Green Meadow Update
Robert Rouleau
Preschool News
December 13, 2021
Dear Families and Friends,
This week our theme is “Signs”. Signs of all kinds are everywhere in our community and around the world. They vary in size, color, shape, function and location. They tell us a message, such as what is around us in our community, and provide directions to guide us. Words and symbols on signs tell us what we need to know. Signs help to keep us safe. Some questions we will be addressing this week are “What are the characteristics of signs?”, “Where are signs found?”, and “How do signs help?”
For a copy of this week's activities, please click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QeUhwwWMZ3dgeLVxRqJRQ1Z5mnOXxy-T/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115159854781554423139&rtpof=true&sd=true
Important information and Reminders: December 24th – January 2nd – Winter Break, no school Friday, January 7th – no school for preschool students The cold weather is here! Please try to label your child’s outer wear with their names or initials to avoid mix-ups with articles of clothing. We do go outside unless extreme weather prevents us from doing so. Have a great week!
Kindergarten News
3rd Grade News
Ahoy 3rd Grade Families,
This week we noticed our "short date" from December 1st through the 9th was a palindrome! That means it can be written forward or backward, and still be the SAME! Students also realized this will happen twice more this month on 12/11/21 and 12/22/21. After this, a palindrome date will not occur again until March 2, 2030 [03/2/30] when they are seniors in high school!
In our Fundations routine students learned 2 new Words of the Day: valley and greedy. We also reviewed spelling options for the long sounds of A and E, r-controlled vowel spelling options, and syllable types. We will complete the Unit 11 Test today.
During our literacy routine, students continued using Lexia and ReadWorks. Lexia is an adaptive blended learning program that accelerates the development of literacy skills for students of all abilities, helping them make that critical shift from learning to read to reading to learn. ReadWorks is a platform driven by cognitive science and thoughtfully designed to provide differentiated high-impact instruction that builds better readers. Students viewed/listened to Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel . Ask your child how Herschel outsmarted the goblins! We also spent time with our "good fit" books for Read to Self.
During Writer's Workshop students utilized google slide activities in our Google Classroom to continue the focus on editing skills. Students were given sentences and short stories with errors. They had to type it with the necessary corrections, such as proper capitalization, punctuation, and spelling, to complete the assignments.
We continued our read-aloud chapter book, Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng. Through read-aloud time I model what good readers are thinking and doing while spending time with text. Molly has successfully hypnotized the orphanage chef, Edna, as well as the headmaster, Agnes Adderstone. Ask your child what Molly is making them do now that she has them under her control! For more information about the story, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Moon%27s_Incredible_Book_of_Hypnotism
In math we continued to use Khan Academy in our Google Classroom. Students are completing assignments which reinforce and support our graphing unit (pictographs, bar graphs, and line plots). Students are also working on Symphony Math and Reflex Math to strengthen their independent skills.
In social studies we participated in a virtual field trip to Jerusalem to learn about the celebration of Hanukkah! Students have learned about the traditional menorah, latkes, dreidel game, and why it is celebrated for 8 nights.
During science we concluded our unit on Force and Motion. Students completed the second part of the comprehension review activity which focused on magnets.
Yesterday we had another visit from guidance counselor, Julie Danforth who was joined by guidance counselor, Ann Rutherford for another SEL [Social & Emotional Learning] lesson. The focus for this lesson was on FEELINGS. We discussed how ALL feelings are OK, it's what you do with them that counts. Feelings are either "comfortable" or "uncomfortable". They can be different sizes, and they can change. We reviewed the visual of how our THOUGHTS/FEELINGS/ACTIONS are all connected and influence one another. Some actions (or reactions) to feelings are OK, and some are NOT OK (unsafe). We then played a group game called "Feelings Charades". Ask your child about the experience!
Please remember you and your child can always access our Google Classroom to review materials and strengthen the home/school connection.
Now that winter weather is upon us the outside grounds can become wet/slushy/mucky/snowy/icky...etc...We go out to recess every day!
I am asking students to please bring a change of shoes EVERY DAY so that they have a dry, clean pair to wear in our classroom. It would be greatly appreciated if you can help your child remember to wear boots to school for outside recess AND bring sneakers/other shoes to change into once inside our classroom(***especially on FRIDAYS for GYM). If you prefer to send in sneakers/shoes which they will keep in our room all week (and take home for the weekends) that would be fine. Otherwise we will make sure they pack up all their belongings to leave each day. Also, please be sure their snow pants are LABELED with their NAME. Many pants look similar and students can accidentally grab another pair by mistake. Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns.
KIND REMINDER: If you need to change your child's dismissal plan, please send in a WRITTEN NOTE including my name (Mrs. McPhail), the date, your child's name, and a brief description of the plan. Please do NOT email me with the change during the school day for that afternoon. I cannot guarantee I will see the email because I'm teaching/working with your children/not near my computer, or there could be a problem with the technology system in the building on any given day. The SAFEST, BEST WAY is to always send a note with your child.
Until next week....BON VOYAGE!
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THINGS TO REMEMBER/UPCOMING EVENTS:
- NO SCHOOL(Vacation)--------> FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24th - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31st
- EARLY RELEASE DAY---------->FRIDAY, JANUARY 7th
- Scholastic Online Book Order due--------->Thursday, January 13th [class activation code: FPM6Z]
- NO SCHOOL(MLK DAY)---------> MONDAY, JANUARY 17th
- EARLY RELEASE DAY---------->FRIDAY, JANUARY 28th
Melissa McPhail, M.Ed/CAGS [She/Her/Hers]
Grade 3 Teacher
Green Meadow School
Maynard, MA
Class of 2024 Fundraiser News
If you would like to purchase a sign, please email one of us. We have two styles to choose from: zip code and coordinates. We accept cash or checks.
Thank you,
Kate & Amy
About Us
Email: rrouleau@maynard.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.maynard.k12.ma.us/o/green-meadow-school
Location: 5 Tiger Drive, Maynard, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 897-8246