecosystems and food chain elements ( plants, herbivores, omnivores and carnivores)
Social Studies: The Global Read Aloud: "Duck and Rabbit" and "It's not Fair"
Phonics: consonant blends
(Constant blends are when two or more consonants are blended together, but each sound may be heard in the blend. The most common beginning consonant blends include: bl, br, cl, cr, dr, fr, tr, fl, gl, gr, pl, pr, sl, sm, sp and st. Blends can also occur at the end of words as in the word “last”.) Starting with s blends.
Marathon Kids
Marathon Kids will begin Tuesday, October 13th. Our Marathon Kids program is a running/walking program that encourages students to exercise during recess and on Fridays in physical education. ALL students in Kindergarten -Fourth grade are considered registered for Marathon Kids this year. Students are NOT required to turn in a registration form. The goal for is to complete a full marathon (that’s 26.2 miles!) by April 2016.
Our first Family Morning Run will be Thursday, November 5th at 7:30. Thereafter, all morning runs will be the first Thursday of each month.
Photo Credit: Marathon Kids
The Primary Blogging Community
- Ms. Knee's class in New Hampshire
- Ms. Mitchell's class in Texas
- Ms. Leonard's class in Illinois
Photo Credit: Primary Blogging Community
World Education Games Week
World Education Games 2015 is the first to take place since the games became a biannual event in 2013. They are scheduled to take place again in 2017.
By taking part across the World Education Games, students will earn Unicef Points for every correct answer they give during the competition period.
Students can login with their Mathletics username and password through the website or app. Students can complete practice rounds before the actual challenge days listed below.
Literacy Day is October 13
Math Day is October 14
Science Day is October 15
Photo Credit: World Education Games
Great Follow to author Jess Lahey's presentation
Helpful Apps
Settle your Glitter App
Section take from Momentous Blog
We got this idea from Susan Kaiser Greenland in her book, The Mindful Child.
A glitter ball is exactly what it sounds like – a ball filled with water and glitter. When we shake it up, it becomes cloudy and hard to see through. If we take a minute to let the glitter settle, we can clear our minds and be calm and make good decisions.
Watch Momentous School students Jocelyn and Sahai describe the glitter ball in this short video.
Look at the glitter ball. It is like your brain. Now shake it up! This is your brain when you are really excited, scared, angry, happy, sad, or feeling any BIG emotion. Wow! Look at all that glitter. It is hard to see clearly. Do you think that when our brains are like this that we are able to make good decisions? Do you think we are able to learn and use our brains when there is glitter everywhere?
So, what do we need to do? (The kids will say, “Let the glitter ball!”) That’s right, we need that glitter to settle. Let’s hold it really steady. Let’s take some breaths together. Breathe in. Breathe out. Wow, look at the glitter settle at the bottom. Now let’s look through. Can you see to the other side? Do you think our brains are ready and able to learn now? Take a look and see that the glitter is still there. Our big emotions don’t just go away. We still carry them with us. But now we know how to settle our glitter and get our brains thinking clearly. Now we are ready to do our best thinking!
This app guides you through a deep breathing exercise that allows you to regain control of emotions and shift focus back to the task at hand.This app is free.
Photo Credit: The Momentous Institute
Pattern Shapes App
Description and Photo Credit: Pattern Shapes App
Kidblog app
I am planning to teaching blogging guidelines following fall break. Students will start blogging near the end of the week of October 12. You can download the Kidblog app or visit the website to comment on students' blogs. Students username and password will be same as their Mathletics username and password. This information can be found in your child's daily folder. Occasionally during the year students will blog as part of their homework. I think the first blogging homework assignment will come home in late October.
The Heard Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary
In addition to the field investigation students will hike with a guided expert to extend the ecosystem conversation.
This field trip aligns with many of our big ideas and fall under these Next Generation Science Standards:
K-ESS3-1. Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans) and the places they live. [Clarification Statement: Examples of relationships could include that deer eat buds and leaves, therefore, they usually live in forested areas; and, grasses need sunlight so they often grow in meadows. Plants, animals, and their surroundings make up a system.]
K-ESS3-3. Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of human impact on the land could include cutting trees to produce paper and using resources to produce bottles. Examples of solutions could include reusing paper and recycling cans and bottles.]
1-LS1-1. Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of human problems that can be solved by mimicking plant or animal solutions could include designing clothing or equipment to protect bicyclists by mimicking turtle shells, acorn shells, and animal scales; stabilizing structures by mimicking animal tails and roots on plants; keeping out intruders by mimicking thorns on branches and animal quills; and, detecting intruders by mimicking eyes and ears.]
1-LS1-2. Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive. [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns of behaviors could include the signals that offspring make (such as crying, cheeping, and other vocalizations) and the responses of the parents (such as feeding, comforting, and protecting the offspring).]
1-LS3-1. Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents. [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include features plants or animals share. Examples of observations could include leaves from the same kind of plant are the same shape but can differ in size; and, a particular breed of dog looks like its parents but is not exactly the same.]
A few reminders:
- Students should be prepared for going outside in all weather.
- Closed-toe shoes and long pants are the preferred attire for a visit to the Museum & Sanctuary. This has been approved by administration. Students are requested to be in an ESD shirt and long pants such as jeans. Tennis shoes or outdoor boots are recommended. Students may bring hats and sunglasses.
- Insect Repellent and sunscreen are advisable. Applying repellent is time consuming so please apply repellent prior to sending your child to school.
- Hairspray, perfume & cologne attract insects!
Photo Credit: http://mckinneymomsblog.com/the-heard-museum/
Sign ups
Thank you parents for your continued support. Also, parents and volunteers may attend class parties.
Photo Credit: http://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3023758&pageId=3366544
More learning with Students Shoulder to Shoulder
If I am not learning, I become stagnat. I want my students to be lifelong leaners so I need to practice what I preach.
During my time at the forum, I will debrief with other course instructors, improve and modify pre travel curriculum and post travel curriculum. In addition to this, I will work with high school students on their post travel goals of impacting their local community. This is my third year to attend this conference and each year I come back ready to work with The Primer Pals on larger global goals. Recently, I composed an article for NAIS about this process. I will share it with you once it is published.
Photo Credit: Students Shoulder to Shoulder
Celebrating the 50ish day of school
It’s time to roll up those pants & pull out those poodle skirts. We’re celebrating the 50ish day of school, 1950’s style! To add to the fun, I am asking students to “dress the part” on the 50th day of school instead of wearing the standard uniform.
Some ideas include: rolled up jeans, ponytails, scarves, slicked back hair, poodle skirts, leather jackets and Converse-style shoes. I encourage you not to buy anything for this special day. If you need something, could you be resourceful and ask a neighbor or a friend if they have an item you need? If you need something check with last year's Primer parents so they can offer some advice and resources to you.
Our 50ish Day of School will be on Monday, November 9th ( Mrs. Hogan does not count the half day we just had, thus this is why I call it the 50ish day of school). Prior to this special day, students will be learning about life in the 1950s. Students will also complete a project for homework focused around the number 50. This assignment will be sent home after Fall Break.
Cooperation in PE
Save the Dates
- Fall Break October 9-12
- Wednesday, October 14 Bright Start focus on literacy assessments with Mrs. Wabrek from 8:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M. in the LS Theater All are welcome! Please tap here to RSVP.
- Wednesday, October 21 Field Trip to The Heard Museum
- Friday, October 23 Spooktacular- Students will wear Spooktacular shirts to school
- Monday, November 2 Raincatcher's Garden visit 8:30 A.M. until 10:00 A.M.
- Tuesday, November 5 Marathon Kids' Family Run 7:30 A.M.
- Friday, November 6 Family Game Day 1:00-1:45 P.M.
- Monday, November 9th- 50ish day of school
- Friday, November 13- Lower School Movie Night at the Upper Campus - details to follow
Primer
Email: hogana@esdallas.org
Website: http://www.primerattheepiscopalschoolofdallas.com
Phone: 214-353-2818
Twitter: @PrimerESD