Hello Marvelous Families!
What a super week we have had! We started talking about snow, ice and snowflakes even though we haven't seen much of it! This week we discussed some of the fun things we do with snow...making snowmen, snow angels, fort making! We have our very own snowman in our classroom to dressup. So if we can't make one for real, we can at least pretend to have one and dress him!
I am told the groundhog saw his shadow so 6 more weeks of winter...if you can call this winter! During our discussion about Winter, I have introduced the children to the words (and their meanings): precipitation and temperature. I encourage you to discuss these when we actually have snow, rain, sleet, etc. As well as discuss the changing temperature...and it there has been a definite change it temperature lately! We will continue this week with more discussion about snow, snowflakes and ice. I will have a bit more focus on the science of snow and ice this week. Most classes will have snow and ice science with me during station time.
Here is more on things that will be happening in the next week or so......
PROGRESS REPORTS:
Progress reports will go out this week in your child's folder. SEALS will get theirs on Thursday and PENGUINS & POLAR BEARS will get theirs on Friday.
I am so pleased with everyones progress! As I assessed and analyzed last fall's assessment with this current winter assessment...I am so excited of the GROWTH every single one of the children have made! Wow!
Another SUPER-DUPER question...
I had a GREAT question this week from one of our super parents. This was one I had had throughout the year and thought I would share....
" I notice my child doesn't bring home alot of work papers displaying skills that you work on in class. Do you do worksheets to reinforce the skills you are working on?"
This is a two part answer so I will break my response down in a couple of parts.
1. ) No, I do not use alot of worksheets and never have as an educator. My personal philosphy on this is that children learn much more by more tactial work with the skills we work on. For example, on Friday, one of the skills we are working on in Penguins is Letter Idenification and Sound Identification. Instead of a worksheet, the children did a letter hop. I had all the letters of the alphabet on the floor and the children had to hop to the letter we yelled out. For those students who knew the letters then I yelled out the sounds they had to jump to. Another skill, we work on in all classes, is matching the upper case and lower case letters. So instead of a worksheet, I have filled my sensory table up with cotton balls (snow). I have cut out snowflakes hidden under the cotton balls with both lower and upper case letters. The students then have to root through the "snow" to find both letters and match them up.
I do not believe children have to always create product (worksheets) to learn or to show they are learning.
2.) To conserve paper and resources, Mrs. Bloom and I laminate much of our writing activites such as name writing, shape recognition, telephone number identification,etc. so we can use it over and over again. This saves our environment and saves money on paper. If you ever would like to see these items, please feel free to ask. I would be more than happy to share this with you:)
This was an outstanding question! Hopefully this helped clear up any questions regarding this topic. Keep those questions coming!!
St. Valentines Day
We will have a small St. Valentines Day party. St. Valentines Day falls on a Tuesday so the SEALS and POLAR BEARS will have their party on Tuesday the 14th (the day of Valentines Day)
The PENGUINS will have theirs on Wednesday Feb. 15th.
We will make little Valentines bags in all classes for their cards. SEALS have 11 students; PENGUINS have 14 students; POLAR BEARS have 11 students. I will have a sign up sheet in the hall if your child would like to bring a treat. If you would require a roster, please let me know.
SCHOOL in SESSION on February 8th:
Due to our educational conference cancelling, WE WILL have school on Wednesday, February 8th.
On a Personal Note...
About a year ago, my mother had melanoma of the uterus. We found out on Saturday that her cancer is back. I humbly ask for your prayers for her and my family as she carries this cross. Thank you so much!
May your week be a very peaceful and blessed one!
Mrs. Burd and Mrs. Bloom
" Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power are His. He
causes the changes of the times and seasons..." Daniel 2: 20
