Overheard in Class
"Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"
"The chicken came from the egg."
"But what about the egg, where did it come from?"
"From the chicken, of course!"
"But where did that chicken come from?"
"What do you mean? Hmmm. I don't really know."
"The egg was a space creature thingy mabob and came on the ground and became a chicken!"
"Really?"
"Yup!"
It's been a very busy week in the Kindergarten, highlighted by having two guests work with our class. We have had the pleasure of working with artist Julia Zanes to design and create one dimensional puppets based on our current study of seeds, worms and bees. Students worked together to script a story for a puppet play. This will be performed at all-school meeting next Wednesday, May 18, at 2:10 p.m.
The class also enjoyed some time this week planting a variety of fast-growing seeds. Emily Weinberg, Phoebe's mom, generously came in and did a seed-planting activity, helping us to plant marigolds and pumpkins. We hope to put the pumpkin seedlings into the Grammar School garden after they have sprouted. In addition, we planted our Root View garden with carrots, onions and radishes and have already seen root development. Thank you to Emily for coming in.
This week we have also begun our study of sheep and wool and the process of making yarn from raw wool. I am hoping to have our field trip to the Green Mountain Spinnery scheduled soon. Students have been making story boards of different life cycles - plants, animals and even people. In addition, they are experimenting with writing books and poems. We have also been very involved in making observational drawings of items in our nature center.
Next week I will send out the food assignments for our Spofford trip. Please let me know if for any reason you are unable to bring the item assigned and we'll work out an alternative.
Please call if you have any questions or concerns.
Sowing the Seeds of Spring
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Parent Letter
Greeting from the Kindergarten!
It's hard to believe that the end of the school year is not far off. The year has gone by quickly, and the Kindergartners have grown in so many ways over these months. It has been exciting to see their individual progress and to witness their growth as a group.
I want to thank Ibby, Madeline and Hop for organizing the fundraiser bake sale. Thank you, also, to all our wonderful bakers. As a result of every one's efforts, we raised $186 to benefit the Japanese Red Cross. Caroline Tarmy in the Preschool also donated $13.67 that she raised at a yard sale bringing our grand total to $199.67. In addition to this fundraiser, in April we collected three large boxes of food for the Putney Food Shelf.
This month the Kindergarten will be working with artist and TGS parent, Julia Zanes on a puppet-making project. Julie is a wonderful artist and teacher, and I am very excited for our class to work with her. We hope this will culminate in a performance, date and time to be announced. Also this month, I hope to be taking two short field trips, one to the Putney Post Office to tour the facility and one to The Green Mountain Spinnery to learn how they make yarn from raw wool.
May is always a busy month at TGS, and this year is especially full of celebration, as it is The Grammar School's 50th birthday. Grandfriend's Day is on May 20, followed by the 50th Anniversary Party on May 21, from 4 - 9 p.m. The event will be here at the school, and I hope you and your children can attend. May 26 is the Spring Music Concert, which begins at 6:30. I will let you know what time students are expected in a later home note. Looking way ahead to the end of the year, our day-long trip to Spofford Lake with the PreK, 1st and 2nd grades is planned for Tuesday, June 7. We will leave school at about 9:30 and return by dismissal. We will spend the day and have a cook-out lunch with hot dogs, chips, watermelon and cookies/brownies. Each child's family will be asked to bring something to contribute to the food offerings. I will send out a note shortly to let you know what we'd like you to bring.
The year has gone by too quickly. It will be hard to say good-bye to this fantastic group of students. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Libby
It's hard to believe that the end of the school year is not far off. The year has gone by quickly, and the Kindergartners have grown in so many ways over these months. It has been exciting to see their individual progress and to witness their growth as a group.
I want to thank Ibby, Madeline and Hop for organizing the fundraiser bake sale. Thank you, also, to all our wonderful bakers. As a result of every one's efforts, we raised $186 to benefit the Japanese Red Cross. Caroline Tarmy in the Preschool also donated $13.67 that she raised at a yard sale bringing our grand total to $199.67. In addition to this fundraiser, in April we collected three large boxes of food for the Putney Food Shelf.
This month the Kindergarten will be working with artist and TGS parent, Julia Zanes on a puppet-making project. Julie is a wonderful artist and teacher, and I am very excited for our class to work with her. We hope this will culminate in a performance, date and time to be announced. Also this month, I hope to be taking two short field trips, one to the Putney Post Office to tour the facility and one to The Green Mountain Spinnery to learn how they make yarn from raw wool.
May is always a busy month at TGS, and this year is especially full of celebration, as it is The Grammar School's 50th birthday. Grandfriend's Day is on May 20, followed by the 50th Anniversary Party on May 21, from 4 - 9 p.m. The event will be here at the school, and I hope you and your children can attend. May 26 is the Spring Music Concert, which begins at 6:30. I will let you know what time students are expected in a later home note. Looking way ahead to the end of the year, our day-long trip to Spofford Lake with the PreK, 1st and 2nd grades is planned for Tuesday, June 7. We will leave school at about 9:30 and return by dismissal. We will spend the day and have a cook-out lunch with hot dogs, chips, watermelon and cookies/brownies. Each child's family will be asked to bring something to contribute to the food offerings. I will send out a note shortly to let you know what we'd like you to bring.
The year has gone by too quickly. It will be hard to say good-bye to this fantastic group of students. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Libby
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Parent Letter
Greetings!
The warmer weather is threatening to arrive. Snow is gone, and mud has taken its place. The children are happy to be spending time outdoors, unencumbered by bulky snow suits and heavy boots. With mud comes a special need for inside shoes. Please be sure your child has comfortable shoes to wear inside so we can keep the dirt out of our classroom. On another note, it is suddenly tick season. I will be sure to check children when they come in from recess, but please be extra vigilant in checking your children at home. Evidently it is supposed to be a record year for deer ticks. I think it is safe to say that skis, boots and poles can go home. If you have not already done so, please be sure that you take your child's skis from the ski shed and boots from cubbies at your earliest convenience. Thanks.
This month, the Kindergarten has been collecting food in our classroom for the Putney Food Shelf. We have already sent down four boxes of food. We still have a few days left so please try to bring in an item or two to contribute. These should be non-perishable items such as pasta, sauce, soups and other canned or dry goods. Contributions can be left in the box outside our classroom or outside the main office. Of course, food can be brought in at any time throughout the year. Thanks so much.
As you know from Madeline's recent e-mail, we are having a bake sale fundraiser with the Preschool this Friday and Saturday to raise money for the Red Cross in Japan. If you are able to bake, please let Madeline know and thanks in advance for anything you are able to offer.
We have set up a post office in our classroom. Students have been writing letters as well as sorting and delivering mail. I hope to take the class on a field trip to the Putney Post Office in the next few weeks. In addition, I will be taking them to the Putney School Farm to visit the small and large animal barns as part of our upcoming study of sheep and wool.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our play several weeks ago. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm. If you were unable to see the play, Ibby's mom and dad have provided me with a dvd, which I would be delighted to share.
That's all for now. Thank you for coming to conferences and for sharing your wonderful children with me each day. It is my pleasure to work with them all.
The warmer weather is threatening to arrive. Snow is gone, and mud has taken its place. The children are happy to be spending time outdoors, unencumbered by bulky snow suits and heavy boots. With mud comes a special need for inside shoes. Please be sure your child has comfortable shoes to wear inside so we can keep the dirt out of our classroom. On another note, it is suddenly tick season. I will be sure to check children when they come in from recess, but please be extra vigilant in checking your children at home. Evidently it is supposed to be a record year for deer ticks. I think it is safe to say that skis, boots and poles can go home. If you have not already done so, please be sure that you take your child's skis from the ski shed and boots from cubbies at your earliest convenience. Thanks.
This month, the Kindergarten has been collecting food in our classroom for the Putney Food Shelf. We have already sent down four boxes of food. We still have a few days left so please try to bring in an item or two to contribute. These should be non-perishable items such as pasta, sauce, soups and other canned or dry goods. Contributions can be left in the box outside our classroom or outside the main office. Of course, food can be brought in at any time throughout the year. Thanks so much.
As you know from Madeline's recent e-mail, we are having a bake sale fundraiser with the Preschool this Friday and Saturday to raise money for the Red Cross in Japan. If you are able to bake, please let Madeline know and thanks in advance for anything you are able to offer.
We have set up a post office in our classroom. Students have been writing letters as well as sorting and delivering mail. I hope to take the class on a field trip to the Putney Post Office in the next few weeks. In addition, I will be taking them to the Putney School Farm to visit the small and large animal barns as part of our upcoming study of sheep and wool.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our play several weeks ago. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm. If you were unable to see the play, Ibby's mom and dad have provided me with a dvd, which I would be delighted to share.
That's all for now. Thank you for coming to conferences and for sharing your wonderful children with me each day. It is my pleasure to work with them all.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Greetings from the Kindergarten:
After a wonderful day last Thursday, sitting outside in the sun and looking for signs of spring, the recent snow was met with mixed feelings by the Kindergartners. It was great "snowman snow," so the children had a great time outside making forts and giant snowballs. Today the crocuses are blooming outside the office. Ah, New England!
This week and next the Kindergarten is selling bagels and cream cheese at snack time. Bagels are $2 each. This is a fundraiser that we are doing with 1st and 2nd grades to raise money for Haiti. We will undertake another fundraiser with the Preschoolers to raise money for relief in Japan. This is a result of Ibby's wanting to do something to help the Japanese people in this time of extreme need. It is likely we will have a bake sale. More details will follow in the coming weeks as to the date and how we will organize this effort.
Students have now learned to correctly write all of their lower and upper case letters. The children enjoy practicing these letters. Since they have the most experience with their upper case letters, this practice helps them in forming them correctly. In addition, it is helpful to encourage them to use upper and lower case letters in their writing and to use the correct pencil grip. We have been singing the alphabet song using the letter sounds (we sing the short vowels) instead of just the letter names. I continue to read one-on-one with children during quiet reading and guided reading times. It is exciting to see their emerging reading skills.
Our math explorations have been about time this week. How many minutes are there in one hour? How long is a minute? How can we count by 5s around the clock? We continue to work with non-standard measurement, using parts of our body to measure various things in our classroom. Students have also been learning to differentiate shapes - learning about squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, rhombuses and trapezoids and different ways to form them using geoboards. We have also been exploring 3-D shapes including spheres, cones, cylinders and cubes, as well as extending patterns and working on simple weaving patterns.
Next week we will begin a unit on magnets. This will be a science and math exploration and will include lots of wonderful hands-on activities and experiments.
I hope that you and your children are enjoying the Reading Challenge. There are two weeks left, and I look forward to learning about all the wonderful books you have read.
You will be receiving your child's progress report soon, if you have not already received it. Please feel free to call me with any questions or concerns. This is meant to be an on-going dialogue and record of your child's approach to learning and academic development. This is an opportunity to highlight your child's individual strengths and address any issues that may pertain to his or her transition to the next grade level.
April 15 from 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. we will have parent/teacher conferences. Please sign up with Tammy in the office for a slot. If these times are not convenient for you I am happy to schedule another time. Please be aware that school will close at noon on that day.
Enjoy this warmer weather. Let's hope March goes out like a lamb.
After a wonderful day last Thursday, sitting outside in the sun and looking for signs of spring, the recent snow was met with mixed feelings by the Kindergartners. It was great "snowman snow," so the children had a great time outside making forts and giant snowballs. Today the crocuses are blooming outside the office. Ah, New England!
This week and next the Kindergarten is selling bagels and cream cheese at snack time. Bagels are $2 each. This is a fundraiser that we are doing with 1st and 2nd grades to raise money for Haiti. We will undertake another fundraiser with the Preschoolers to raise money for relief in Japan. This is a result of Ibby's wanting to do something to help the Japanese people in this time of extreme need. It is likely we will have a bake sale. More details will follow in the coming weeks as to the date and how we will organize this effort.
Students have now learned to correctly write all of their lower and upper case letters. The children enjoy practicing these letters. Since they have the most experience with their upper case letters, this practice helps them in forming them correctly. In addition, it is helpful to encourage them to use upper and lower case letters in their writing and to use the correct pencil grip. We have been singing the alphabet song using the letter sounds (we sing the short vowels) instead of just the letter names. I continue to read one-on-one with children during quiet reading and guided reading times. It is exciting to see their emerging reading skills.
Our math explorations have been about time this week. How many minutes are there in one hour? How long is a minute? How can we count by 5s around the clock? We continue to work with non-standard measurement, using parts of our body to measure various things in our classroom. Students have also been learning to differentiate shapes - learning about squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, rhombuses and trapezoids and different ways to form them using geoboards. We have also been exploring 3-D shapes including spheres, cones, cylinders and cubes, as well as extending patterns and working on simple weaving patterns.
Next week we will begin a unit on magnets. This will be a science and math exploration and will include lots of wonderful hands-on activities and experiments.
I hope that you and your children are enjoying the Reading Challenge. There are two weeks left, and I look forward to learning about all the wonderful books you have read.
You will be receiving your child's progress report soon, if you have not already received it. Please feel free to call me with any questions or concerns. This is meant to be an on-going dialogue and record of your child's approach to learning and academic development. This is an opportunity to highlight your child's individual strengths and address any issues that may pertain to his or her transition to the next grade level.
April 15 from 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. we will have parent/teacher conferences. Please sign up with Tammy in the office for a slot. If these times are not convenient for you I am happy to schedule another time. Please be aware that school will close at noon on that day.
Enjoy this warmer weather. Let's hope March goes out like a lamb.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Greetings From the Kindergarten!
After a wonderful and relaxing break, it is great to be back working with the children. Our first day back we celebrated the 100th day of school with a variety of activities in our classroom and with the first grade. The children brought in very challenging Mystery 100 items, and both classes had lots of fun guessing each other's items. Some were very tricky. We also made fruit loop necklaces and masks, each project enabling the children to practice counting by tens to 100. With the first graders, we counted how many times we could perform certain physical tasks in 100 seconds including jumping jacks, hopping on one foot and push-ups. It turns out that 100 seconds is much longer than we all imagined! Other math work this week has included estimation and more practice counting on from larger numbers and counting by 2s, 5s and 10s.
In our writer's workshop sessions, students have been working on color poems and have completed extended journal entries. The class is really moving forward as we discuss the writing process -- how do we think of ideas and how do we begin to put our ideas on paper? We have been focusing on choosing events from our own lives for our writing, as these are things we know best. Students begin with a drawing and then move through the stages of labeling their pictures or writing sentences to describe what is depicted. We are just starting to talk about the structure of a story, as I read aloud several different versions of The Three Little Pigs and we discuss the stories' differences and similarities.
On Monday, March 7, The Reading Challenge begins and will conclude on Friday, April 1. For those of you who are new to this program, it is an opportunity for students to set goals for reading outside of school for a four-week period. They keep track of their reading each day, and I ask them to speak at meeting about the books they are reading. Materials explaining the program will come home tomorrow in backpacks. Included are contracts for students and for any adults who would like to participate. While I know you all read with your children regularly, the Reading Challenge is fun for all. It is not required, but I hope you will all consider participating.
On March 22 and 23, a string quartet from Yellow Barn in Putney will be coming to school to work with each class and perform for the school. This will be a wonderful chance for students, particularly those in this class who are so interested in string instruments, to talk with the quartet about their instruments. The group will also perform some original compositions submitted by Grammar School students to Vermont's Opus competition.
On a personal note, the children overheard me speaking of a musical I am in that opens this weekend in Saxton's River at Main Street Arts, and they asked me about it. I am in the chorus and it is a fun show for all ages, though I want to let you know that a small gun appears in the show for a moment and there is a brief slapstick fight. I like to let folks know this who might consider bringing children. I thought I'd send a link in case you would like to attend. It runs for two weekends. Please do not in any way feel obligated to come.
http://www.mainstreetarts.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=107
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to call or e-mail if you need to reach me.
In our writer's workshop sessions, students have been working on color poems and have completed extended journal entries. The class is really moving forward as we discuss the writing process -- how do we think of ideas and how do we begin to put our ideas on paper? We have been focusing on choosing events from our own lives for our writing, as these are things we know best. Students begin with a drawing and then move through the stages of labeling their pictures or writing sentences to describe what is depicted. We are just starting to talk about the structure of a story, as I read aloud several different versions of The Three Little Pigs and we discuss the stories' differences and similarities.
On Monday, March 7, The Reading Challenge begins and will conclude on Friday, April 1. For those of you who are new to this program, it is an opportunity for students to set goals for reading outside of school for a four-week period. They keep track of their reading each day, and I ask them to speak at meeting about the books they are reading. Materials explaining the program will come home tomorrow in backpacks. Included are contracts for students and for any adults who would like to participate. While I know you all read with your children regularly, the Reading Challenge is fun for all. It is not required, but I hope you will all consider participating.
On March 22 and 23, a string quartet from Yellow Barn in Putney will be coming to school to work with each class and perform for the school. This will be a wonderful chance for students, particularly those in this class who are so interested in string instruments, to talk with the quartet about their instruments. The group will also perform some original compositions submitted by Grammar School students to Vermont's Opus competition.
Late in March, you will be receiving a Progress Assessment letter from me. This letter is intended to be a component of an ongoing dialogue and record of your child’s approach to learning and academic development. This is an opportunity for me to highlight your child’s individual strengths and to address any issues that may be pertinent to his or her transition to the next grade level.
On a personal note, the children overheard me speaking of a musical I am in that opens this weekend in Saxton's River at Main Street Arts, and they asked me about it. I am in the chorus and it is a fun show for all ages, though I want to let you know that a small gun appears in the show for a moment and there is a brief slapstick fight. I like to let folks know this who might consider bringing children. I thought I'd send a link in case you would like to attend. It runs for two weekends. Please do not in any way feel obligated to come.
http://www.mainstreetarts.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=107
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to call or e-mail if you need to reach me.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Greetings from the Kindergarten!
We have had an exciting week in the Kindergarten, celebrating Valentine's Day, writing stories and poems, and continuing our exploration of snow. In math we have been working with the "Tricky Teens," sorting coins, turning number stories into number sentences, and skip counting by 2s and 5s. The week before vacation is always a busy one as we all get ready for a wonderful break with family and/or friends.
When we return the March Reading Challenge will be upon us. Look for materials that will be going home that explain the Challenge. It's lots of fun to participate, and I encourage you all to do so with your children.
In our family study students will soon begin working on their family houses, which will include details about their immediate families, pets, favorite foods and things they like to do. These will be colorful and informative expressions of themselves and will help them to understand that we all come from a diverse and interesting family history. We will also be producing a book about our family artifacts.
If I do not speak with you, I wish you all a wonderful break. I look forward to coming back and working with your children in March.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
We have had an exciting week in the Kindergarten, celebrating Valentine's Day, writing stories and poems, and continuing our exploration of snow. In math we have been working with the "Tricky Teens," sorting coins, turning number stories into number sentences, and skip counting by 2s and 5s. The week before vacation is always a busy one as we all get ready for a wonderful break with family and/or friends.
When we return the March Reading Challenge will be upon us. Look for materials that will be going home that explain the Challenge. It's lots of fun to participate, and I encourage you all to do so with your children.
In our family study students will soon begin working on their family houses, which will include details about their immediate families, pets, favorite foods and things they like to do. These will be colorful and informative expressions of themselves and will help them to understand that we all come from a diverse and interesting family history. We will also be producing a book about our family artifacts.
If I do not speak with you, I wish you all a wonderful break. I look forward to coming back and working with your children in March.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Greetings from the Kindergarten!
We have had an exciting week in the Kindergarten, celebrating Valentine's Day, writing stories and poems, and continuing our exploration of snow. In math we have been working with the "Tricky Teens," sorting coins, turning number stories into number sentences, and skip counting by 2s and 5s. The week before vacation is always a busy one as we all get ready for a wonderful break with family and/or friends.
When we return the March Reading Challenge will be upon us. Look for materials that will be going home that explain the Challenge. It's lots of fun to participate, and I encourage you all to do so with your children.
In our family study students will soon begin working on their family houses, which will include details about their immediate families, pets, favorite foods and things they like to do. These will be colorful and informative expressions of themselves and will help them to understand that we all come from a diverse and interesting family history. We will also be producing a book about our family artifacts.
If I do not speak with you, I wish you all a wonderful break. I look forward to coming back and working with your children in March.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
We have had an exciting week in the Kindergarten, celebrating Valentine's Day, writing stories and poems, and continuing our exploration of snow. In math we have been working with the "Tricky Teens," sorting coins, turning number stories into number sentences, and skip counting by 2s and 5s. The week before vacation is always a busy one as we all get ready for a wonderful break with family and/or friends.
When we return the March Reading Challenge will be upon us. Look for materials that will be going home that explain the Challenge. It's lots of fun to participate, and I encourage you all to do so with your children.
In our family study students will soon begin working on their family houses, which will include details about their immediate families, pets, favorite foods and things they like to do. These will be colorful and informative expressions of themselves and will help them to understand that we all come from a diverse and interesting family history. We will also be producing a book about our family artifacts.
If I do not speak with you, I wish you all a wonderful break. I look forward to coming back and working with your children in March.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
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