Monday Memo
February 11, 2019
Great things!
The great thing I can say about last week-is that we all made it home safely on Wednesday!
Thank you all of the staff members that helped scrape windows on an icy evening. We had several people that scraped multiple cars in the parking lot for others. That was so helpful! #kindnessmatters Thank You!
Big buddies from the high school started last week! The feedback from the GHS kids was positive and they enjoyed their time at HG. The plan is to bring them every Tuesday and Thursday (pending weather since they are walking over). Hopefully we will have a "normal" week this week and get on a schedule with them!
If you haven't noticed yet-Cheryl and Tammy are providing Speech/Language tips and Motor tips in our MM. Make sure you take the time to read through them to see what you can implement! Thank you for providing those for us ladies!
Challenge: This week, let's focus on the power of Free Will. We have choices in life--so let's work on strengthening the skill of choices with our students (or maybe the adults in your life). Try to offer two positive choices: "You have a choice, you may ____ or _____. Which works better for you?" For example-a student is upset about cleaning up the dramatic play area and coming to the rug for circle time. You approach the student, and after acknowledging his/her feelings, you say "You have a choice, you may put the dolls in their cradle, or you can put the doll clothes in the basket. Which is better for you?".
I am opening a "padlet" for sharing examples of positive choices. When you practice this-share it out with all of us! Click on this link and share your example! Let's encourage each other by reading all of the opportunities we can give for choices in our day!
Dates to remember:
Feb 8: Websites were due to be updated CHANGE: now due end of day the 15th.
Feb 12: CD mini book study 12:10-12:40 in library
Feb 14: Happy Valentine's Day to you!
Feb 15: SLOs due to Keri
Feb 21: Fire Drills
Nuts-n-Bolts:
* The announcements for the week are loaded into the shared file. (Krystal's friends will continue this week due to the snow/ice/cold days) Kimberly's class will have the week of Feb 18th and 25th
*Please make sure to check the exterior doors behind you as you come in/out. We have had multiple occasions (3 in the past 1.5 weeks) of these doors being found unlocked. It is imperative that you check these as you enter/exit. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
*Aesop-absence system: If you have put in a green sheet for a request and have already lined up a sub-go ahead and put it in the system and assign the sub. Also- please write the confirmation number from the system at the top of the green sheet. If you have questions, please swing by and ask myself or Marian.
*Go ahead and get started on chapter 3 in our Mindset book-we will begin to discuss this chapter through faculty meetings/PD and MM's in February.
*Looking ahead: March 5, 6 will be the Community Screenings at HG. More to come on changes to bus drop off/pick up for the 5th, etc.
*If you have a student in your class that you think may benefit from back snacks, please let Chelsea and/or myself know and we can get a permission slip home to them. We have begun receiving Harvesters in addition to our donated items, so can accommodate more students if the need is there.
*Remember to turn in your schedules to me as you get your home visits lined up.
*Just a reminder: if you arrive to work late, or need to leave early-you will need to sign out/in on the clip board in the office. Additionally, of you have something going on and you are coming in late-you need to let me know, as well as find coverage if you will be gone for your duty.
* Websites are now due to be updated by the end of the day Feb 15th (if you had not already done so by the 8th).
* February library book shelving duty: Lyndsey
Speech/Language Tip of the Week:
Practice having kids fill in the blank on open-ended sentences. This promotes verbal reasoning, expressive vocabulary, and sometimes even humor. See how several kids could complete the same sentence to change the meaning. Examples could include: “I love to eat _____”. “The baby alligator felt very _____”. “I told my sister to give me the _____.” “The boy opened the box and saw a _____.”
Fine Motor Tip of the Week:
Sensory tables:
Sensory tables or tubs are beneficial in so many ways for our students. Consider using scoops, cups, bowls, and spoons of varying sizes for scooping and pouring dried rice, beans, etc. Kids always love this activity, and all the while they will be strengthening foundational arm and hand movements that will help them be more independent with self care skills and more adept at using tools. Sensory table play is not only a great activity for fine motor development but can be a calming sensory experience as well.