Newsletter 12

2005-2006                               Room 302—Newsletter 12                http://room302.blogspot.com

Monday, December 05, 2005

Dear Families,

Wow!  What a week; what a show!  Thanks so much to all who worked so hard on learning parts and getting kids here last night.  It was great to see all the hard work have such a great pay-off.  I was reflecting on what a wonderful experience the whole thing was.  The students chose their parts, read and reread over and over, worked alone, worked together, spoke, listened, and had a lot of fun doing it.  I wasn’t able to video-tape the evening show, but I did tape our class performing the play in our room, and I taped the dress rehearsal we did for the school, so look for that on the circulating video tape.
Reading…
It’s amazing to hear students analyze the Gingerbread Boy now, in terms of who is the main character, what the main character wants, and what he or she does to get it.  Rereading and performing help them think deeply about the story, because they’ve become so familiar with it.  In our discussion today, possible main characters included the old man, the old woman, the fox, and the gingerbread boy.  The great thing was that students could make a case for each of these characters being the most central.  We’ll continue to have these conversations, both individually and as a group, as the year progresses.
Writing …
Our new special project is creating a class book based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.  The twist is that we’re thinking of things to give, rather than to get.  Also, I’m trying to get more kids’ writing on the blog, so you may want to check in from time to time.  The shared writing was difficult lately so you saw less news there, but I think we’re back into routine, now.
Party…
Our party will be Friday, December 16 at about 1:40.  The main activity will be building gingerbread houses.  Let me know if you did not get a note about this already, or if you can’t remember what I asked you to bring, or if you are unable to provide what I requested.  I just want to make sure we have what we need by Friday.  Another activity will be decorating their own cookies, and we’ll need extra frosting and decorations for that.  And, of course, the other “main” activity will be eating, so if you can donate fruit, vegetables, juice, or something else, just let us know.  Savannah’s mom has again kindly offered to help coordinate this, so please give her a call and let her know if you can help with the cookie decorating or snacks.  
Wish List …
One thing I don’t have is a big analog clock.  The one in the room is digital, but I’d also like one with hands so we can work on telling time.  And the bigger, the better.  So if you have an old one you’d like to donate, please let me know.
Another thing I use every day is a big desk calendar (22”x17”).  We write in important dates and keep track of our days and months.  Unfortunately, the one I have ends in December.  So if you have access to an inexpensive or free one, we’d love it.
Current Chapter Book Read Aloud…
Winnie the Pooh  by A. A. Milne
Calendar…
Friday, December 16—Holiday Party, 1:40 p.m.     Friday, January 13—Early Release
December 19 – January 2—No School, Winter Break     Monday, January 16—No School, M. L. King Day
Tuesday, January 3—School Resumes     


Sincerely,



Jeff

Camp Out by Cameron

Camp Out

Written and Illustrated
by
Cameron

© 2005

Today me and Abby are going to go camping.  We are going on her trampoline to camp.  
Off the side of the trampoline we will roast marshmallows in the campfire.  The campfire was about 3 inches away from the trampoline.  
We have a black tent on the trampoline.  It is in the middle of the trampoline.  It was fun.  Her dad came with us.  It was very EXCITING!  
We made smores and we ate them on the trampoline and it sticked!  We said, “Eeewwww!”  I was having a good time.  I want to do it again.  If we do it again, I will be happy.  
We had to clean the trampoline because I like to clean and her mom made us clean it.  It was fun.  Goodbye.  That is the end of my story.  The end.

Week of Monday, December 05

Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Getting Ready
All month we’ve been planning for our holiday concert.  We’ve been practicing our play called The Gingerbread Boy.  Our whole class is doing it with the other first grade class.  Some of us have talking parts and some of us play instruments for sound effects.

We also decorated ornaments that look like gingerbread people.  Tomorrow is the big show.  We can hardly wait!

Newsletter 11

2005-2006 Room 302—Newsletter 11 http://room302.blogspot.com Monday, December 05, 2005 Dear Families, It was great to see everyone at conferences. I enjoyed all the feedback and questions and conversations. It was nice to be able to convey information face to face for a change, instead of like this. I hope you all left with a sense of how much I appreciate and enjoy your children. We don’t have another scheduled conference time, but if you need me, please don’t hesitate to write, or call, or visit. I have a list of stuff to cover this time, so here it is: Holiday Concert… We perform for families at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8. Everyone in the class has a part, so we hope to see everyone there. Please let me know if you don’t think you’ll make it so we can reassign the part. Plan on dropping the students off in our classroom with me around 6:45 p.m. Then our whole class will walk down together. Following the concert, all children will return with their teachers to the classrooms. You may then collect your children from their classrooms. Reading… Our big push right now is learning the Gingerbread Boy play for the concert, so much of our time is spent doing that. I hope you saw the copy I sent home and are able to help your child learn the assigned part. Some kids have speaking parts; some have sound effect parts; all need to know it without scripts by next Thursday, but sooner would be better. I’d like them to not only know their lines, but their cues as well, and one way to do this would be for someone to read the play aloud and have the student come in at the appropriate time. Please encourage them to speak clearly and loudly. The “loudly” part seems to be the most challenging for many, and it’s rather important, since it can be difficult to hear in a gym full of people. The second part of our show will be performing a set of songs. The lyrics to those were sent home as well, and that is another thing where I encourage you to help as needed. In math…. We made our new calendars on Thursday. We did weaving and talked about pattern, repetition, contrast, horizontal, and vertical. As an experiment, ask your child what those words mean, and if he or she can demonstrate those things on the weavings. Weather Fun… Last week was a strange one. I was glad to be able to send an email to those of you on my list the other day as soon as we knew school would be released early. It made me feel like we’d have a better chance of everyone getting where they need to be safely. I doubt that will happen again, but if so I will try to keep you in the loop. Video… I’ve started circulating a video “in progress” of some things I’ve filmed, including our field trip, parties, and kids reading. It’s highly motivating for those who volunteer to be filmed performing, and I hope it gives you a chance to see a bit of what goes on here. If you haven’t had it at your house yet, it will be coming some time. I’ve asked the students to bring the video back on the next school day whether they got to watch it or not. This is so the next person does not miss a turn, and so I can add new footage. When everyone has had a turn, we’ll send it around again. Wish List … One thing I don’t have is a big analog clock. The one in the room is digital, but I’d also like one with hands so we can work on telling time. And the bigger, the better. So if you have an old one you’d like to donate, please let me know. Another thing I use every day is a big desk calendar (22”x17”). We write in important dates and keep track of our days and months. Unfortunately, the one I have ends in December. So if you have access to an inexpensive or free one, we’d love it. Current Chapter Book Read Aloud… Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne Calendar… Thursday, December 8—K-2 Holiday Concert, 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 16—Holiday Party, 1:40 p.m. December 19 – January 2—No School, Winter Break Tuesday, January 3—School Resumes Friday, January 13—Early Release Monday, January 16—No School, M. L. King Day Sincerely, Jeff