Week of 3/16/18
Dear Parents,
We have had a very quick and busy week! We studied and wrote Irish blessings, kindly critiqued each others art in art class, designed and built leprechaun traps and had our last bagel breakfast for the year.
Anjali, our only 6th grade student this year had had sole responsibility for every bagel breakfast. She with two managers in training were in charge of making and filing order forms, ordering bagels, making the work schedule, working, keeping track of the money and sitting down with parent volunteer, Autumn Romig, to analyze the results. I know that these responsibilities were very difficult for her at times and she gracefully leapt over each hurdle. Next year we will have many 6th years to take turns sharing and training students next year. So if you see her in the hall make sure to thank her for a job well done!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Christine & Ms. Sheena
Week of 3/9/18
Dear Parents,
In the classroom right now we have many lessons we are exploring: poetry, bringing detail in our writing and how to be specific with words, how to create a great paragraph, fractions, decimals, multiplication and division of positive and negative numbers. In art we have been exploring the style of the artist Nigel Peake. We are also watching a documentary called “Slavery by Another Name”, produced by PBS. We are watching it in 20 minute increments and then discussing how all sides were thinking at this little known and terrible time in American History. We will also start to study some Irish culture, art, song, mythology and how to write an Irish Blessing.
A small reminder that this is the time of year we have variable weather. For the time being please send your child with winter gear through this month. The weather can turn very quickly so it is better to be prepared and take off layers than to not have the necessary gear.
Miss Jackie and I have been planning an art project for the students that will be a part of International Night. SHHHHHHH it is a secret. For now, we are asking for small metal pieces or gears. You can send them in with your child or give them to me or the front desk with Jamie. Here is a list of some of the items we would be looking for: small watch gears, keys, wire, old buttons (any color), screws, and small antique pieces, nothing more than an inch to possibly 2 inches in length.
Camp information has been sent out; please turn your paperwork in for camp as soon as possible and no later than March 20th. We plan many things with Stepping Stones and it is very important we have a full count for both schools.
As the weather also changes and warm weather kicks up spontaneous or spur of the moment ideas, please familiarize yourself with the school handbook which you can read online. It covers such things as what you need to do if you suddenly decide to take an expended trip, have lunch with your child, sunscreen and insect protection information (which is not spontaneous but it seems as if the mosquitoes come upon us in that manner), and much more! If you have questions about any of these school policies, please feel free to ask.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Christine & Ms. Sheena
Week of 3/2/18
Dear Parents,
A great book is a wonderful thing to read aloud. It allows students to relax and hear a story, children are able to react to the story together and make observations. When you read a story that is at least two years above most student’s reading level, it allows all the students, proficient readers and those that are still finding their way, an opportunity to share in an experience together.
At the start of the year I usually choose a book that is part of a series of books. They know that I will only read the first one. Many times this is a catalyst for a student who might not be an avid reader to get hooked on reading more. No one likes cliffhangers and they always want to find out what happens to their favorite characters.
Many times I have certain authors that I like to introduce to the class every year. Most of the time they have more than one book that they have written, I will read one book from the author but let the students know that this author has written many more books. If a student enjoys this author’s works, many times students will wind up reading many works by one of these authors.
Currently we are reading a book by the Author Christopher Paul Curtis. He is a favorite author in E2 and I usually read one of his books per year. Last year we read, The Watsons Go to Birmingham. It is about an African American family that is living in Flint, Michigan in the 60’s. Right now we are reading his book, Elijah of Buxton.
Here is the synopsis of this wonderful book:
Eleven- year old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah is the first child of the settlement to be born out of slavery. Elijah symbolizes a new hope for their community. He is very talented at “chunking rocks at fish”, he is scared of snakes and he is known for talking too much. He has a best friend named Cooter. Everything changes for Elijah and the community of Buxton when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving money to buy his family out of slavery in the South. Now it is up to Elijah to track down the thief – and this dangerous journey could make him a hero, but he will need to find the courage to get back home.
As you can imagine, a book like this can be a springboard for many questions and discussion regarding society. The author, Mr. Curtis, is able to lighten the subject of the book by utilizing strong characterization. Elijah is an intelligent and independent individual but he is also very funny and has many hilarious interactions with the people who reside in Buxton.
Christopher Curtis (born in 1953) is an American writer who has been awarded several Newberry awards as well as the Coretta Scott King Award. He is from Flint, Michigan and many of his books take place in the tristate area. He spent his first 13 years after high school working in the Fisher Body Plant in Flint, MI. He also worked at several other jobs that involved hard, manual labor. He worked his way through the University of Michigan Flint, satellite campus and did not start writing until 1995. He is a great example of a person who has been able to persevere through adversity to attain his goals.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Christine & Ms. Sheena
