I AM SO EXCITED!

I am so excited, I get to be back in front of our classroom next week. I will gradually start taking over subjects and lessons. I can't wait! I have enjoyed sitting in the back of the room and watching all the wonderful ideas your children have come up with. However, I am ready to be back to being hands on and a lot more interactive with everyone! :)

On a more serious note, our friend Mason was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes last week. On Monday we explained to the class what Diabetes is and how it effects his body. Mason also showed the class how he tests his blood sugar and answered any questions they had. He did a wonderful job and I was very impressed with how comfortable he is with his new self. Way to go Mason!

With this diagnosis, I am asking a big favor. If possible, I would like to do away with birthday treats. I know this is something which is very important to my own children and they would have a hard time understanding this concept. I take a lot of time building a community or a "family" in my classroom. This means we all stick together and do what is in the best interest of the entire group. Some students have individual needs, and we address these as they come. However, my intention here is, no student is left behind or feels left out, especially because of something they can not control. I am proposing instead we turn birthdays into a celebration day. I will have students choose if they would like to watch a short movie, have indoor recess, or maybe even a chance to switch desks or complete a fun craft. I will try to discuss this with the birthday boy or girl and come up with a plan that way. If you child is insistent on bringing a treat, that is fine. I do not want to ruin anyone's birthday. I am trying to help students learn a sometimes hard skill of compassion. As of right now, I am planning on keeping the winter party and Valentine's party the same. I will send home another note at a later date if something is to change. Thank you in advance for understanding. 

Math- In math Ms. Wild taught the patterns of multiples on a 100's chart (I have included pictures of a few to demonstrate). On Friday, Ms. Wild introduced to students to arrays. 

Reading- This week our story was Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens. 

When I first picked up the story I was initially certain that this was a kind of Brer Rabbit tale. It had animals in clothing tricking one another out of food of one sort or another. The hero was a hare and the villain a bear. However, a staple of the Brer Rabbit tales is the idea that sometimes luck and laziness go hand in hand. Brer Rabbit is forever tricking the other animals into doing his work for him rather than the other way around. But in "Tops and Bottoms" we have a very familiar message to contend with. Hard work pays off.
 

 In this story, a lazy bear owns most of the land. One day, Hare decides its time to buy some of his own land back. He strikes up a deal with the prematurely hibernating neighbor and the two become business partners. If Hare does all the work, Bear can chose the part of the crop he prefers. Either the tops or the bottoms. It soon becomes clear that Bear is no match for the sly hare. After all, when Bear chooses the tops, Hare plants carrots. When Bear understands his mistake he chooses bottoms and Hare plants lettuce and celery. And when Bear demands both the tops AND the bottoms, Hare plants corn and gets the middle. In the end, Bear learns the benefits of hard work (and staying on top of things) and Hare has enough money from the crops to own his own land again.

Writing- At the beginning of the students enjoyed reading The Library Gingerbread Man. Afterwards, the students planned out a gingerbread story and made their story come to life. They enjoyed sharing their stories on Tuesday.  Later in the week, students planned their writing with a graphic organizer and wrote a paragraph about their favorite holiday. 

Science- This week students were introduced to using mirrors to look at symmetry and mirror reflections. I think the class enjoyed the lesson called "seeing around corners," where they experimented with homemade periscopes the best.

Upcoming dates:

Monday, December 9th- I will add areas of teaching each day. 
Wednesday, December 11th- 1:15 Early Dismissal
Friday, December 13th- I will be leaving early for my 20 week ultrasound (Hopefully, we can find out if we are having a boy or a girl. I will share with the kids after winter break, as I am making my family wait to find out till Christmas.)
Saturday, December 15th- Happy Birthday Ian! :) 

Friday, December 20th- Ms. Wild's last day, winter party

Monday, December 23rd- Thursday, January 2nd- Winter Break, NO SCHOOL
Friday, January 3rd- No School unless we have a snow day.

Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Jodie Yuska and Ms. Wild