Arbor Day Celebrations

Today our school celebrated Arbor Day by planting two new trees together on the School Street playground. Our class read some sentences about trees in front of the group for part of the celebration. The kids enjoyed may books, songs, and art opportunities around the topic of trees today.

Walking Field Trip

Journey Team Field Trip Our team has been invited to visit with the author named Tracey Campbell Pearson at the Flying Pig Bookstore on Wednesday, May 9th. We will be leaving school at 10:30 am to walk to the book store. The kids will be having lunch at school when we arrive back at approximately 12:00 pm. Please be sure that your child wears appropriate clothing and sneakers for walking on this day.

Sink or Float

Today the kids worked in cooperative learning groups to complete a science activity. They were given roles within the groups. We will be doing more of this in the weeks to come.

New Daily Sign In

The kids are now signing in every day by their last names. It is a little tricky but great practice.

2nd Annual SCS K-2 Field Day

Tomorrow the kids will be taking home a very important note about our SCS K-2 Field day which will be Friday, June 1 from 9-11am. We will be purchasing team t-shirts and will need you to return the order form with the size you would like your child to have. No need to send money as it is our pleasure to buy the shirts for the kids as a fun memory keepsake for the year. If you can help run one of our field day "Dress Up" stations, please let me know. We will need each volunteer to be able to commit to being available for both Friday, June 1 and on the rain date of Monday, June 4th.

Goodbye Butterflies

Goodbye butterflies! The kids had the opportunity to watch five caterpillars transform into butterflies just before vacation. Today we let them go!

The Beginning of the Journey Garden

Our class practiced being botanists today. Each child helped to prepare our team garden. They planted our school's early crop spinach and radish seeds.

Our Little Seeds!

Today Stella's mom, Halina, came in to teach the kids about seeds. They learned about their three main parts: embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. Joshua got to be dressed us as our cool classroom seed. Ask your child to find items around your house to act out being a seed for you. VERY CUTE!

Little Scientists

Today we had a group of parent volunteers come in to make lava lamps with the children. They had so much fun observing what happens when oil and water come in contact with each other. I sent home directions just in case you wanted to try it again at home.

New Classroom Guests

Our room is turning into a very cool science lab. Last Friday our Painted Lady Caterpillars arrived for the children to observe. Jacob Whitcomb also brought in an abandoned hornet nest today. We will be begin growing an enchanted garden and some crystals later this week.

Congratulations Authors!

Today was our Kindergarten writing celebration day. The TreeHouse team came down to our space to share their "How To" books with us. Our team has been writing poetry and every child had a small collection of poems to choose from while partner reading with kids from TreeHouse. Our class lead a sing along of the song "It's a Small World". Every child took home an author medallion. It was a fun time!

A Few Fun Recent Photos

Popcorn, Poetry, and the Five Senses

Plastic bottles

We still need one small, empty plastic water bottle for every child in our class for an experiment on 4/6. If you have any, please consider donating. Thanks.

Request from Front Office

Please remember to go to the office to sign your child out of the building whenever s/he is leaving early. The office will then call the classroom and we will have the child get ready to be picked up.

Also, if your child is arriving after 8:10, please be sure to go to the office for a blue slip first. The child will then give this slip to the teacher.

Thanks for your help.

Happy Spring: Classroom Update

Here is a breakdown of what the kids are studying in each subject area:

Reader's Workshop/Guided Reading Groups: Reading Comprehension strategy of Questioning, Poetry

Writer's Workshop: Poetry-We are getting ready for a Kindergarten writing celebration with the Treehouse team on Monday. By then, the kids will have written about 5 poems each. On Friday, they will bind their own poetry to make their own poetry anthology books to share at the celebration on Monday:)

Math: Measurement, 5 new math workplaces will be introduced by Monday of next week.

Science: Being a scientist unit- They are learning how to record their observations in a science journal. They will be applying these observational skills to an activity where they will write poems about jelly beans and popcorn using their five senses. Of course they will get to eat them as well! I am looking to borrow some microscopes for our new dramatic play area which the kids want to turn into a science lab. The offer still is out there for any parents to come in to teach the kids something they may know about science. They love to hear other voices!!!!

Personal/Social Development: We have been getting outside again in the AM for an extra recess. The kids love this ten minute break and it comes right between writer's and reader's workshop so it revitalizes them for some more deep thought and successful work time.

This time of year is so much fun. They can do so much and are all continuing to love school.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with me for conferences! FYI-If you have scheduled a time to meet with me these past two weeks, you do not need to schedule another conference for April 20.

Journey Spring Clothing and Boots

We just wanted everyone to know that you can keep the snow pants at home from now on. However, every child still needs to wear boots and a proper coat as well as hats and mittens if needed. Rain pants may also be helpful because the children do love to crawl around and sit on the ground. With rain pants, we can avoid having to have them sit in wet clothing for the remainder of the day. We asked the children to be sure to wear their boots to and from school so that their backpacks can lighten up a little. Shoes take up a lot less space.

Also, I am sending home extra clothing today for you to check to be sure that they fit and that they are appropriate for the current weather. Every child should keep a change of clothing either in their backpacks or their cubby.

Thanks for your help in trying to eliminate the dirt and mud mess in the classroom by sending boots to school EVERY DAY until further notice.

Progress Reports and Conferences

Progress reports were sent home in the students' yellow folders. I am excited to discuss your child's progress at our conference time in the upcoming weeks.

K-5 Unified Arts Teachers will be available in their classrooms on Monday, April 16th from 3-5PM for Parent Conferences. Please feel free to schedule a conference or simply stop in to see them if you have questions.

Calling All Water Bottles

We are in need of empty plastic water bottles for a craft/science experiment on Friday, April 6th. We need one for each child. The smaller 12-14 oz. personal sized ones would be best. Please send one for your child. If you have extras, we will take them as well.
Thanks a bunch once again!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

After beginning the day with listening to The Cat in the Hat, the kids got to create their own hat to wear to our school assembly to honor Theodor Seuss Geisel. We began work on a bulletin board within our classroom inspired by the story called And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. Two guest readers, Ms. Miller and Mr. Madden came in to read various favorite Seuss books. There was green eggs and ham for lunch. Fun stuff on this first day back!