News from Mrs. Drudy's Class
March 10, 2017 News from the KinderKorner
The Week at a Glance
Weekly Concept: Look to the Sky
Essential Question: What do you see in the sky?
Next week our class will be reading stories about the sky during daytime and nighttime. Children will identify the sun during the day and the moon at night. This will be particularly interesting to them after hearing about the short winter days and long summer days in Alaska.
Here are some activities that you can do with your child to help reinforce the skills we will be practicing.
Word Workout
- Vocabulary: distance, recognize
- Take your child outside during the day and at night. Help your child identify the sun, moon, clouds, stars, sunrise, and sunset.
- My Words to Know
High-Frequency Words: for, have, they, of, said, want, here, me, this, what
Have your child think of a sentence using one of the words. Write the sentence, then read the sentence together.
Category Words: opposites
Use gestures to act out words that are opposites, such as up/down, pull/push, open/close, and in/out.
Phonics: u, g, w, x, v, j, qu, z
Search for objects with these letters. Play “I Spy,” and have your child guess the names of objects. For example, I spy something we use outside when it rains. It begins with u. (umbrella)
Iditarod Teacher on the Trail 2018 Finalist
I want to thank the KinderKids and their families for your patience and support while I was away vying to become the Iditarod 2018 Teacher on the Trail. As you know, I was selected (one of three) as a finalist for this program which, next year will send an educator across the wilderness of Alaska reporting out across the globe about the 1,049 mile sled race. Professionally, it's been the biggest and hardest thing I've ever done. Since I left on February 26, I've gotten no more than three hours of sleep each night. The day of the official start in Fairbanks, the temperature was -35 degrees. Yes, you've read that correctly. Six hours out in that cold was quite the challenge. I am absolutely exhausted, but am reminded every single minute that I'm with your child why I am doing this.
We are in the midst of the race right now. In our classroom, we are following the musher (sled driver) and his/her team that each child selected. There is a GPS tracker where we can see where exactly the team is, and we are moving our little musher right along the checkpoints that we've placed in the hallway. Be sure to ask your child how his/her musher is performing so far. Typically, the race takes about eight days for the fastest to arrive in Nome, AK. The Red Lantern recipient (last team in) generally arrives after about 13-14 days. I cannot begin to tell you how excited the KinderKids are to study and apply authentic math and science lessons to this race. I was beaming with pride when Mrs. Hertel, the guest teacher while I was away, messaged me to say that she was completely amazed by how much the students know about the race. Kudos KinderKids!
Click here to see a video from this year's Iditarod Teacher on the Trail.
To read the blogs from my journey click here.
Save the Date: Grandparents' Day
I want to give you a heads-up about an exciting day for kindergartners coming up. On Thursday, April 27th, we will be hosting grandparents for a special presentation. It is from 9:30-10:30 a.m. You might want to pass this date along to grandparents that you feel would like to share this time with their grandchild. Look for detailed information to come home in a future Friday folder.
Basket Bash
I want to thank those of you who've so generously sent in money for our classroom basket for the upcoming Basket Bash. This event would not be possible without donations from parents like you. We are wanting to put together an amazing basket for this exciting night held in April, so more donations are needed. There is still time for you to contribute. Thank you in advance for your donation!
Square 1 Art
Mrs. Bartos is sending information about an opportunity for you to purchase items that that feature your child's best artwork. Many parents order these items for family members as gifts. This is the art department's biggest fundraiser and one that is wildly successful among the families that partake.
Weekly Related Arts Schedule
Monday: Library and Art
Tuesday: Music
Wednesday: P.E. (gym shoes required)
Thursday: Computer
Friday: Art
Coming Up:
Daylight Savings Time Begins: March 12
Literacy Night 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.: March 16
Basket Bash $$ due: March 17
Square 1 Art orders due: March 21
Student of the Month
Musher Marking
Morning Message
2018 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ Finalists
Shelley Gill
Preparing for The Last Great Race
Cool Colten
Awesome Avery
Just A Swingin'
About Us
Email: tammy.drudy@uc.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.uc.k12.in.us/liberty-elementary/liberty-elementary/
Location: 501 Eaton St, Liberty, IN, United States
Phone: 765-458-5521