October 2022
WLM Newsletter
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is getting regulated, and making friends! We have been learning about the Zones of Regulation. Each zone contains a set of feelings in it:
We try to stay in the 'Green Zone' (happy, calm, focused, and ready to work). But, if we happen to be in the 'Blue' (tired, bored, lonely), 'Yellow' (annoyed, frustrated, too silly or excited),
or 'Red' (angry, upset, mad, out of control) zones, we are learning strategies to get back to the 'Green Zone'.
We are also building relationships and friendships with other students and the staff at WLM.
1
First grade has been loving our new math program, Bridges. Bridges allows students to learn and apply various math concepts in a fun and engaging way. Students participate in Problems & Investigations, Number Corner and Work Places.
This year we have been exploring counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, adding, missing number, shapes, counting and number rack investigations.
We love all of the math components, but really look forward to the Number Corner and Work Places. Be sure to ask your child about all of the fun we are having in math this year!
2
2nd grade has been busy working on writing true, narrative stories. The kids have been learning how to structure their writing across three pages (beginning, middle, and end) and how to add details, adjectives, dialogue, and feelings to spice up their writing. Once they’re finished, they’ve been hanging up their work in the class for peer feedback. Other students read their story and then write compliments or suggestions to improve on post it notes.
In mid-October we will be switching it up a little and writing fantasy stories that also follow a narrative structure! Ask your child at home what they’ve been writing about and help them brainstorm some new ideas!
3
Number Corner is new to our math program this year! Number Corner is made up of Calendar Grid, Calendar Collector, Number Line, Solving Problems, and Computational Fluency. We do one component each day during this time! Number Corner previews skills that students will learn throughout the year and is also practicing skills that students already have learned. I asked my class what is something that they have really enjoyed so far this year and their answers were, “Number Corner”! Check out some of the components in our number corner right now!
4
This month in science, students are engaged in the exciting project of dissecting an owl pellet. “What is an owl pellet” you say? It is a ball of fur and bones that an owl regurgitates or throws up due to its inability to digest these parts.Check out some interesting pictures of the dissection in class!
5
Science
During October, our students will be studying ecosystems and the transfer of ynergy through organisms. This includes hands-on projects with our aquaponics system creating basic hydroponics systems, studying the components of photosynthesis, and identifying the roles involved in food webs.
Math
Mathematicians in fifth grade have been working extremely hard on their times tables. Our current skill of multiplying 2 and 3 digits times 2 digits with decimals is coming along. We are hoping to test on this skill early next week and begin working on 3 digits times 3 digits w/decimals right away.
Geography Memorization
Fifth graders will take a quiz on the continents, oceans and rivers next Monday. It has been fun every day listening to them practice by singing their songs. The Blueberries filmed a Screencastify this week to post on Parent Square for our parents and guardians:))
ELA
During October, fifth graders will be working diligently on their personal narrative writing. Students will focus on developing quality story ideas. This allows a great opportunity to fine tune the use of transition words. Sharpening figurative language skills will also pose as a key player in student learning as well. Deciphering the differences between simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, hyperbole and alliteration will be extremely important.
6
ELA/History
As part of our upcoming coal mine field trip, readers will be learning about the rich coal mining history of Pennsylvania and focus on how children worked in the mines. Readers will also be taking a deep dive into analyzing narrative text, figurative language, and text dependent writing. Book clubs are in full swing!
Science
Students have been studying some local history and how coal mines have affected the surrounding area. We have also looked at acid mine drainage, its effects on local waterways, and recovery methods.
Math
In math we are gathering data daily from our shrinking apple heads. Hopefully the graphs and equations with the data will be as easy as pie!
Art
In September, we did line sculptures, paper quilling, hanging art from one cut paper or geometric shapes.
As students are finishing up their work from September, we are creating the covers for our sketchbooks and assembling them. Then, we are starting to create fall crafts such as contour leaves, symmetrical bats, watercolor pumpkins, and spiders!
We are focusing on how colors blend and how to use different processes to create art!
Guidance
The 3rd grade is going to start the year off in Guidance class working on career readiness. The state of Pennsylvania mandates that all students are exposed to careers in the elementary years. Starting in 3rd grade, artifacts are collected and added to a physical and/or digital portfolio. These artifacts will be collected until the student reaches their senior year in school. The portfolios will travel with them as they graduate high school. This initiative is called Chapter 339.
The 3rd grade classes will be working on identifying some common careers, taking an interest survey and discussing skills that are needed to keep a career and be happy with that career.
Parents, if you have a 3rd grade student that comes home and asks some questions about your chosen career, please feel free to share as much information as possible. It is an important part of learning about careers.
Gym
Physical education classes have spent the past few weeks practicing net games such as volleyball, badminton and paddle ball and playing indoor soccer games. We have also worked on balancing and muscular strength stations. In the month of October, students in grades 3-6 will complete the first PACER test of the school year. The PACER test is an endurance run which encourages students to push themselves to achieve personal goals while completing a challenging test. Please remind your child to wear sneakers on PE days!
Please contact me at ksmith@southerntioga.org
If you need anything throughout the school year.
Library
We love fall in the WLM library!
Students in grades K-2 are continuing to learn about the library space and to become independent users of the library. We are also exploring some great authors and illustrators and associating the sections of the library with the types of books found there.
Students in grades 3-6 are working on projects using the library website. We have explored ebook websites and are now become familiar with our online databases in order to be ready for upcoming informational writing units.
Music
Students in grades K-2 have been busy celebrating fall in the music room! We have been singing our apple tree songs and warming up with our song about making some soup. Ask your children what kind of soup we have had! We have some creative soup makers here at WLM! We are also enjoying watching the music room tadpole turn into a frog! We sang the book JUMP! by Scott Fisher and “jumped” on the xylophones with our mallets. Students in first and second grades have been writing their own songs for Copycat to sing. Stay tuned next month for our finished original songs!
Our 3rd graders are getting ready for their recorders! They are eager to get them and we are working to learn how to read music so that we are ready to get started on them when they are delivered to the school. Ask your child what color recorder they are getting!
The 4th, 5th and 6th grade students have been busy reviewing how to read notes on the treble clef. We’ve been playing all sorts of review games to help make us better musicians! 4th and 5th graders will be starting ukuleles soon and the 6th graders are racking up points for their classes by learning songs on the piano.
Our chorus and band students are beginning to learn our December concert material! The new date for the concert is December 13th. Be sure to save this new date in your calendar. I guarantee it will be a wonderful evening!
Please let me know if you have any questions! You can call the school, email me at sthomas@southerntioga.org, or you can contact me on Parent Square.
Title I
Talking to and reading with your child are two terrific ways to help them hear and read new words. Conversations and questions about interesting words are simple, engaging ways to explore new words in our everyday talk. Check out some of these fun, autumn themed books. You can help build your child’s vocabulary as you enjoy the beauty of the fall season together!