Family Newsletter

 Dear Families,

We had a great week together at ABS.  A highlight this week was visiting the Book Fair!  Thank you parents for talking to your children at home about our ABS expectations.  It was a huge success! 

Here is our week in review:

Social-Emotional Learning:

• This week we focused on ways in which we can show a growth mindset at school.  The students reviewed how they can use “the power of yet” to turn statements such as “I can’t do it” into more positive statements such as “I can’t do it yet”.  They practiced how they can “train their brains” into approaching challenges with patience, resilience and a positive attitude.  They also practiced how it is okay to make mistakes because mistakes lead to new learning. In math, for example, the students also celebrated with each other when they practiced having a growth mindset.  They learned that effort and a positive attitude can go a long way.

• The students filled the classroom buzzy jar for being safe, kind, and responsible. This time, they celebrated with extra choice/play time.

• We had another restorative circle with Ms. Nicole this week too.  This time, the students learned more about the importance of being tolerant and kind when other people share a different opinion and perspectives on a particular topic/issue.  To practice our unique differences, the students drew pictures of an unfinished piece to show their creativity and imagination.

You Can: 

• You can support your child’s growth mindset at home too.  Some of the skills we worked on this week were:

1. Training your brain to try different things

2. Mistakes lead to new learning

3. I can’t do it yet, but with effort I can!

Consider encouraging your child to use strategies to self-regulate when things get hard and/or boring.  For example, if your child cleans up his/her room, encourage your child to choose a strategy before you step in and co-regulate.  Ask your child to count down from ten and then try again, or how about encouraging your child to do some belly breathing before resuming the task.  It is crucial for young learners to experience moments of small frustrations in order to grow into confident and resilient students.

Reading:

• This week, first grade readers participated in groups and whole class reading activities.  They practiced trick words too, going on word hunts and using various sensory materials to write and read targeted trick words.  

• This week, first grade readers also participated in a series of new read alouds.  We have collected brand new early reader chapter books for our classroom library and the students are encouraged to challenge themselves to read more complicated, connected texts.  

You can:

• Thank you for supporting your child’s emerging reading skills at home too.  Consider using Lexia daily, or a few times a week along with the decodable texts from school.  Don’t forget to read your child’s library books and/or books from the Book Fair!

Writing:

• This week, first grade authors continued to build an understanding of how to effectively and persuasively write opinion pieces.  They shared their thinking about several different topics and wrote three different reasons to back up their thinking.

• This week, first grade authors also wrote stories on several different topics proposed by the Williston Observer.  All students in our class submitted at least one piece for its special Spring edition, coming out soon.  Fingers crossed that some of our pieces will be published.  Regardless of the outcome, all writing pieces will be published in our own classroom!  We will host a special End of the Year Celebration of Learning Event on June 6th between 7:35-8:35 am. Family members are invited to join us for a classroom celebration of writing, reading, and math.

Math:

• This week, first grade mathematicians continued to build their understanding of 2-and 3-dimensional shapes and their corresponding attributes.  They also learned to use that understanding while exploring fractions.  In first grade, mathematicians learn about equal parts of a whole.  They folded various paper shapes into halves and fourths (quarters) to manipulate equal parts of a starting whole.  They did great.  The students look forward to sharing their fraction booklets with you at our Celebration of Learning on June 6th.

You can:

• Math is everywhere!  Consider having conversations about the math learning we’re doing at school at home too.  Math should be a social activity and organically flow and build as we share our understanding, ideas and wonderings with the people around us!  Consider doing a shape scavenger hunt at home.  How many cubes can you find?  How about rectangular prisms?  What is the difference between a circle and a sphere?  Want a challenge?  How about asking your child how many faces are on a rectangular prism and how many bases?  Or, how about asking your child what the difference is between a triangular pyramid and a square pyramid? 

• Consider using math vocabulary related to fractions at home too.  Help your child understand the importance of equal parts by adhering to proper vocabulary.  Young children have a tendency to say “the bigger or smaller half”, for example, when talking about food.  Now they are learning that you can have bigger or smaller parts.  Halves and fourths are mathematically always equal to each other in relation to the whole.

News and Reminders:

• The Art Show will be on Wednesday, May 15th from 5:30-7 PM. All students are included. Please see the information provided in your child’s Home Folder for more information.

• There is no school on Monday, May 27th (Memorial Day)

• Harmony House will host an end-of-the-year Celebration of Learning on Thursday, June 6th between 7:35-8:35.  Families are invited to visit our classroom to celebrate their child’s outstanding work in reading, writing, and math.  We look forward to seeing you then. This is an informal event so please feel free to drop by anytime that morning between 7:35-8:35 am.  Your child will show you around the classroom and parents will take home special pictures and writing pieces.  Thank you.

Have a great weekend,

Maria

Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

It is great to be back after our April vacation.  We’re in the home stretch now.  It doesn’t feel like it with this dark and cold weather but hopefully that will change soon too.  The weather certainly looks terrific right now, with warmer temperatures and sunshine.

 

Here is our week in review:

Social-Emotional Learning:

• This week, we reviewed our schoolwide expectations and what it looks like and sounds like to be safe, kind, and responsible at school. As I have mentioned before, it can be very challenging for our young learners to come back to school after a long week off.  This is very normal and age-appropriate.  A week off is a long time for a 6 or 7 year old.  A week off with different expectations, routines and rules also impact the experience coming back.  A week off with fun activities, family-get-togethers and perhaps even trips to other places, while wonderfully enriching, can also make the return to school a little bit more challenging.  Therefore, we spent the majority of our time reviewing and practicing safe, kind and responsible choices at school.

• We also continued our work around friendships and friendship boundaries.  We continued to read some mentor texts to teach us more about what it means to be a good friend and how it is okay to say “no” and assert your voice when things feel uncomfortable or too complicated.  The students acted out various scenarios using our Second Step puppets, Snail and Puppy to show their understanding and build their confidence using their own assertive voices to advocate for their own needs.  The puppet Owl (from Fundations) even joined our skits.  The students did an outstanding job! Ask your child to explain how Puppy, Snail, and Owl helped us build resilience, problem-solving-skills and confidence in tricky situations on the playground, in the cafeteria and in the classroom.

You Can: 

• You can support your child’s emerging skills in relationship-building and friendships by supporting playdates.  Consider reaching out to the fabulous families in our current class and find time to socialize outside of school.  The class-list was linked in my email version of this newsletter.

Reading:

• This week, the students listened to read alouds, engaged in independent reading and met in small groups.  I will start to administer the end-of-the-year literacy assessment soon.  Thank you for supporting your child’s reading at home too.  If your child still has a “Lucky Reader” log at home, please feel free to send it in any time.  

• As the school year draws to a close, we hope that our first grade readers start to show more confidence and stamina in reading.  In school, we encourage the students to navigate different reading stations.  This week, for example, first grade readers engaged in trick word activities, for example.  They were encouraged to read and spell these irregular words since they do not follow the traditional “sounding out” patterns of more familiar words.  

You can:

• Please consider asking your child to practice the books/texts at home last week (or weeks prior).  If your child did not complete the “Lucky Listener” log, please consider doing that.  Reading every day is key!  At this point in the school year, we hope your child shows enthusiasm and a willingness to share his/her reading at home with you.

Writing:

• This week, first grade authors participated in various opinion writing topics.  They learned to write a clear opening statement, followed by supporting details and a conclusion.  They did an amazing job showing their preferences for breakfast or dinner, for example!  Ask your child to share his/her opinion with you at home.  Don’t forget to ask them to back up their opinions with three reasons!

Math:

• This week, first grade mathematicians continued to explore shapes in our geometry unit.  They learned more about 2-dimensional shapes while also exploring 3-dimensional shapes.  We used play-dough and pattern blocks to build our understanding of the different attributes.

You can:

• Math is everywhere!  Consider having conversations about the math learning we’re doing at school at home too.  Math should be a social activity and organically flow and build as we share our understanding, ideas and wonderings with the people around us!  Consider doing a shape scavenger hunt at home.  How many cubes can you find?  How about rectangular prisms?  What is the difference between a circle and a sphere?  Want a challenge?  How about asking your child how many faces are on a rectangular prism and how many bases?  Or, how about asking your child what the difference is between a triangular pyramid and a square pyramid? 

News and Reminders:

• We will go to the Book Fair at ABS next week. We are signed up to go in the afternoon of Tuesday, 5/7.  This year, ABS is doing the Book Fair with Phoenix Bookstore.  There will be no e-wallet this year so if your child wishes to purchase books with us at school, please send in no more than $10-15 in a clearly marked envelope or ziplock bag.  We are only purchasing books while at school (no toys, accessories, pens and or posters).  The Book Fair has after-school hours as well so if your child wishes to purchase those items, please consider visiting then.  Your child has an informational packet inside his/her Home Folder today for more information. 

• Last day of school is Friday, June 14th.  This will be a half day with dismissal at 11:35.  If your child would like a packed lunch that day, please let me know.  The choices for the last day of school will be turkey, ham or sunbutter/jelly sandwiches.

Have a great weekend,

Maria

Family Newsletter

 Dear Families,

It is bittersweet to say goodbye to Ms. Addie. Today was her last day at ABS.  We are so excited for her new adventure as a classroom teacher in Vergennes but we will surely miss having her in our classroom every day.  We hope she will stay in touch and perhaps even visit one day!

Here is our week in review:

Social-Emotional Learning:

• This week, the students continued to practice using self-regulatory strategies more independently.  This entire school year, they have had opportunities to master and practice using a variety of strategies to use when they experience emotions/feelings that are disruptive to their own individual learning focus and positive relationship-building.  While we do not expect our young learners to fully be in control of their emotions, we hope that they discover the confidence and positive trust in self that comes from being willing to try some of these strategies.  We reviewed our “super-powers” of self-control and the power of using your own assertive voice when advocating for yourself.

• This week in our restorative circle, we talked about setting boundaries and maintaining positive and healthy friendships.  Ms. Nicole helped us share our thoughts around what makes a good friend and what we can do to use our assertive voice when somebody uses unkind words and/or actions.  The students used a (non-working, cordless) microphone as a prop to boost confidence and strength when verbalizing their thoughts.  Ask your child to explain more.  They loved it!  We will continue this work when we return from our April break.  Stay tuned.

• The students also participated in a series of activities to create a culminating book project to reflect our thoughts and worries about Ms. Addie’s departure.  It is crucial that young learners have full participation in any closure, or goodbye.  They did, as always, an amazing job sharing their thoughts in a collection of letters that they wrote to Ms. Addie.

You Can: 

• You can support your child’s self-control at home too.   Think about how you can facilitate your child’s emerging skills as your child encounters a situation or task that feels challenging or unfamiliar.  Having a solid understanding of these strategies and skills can help our young learners develop better stamina,  self-esteem, and a sense of control.  At school for example, we review a special daily breathing activity to find those mindful moments.   We also encourage our young learners to find a quiet spot or use some positive self-talk. In our classroom, we also practice restorative chats and circles as a way to resolve conflicts, repair harm and create positive relationship-building skills. Ask your child for a favorite, “go-to” strategy.  I am confident your child can teach you some of the skills and strategies we’re learning at school.

• As the school year draws to a close, consider talking to your child too about how to wrap up this year on a positive note.  Talk to your child about worries and/or concerns your child might have for the upcoming year?  Validate your child’s worries and concerns for the summer break too.  While a long summer break can be positive and relaxing for many, a long summer break away from friends and familiar routines can be overwhelming and lead to anxiety.  As always, please consider reaching out to classmates and schedule play dates and get-togethers outside of school. 

Reading:

• First grade readers continued to rotate through small groups and independent reading stations this week.  At this point in the school year, we encourage all students to show increased reading stamina during independent reading times.  All students have access to decodable books reflecting skills taught so they have ample opportunities to engage in repeated practice.

• Ms. Addie continued to read from the Magic Tree House series for our daily read alouds and I have been asked to continue this series after the April break too!

You can:

• Your child is bringing home an assortment of new and familiar books/texts/poems in this week’s Friday Home Folder (our apologies if there are multiple copies of a book or packet.  That is because the packing was done by several adults over several days.  The students helped too).  Please consider asking your child to practice these books/texts at home in the next few weeks.  To encourage home reading over vacation, your child also has a “Lucky Listener” sheet inside the Home Folder.  Please follow the directions and return on Monday after the break for a special buzzy award.  Have fun reading at home!

Writing:

• The students finished their animal report pieces this week.  They did an outstanding job writing about their animals and sharing information about their animal.  Your child also created a special artifact to represent an adaptation specific to this animal. Please look for these inside your child’s backpack as well.

Math:

• First grade mathematicians started to learn about geometry.  This week, we primarily focused upon the various attributes of 2-dimensional shapes, such as triangles, trapezoids, rhombuses, hexagons and circles.  We also learned how squares are special types of rectangles.  Ask your child to explain why!

• After our April break, the students will continue to learn more about these types of shapes while also learning about 3-dimensional shapes and their corresponding attributes.

• First grade mathematicians also participated in an end-of-unit math assessment addressing their understanding of three addends.

You can:

• You can support your child’s understanding of geometric shapes by engaging in conversations around their corresponding attributes at home.  Make it more challenging, and ask your child to guess which shape you are thinking of by asking only a series of yes or no questions.  We played a game called “There’s a shape in my pocket” and it was very tricky to ask clarifying questions which would help us figure out which shape was hidden.

News and Reminders:

• There is no school April 22-26 (Spring break)

• Please see this message from the ABS Front Office:

Any time a student is going to be absent or has a change to their dismissal/end-of-day plan, please notify the following:

1. The classroom teacher

2. Front Office: absfrontoffice@cvsdvt.org

3. ABS Team Assistant Celeste Plouffe, cplouffe@cvsdvt.org

Reminder: If there is any change to your student's typical end-of-day plan, please be sure to contact the school BEFORE 1:00 PM (or 12:00 pm on Wednesdays). Changes in your student(s) schedule will not be accepted after this time unless it is an emergency.

Reminder: If there are any medical updates on your child, please be sure to contact the school nurse.

Have a great April vacation week off from school.  I hope you will all enjoy some special family time and relaxation.  See you all when we get back.

Maria

Family Newsletter

 Dear Families,

It was another great week in first grade! Because it was a short week, we got to have some new experiences in math! See below for more details!

This will be the last Family Newsletter that I write as I end my solo teaching on Wednesday and say goodbye to Allen Brook on Friday. I am so grateful to Mrs. McCormack for being an amazing, kind, and supportive mentor teacher throughout my time in this class. In the short 14 weeks that I have been a part of this classroom, I have shared so many wonderful moments of laughter and joy with Mrs. McCormack and your children. I will miss them so much as I move on to my own classroom and future as an educator. Please accept my most sincere thanks for raising such wonderful human beings. 

Here is our week in review:

Math:

• This week, first-grade mathematicians worked on building some of the things we wrote about in our animal research projects. As part of their projects, they identified one thing that their chosen animal had that they did not. In math this week, the students then identified how they would build it and what materials they would use. On Thursday and Friday, they worked to build those designs using all sorts of materials. Some created wings, others created ears or tails. Some students even created teeth like their animal!

You can:

• You can ask your students what they created. These will be sent home on Monday so they can show you what they made. In the meantime, ask them to share their design process and how their design and what they actually created were different. Did it come out exactly the way they planned? Did they need to use additional materials? 

Social-Emotional Learning:

• This week, first graders worked on doing some self-problem-solving. These are connected to our work on self-control! We worked on these three steps to solve a problem during instructional time:

• Read the room

• Check the board

• Ask a friend

You Can: 

• You can support your child’s self-control at home too.   Think about how you can facilitate your child’s emerging skills as your child encounters a situation or task that feels challenging or unfamiliar.  Having a solid understanding of these strategies and skills can help our young learners develop better stamina,  self-esteem, and a sense of control.  Every day, for example, we review a special breathing activity to find those mindful moments.   We also encourage our young learners to find a quiet spot or use some positive self-talk. In our classroom, we also practice restorative chats and circles as a way to resolve conflicts, repair harm and create positive relationship-building skills. Ask your child for a favorite, “go-to” strategy.  I am confident your child can teach you some of the skills and strategies we’re learning at school.

Reading:

• This week, first-grade readers continued working on fluency and small group work. Miss Addie continued reading the Magic Tree House.  First-grade readers were encouraged to develop independent reading skills during times when they are not with a teacher.  This week, first graders learned to navigate some new stations during these independent times.

• First-grade readers also practiced reading decodable texts and word lists.  They are encouraged to read every day to develop self-esteem and confidence as readers. Decodable texts are great for practicing these skills since the words can be “sounded out” since they reflect the skills we have been working on in class.

You can:

• You can support your child’s reading at home by encouraging your child to read independently every day.  Not only will your child develop reading skills and reading confidence, but your child will also have opportunities to practice self-control and problem-solving skills.

Writing:

• This week, first-grade writers finished up our Animal Research projects. We worked on the drafting process by checking our work for proper punctuation and capitalization. We also wrote our work again on final drafts using Sharpies. The children wrote on large pieces of paper using the draft of their work that they and Miss Addie had both edited and drew their final drawings so that their hard work could be shared with others. 

You Can:

• Ask your child about their animal! What animal did you research? What did you learn about it? How is your animal different from humans? Those questions are ones that they answered in their research project and I’m sure they will be so excited to share! 

• Ask about the drafting process. What did you do to make your writing look neater? How did you change your writing to put it on the larger sheet of paper? 

News and Reminders:

• I will continue my solo weeks until 4/17 and my last day at Allen Brook will be 4/19

• There is no school April 22-26 (Spring break)

Have a great weekend,

Addie

Family Newsletter

 Dear Families,

As many of you have already heard, the schools in our district will be closed on April 8th due to the solar eclipse.  Your child has a set of eclipse glasses for this amazing event inside their Home Folders (or book bags if they did not return their Home Folders). More information about the solar eclipse can also be found in the Wildcat Buzz this week.

Here is our week in review:

Social-Emotional Learning:

• This week, first graders talked about how we can collaborate with others and focus on compromising in writing and choice time.  The students were encouraged to share their ideas and thinking and reach a compromise to find a common solution.  During choice time, the students worked together to make a plan and collaborate during play-time while navigating several stations and choices.

• The students worked with Ms.  Nicole too.   We reviewed the different strategies we have learned for showing self-control and respect.  We focused on the importance of not distracting peers in their learning.   Shouting out, yelling or making loud noises are unexpected behaviors. Allowing others to speak without being interrupted, feeling safe and navigating our school building with safe, calm bodies are choices we should all strive towards mastering.

You Can: 

• You can support your child’s self-control at home too.   Think about how you can facilitate your child’s emerging skills as your child encounters a situation or task that feels challenging or unfamiliar.  Having a solid understanding of these strategies and skills can help our young learners develop better stamina,  self-esteem and sense of control.  Every day for example, we review a special breathing activity for finding those mindful moments.   We also encourage our young learners to find a quiet spot, or use some positive self-talk. In our classroom, we also practice restorative chats and circles as a way to resolve conflicts, repair harm  and create positive relationship-building skills. Ask your child for a favorite, “go-to” strategy.  I am confident your child can teach you some of the skills and strategies we’re learning at school.

Reading:

• This week, first grade readers continued working on fluency and small group work. Miss Addie continued reading the Magic Tree House.  First grade readers were encouraged to develop independent reading skills during times that they are not with a teacher.  This week, first graders learned to navigate some new stations during these independent times.

• First grade readers also practiced reading decodable texts and word lists.  They are encouraged to read every day to develop self-esteem and confidence as readers. Decodable texts are great for practicing these skills since the words can be “sounded out” since they reflect the skills we have been working on in class.

You can:

• You can support your child’s reading at home by encouraging your child to read independently every day.  Not only will your child develop reading skills and reading confidence,  your child will have opportunities to practice self-control and problem-solving skills.

Writing:

• This week, first grade writers learned what fiction and nonfiction books are. We worked on learning how to figure out which books are fiction and which are nonfiction. We created an anchor chart to define those two genres and even participated in a book sort in small groups! 

You Can:

• Are you reading a wide variety of books at home?   Consider having conversations about different types of books with your child.   Ask your child to explain what makes one book a fictional story while another book is nonfiction.   Go on a book hunt in your bookcase  or at the library.   Collect a few of each genre and compare.

Math:

• This week, first grade mathematicians continued working on problem-solving strategies when working with their math partners and making independent work choices. In our classroom, we say “Let’s compromise” to get ready for our problem-solving steps.The students have practiced choosing between a variety of strategies to solve problems while staying focused on math learning.  They are getting very comfortable with choosing between “rock-paper-scissors-shoot”, “eeny-meeny-miney-moe”, “the 3 firsts rule” and “being a flexible and kind friend”.   Ask your child to explain more.

• First grade mathematicians continued working on the mathematical concepts of equality.  They also had the opportunity to show their understanding in our end-of-the unit assessment.  Next week, we’re diving into adding three numbers and more place value concepts.  Stay tuned.

You can:

• You can support your child’s developing understanding of problem-solving by encouraging your child to compromise at home too. Consider using our steps (or even better, create your own that fit your family) and encourage your child to compromise when two parties disagree.  Perhaps you are getting ready to play a boardgame but there is a disagreement about which board game to play.  Use the strategies to compromise.  There are countless situations during the day at home when children (and adults) compromise.  Celebrate and praise your child when he/she is showing self-regulation and a willingness to let somebody else decide the task or the outcome.  

News and Reminders:

• Ms. Addie will start her solo weeks on Monday.  She will be the lead teacher for the next couple of weeks and I will be a supporting teacher in the classroom.  We are so proud of Ms. Addie and excited for her.  We are confident she will do great!

• The is no school on Monday, April 8th (solar eclipse)

• There is no school on April 10th (Eid al Fitr Holiday)

• There is no school April 22-26 (Spring break)

• Please see this message from the WCS Theater:

WCS Theater Presents:

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and it's every father's nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met.

Google Doc Link to Poster:

Ticket Sale Link: https://willistoncentral.seatyourself.biz

Have a great weekend,

Maria