Tuesday Times
January 21, 2019
Great things!
Happy birthday to our January Birthday friends! We had a large crew of kids for our birthday celebrations!
Thank you to Kathy for bringing in and setting up our Fresh Fruit Friday! What a nice treat!
Our students were glad to be back on Thursday and Friday! Hopefully we can start to get back into the swing of things with some normal weeks-and no more snow days.
Challenge: We are going to continue the focus from last week: "wait time". When you ask a child to do something or give a request/direction-say it once, then wait--be quiet--do not prompt right away. Try counting to 7 in your head ("1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, ..") before you ask again or give a prompt. Sometimes we automatically give a direction/request 2-3 times without even thinking or we answer/respond for the child without providing that valuable wait time. Focus on the pause this week.
Dates to remember:
Jan 21: No School
Jan 24: Lockdown Drill 9:45/1:45
Jan 25: websites due to be updated
Jan 28: Fire Drills- (unannounced)
Jan 29: Mini Book Study (library)12:10-12:40
Jan 30: Read from the Start with PAT- library . (9:30-11:30)
Feb 1: Costco in lounge 11:00-1:00
Feb 1: Arts Partners-Mr. Stinky Feet 10:15/1:45
Nuts-n-Bolts:
* The announcements for the week are loaded into the shared file. (Debbie's p.m. friends)
*If you have not turned in your paper evaluation from our PD last week, please do so ASAP. There is a folder in my box outside more door marked: "PD Evaluations".
*If you have not yet completed the google survey that came to you regarding PD, please do that ASAP.
*Go ahead and get started on chapter 3 in our Mindset book.
* Websites are due to be updated by end of day Jan 25th.
* January library book shelving duty: Laura E.G.
Speech/Language Tip of the Week:
Some kids require a little extra processing time before they answer questions or verbally respond. Allow kids to have several (5-10) seconds to process verbal information before they provide an answer - they may know the answer but need time to formulate how to express themselves. If we answer for kids, we are speaking for them and not effectively teaching the skill. This makes them less likely to answer on their own and may make them reliant on cues and prompts. Ask the question...wait...repeat or reword the question after some wait time (provide visual prompts if you can)...then provide the answer if they still require some assistance.
Fine Motor Tip of the Week:
Ideas for scissor practice in the classroom:
Most of our students are only beginning to learn how to use scissors. Let’s give them many practice opportunities to master how to operate scissors and strengthen their hands. Use resistive materials for cutting as it will provide sensory motor feedback as well as increase strength.
-play dough
-paint chip squares or strips (from the hardware store)
-file folder paper (cut into square size)
-border paper with ridges (to cut between the ridges will promote proper scissor orientation)