December is here!

Season's Greetings~

     The whirlwind month of December has come, and we better fasten our seat belts because it's going to go fast!  This time of year is both magical and frustrating to children.  For all the wonderful things that go on in December it can feel very frustrating to a child to be dragged and pulled to different destinations and events throughout the busy schedule that makes up most family's holiday season.  Sometimes this causes unwanted behavior that can leave a parent scratching their head.  During these holiday times try to include your child/children in decision-making whenever you can.  Give them small jobs that help out the family and include them in the festivities.  Invite them to help decorate the house.  Find a small tree they can decorate themselves.  Let them place bows or tags on gifts, or help with any correspondence your family might do.  Let them put stamps on and/or seal envelopes and make an outing to the post office to let the child drop the letters into the drop box.  These are just some ideas.  Get them involved and you will see fewer problems with behavior.  And don't forget to get outside!!

     This month we will be making gifts for our families, painting rocket ships, learning about the moon and its phases, singing new songs, talking about mammals, amphibians, and birds, and making gingerbread men/women.  It is going to be a busy and delightful few weeks.  We will go to space in the dramatic playroom and it is not uncommon to hear, "3...2...1...BLAST OFF!" at full tilt for the duration.  So much fun ensues...

Monday, Dec. 3: We will start our holiday gifts for our families today.  I can't tell you what it is.  ;)  We will paint rocket ships and start talking about amphibians and their characteristics.

Wednesday, Dec. 5: 3s~We will start making gifts for our families today.  We'll talk about rocket ships and paint one.  4s~Today we will paint a different rocket ship that we will decorate on Friday.  We will continue work on our gifts, and we will learn about birds and their characteristics.

Friday, Dec. 7: 3s~We will make cards for the family gifts.  We will decorate our space ship from Wednesday.  4s~See above.  Also we will talk about mammals and their characteristics.  One child will take home the class beaver named Castor. They will spend the weekend with him and record their adventures in the journal that accompanies Castor.  This will be a year-long venture in which each child will get a chance to take Castor and enjoy his visit.  Each family will be responsible for recording their visit and entering a fun fact about beavers.  Super fun.  

Monday, Dec. 10: We will start a project today that allows us to study the moon and its phases and learn a great story as well.  The book we will read is Papa Please Get the Moon For Me by Eric Carle.  We will read the story all week in anticipation that the children will be able to tell the story themselves.  They will make a story board that will be started today and worked on all week.  They will bring it home at the end of the month with directions to tell their family the story.  Watch for it...it is one of my favorite activities throughout the school year.

Wednesday, Dec. 12: 3s~Today we will learn a song about a man called Aikendrum who lives in the moon.  We will fingerpaint to make his face.  We will sing the song all week so you might be hearing it.  We will wrap gifts for families.  4s~We will make a ladder for our story board and paint a "papa" as well.  We'll wrap gifts to get them ready to send home.

Friday, Dec. 14: 3s~Today we will celebrate the end of our moon unit.  We'll bead moon/space necklaces and make yummy moon cakes!  We will finish up our picture of Aikendrum and we'll send home the children's family gift.  4s~We will finish up our Papa project and tell the story together at meeting.  We will make necklaces with space objects and eat moon cakes at snack time.  The children will come home with a family gift. 

Monday, Dec. 17: We will move away from space in the classroom (the dramatic playroom will still be open for business), and start talking about the Christmas season and gingerbreads.  We'll read many stories about gingerbread, in particular stories written by Jan Brett.  We will make gingerbread depictions and paint gingerbreads pictures.  We'll use gingerbread pictures to measure items in our classroom to discover just how tall things are in gingerbread size.  

Wednesday, Dec. 19: 3s~We will make gingerbread necklaces today and decorate gingerbread pictures.  We'll mix the dough for real gingerbread cookies that we will bake and eat on Friday.  We'll start a picture of a reindeer to send home with a special surprise on Friday.  4s~We will decorate gingerbread pictures, mix dough for gingerbread cookies, and paint a tree.  

Friday, Dec. 21: 3~Today we will glue eyes and noses on our reindeer from Wednesday.  We'll send the reindeer home with a special package of magic.  :)  We will cut out and bake the gingerbreads we made on Wednesday.  There will be a small celebration (starting at 11 a.m.) with our gingerbreads and I will read a short holiday story and send the children home with a small gift from me.  Happy Holidays!  Enjoy your break.  4s~Today we will cut out the dough we made on Wednesday and bake it.  We'll decorate the tree we painted, and we'll bead gingerbread necklaces.  We'll have a short celebration (starting at 3 p.m.) to decorate and eat our cookies.  I'll have a special story to read and a small gift to send home.  Have a great holiday season.  Enjoy your break from school!  See you on January 7, 2013!

     I don't mean to nag, but please don't forget to get outside during this month.  The rains have made it difficult lately, but it is so important for the children to have lots of fresh air and running around time.  It will keep them happy and you sane.  Make sure to schedule at least one day a week to be out running with your child/children.  Make them a part of your weekly itinerary.  A quick trip to the park before you go grocery shopping can keep frustration at bay.  It is very easy to make small bird feeders to hang outside your child's window to keep them interested in the out-of-doors and instill a stewardship to the Earth.  Bake a batch of cookies and take them to a shut-in or special friend in your neighborhood.  Walk to the library and play at the park.  Try to find easy ways to keep your child's mind learning and stretching.  Have fun!!  I wish you the very best Holiday Season and hope that you stay safe in your travels.  

Peace to you and yours, 

~Anne.

    

  

    

 

Fall Days Are Here

Welcome to November~

It's hard to believe it, but November is here.  It is time for us to get out the cornucopias, dust off our mittens, and find our turkey basters.  I love this time of year.  The experience of bundling up as the days grow colder, watching the wind blow the fall leaves through the air, the opportunity to gather together with family and friends, and the scent of freshly baked goods are delightful to me.  After the haphazard days of summer I welcome the chance to snuggle up with my family and enjoy each other's company. 

This month we will be touching on the topic of being thankful for all the things we have in our lives and all the people that fill us up. We'll enjoy the season change while studying leaves, and we'll be lucky enough to have a visit from the Canby Fire Department.  It will be a quick and fun-filled month.  

We will have our Friendship Feast this month.  The children will learn the classic folk tale of Stone Soup.  We will make our own version of stone soup and eat it together at our feast.  It is such fun to do this in the classroom.  It is a nice way to send them off to Thanksgiving week ready to greet their families and think about being thankful.  I am looking forward to it.  Your child will choose a vegetable that they would like to add to our soup and they will be asked to bring it to class.  We will prepare the soup for cooking in class, I will cook it at my home, and they will eat it in the next class period along with some other items we will cook together.  Fun times.

The last week of the month we will focus on fire safety and awareness.  We will have a visit from the firefighters from the Canby station.  This is a fun experience.  Some of the children are nervous about it, so this is a good opportunity for you to chat about it with your child.  Check some books out from the library, or look at some fire safety websites to help start the conversation.

What follows is a break down of how the month is planned.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me or catch me after class.  Here goes: 

Monday, Nov. 5: Today we will read the book, Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert.  We will make collection bags that the children will use to collect natural materials to make their own leaf man.  We will make some fall-colored leaves with blotter paper.

Wednesday, Nov. 7: I will have a substitute this day.  Julie O'Connor will take my place in class today.  She is a former teacher for the school and is FABULOUS!!!  The children will be in good hands.  3s-The children will do some leaf rubbings with fresh fall leaves and  paint a leaf shape with a color wash.  If the weather is not terrible they will have a chance to rake leaves into a big pile and jump in them!  4s-The children will put to use the collection bags they made on Monday collecting natural materials for their "leaf man."  They'll do leaf rubbings and rake leaves while outside. 

Friday, Nov. 9: 3s-We will make a face on the leaf we painted on Wednesday.  We'll cut out feather-shaped colored paper and send them home for the children to label what they are thankful for.  These need to come back to class on Wednesday, Nov. 14.  We will learn the story of Stone Soup and the children will choose a vegetable to add to our soup for next week.  4s-Today we will assemble our "leaf man."  We'll learn the classic folk tale about stone soup.  The children will choose a vegetable that they would like to add to our soup for our friendship feast.  We will cut out "thankful feathers" to send home and be labeled with thankful thoughts.  Please send all thankful feathers back to class by Wednesday, Nov. 14.  The children will decide where on our class turkey they would like their feather to be placed and talk about their thankfulness.  It is a fun and important exercise.  

Monday, Nov. 12: NO SCHOOL TODAY.  VETERAN'S DAY HOLIDAY.  Enjoy!

Wednesday, Nov. 14: PLEASE SEND ALL THANKFUL FEATHERS WITH YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL TODAY.  PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD'S CHOICE OF VEGETABLE WITH THEM TO SCHOOL TODAY.  3s-Today we will be making our own stone soup for our feast on Friday.  The children will cut, chop, slice and dice them into a big pot.   We will also make vegetable prints and make flubber!  4s-Today we will make soup.  Please be sure to send your child with their choice of vegetable.  We will work together to chop and slice veggies.  We'll also make veggie prints and stringy flubber.  It should be fun.

Friday, Nov. 16: FRIENDSHIP FEAST!! 3s-We will be preparing for our friendship feast that will occur at 11 a.m. We will make corn bread and an apple pie-like dessert.  We will discuss our thankful feathers and play a little outside.  Families are welcome to join us for our feast at 11.  4s-See previous. :)

Monday, Nov. 19: Field Trip!!  We will travel on the nature trail that leads to the Canby City Park located behind the Safeway store.  We will gather at 1:00 p.m. at the Mormon Church Parking lot located on the corner of Elm St. and 13th St.  Please send your child's snack in a disposable bag.  We will leave the church at approx. 1:15 p.m. and walk through the neighborhood to the entrance to the nature trail.  The trail can get fairly muddy and wet so please be sure to send your child in a rain coat and boots.  Planning on the worst weather will make your child more comfortable.  All families are welcome to join us.  The trail is not an appropriate place for strollers or the like, so if you have a younger sibling that isn't mobile use a backpack or similar equipment.  We will be doing this trip three times throughout the school year so we can examine the changes of the seasons.  The children will bring their collection bags that we made earlier in the month and I will bring a few magnifying glasses and binoculars.  If you have some of these items please feel free to bring them along.  We will go on this trip rain or shine, so please be prepared for the weather.  It is tons of fun and the children really delight in it.  It is one of my favorite activities over the school year.

Wednesday, Nov. 21-Friday, Nov. 23: NO SCHOOL.  THANKSGIVING BREAK.  Enjoy your time with family.  Be safe!  

Monday, Nov. 26: Welcome back.  This week we will focus on firefighters, fire safety, and fire awareness.  Today we will start a project that will stretch through the week.  We will make a picture of a fire truck that the children will do quite a bit of cutting different materials in order to assemble.  We will play with water and hoses and tubes and we will learn about what kind of equipment a firefighter needs to do their job.

Wednesday, Nov. 28: 3s-Today we will be visited by the firefighters!!  They will bring a big engine and a medic unit.  The children will have a chance to see all the knobs and dials, etc., as well as go inside the trucks.  It is a lot of fun.  They will also make their own fire hats to wear.  4s-The firefighters will come to visit today!  We'll make fire hats and a story book about firefighters.

Friday, Nov. 30: 3s-We'll finger paint with red and orange paint today to make "flames" to put in our dramatic play room and we will make a picture of a fire truck with straws.  4s-We will do some finger painting today and we will finish the fire truck we have been working on since Monday.      

Thank you to all of you for taking the time to chat with me for phone conferences.  It was so nice to have a chance to see what was important to you.  If you didn't receive a call for a conference please contact me!  I want to talk with you.  

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to your child and our school.  I am appreciative for you everyday.  Please know that there is a happenstance every day that makes me so very thankful for all of you!  Enjoy your time with family this month and try to get outside to check out the changing season.  Have fun!  ~Anne.  

Apples and Pumpkins

Hello!

We are moving into fall and all the topics that go with it.  We will start the month of October talking about apples.  We will have opportunities to taste, feel, smell, touch, and explore apples to their fullest.  We will even make some applesauce and apple pie.  Mmmm, Mmmm, Good!  After apples we will explore pumpkins and just what it is that is inside of those great, orange orbs.  We'll round out our month with conversations about farm animals, spiders, and monsters.  It should be a fun-filled month. 

The following list is a schedule of events for the month.  It ends up being a relatively short one due to some events for which school is closed.  Andy and I will attend the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (OAEYC) conference in the middle of the month and at the end of the month we take some time out of the classroom to call our families to chat about how the progress of school is going.  We have some fun extra events planned so what we miss in the classroom we will make up for with the special events.  

Monday, Oct. 1: Today we will taste some apples and decide which one we like best.  We'll graph the results of what we decided and discuss its results.  We'll make an apple tree with glue bottles (yes, glue bottles!) and we'll learn some apple songs.  Also, please have your child bring an apple to make applesauce with on Wednesday.  I repeat: bring an apple on Wednesday for sharing in the making of applesauce.  :)

Wednesday, Oct. 3: 3s class~We will make apple prints with different types of apples, paint an apple tree, and sing some apple songs.  We'll cut apples to make sauce for apple pies on Friday.  There is no need to bring an apple to class, I will provide apples for the sauce.  The children will be cutting them and tasting them at snack time today.  4s class~We will graph, cut, and cook apples today for applesauce that we will use for apple pie on Friday.  Don't forget to send an apple to class with your child.  We will make apples on the apple trees we started on Monday and we will learn another apple song.

Friday, Oct. 5: 3s class~Today we will make small, individual apple pies and make colorful apple pictures.  We will have applesauce and pie for snack time and we will sing apple songs.  4s class~Today we will make apple pies and do some negative space paintings.  We will eat our pies at snack time.  Yum!

Monday, Oct. 8: This week we will concentrate on pumpkins.  There will be a pumpkin in the science center for the children to touch and play with.  We will have small pumpkins in the block area, we will paint with pumpkins and the children will do an observational painting of a pumpkin. We'll also have pumpkins to dress up.  Fun!

Wednesday, Oct. 10: 3s class~We will use small pumpkins to roll in a tray and make a pumpkin face.  The children will work with a friend to make a jack-o-lantern using a folded piece of paper and paint.  This is a new activity that I am excited to see the outcome.  I'll try to get some good pictures for scrapbooks.  4s class~Today we will use powdered tempera paint in a sifter and then the children will blow bubbles to make a pumpkin.  Also, we will work with a friend to make a jack-o-lantern using folded paper and paint.

Friday, Oct. 12: NO SCHOOL TODAY.  OAEYC CONFERENCE.  NO SCHOOL TODAY.

Monday, Oct. 15: Today we will use our cutting skills to cut a pumpkin shape out of our bubble/tempera project from last week.  We'll use carpet daubers to make a black sky for a pumpkin picture and we'll use shaving cream to make a work of art with.  

Wednesday, Oct. 17: 3s class~Today is our Pumpkin Patch Day!!  We will start class normally and play until about 10:00 a.m.  At 10 we will clean up and gather our things to travel to the pumpkin patch which is located at Teacher Andy's farm.  I will have directions to the farm available that day.  You can send a snack if you would like, but we will have some snacks available.  If you would like to make something pumpkin oriented (pumpkin bread, bars, cookies, etc.) to donate to the cause it would be very much appreciated.  A permission slip will be in your child's pocket under their hook the 2nd week of Oct.  All families are welcome to come and join in the fun.  We will play, eat, pick a pumpkin, listen to a story and go for a short nature walk.  School will end at the farm at 11:40 a.m.  Siblings are welcome.  This is a fun, fun, fun event!  4s class~See 3s class description for all things EXCEPT start location.  We will be starting class AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH.  WE WILL START CLASS AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH.  Class will start at Teacher Andy's farm at 1:00 p.m.  Class will end at the farm at 3:40 p.m.  Be looking for a field trip permission slip in your child's pocket the 2nd week of Oct.

Friday, Oct. 19: 3s class~Today we will talk about the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff and play act the story while we are outside.  The children will make puppets to go along with the story that they can take home and tell others.  4s class~We will learn the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff and paint a barn that launches the project of making a farm story that I will encourage the children to "read" on their own.

Monday, Oct. 22: We will continue making our farm books by cutting out animals for the pages.  We will sew the book together with string and "needles."

Wednesday, Oct. 24: 3s~Today we will play with tractors in shaving cream.  We'll color a tractor and use it as a prop to tell the story about a tractor's hard day at work.  Also, we'll learn some nursery rhymes.  4s class~We will also play with tractors in shaving cream and listen to a charming story about a tractor busy at work.  We will make props to go along with the story so the children can sing the song and tell the story at home.  Don't forget the special event happening tonight: Pumpkin Carving and Sing-A-Long tonight in the church Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m.  Wear your costumes!!  

Friday, Oct. 26: NO SCHOOL TODAY!  PHONE CONFERENCES.  NO SCHOOL TODAY!  I will start making calls to your home to chat about how school is going.  I will make calls through the weekend if I don't catch you the first time.  I will make calls Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.  If you don't hear from me before Monday, you are welcome to send me an email.  I will do my best to reach all of you before the weekend is over.

Monday, Oct. 29: Today we will start our discussion on spiders.  This is fun because most children think they are afraid of spiders.  We learn so many neat things about them that the children tend to find a feeling of respect for them.  It is a good way to start the conversation about what might be scary to a child.  We will make a spider out of salt dough and we will learn the life cycle of a spider.  

Wednesday, Oct. 31: 3s class~We will start talking about monsters and what makes them scary and how to get rid of them.  We will make a monster face and read the story, Go Away Big, Green Monster by Ed Emberley.  This allows the children an avenue to talk about what is scary to them.  We will NOT be dressing up for Halloween during class today.  We save the costumes for the pumpkin carving event.  4s class~We will continue our study of spiders.  We'll paint the spiders we made on Monday and make some spidery hats.  We won't be dressing up for Halloween during class as we let the children dress up for the pumpkin event.

I hope everything is going well and that the school year has started off smoothly for you.  Everything is going very well in the class room and the children are doing wonderfully.  They make me quite proud.

Don't forget to get outside with the family while the weather is still decent.  Even if it is just to sit on the porch and look at the moon-go outside.  Play a game of tag, or go for a walk or just sit outside for bedtime stories.  It is so worth it and will make everyone feel fortunate to have had the time.  Soon enough we will be stuck inside with the rains and we will miss days like we are having.  It has been a FANTASTIC end-of-summer, start-of-fall season for us.  We are lucky!!  Take care.  If you have any questions about this month's line up you can email me or stop me after class.  Thank you all for your help in the classroom.  If I haven't seen you yet, I look forward to it.  Thank you!!

~Anne.           

      

Welcome Back!

Greetings from the classroom~

Thank you all so much for making the effort to be at the Orientation and the Parent Training.  I feel immensely fortunate to have all of you as my helpers.  It is going to be the best year ever!  

The following schedule will give you an idea of what we will be doing in the classroom.  Please remember that our school is a play-based, fluid organization that takes into consideration the individual needs of each child.  I strive as a teacher to meet the physical, social, emotional, and psychological requirements each child presents to me.  Therefore, it is important as a parent figure to remember that the schedule can change as needed.  It is a guideline that I try to adhere to, but if something seems to be a better choice for the group I will go with it.  I try to read the needs of the children as we go along.  It may seem as though I have a loosely based plan at times, but that is just me trying to decide what will work best for the group and/or individual.  

Look for the blog post at the beginning of each month to give you a clue as to what your child will be learning and playing in school each day.  I can't wait to work with you in the classroom.  The first few weeks are usually a little hectic, but things will settle into a routine and it will become a place of fun, good times, peace, and cooperation.  Here goes...

Wednesday, Sept. 12: 3s~Today we will do some color-mixing and paint-mixing.  We will spend quite a bit of time in the classroom acclimating to each other and our space.  If the group seems ready we will explore in the Art Center (AC) as well.  We will play with play dough, learn a couple of new songs, introduce ourselves to each other, and generally get to know one another.  Don't forget to locate a 4X6 picture of your family for our "Families" wall.  4s~ We will also do some color-mixing, learn new songs, and learn names of new friends.  We'll make Rainbow People and celebrate our similarities and differences.  We will move around the classroom to get used to the surroundings, and we will explore the Art Center (AC).  We will paint the frames for our family pictures.  Please remember to gather or take a 4X6 picture of your family to put on our "Families" wall.  We will be working on the frames this week and be putting them up for display as soon as the last week of September.  Yay! 

Friday, Sept. 14: 3s~This will be a day to review our day on Wednesday.  We will do more color-mixing with large containers. We will draw a picture of ourselves for our scrapbooks and we will attempt to play in the AC.  4s~We will mix colors in large containers, draw a picture of ourselves for our scrapbooks, and see how big we are.  The children will be weighed and measured to record in their scrapbooks.  It is always fun to see just how much they have grown over the school year.  We will do this same activity at the end of the school year.  

Monday, Sept. 17: Today we will finger paint on mirrors.  It is fun to watch the children watch themselves as they smear paint all over their reflection.  We will use the subsequent hand prints for a page in their scrapbook.  We'll read a story about a yellow dot and a blue dot and their crazy adventures.  After that we will try to recreate their adventures on heat plates.  Hmmmmm....interesting.  

Wednesday, Sept. 19: 3s~Today we will paint with balloons.  Fun!  We will read a story about an adventurous set of colored dots, we'll measure our height and weigh our mass, and we will finger paint our reflections in mirrors.  We will use a lot of today's projects for our scrapbooks.  4s~Today we might play in the dramatic playroom (DP).  We'll read a story about a color-mixing dance and we will do some painting with scarves and rubber bands.  Have you ever painted over your head?  We'll try it today.  Good day for play clothes...

Friday, Sept 21: 3s~We'll paint under the table today.  I'll try to remember to tell the children, "Don't try this at home".  We will finger paint on windows and paint on a regular, old easel.  We'll see what different color combinations do when they are mixed.  4s~Today will be an outdoor Art Extravaganza!  We will start school as normal and then we will go outside and play and try all different forms of art with all sorts of media.  This should be tons of fun.  Hope, think good thoughts, pray, rub your lucky rabbit's foot, whatever you need to do to ensure the weather HOLDS! 

Monday, Sept. 24: We will be switching gears this week.  We'll move away from colors and start exploring sunflowers.  I'll tell the children a story about a magic seed and a young boy.  We will start looking at sunflowers and make a picture of a sunflower.  We will work together to make a huge sunflower for our bulletin board.

Wednesday, Sept. 26: 3s~I will tell the story of Grandpa's Magic Seed and we will paint small paper plates to represent the middle of a sunflower.  We will explore sunflowers with our hands and tools.  We'll make sunflower pictures with dot markers and tissue paper, and we will play in the dramatic play room (DP).  4s~We will continue to work on our cooperative sunflower and we will paint petals on our sunflower picture.  Today is the Safety Fair from 11:45-1:15.  Come check it out!

Friday, Sept. 28: 3s~Today we will finger paint and continue to explore sunflowers.  We will hear the magic seed story again and I will encourage the children to tell it on their own.  4s~Today we will all contribute to a "ladder story" about a sunflower seed.  We will finger paint on windows and glue stems on our sunflower pictures.  Wow!  This will conclude our first month of school.  We're going to have such fun and make good friends.  

Thank you for being willing to help out in the classroom.  If I don't see you this month, I will look forward to working with you in the near future.  Have fun and remember to savor every moment with your little ones.  I know it is cliche, but it REALLY does go fast.  :)

See you soon,

Anne. 

     

May Flowers

Spring has sprung.  May is here.  I can't believe it.  The end of the school year is fast approaching.  I will miss my friends, but I am excited for the new adventures you all will encounter over the summer and ensuing months.  Please read on for our schedule of events for the next few weeks.

 

Wednesday, May 2: 3s-Today we will be thinking all about our mothers.  We will wrap presents, bake, and decorate the Fellowship Hall for our upcoming Mother's Dessert which occurs on Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the church.  It will be lots of fun...don't miss it!  4s-See 3s.  All is the same EXCEPT for the date of the Mother's Dessert: Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Friday, May 4: 3s-We'll talk about butterflies and the life cycle and make a caterpillar that will be wrapped in a chrysalis.  4s-Today we will go to Cutsforth Thriftway for a tour of the store.  We will begin the day at Wait Park at 1:20 p.m. and we will play at the park and eat snack there.  If the weather is terrible we will eat snack under the gazebo and then possibly make a trip to the library.  At approximately 3:00 p.m. we will walk to Thriftway where we will tour the store and finish our day there.  It is always nice to have extra parents to help us to walk to the store if you are available and willing.  SCHOOL WILL END AT THRIFTWAY AT 3:40 P.M.  WE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE SCHOOL, OR THE PARK.  School will begin at Wait Park at 1:20 p.m.  Wear your red shirt!  :)

 

Monday, May 7: Argh!  Yeh scurvy dawgs...we are going to be pirates this week.  We will read stories about pirates and throw our manners out the window.  We'll read a story about a congenial bunch o' pirates and make boats and eye patches and the like.  Should be...wild.  Also, this is National Children's Book Week.  If you would like to come into the classroom and read to the children a favorite book of yours please sign up on the flyer you received last week and let me know when you would like to come.

 

Wednesday, May 9: 3s-We will read the book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and we'll start making fairy homes.  We'll look for fairies on the playground.  4s-Today is our summer birthday celebration day!  We will have class outside all day today.  If your child has a summer birthday feel free to bring a small treat to share with the class at snack time.  We will read a story about how a boy became a pirate and the ups and downs of such a life.  We'll make pirate hats and continue the...chaos. 

 

Friday, May 11: 3s-It's SUMMER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION DAY!!  We will celebrate all those summer babies today by going to Wait Park and playing.  (I am so, so sorry, but we will NOT be riding the CAT bus to the park this year.)  If your child has a summer birthday you are welcome to bring a small treat either to school in the morning or with us to the park.  We will meet at school like usual and leave school at 10:30 a.m.  We will gather together at the play area closest to Chase Bank.  We'll play for awhile and then take a break for a snack, at treat, and a happy birthday song.  Then we'll play some more until school ends.  SCHOOL WILL END AT WAIT PARK AT 11:40 A.M.  Wear your red shirt!  :)  4s-Today we will float the boats that we made and put an end to this Pirate Madness!  :)  We'll use the telescopes we make to see some land on the horizon.

 

Monday, May 14: Today we will start talking about volcanoes.  We will make a large class volcano that we will make explode later in the week. 

 

Wednesday, May 16:3s-Today we will learn a song about volcanoes and continue making the large volcano that the 4s started on Monday.  We will have a chance to watch it "erupt" on Friday.  4s-We will paint the volcano we started on Monday, and we will start making small, personal volcanoes.

 

Friday, May 18:3s-Volcano "Eruption" Day!  We will watch the volcano erupt with bubbles and gasses.  After the eruption we will play with it.  Such an exciting day!  4s-see 3s.

 

Monday, May 21:Today will be our last field trip to the Canby City Park.  We will meet at school to gather snacks and sign in.  We will leave as close to 1:15 as possible and meet at the Mormon Church parking lot.  SCHOOL WILL END AT 3:40 P.M. AT THE MORMON CHURCH.  This is the same schedule as the previous trips.  We'll have one more chance to observe the changes happening to the flora and fauna along the trail.

 

Wednesday, May 23: 3s-LAST DAY. We will have a fun day playing and opening our chrysalis packets that we made earlier in the month.  We will have a small celebration and reception at 11:15 in the classroom.  You are welcome to join us.  I have a small gift and a certificate for the children and we will have cookies and juice.  If the weather cooperates we'll be outside.  Thank you for a great year!!  I will see you soon.  4s-LAST DAY.  We will play and have fun and practice for our graduation ceremony.  Please join us for a small celebration for the children that are moving on to kindergarten.  The ceremony will be in the Fellowship Hall starting at 3:00 p.m.  Invite grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and the like.  It is a fun way to send them into summer.  We will have a short reception with cookies and juice after the ceremony.  Thank you for the great memories!!  Good luck on the next endeavor.  :)

 

Thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication to your children and this school.  We couldn't do it without you.  Thank you, thank you!!

~Anne. 

April Showers!

April is here and partially over.  Wow.  Before we know it we will be saying goodbye for now.  I can't believe how quickly this school year has gone.  I trust you are all enjoying every moment because they go by so fast!  It was nice to talk with all of you at conferences.  I am thankful that you could make the time to come in and let me crow about the growth your children have made.  I am so honored to have had the time to grow with them.  Thank you.

 

The following gives you an update of what is going on in the classroom:

 

Wednesday, April 18: 3s:Today is our Nature Walk at the Molalla River State Park.  (Wear your red shirts!)  We will leave school at 10:15 am.  We will eat our snack at the park.  Please send your child to school with a snack, boots, coats, hats and all the accessories needed for a walk in the park.  If the weather is rainy we will stay at school until 10:45 am.  School will end at the park at 11:40 am.  If it is really nasty we will talk about postponing until Friday.  I will keep you updated.  (Just think happy, sunny thoughts.)  4s: Today we will learn about birds and talk more about ponds.  We'll make birds and nests to play with in the loft.

 

Friday, April 20: 3s: We will finish our race car unit  from last week that we had to post pone because of rain.  The children will lace the steering wheels they have made and paint a race car.  When we go outside we will race around the track!  Should be lots of fun.  If the Nature Walk was postponed we will go to the park today.  4s: We will have Outdoor School today at the Molalla River State Park.  School will start at the park and end at the park.  (Wear your red shirts!)  The children will visit 4 stations while learning about ponds, plants/trees, birds, and they will run around an obstacle course.  We will eat a snack and enjoy the out-of-doors.  Please bring your child to Molalla River State Park at 1:00 pm with a snack, boots, hats, coats and all the accessories one needs for a day in the woods.  If the weather is especially inclement we will talk about postponing to another day.  I will keep you updated. 

 

Monday, April 23: This week we will talk about being members of a team and how to be a friend to the Earth through the stories of Elmer the elephant.  We will clean up our outdoor area and plant a little flower bed in the strip outside the classroom.  If you would like to bring a flower or plant to donate to our flower bed we would be so appreciative.  Please bring it to our classroom by the start of class on Wednesday, April 25. 

 

Wednesday, April 25: 3s: We will talk about rainbows and taking care of the Earth.  We will think about ways to help each other.  If you would like to bring a flower or plant to donate to the flower bed outside of our classroom you could bring it to class today or by the start of class on Friday, April 27.  4s: Today we will make a community elephant, talk about patterns, clean and prepare the flower bed, and plant our garden.

 

Friday, April 27: 3s: Today is class picture day!  Make sure to wear your red shirt.  (If you don't have one talk to Teacher Anne asap.)  Hopefully it will be nice enough to have these taken outside.  We will plant our flowers today and make elephant ears.  4s: Class pictures will happen today.  Be certain to wear your red shirt.  (If you don't have one let me know.) We will have these taken outside if we can.  We will end our Elmer unit today by having an Elephant's Day Parade!  We will make elephant ears to wear and we will use instruments to give us some cadence.  Hopefully we won't need umbrellas too, but we will have our parade rain or shine.  Send coats and boots!  :)

 

Thanks again for letting me be a part of your child's life.  I adore each and every one of them and we are having so much fun.  Enjoy your time with them as well...it'll be gone in a blink.  Cooperatively, Anne.

 

        

Holy Valentines, Batman...Teacher Anne forgot to blog!

I apologize for my lapse of memory on getting this blog post out.  Whoops!  Without further ado I will let you know what the month holds.  We are going to be talking about shapes, color, and concepts of art this month.  It should be fun!  For the sake of brevity I will exclude what has already happened and start with today's activities.

 

Monday, Feb. 13: We will decorate Valentine pockets and make some decorations for our big celebration on Wednesday.  We will talk about shapes in art and how to use them creatively.  At meeting we'll learn how to make a giant heart out of a square. Wow.

 

Wednesday, Feb 15: 3s~We will be celebrating Valentine's Day today in our class.  I will have the pockets that the children created attached to the wall outside our classroom.  They will be in alphabetical order by the children's names and you will have access to them before class.  Help the children find the name and slip your Valentines inside.  We will prepare things during class to eat during our snack time.  In the last 20 minutes of class (11:20) we will come together at the meeting mat and open our pockets to find the treasures inside.  We can share a treat or two and then we will be finished for the day.  You are welcome to join us.  We always love to have help reading names and monitoring snacking.  :)  4s~We will also be celebrating Valentine's Day during class.  The children's Valentine pockets will be outside the classroom lined up in alphabetical order.  The children can put their letters in the pockets before class.  We will be decorating our scrapbooks and preparing some food for snack time.  We will have a small celebration on the meeting mat at 3:20.  You are welcome to join us.

 

Friday, Feb. 17: 3s~Today we will talk about squares and what we can make with them.  We will use sponges to create a collage.  We'll use boxes to create shapes on paper with paint.  4s~We will make a thank you letter to Mary and the staff at the Canby Post Office to thank them for the fantastic field trip last week.  We will make a collage together in the style of Vincent Van Gogh.

 

Moday, Feb. 20: NO SCHOOL TODAY.  PRESIDENT'S DAY.  Enjoy some time outside!  Go see the Glockenspiel in Mt. Angel...go check out Hopkins Demonstration Forest...go to Legacy Park...go to Champoeg Park and walk around the Visitor's Center for a few minutes to see the amazing array of bird feeders...go to the beach!  Have fun. 

 

Wednesday, Feb. 22: 3s~Today we will read a story about 10 black dots and the adventures they have.  We will create a picture in our minds about what we would do with 10 black dots and then we will try to translate that to a work of art.  It should be fun to see what comes about.  4s~We will read 10 Black Dots and talk about pointilism and impressionism as concepts of art.  We will paint with q-tips and make a picture with dots. 

 

Friday, Feb. 24: 3s~We will make cookies in the shapes of the shapes we have been talking about lately.  Yum.  We will play a game outside with shapes and we'll paint the shape of our choice on the easel.  4s~Today we will be going on a Nature Walk to the Canby City Park.  This is the same park that we visited in the fall.  My hope is to visit this park in each season that we are in school.  We will gather at the school and leave at 3:15 to gather at the Mormon Church parking lot located on the corner of Elm Street and 13th.  We will park in the far end of the lot.  We will travel on foot down the nature trail to the park where we will have snack, play, and walk down to the riverside to look for any changes we might see there.  At that point we will walk back to the church parking lot for the end of school.  Please send a snack as usual.  Remember that we will go no matter the weather so send your child to school in boots, coats, hats, mittens/gloves-anything that they will need to remain comfortable for the entire class period.  As always you are welcome to come along and lend a hand, or just take in the beauty of nature with your child.  I am looking forward to it.

 

Monday, Feb. 27: This week we will focus on our teeth and how important it is to take care of them.  Today we will talk about what makes us smile and we will make a class book about it.  We will use shaving cream in the art center.  Yay!

 

Wednesday, Feb. 29:  3s~We will have Open School today.  We will paint with toothpaste and use shaving cream with toothbrushes.  4s~We will be visited by Dr. Kong today to talk about our teeth.  We will gather in Teacher Andy's classroom to hear his talk.  We will start school right at 1:10.  We will not have math games today.  It is an Open School day so we will have a chance to play with our friends from the other class.  We will paint with toothpaste and make teeth and gums with beans and play dough.  Happy Leap Day!   

 

I hope you have a great Valentine's Day.  I am so thankful to have all of you in my lives.  Your children are so delightful and amaze me daily.  I am appreciative of your efforts for our school.  I couldn't do it without you.  Thank you so very much!!  ~Anne. 

Brrr...the weather outside is COLD!

Hello friends~

 

I hope all of you had a great break and many happy times with your friends and families.  I love this time of year when it is chilly and sunny and foggy and rainy and sometimes snowy!!  The children are still loving being outside so please remember to send them with hats, coats, GLOVES OR MITTENS, and all the necessary equipment.  We will be out even in the rain and we will try to do bikes every (dry) Wednesday.  What follows is a list of the things your children will be doing this month.  I have decided to change some things during the school day with the hope of having more one-on-one time with the children.  On Mondays both the Art Center and the Dramatic Playroom will be open, on Wednesdays only the Art Center will be open, and on Fridays only the Dramatic Playroom will be open.  The classroom will always be an option for them. 

 

The auction is fast approaching and donation items are due Friday, January 13.  Don't forget those raffle tickets as well.  They need to be sold before the auction as the drawing will occur at the auction.  We will be doing children's auction projects in the next few weeks.

 

I want to thank all of you for the beautiful cards, gifts, pictures, and well wishes I received before the break.  I appreciate it so much and feel honored that you would think of me.  Thank you.  I am enjoying your children very much and I look forward to seeing magical things happen with them in the next few months.  Thanks for all your help.  See you in the classroom!

 

Wednesday, Jan. 4: 3s~We'll learn a song called Aikendrum about a man that lives in the moon.  Then we'll have a chance to put together Aikendrum's face.  We will make stars with the star spinner (also known as the salad spinner), and we'll play a game called Moonbeam.

4s~Today we will read the book, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me by Eric Carle.  We will start to construct a story board and play Moonbeam.  

 

Friday, Jan. 6: 3s~We will finish our face of Aikendrum and make moon cakes to eat at snack.  4s~We will continue making our Papa story boards and play in the space station for one last day.

 

Monday, Jan. 9: 4s~The Dramatic Playroom has become a hospital!  We will be learning about our bodies, our senses, and just what it is that makes us tick this month.  However, today we will be continuing to finish up our 'Papa' project and we will start talking about snow and all things cold and frosty.  We'll make moon cakes to enjoy at snack.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 11: 3s~Today we will make snowflakes to paint, put pictures in our scrapbooks, and make our very own snow!  4s~We will finish 'Papa' today and make snow.  We will also do some scrapbooking.

 

Friday, Jan. 13: 3s~Today we will make frost and play in the hospital.  Also, we will make snowflakes fall from the sky!  4s~We will make frost and talk about its qualities.  We'll make snowflakes fall from the sky! 

 

Monday, Jan. 16: NO SCHOOL TODAY.  MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 18: 3s~We will paint the snowflakes we made last week and we will cut out body shapes.  We will explore our senses in the Art Center with a touch box and smelling jars.  4s~We will start talking about our bodies and what they are made of today.  We start by tracing the children's bodies onto a life-sized piece of paper.  In the Art Center we will paint a special picture that shows the inside and outside of our bodies. 

 

Friday, Jan. 20: 3s~Today we will add faces to the bodies we cut out on Wednesday.  We will also draw what is inside of us.  4s~Now that the children have a picture of the outside of themselves they will draw what is inside of them.  It is always interesting what they come up with in this step!

 

Monday, Jan. 23: 4s~Today we will start to decorate the children's bodies.  We have the outline, the inside, and now we finish it up by showing off their individuality.  This is so much fun!!  In the Art Center they can do some free painting.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 25: 3s~We will decorate the bodies we have been working on and we will do some paint mixing in the Art Center.  4s~We'll continue decorating bodies and we will fingerpaint in the Art Center.

 

Friday, Jan. 27: 3s~Today we will make "X-rays" of our hands.  We'll talk about bones and sing the Bones song.  We'll continue to decorate bodies if needed.  4s~The decorating continues!  This step is fabulous, but does take some time.  It is best to stretch it out so each child gets the attention they need. 

 

Monday, Jan. 30: 4s~And more decorating, if needed.  If not, we will have an easy breezy day of free painting and playing outside if the weather cooperates.  I might even sneak out the bikes if possible...

 

Wednesday, Feb. 1: 3s~To celebrate the ending of our bodies unit we will be having a PAJAMA PARTY!!  Send your child to school in pajamas today.   They can bring one comfort item such as a teddy or blankie, and they can wear slippers if they would like as long as they have outdoor shoes in tow.  We'll play with ice, and in the Art Center we will paint with our toes.  (No sleeper-type, closed-toe pajamas, please.)  Also, at snack time we will make popcorn!!  Yahoo!  4s~See 3s description.  Also, if possible, we will have bikes!  Double Yahoo!!

 

Have a great month.  I hope (hope, hope, hope) we see some snow.  Think good thoughts: Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!  ~Anne.