Primer October Newsletter
Sept. 26, 2015
Notes from the classroom
Primer students are continuing to grow each day. This week we started our Primer responsibilities. Each day children select a tree chip with a responsibility on it. After introducing the responsibilities, students were eager to get started. Instead of correcting problems, I want students to learn through experiences and reflections that follow. Take for instance, the job of feeding the fish, the child went up to feed the fish and took a pinch of flakes and then the child let go slightly early. This caused some of the flakes to not go into the tank. A student nearby said, "Why don't you use the cap of the fish flakes?" The student whose responsibility it was to feed the fish will recall the experience of flakes getting out of the tank and will now understand how to use the resources around them to better help with their responsibility.
Reading: Rituals and routines, schema and connections ( text to self and text to text)
Writing: Small moment narratives
Science: The space plants need and food groups
Social Studies: Global Read Aloud
Collaboration: Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge with our third grade project pals week of Oct. 13
Parent Conference reminders
Photo Credit: http://floydsknobs.nafcs.k12.in.us/event/parent-teacher-conferences/
Big Orange Pumpkin Farm field trip (update)
Photo Credit: http://thedodsondiary.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-big-orange-pumpkin-farm.html
Global Read Aloud
This year’s author study is the incredible Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Her picture books have long enthralled all of my students. This year we will connect with the first grade classes at The Oklahoma Christian School (OCS). We will use the Write About this app as a platform to connect with other classes. We will also send out questions via Twitter to the author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and to the librarian Janet at OCS. Our first book will be "Chopsticks" and we will kickoff the global read aloud on October 5.
Photo Credit: http://globalreadaloud.wikispaces.com/
Pre-Conference Form
Our work with International Literacy Day is highlighted.
Jess Lahey- visiting author on October 1
Notes from the Opera
Primer students were inspired by the expertise, artistry and dramatic strength of the Ft. Worth Opera performance. During music class on Friday, students decided to approach their own play with the qualities they were impressed with. The experience of this phenomenal performance is a springboard for their learning throughout the year, especially surrounding their own musical preparation. Just as Dewey states we learn from reflecting on experience.
A note from Mrs. Beadles our Texas Master Gardener
“Why try to explain miracles to children when you can just have them plant a garden?” Robert Brault says it all. This is what we try to do at the Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills.
The Master Gardeners at Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Primer Pals of ESD. Collaborating with Allison Hogan I’ve been able to create a series of monthly themed lessons geared to Next Generation Science Standards & Common Core Curriculum to provide quality support & enhancement for classroom lessons. These pre-planned, themed lessons & follow-up activities track the cycles of nature.
“September, Change is Coming” activity: Students Read Miss Rumphius & Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers & maded & planted Wildflower Seed Balls. In preparation the week before their first garden visit, I brought two To-Go lessons to school to introduce the Master Gardeners & Raincatcher’s Garden to the class, “First Things First, Garden Tools – Rules & Roles” & “Seed Balls – Guerilla Gardening.” The children were ready to go when they arrived at the garden on Tuesday, Sept 15, these were the first official field trippers at our new garden site! The students toured the entire garden to meet the Master Gardeners & inferred their jobs by the tools they were using and then planted the seed balls in the Wildflower Bed, another first for us.
October’s theme is “Harvest, the Last Hurrah.” We’ll use the wonderful children’s book Pumpkin Circle, the Story of a Garden as our guide as we explore the seed-to-seed story of not only a pumpkin, but also of the garden. We’ll bring in the historical significance of pumpkins & have a “Pumpkin Patch” of unusual varieties for the children to examine. As an extension, we’ll do some “Pumpkin Math,” measuring, estimating & recording data just like scientists do. We will head back to the garden on October 6.
Spaghetti / Marshmallow Challenge
Based on an idea shared by Peter Skillman, students will work with their third grade project pals to create a free standing spaghetti sculpture w/ a marshmallow on top.
Objectives for this project include:
- To work as a team to build the tallest freestanding structure with a large marshmallow on top
- To identify the problem, analyze materials, brainstorm, build, and record results
- To share results via a shared online venue with classrooms worldwide
We will complete this project the week of October 13.
Photo Credit: SunnyDaysBlog.com
Mark your calendar
- Monday, September 28 Julie Lythcott-Haims visiting author at Main Campus 7 P.M.
- Wednesday, September 30 Big Orange Pumpkin Farm Field Trip
- Book Fair Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in the LS Library
- Thursday, October 1 - Author of the "The Gift of Failure" Jessica Lahey visits ESD Upper School at 7 P.M. & ESD Spirit Dress Day
- Friday, October 2 Parent Teacher Conference Day- No School for students
- October 6 Rain Catcher's Garden Field Trip
- Thursday, October 8 Family Game Day 10:30 A.M.
- Thursday, October 8 Early Dismissal 11:45
- October 9-12 Fall Break- No School
- 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