Susan's Crew. News and Events
Newsletter - OCT. 11th
Susan's Crew
Them bones them bones them...dry bones! Lots of exploration in the classroom this week involving bones. As we dive deeper as entomologists into our study of insects..we also begin to make comparisons to 'non-insects.' Alas..to know an insect is also to know what is 'not' an insect. So..we are getting to know our own bodies better, and we begin by investigating the idea of vertebrates. We have some great bone examples in the classroom and the students have had some wonderful ideas about what these bones are and how they got here! After brainstorming what the 'backbone' looking bone on the shelf could be, we discussed how to use our classroom resources to find similar examples in text. Then, student groups presented their ideas on what the bone was, pointing out evidence they had found in text. What joy it is to see students making profound connections between text and real life, and 'proving' their ideas!
Students have also been hard at work, writing their own books as well as thank-you letters to Berry Patch Farm while experiencing the Writer's Workshop approach. Having established a criteria for quality, collectively as a crew... they now have a process by which they write, which includes: brainstorming, selecting one great idea, thinking about the purpose (story, letter, fact book, etc), then drafting, sharing, editing, and finally.... publishing! We are building a community of impressive writers!
This month has involved numerous reading and math assessments. I am excited to share results with each of you at our upcoming conferences, Oct. 22nd, 23rd, and 29th. Look for your reminder next week!
It is para -pro week..and in recognition for all she does, I want to recognize and say a big thank you to our fabulous para...Mrs. G. She helps this ship sail so smoothly, and we are blessed to have her on board!
Reminder:
NO SCHOOL Monday Oct. 14th or Tuesday Oct 15th. Planning.
Field work dates/locations: The crew will be going on their first mountain adventure, weather permitting, Thursday October 17th. We will be hiking a 1 mile loop at Chief Hosa. I will send a reminder, but please be prepared to send your child Thursday with:
· Shoes/socks appropriate for hiking. NO fancy flip flops, ballet shoes...etc.
· Long pants
· A short sleeve shirt
· A long sleeve shirt to layer over
· A lightweight jacket
· A hat in case it is cooler weather
· Packable rain jacket
· Sack lunch and afternoon snack
· Water bottle (can use W.B. from school)
Monday, October 28th - Field Work, Museum of Nature and Science. We will be attending the 3-D IMAX documentary The Flight of the Butterflies, examining the work of entomologists.
PLEASE HELP PROVIDE THE CREW WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERINCE FIELD WORK. Bring 10 $ (total) by October 17th to cover the trips. Thank you.
Thanks for all you do!
Respectfully,
Susan Calkin and Mrs G
Kinder Crew
[email protected]
Visit the Classroom website: http://susancrew.weebly.com/index.html
PTA FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEETING, OCTOBER 13th 1PM @ LOCAL 46
Centennial parents will be gathering this Sunday to discuss 2013-14 fundraising efforts. Would you like to be part of this committee? Either join us on Sunday or contact Shannon Cruwys at [email protected]
NO SCHOOL- MONDAY & TUESDAY, OCT 14TH & 15TH
PTA MEETING, OCT 15TH 6PM, ART ROOM
Even with school out for the day, the PTA will still be meeting on October 15th. Please plan to join us to discuss ways parents can help better our school. You do not need to be a PTA member to attend. Childcare will be provided!
CANDY FUNDRAISER
This is our big fundraiser! The funds raised will be used for fieldwork buses for expeditions.
Take the catalog to work, sell to neighbors, friends and family.
Our teachers will be putting in long days and nights for parent/teacher conferences October 22nd and 29th. Let's show our support by bringing in food for these tough days. There is a sign up sheet in the front office, or you may call Stacy. You can drop-off your items in the office on the designated days. The food will be served to the teachers after school. More info in Thursday Folders.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 4th Friday Newsletter
Hello families,
Important upcoming dates
Parent Teacher Conferences. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR YOUR CONFERENCE TIME SPOT. I have a sign up sheet in my room on the half round table, or you can talk to me in person before or after school. Dates: OCTOBER 22, 23, 29. Time slots run from shortly after school until almost 8pm. If you need a different time, please let me know and we can make other arrangements.
Field work dates/locations: The crew will be going on the first mountain adventure, Thursday October 17th. We will be hiking a 1 mile loop at Chief Hosa Trail just past the Buffalo (Bison really) lookout off I-70. This trail is a great beginner hike, nicely wooded, and is designed as a sensory experience. It will be a great compliment to discussions we are having on senses, habitat, the interrelations of living things, and of course...building strong habits with relations with crew. For students who have hiked before, this trail will feel familiar. To students new to hiking or trips in the woods, this experience will be an eye opener.
Experienced or not... field work such as this builds strong social, emotional and physical skill. It also transfers easily to academic skills. The persistence and determination required to accomplish certain tasks transfers to situations in the classroom that require similar persistence. In addition, the experiences build confidence. These students know they can do amazing things! Then, the conversations that happen on these outings bring an awareness and connection to conversations, readings, and academics in the classroom. Already, the students are making connections between our academics and the experiences we have had in field-work thus far. This is in addition to the connection to each other that is already well established.
Monday, October 28th - Field Work, Museum of Nature and Science. We will be attending the 3-D IMAX documentary The Flight of the Butterflies, examining the work of an entomologist who spent his life, from boyhood to old age, tracking the migratory habits of the monarch butterfly. While I don't usually include 'films' in field-work...I have seen this documentary personally. It is brilliant, and fits perfectly with what we are exploring in expedition. It becomes unavailable after October, so...we are taking advantage of this rare opportunity. A link to the trailer is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kaux14M7XbM
PLEASE HELP PROVIDE THE CREW WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERINCE FIELD WORK.
Bring 10 $ (total) by October 17th to cover the trips.
Typically, we would only be afforded 2 outings per year...total. I am working with our lovely parent volunteers on setting up Donors Choose to help fund additional opportunities. I am also applying for scholarships, which will help with fuel expenses. This has already saved us 10$ per student for the Imax trip alone!
Thank you for your support!
Other news:
In our classroom, we have a jar that holds 125 marbles. When the crew does a great job working together as a team and supporting each other to make great choices, people notice!
Here are some things that have helped us reach our goal:
We have been keeping track of these amazing efforts by adding marbles to the once empty marble jar and watching it fill up over time
Although I am not a big believer in extrinsic motivators, I do think the marble jar has heightened crew awareness about what it means to work together as a team and how to support those who need a bit of help to do their part.
Ask you child what he/she is most proud of in regards to the hard work it takes to earn each marble and a class celebration. How was he/she helpful? What were the biggest challenges as a crew?
Thanks for sharing your wonderful kids each day! It is fun to celebrate with them for great reasons!
Finally - You may be hearing talk of exoskeletons, spiracles and compound eyes! We are diving deeper into our work as entomologists (ask your child to explain!), and our questions are taking us into literature where we are looking at the details and main ideas of texts. It is exciting to learn new and unfamiliar facts about creatures that once seemed so simple.
We continue to build stamina as independent readers in Readers Workshop, and we are just launching into a new writing workshop where we are learning the process of brainstorming, drafting, revising, conferencing, and finally publishing. This helps us establish the habit of investing in our work and striving towards our best.
In math we have been working on sorting by attributes, counting to 100 by 10's (or 5's and 2's for those who have a handle on 10's), and number patterns. Becoming familiar with the tools we will use for the year has also been a main focus as in the coming months students will need to employ our manipulatives in order to problem solve. Their experiences with materials now..will afford them more success later.
Lastly (really!) - Today we ventured to Berkeley Lake Park just west of the school for field-work. Thank you to the 2 parents who came along to assist! Our purpose was to collect 'true insects' with our new understanding of the criteria which defines what an insect actually IS! We also established (and practiced) "leave no trace principles" (including trash pick up)...and reflected on important class norms on how we operate collectively as crew during field-work. We ended the day with students giving each other accolades (compliments to each other on jobs they did well). What joy!
These are amazing students, with wonderful families and I feel fortunate to be working along side you each and every day!
Thanks for all you do!
Respectfully yours,
Susan Calkin and Mrs G
Kinder Crew
[email protected]
Susan's Crew
Them bones them bones them...dry bones! Lots of exploration in the classroom this week involving bones. As we dive deeper as entomologists into our study of insects..we also begin to make comparisons to 'non-insects.' Alas..to know an insect is also to know what is 'not' an insect. So..we are getting to know our own bodies better, and we begin by investigating the idea of vertebrates. We have some great bone examples in the classroom and the students have had some wonderful ideas about what these bones are and how they got here! After brainstorming what the 'backbone' looking bone on the shelf could be, we discussed how to use our classroom resources to find similar examples in text. Then, student groups presented their ideas on what the bone was, pointing out evidence they had found in text. What joy it is to see students making profound connections between text and real life, and 'proving' their ideas!
Students have also been hard at work, writing their own books as well as thank-you letters to Berry Patch Farm while experiencing the Writer's Workshop approach. Having established a criteria for quality, collectively as a crew... they now have a process by which they write, which includes: brainstorming, selecting one great idea, thinking about the purpose (story, letter, fact book, etc), then drafting, sharing, editing, and finally.... publishing! We are building a community of impressive writers!
This month has involved numerous reading and math assessments. I am excited to share results with each of you at our upcoming conferences, Oct. 22nd, 23rd, and 29th. Look for your reminder next week!
It is para -pro week..and in recognition for all she does, I want to recognize and say a big thank you to our fabulous para...Mrs. G. She helps this ship sail so smoothly, and we are blessed to have her on board!
Reminder:
NO SCHOOL Monday Oct. 14th or Tuesday Oct 15th. Planning.
Field work dates/locations: The crew will be going on their first mountain adventure, weather permitting, Thursday October 17th. We will be hiking a 1 mile loop at Chief Hosa. I will send a reminder, but please be prepared to send your child Thursday with:
· Shoes/socks appropriate for hiking. NO fancy flip flops, ballet shoes...etc.
· Long pants
· A short sleeve shirt
· A long sleeve shirt to layer over
· A lightweight jacket
· A hat in case it is cooler weather
· Packable rain jacket
· Sack lunch and afternoon snack
· Water bottle (can use W.B. from school)
Monday, October 28th - Field Work, Museum of Nature and Science. We will be attending the 3-D IMAX documentary The Flight of the Butterflies, examining the work of entomologists.
PLEASE HELP PROVIDE THE CREW WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERINCE FIELD WORK. Bring 10 $ (total) by October 17th to cover the trips. Thank you.
Thanks for all you do!
Respectfully,
Susan Calkin and Mrs G
Kinder Crew
[email protected]
Visit the Classroom website: http://susancrew.weebly.com/index.html
PTA FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEETING, OCTOBER 13th 1PM @ LOCAL 46
Centennial parents will be gathering this Sunday to discuss 2013-14 fundraising efforts. Would you like to be part of this committee? Either join us on Sunday or contact Shannon Cruwys at [email protected]
NO SCHOOL- MONDAY & TUESDAY, OCT 14TH & 15TH
PTA MEETING, OCT 15TH 6PM, ART ROOM
Even with school out for the day, the PTA will still be meeting on October 15th. Please plan to join us to discuss ways parents can help better our school. You do not need to be a PTA member to attend. Childcare will be provided!
CANDY FUNDRAISER
This is our big fundraiser! The funds raised will be used for fieldwork buses for expeditions.
Take the catalog to work, sell to neighbors, friends and family.
- Order forms and money due back October 17th
- Delivery of product on November 18th
Our teachers will be putting in long days and nights for parent/teacher conferences October 22nd and 29th. Let's show our support by bringing in food for these tough days. There is a sign up sheet in the front office, or you may call Stacy. You can drop-off your items in the office on the designated days. The food will be served to the teachers after school. More info in Thursday Folders.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 4th Friday Newsletter
Hello families,
Important upcoming dates
Parent Teacher Conferences. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR YOUR CONFERENCE TIME SPOT. I have a sign up sheet in my room on the half round table, or you can talk to me in person before or after school. Dates: OCTOBER 22, 23, 29. Time slots run from shortly after school until almost 8pm. If you need a different time, please let me know and we can make other arrangements.
Field work dates/locations: The crew will be going on the first mountain adventure, Thursday October 17th. We will be hiking a 1 mile loop at Chief Hosa Trail just past the Buffalo (Bison really) lookout off I-70. This trail is a great beginner hike, nicely wooded, and is designed as a sensory experience. It will be a great compliment to discussions we are having on senses, habitat, the interrelations of living things, and of course...building strong habits with relations with crew. For students who have hiked before, this trail will feel familiar. To students new to hiking or trips in the woods, this experience will be an eye opener.
Experienced or not... field work such as this builds strong social, emotional and physical skill. It also transfers easily to academic skills. The persistence and determination required to accomplish certain tasks transfers to situations in the classroom that require similar persistence. In addition, the experiences build confidence. These students know they can do amazing things! Then, the conversations that happen on these outings bring an awareness and connection to conversations, readings, and academics in the classroom. Already, the students are making connections between our academics and the experiences we have had in field-work thus far. This is in addition to the connection to each other that is already well established.
Monday, October 28th - Field Work, Museum of Nature and Science. We will be attending the 3-D IMAX documentary The Flight of the Butterflies, examining the work of an entomologist who spent his life, from boyhood to old age, tracking the migratory habits of the monarch butterfly. While I don't usually include 'films' in field-work...I have seen this documentary personally. It is brilliant, and fits perfectly with what we are exploring in expedition. It becomes unavailable after October, so...we are taking advantage of this rare opportunity. A link to the trailer is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kaux14M7XbM
PLEASE HELP PROVIDE THE CREW WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERINCE FIELD WORK.
Bring 10 $ (total) by October 17th to cover the trips.
Typically, we would only be afforded 2 outings per year...total. I am working with our lovely parent volunteers on setting up Donors Choose to help fund additional opportunities. I am also applying for scholarships, which will help with fuel expenses. This has already saved us 10$ per student for the Imax trip alone!
Thank you for your support!
Other news:
In our classroom, we have a jar that holds 125 marbles. When the crew does a great job working together as a team and supporting each other to make great choices, people notice!
Here are some things that have helped us reach our goal:
- making quick transitions
- staying focused and on-task during independent work times
- moving down the hallway in a way that is respectful to other learners in the school (quiet shoes and voices, staying to one side so others can pass, hands off the wall displays, etc.)
- showing compassion and support to our younger kindergarten buddies
- meeting targets as a whole crew
- being a careful listener during whole crew debrief or morning/afternoon circles
- positive reports from from specials teachers
- taking great care of our classroom space
We have been keeping track of these amazing efforts by adding marbles to the once empty marble jar and watching it fill up over time
Although I am not a big believer in extrinsic motivators, I do think the marble jar has heightened crew awareness about what it means to work together as a team and how to support those who need a bit of help to do their part.
Ask you child what he/she is most proud of in regards to the hard work it takes to earn each marble and a class celebration. How was he/she helpful? What were the biggest challenges as a crew?
Thanks for sharing your wonderful kids each day! It is fun to celebrate with them for great reasons!
Finally - You may be hearing talk of exoskeletons, spiracles and compound eyes! We are diving deeper into our work as entomologists (ask your child to explain!), and our questions are taking us into literature where we are looking at the details and main ideas of texts. It is exciting to learn new and unfamiliar facts about creatures that once seemed so simple.
We continue to build stamina as independent readers in Readers Workshop, and we are just launching into a new writing workshop where we are learning the process of brainstorming, drafting, revising, conferencing, and finally publishing. This helps us establish the habit of investing in our work and striving towards our best.
In math we have been working on sorting by attributes, counting to 100 by 10's (or 5's and 2's for those who have a handle on 10's), and number patterns. Becoming familiar with the tools we will use for the year has also been a main focus as in the coming months students will need to employ our manipulatives in order to problem solve. Their experiences with materials now..will afford them more success later.
Lastly (really!) - Today we ventured to Berkeley Lake Park just west of the school for field-work. Thank you to the 2 parents who came along to assist! Our purpose was to collect 'true insects' with our new understanding of the criteria which defines what an insect actually IS! We also established (and practiced) "leave no trace principles" (including trash pick up)...and reflected on important class norms on how we operate collectively as crew during field-work. We ended the day with students giving each other accolades (compliments to each other on jobs they did well). What joy!
These are amazing students, with wonderful families and I feel fortunate to be working along side you each and every day!
Thanks for all you do!
Respectfully yours,
Susan Calkin and Mrs G
Kinder Crew
[email protected]