Newsletter 9-14-09

Classroom News
We had a wonderful first week! I enjoyed getting to know all of the students. Parents, please make sure that you fill out and return all of the papers that were sent home last week. Please take all of the students’ work out of their red folders every day.
I will be out of town on Wednesday and Thursday this week. The folders will not go home those days.
We have our first field trip planned for Thursday September 24th. We will be going to the River Legacy Science Center with the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes from 12:00-1:30. It costs $10 per child. If you are new to the school, please see Jennifer or Sheila at the front desk to order a “Field Trip” shirt for your child. It will be required for every field trip we go on. Look for a signup sheet on the board outside the classroom door.
I am sending home Scholastic book orders. Please observe the return date. Also, I make a wish list of books to put in our classroom library.
Our Studies
The students worked really hard this week. I have been assessing the students so that I know their levels so I can place them in the proper phonic and math books. Everyone has been working really hard on their packets so I can pull for one-on-one assessments.
We read three of Aesop’s Fables last week. After reading The Hare and the Tortoise, the students make a medal for the tortoise. They colored a picture of The Grasshopper and the Ants. They are hung on the bulletin board. The students sequenced pictures from The Lion and the Mouse. I will so impressed by the students’ ability to follow directions when we did a craft where we trapped the lion in a net. We will continue reading more of Aesop’s Fables. They teach the students great life lessons.
During Bible time, we studied the habits. I read examples of how the habits were followed in the Bible and how everyone should apply them at school, at home, and at play. This week, we will begin our study of the Old Testament beginning with Creation.
We went on a nature walk around the front of the school building. Each student got to collect something for our nature shelf. They also make covers for their nature journal.
We spent time talking about Charlotte Mason’s motto, “I am, I can, I ought, I will.” Each student made a poster about themselves. They are hanging in the hallway.