Hi Parents,
Thanks for coming to the super fabulous show and party today! I appreciate how everyone supported us in the show and at the party.
Monday is gingerbread person day. I have volunteers from the community coming to help so you can take a day off!
Wednesday is pajamas day! Send your child to school in pajamas and remember no slippers!
Happy Weekend!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Working hard!
Dear Parents,
Your child have been working so hard to get ready for the show you would be so proud of them. A recap from Friday. On Friday for snack we ate potatoe Latkes, apple sauce, and chocolate gelt to celebrate the end of learning about Hanukah. Some of the children liked the latkes and apple sauce; I can safely say they all liked the chocolate gelt.
This week we are learning about Christmas. We have been reading Snowmen at Christmas by Carolyn Buehner and Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O'Connor. Also today in the afternoon the students made wreath out of old bingo chips and green construction paper.
Please read the e-mail/note about what your child should wear Friday. If you can't find the correct color a black or white or cream shirt is also great!
Happy Day!
Don't forget Friday is the show and class party starting at 9am!
Please turn in items for gingerbread people! We are making them Monday!
Polar Express is Wednesday, December 21! Wear pajammas and regular shoes to school!
Show and Tell is Thursday, December 22!
Winter Break is December 23-January 4!
Your child have been working so hard to get ready for the show you would be so proud of them. A recap from Friday. On Friday for snack we ate potatoe Latkes, apple sauce, and chocolate gelt to celebrate the end of learning about Hanukah. Some of the children liked the latkes and apple sauce; I can safely say they all liked the chocolate gelt.
This week we are learning about Christmas. We have been reading Snowmen at Christmas by Carolyn Buehner and Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O'Connor. Also today in the afternoon the students made wreath out of old bingo chips and green construction paper.
Please read the e-mail/note about what your child should wear Friday. If you can't find the correct color a black or white or cream shirt is also great!
Happy Day!
Don't forget Friday is the show and class party starting at 9am!
Please turn in items for gingerbread people! We are making them Monday!
Polar Express is Wednesday, December 21! Wear pajammas and regular shoes to school!
Show and Tell is Thursday, December 22!
Winter Break is December 23-January 4!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Just another great day!
Hi Parents-
We had another great day today! This week with studying holidays we are also talking about Hanukah. Students were given a piece of paper with painters tape on it in the shape of a dreidel. Students colored over the tape. Then the tape was peeled off to show a dreidel underneath.
Also for people who are looking for guides for buying holiday toys here is a neat checklist Ms. Lynda (OT) shared with me.
http://www.aota.org/Consumers/consumers/Youth/Play/Toy.aspx?FT=.pdf&emc=lm&m=666669&l=4&v=2832979
Please don't forget to send in your self addressed stamped envelopes and 5 oz plastic cups!
Thanks! Have a great afternoon!
We had another great day today! This week with studying holidays we are also talking about Hanukah. Students were given a piece of paper with painters tape on it in the shape of a dreidel. Students colored over the tape. Then the tape was peeled off to show a dreidel underneath.
Also for people who are looking for guides for buying holiday toys here is a neat checklist Ms. Lynda (OT) shared with me.
http://www.aota.org/Consumers/consumers/Youth/Play/Toy.aspx?FT=.pdf&emc=lm&m=666669&l=4&v=2832979
Please don't forget to send in your self addressed stamped envelopes and 5 oz plastic cups!
Thanks! Have a great afternoon!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Thoughts from Ms. Brooke
It’s almost time for winter break…
Time for family get togethers, traveling, and lots of cooking. Please continue encouraging your child to socialize and greet new friends, neighbors or family. This time of year lends itself to natural sequencing activities in the kitchen, answering those “WHO, WHAT, and WHERE” questions about new decorations in the community and upcoming events.
If your child is a soft talker or seems to lose volume when speaking try the following:
· Choose a machine (microphone, karaoke machine, tape recorder or video recorder) that your child will enjoy using. Some children like talking into a tape recorder and playing their words back in higher volumes or watching themselves talk on the television. A great new way to see themselves is using skype to talk to friends or relatives with the built in camera on computers.
· Pick a quiet place so they will not be distracted while talking. Show them how to use the machine of their choice to make words that can be heard. Have them say words they know into the machine. Children enjoy songs and rhymes. Practice singing together into the machine, alternating lines, or have them fill in words as you sing. You can read stories into the machine together and have them label common words they may have seen from the story.
· Find recorded nursery rhymes or stories that you child likes to encourage them to “talk” along with the recording. If it has words they already says, they may try to say some new ones too. Computer games or “sing along” DVD’s that show favorite characters as they play may get your child to say words.
· Use toys or activities that play your child’s favorite music. When your child likes the music or videos, they are likely to repeat the words. Songs like “wheels on the bus” enourage children to say words and make sound effects. Singing is a fun way to help children be confident in saying words out loud!
· Play with sounds using empty paper towel rolls, buckets, cheap dollar store microphones or homemade megaphones to amplify your voices.
December Vocabulary:
Coats
Cookies
Lights
Tree
Candle
Gift
Dreidel
Star
Singing
Baking
Friday, December 2, 2011
Happy Friday!
Dear Parents,
We had another fantastic Friday! We had an amazing session with Mr. David today. You will be so proud of us when you come see the show! Please send in any extra costumes you have!
Also today we were scientists. Each student received a plate with a thin layer of milk. They put 2-3 drops of food coloring around the milk. Then using a Popsicle stick dipped in soap. Then ta da! We put the Popsicle stick in the food coloring and made it move around the milk. The kids loved doing it! Then we took the mixed up milk and painted with it. Some kids chose to use paint brushes while other chose to press the paper in the paint and watch it transfer. In the afternoon the students made necklaces and bracelets out of noodles in the colors of Kwanzaa to finish our studying for the week.
Next week we are starting Hanukkah. On Friday we will eat potato latkes, apple sauce, and chocolate gelt. If you would prefer for your student to not eat one of these things or to have a limited amount please let me know.
Also I would appreciate it if everyone could send in a package of 3-5oz plastic cups. We are running VERY low and will be out soon!
Don't forget to send in your self-addressed envelope with a stamp to receive a holiday greeting card from your child!
We had another fantastic Friday! We had an amazing session with Mr. David today. You will be so proud of us when you come see the show! Please send in any extra costumes you have!
Also today we were scientists. Each student received a plate with a thin layer of milk. They put 2-3 drops of food coloring around the milk. Then using a Popsicle stick dipped in soap. Then ta da! We put the Popsicle stick in the food coloring and made it move around the milk. The kids loved doing it! Then we took the mixed up milk and painted with it. Some kids chose to use paint brushes while other chose to press the paper in the paint and watch it transfer. In the afternoon the students made necklaces and bracelets out of noodles in the colors of Kwanzaa to finish our studying for the week.
Next week we are starting Hanukkah. On Friday we will eat potato latkes, apple sauce, and chocolate gelt. If you would prefer for your student to not eat one of these things or to have a limited amount please let me know.
Also I would appreciate it if everyone could send in a package of 3-5oz plastic cups. We are running VERY low and will be out soon!
Don't forget to send in your self-addressed envelope with a stamp to receive a holiday greeting card from your child!
Our Busy Schedule!
Friday, December 2 Costumes are due! If you are a part of the costume committee and have said you could send in particular costumes please send them in that day.
Wednesday, December 15 Gingerbread House items due
Friday, December 16 at 9:00am- Winter Show and Party! Please come! Winter Show is in the cafeteria at 9:00am with our winter party following afterwards in my classroom. Please come and enjoy the fun!
Monday, December 19- Gingerbread House Day!
Wednesday, December 21- Polar Express/Pajamas Day Send your student in their pajamas! No slippers because we will still be going outside to play.
Thursday, December 22- Show and Tell
Friday, December 22 through January 4- No School for students (January 4th is a teacher workday) Enjoy your winter break. I will be in and out of town and most likely not checking e-mails until January 4th. However, I anticipate 2012 will be as fabulous as 2011!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Costumes for the Show!
Hi Parents-
As of right now I am about 10 costumes short for the show!
We need costumes of woodland creatures which include:
rabbits
bugs
wolves
raccoon
birds
deer
turtle
squirrel
If you would like to make/buy any of these costumes please let me know! Thanks!
As of right now I am about 10 costumes short for the show!
We need costumes of woodland creatures which include:
rabbits
bugs
wolves
raccoon
birds
deer
turtle
squirrel
If you would like to make/buy any of these costumes please let me know! Thanks!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Read also yesterday's blog post
Hi Parents-
Please go ahead and read yesterday's blog post as well as today because I'm not 100% sure that you received the e-mail letting you know it had been updated.
Today we continued to talk about Kwanzaa and the winter holidays. In the morning we decorate paper corn to show celebration of the harvest. In the afternoon we worked on patterning by using pictures of red and green candles.
Along with talking about the holidays we have talked about how people mailing greeting cards. Please send in one self addressed stamped envelope so your child can mail a greeting card home to you! Please make sure you act very surprised and happy when you receive it in the mail.
In addition we still continue to work very hard on our winter show. If anyone has any costumes of Woodland creatures please send them in ASAP! I want to make sure each child has a costume and I need to get a final head count.
Also one more reminder. It is cold! So please LABEL all hats, gloves, mittens, snow boots, and coats with your child's name! I have a hard time remembering who wore what hat from the morning to the afternoon.
Have a good day!
Please go ahead and read yesterday's blog post as well as today because I'm not 100% sure that you received the e-mail letting you know it had been updated.
Today we continued to talk about Kwanzaa and the winter holidays. In the morning we decorate paper corn to show celebration of the harvest. In the afternoon we worked on patterning by using pictures of red and green candles.
Along with talking about the holidays we have talked about how people mailing greeting cards. Please send in one self addressed stamped envelope so your child can mail a greeting card home to you! Please make sure you act very surprised and happy when you receive it in the mail.
In addition we still continue to work very hard on our winter show. If anyone has any costumes of Woodland creatures please send them in ASAP! I want to make sure each child has a costume and I need to get a final head count.
Also one more reminder. It is cold! So please LABEL all hats, gloves, mittens, snow boots, and coats with your child's name! I have a hard time remembering who wore what hat from the morning to the afternoon.
Have a good day!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thankful times!
Dear Parents,
We are quickly re-adjusting being back to school after being off for Thanksgiving Break. We are starting our discussion on holidays. There are a lot of great books for Kwanzaa, Hanukah, and Christmas for us to read. We have been reading Messy Bessey's Holidays by Pat McKissack. In this story Messey Bessy is making cookies for all the different holidays to share. We have also read Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington.
We have been doing different activities to learn about Kwanzaa. On Monday we made red, green,and black candles out of construction paper and toilet paper rolls. Additionally on Tuesday we colored in a worksheet using different colors for different symbols. As usual there is so much for us to learn and enjoy.
I had a great long weekend and I hope you did as well. I also want to take this moment to say THANK YOU to you my parents! You have been very generous with your donations of your time and supplying materials to the classroom. Also I appreciate how you follow through at home with our academic skills and behaviors. Thank you for being you!
We are quickly re-adjusting being back to school after being off for Thanksgiving Break. We are starting our discussion on holidays. There are a lot of great books for Kwanzaa, Hanukah, and Christmas for us to read. We have been reading Messy Bessey's Holidays by Pat McKissack. In this story Messey Bessy is making cookies for all the different holidays to share. We have also read Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington.
We have been doing different activities to learn about Kwanzaa. On Monday we made red, green,and black candles out of construction paper and toilet paper rolls. Additionally on Tuesday we colored in a worksheet using different colors for different symbols. As usual there is so much for us to learn and enjoy.
I had a great long weekend and I hope you did as well. I also want to take this moment to say THANK YOU to you my parents! You have been very generous with your donations of your time and supplying materials to the classroom. Also I appreciate how you follow through at home with our academic skills and behaviors. Thank you for being you!
Our Busy Schedule!
Friday, December 2 Costumes are due! If you are a part of the costume committee and have said you could send in particular costumes please send them in that day.
Wednesday, December 15 Gingerbread House items due
Friday, December 16 at 9:00am- Winter Show and Party! Please come! Winter Show is in the cafeteria at 9:00am with our winter party following afterwards in my classroom. Please come and enjoy the fun!
Monday, December 19- Gingerbread House Day!
Wednesday, December 21- Polar Express/Pajamas Day Send your student in their pajamas! No slippers because we will still be going outside to play.
Thursday, December 22- Show and Tell
Friday, December 22 through January 4- No School for students (January 4th is a teacher workday) Enjoy your winter break. I will be in and out of town and most likely not checking e-mails until January 4th. However, I anticipate 2012 will be as fabulous as 2011!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Clarifying Dates
Hi Parents-
I have gone through and tried to add additional information in with these dates to add some clarity! Let me know if things are confusing!
Important Dates:
Monday, November 21 from 9:05-9:25 Browse Book fair I could use some help with parents coming in to help us write down wish lists or if you want to go ahead and come in and buy. Otherwise I will send your child's wish list home. You can choose to send in a list of the books your child wants with money or you can choose not to buy.Tuesday, November 22nd- Grandparent's Tea I don't remember the times for these; however, the grandparents can come and take the children upstairs for a snack and browse the book fair. Please send in a note if a grandparent is coming so I can be prepared.
Tuesday, November 22nd- Show and Tell
Wednesday, November 23- No School
Thursday, November 24- Thanksgiving
Friday, November 25- No School
Monday, November 28- First Day back after Thanksgiving
Friday, December 2 Costumes are due! If you are a part of the costume committee and have said you could send in particular costumes please send them in that day.
Wednesday, December 15 Gingerbread House items due I will be sending out a list of items I would appreciate if you would donate to help the students make their gingerbread houses the next week. If you are unable to donate your item please just let me know
Friday, December 16 at 9:00am- Winter Show and Party! Please come! Winter Show is in the cafeteria at 9:00am with our winter party following afterwards in my classroom. Please come and enjoy the fun!
Monday, December 19- Gingerbread House Day! We are building gingerbread houses this day. I would love a couple of parent volunteers to come help us; however, this is a no sibling event. As you all know I love for brothers and sisters to come and support your student, but this is a very hands on event and I need all hands on deck. Thanks for understanding and respecting this.
Wednesday, December 21- Polar Express/Pajamas Day Send your student in their pajamas! No slippers because we will still be going outside to play.
Thursday, December 22- Show and Tell
Friday, December 22 through January 4- No School for students (January 4th is a teacher workday) Enjoy your winter break. I will be in and out of town and most likely not checking e-mails until January 4th. However, I anticipate 2012 will be as fabulous as 2011!
Friday, November 11, 2011
A busy week
It always amazes me how much happens in a week! We have started reading Wendi Silvano's Turkey Trouble. In the story the turkey disguises himself as different farm creatures to avoid having the farmer eat him. Don't forget to disguise the turkey that has been sent home for your homework! You don't want your turkey to be eaten! Our Thanksgiving talk has continued as we made paper cornucopias filled with magazine pictures of different foods.
Winter Show practice is also going well. Those who come to our Thanksgiving snack will receive a sneak peak of some of the wonderful music! So please do not be late! If you are interested in helping out for the winter show, but did not sign up please also let me know.
The book fair is coming. Our browsing day is Monday, Nov. 21 from 9:05-9:25. I will be taking the kids up to pick out a couple of books to add to their wishlist. If you would like to join us to help students write on their wish list please let me know. Wishlists will be sent home and you can choose if you would like to purchase the books or not. If you choose to purchase some of the books please send in money or a check and please specifically write which books you want your child to buy.
Important Dates:
Monday, November 14- Please return your disguised turkeys!
Friday, November 18 at 9:00am- Please join us for our Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Monday, November 21 from 9:05-9:25 Browse Book fair
Tuesday, November 22nd- Grandparent's Tea
Tuesday, November 22nd- Show and Tell
Wednesday, November 23- No School
Thursday, November 24- Thanksgiving
Friday, November 25- No School
Friday, December 16 at 9:00am- Winter Holiday Show and Party! Please come!
Wednesday, December 21- Polar Express/Pajamas Day
Friday, December 22 through January 4- No School for students (January 4th is a teacher workday)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Another Day
Don't forget tomorrow is picture retake day! If you want your child to have their pictures redone please send either money or their old picture packs.
Today we did our speech rotations. Students go to two stations on Tuesday and the other two stations on Thursday. Mrs. Massey and Ms. Brooke work differently with each group depending on goals and objectives being targeted that day. Ms. Nancy is working on a postional turkey book with the students and Mr. Mike worked on creating a scarecrow also using positional words.
Practice for our winter show is going great! Can't wait for you to see it!
Important Dates:
Wednesday, November 9- Picture retakes!
Friday, November 18 at 9:00am- Please join us for our Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 22nd- Grandparent's Tea
Tuesday, November 22nd- Show and Tell
Wednesday, November 23- No School
Thursday, November 24- Thanksgiving
Friday, November 25- No School
Friday, December 16 at 9:00am- Winter Holiday Show and Party! Please come!
Wednesday, December 21- Polar Express/Pajamas Day
Friday, December 22 through January 4- No School for students (January 4th is a teacher workday)
Monday, November 7, 2011
A great day!
We had another great day in PSE. This morning continued talking about Thanksgiving and fall. At Ms. Nancy's station students did leaf rubbings with the magic crayons. At Mrs. Massey's station students practiced cutting on lines to get to the pilgrim, Indian, and turkeys. Also we have been practicing for the Winter Show and your children will be huge stars!
You probably noticed your child has homework in their backpack! This is a fun project to do at home. When you student brings it back to school we will be working on using descriptive words and comparisions between turkeys.
Important Dates to Remember:
Monday, Nov.14- Turkey Homework due
Friday, Nov. 18- Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast at 10:00am
Tuesday, Nov. 22- Grandparents Feast
Tuesday, Nov. 22- Show and Tell
Friday, Dec. 16- Winter Show at 9:00am followed by the Winter Party
Wednesday, Dec. 21- Polar Express/Pajamma Day
Thursday, Dec. 22- Show and Tell
Friday, Dec. 23- January 4 Winter Break
You probably noticed your child has homework in their backpack! This is a fun project to do at home. When you student brings it back to school we will be working on using descriptive words and comparisions between turkeys.
Important Dates to Remember:
Monday, Nov.14- Turkey Homework due
Friday, Nov. 18- Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast at 10:00am
Tuesday, Nov. 22- Grandparents Feast
Tuesday, Nov. 22- Show and Tell
Friday, Dec. 16- Winter Show at 9:00am followed by the Winter Party
Wednesday, Dec. 21- Polar Express/Pajamma Day
Thursday, Dec. 22- Show and Tell
Friday, Dec. 23- January 4 Winter Break
Friday, November 4, 2011
Fabulous Fridays!
Ms. Brooke's Thoughts
November’s vocabulary:
Turkey
Scarecrow
Apples
Corn
Sweaters
Squirrel
Haystack
Leaves
Pour
Sweep/Rake
With Thanksgiving upon us this is a great holiday to really work on requesting and building vocabulary with your child. This holiday brings about lots of natural communication opportunities and practice conversing with different people your child may not see on a regular basis. Begin now asking your child, “How are you?” and cue them to say an appropriate response of “good” or give them a picture of “happy” that they can hold or have near to show their friends and family in response to the question.
Take your child grocery shopping for the dishes. While this may be challenging try to make a learning activity out of it and that may help ease some of the stress just trying to get in and out of the store. Let the child hold the various fruits and vegetables so they can feel how heavy potatoes are, how cold cool whip is, or how bright orange carrots can be. You can talk about the items seen in cans are the same as the ones they see displayed in piles with the other fruits and vegetables. It is a perfect scenario to get lots of repetition of the items they will see prepared on your table or that they have seen in ads in the newspaper or tv. Publix certainly capitalizes on this time of year making me hungry every five minutes with their ads of all that home cooked goodness.
Take advantage of those days leading up to Thanksgiving to have your child in the kitchen with you watching or “helping” prepare those yummy dishes. Some great action/describing words to emphasize are:
Pour, Stir, Chop, Cut, Mix, careful, slow, hot, cold, boil, Wash, Clean, Wipe, Eat, Serve
Requesting is easily worked on during this time as well. Don’t let your child just point to the food that is making their mouths water. Utilize those vocabulary items you practiced at the grocery store and prep time prior to the meal, or take pictures or cut out of magazines all those delicious items you may have on your table for your child to be cued on what to request. Have them ask, “I want ___” or touch the picture of the item to request it.
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to practice our manners as well. Thanks is even in the name! Don’t let your child start shoveling that turkey or stuffing without saying or signing a strong thank you! Enjoy this time of fun and being with the ones you love.
A recap from this week. Today (Friday) we painted pumpkins and talked about pumpkins and cornucopia. Wednesday was our fall fun day with Ms. Susan. First we walked around the school to specific destinations. At those places (the library, fish tank, cafeteria, front office, and Lynn Coleman's office) we found different fall symbols. Then we came down and did two different stations. One was a tactile and texture station where we touched cooked cold spaghetti with eye balls, sticky hands, and stuffed animals. At the other station we used tweezers to pick up little objects and practice sorting. Then we made our ghost in the graveyard snack. Chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream and graham crackers...Yum!
Also we have been reading various books about Thanksgiving. The anchor text I wanted us to read has not arrived yet, but we have been reading Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving to prepare us for our special treat!
If your child is in diapers please send in an extra pack of wipes!
Important Dates:
Wednesday, November 9- Picture retakes!
Friday, November 18 at 9:00am- Please join us for our Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 22nd- Grandparent's Tea
Wednesday, November 23- No School
Thursday, November 24- Thanksgiving
Friday, November 25- No School
Friday, December 16 at 9:00am- Winter Holiday Show and Party! Please come!
Wednesday, December 21- Polar Express/Pajamas Day
Friday, December 22 through January 4- No School for students (January 4th is a teacher workday)
Monday, October 31, 2011
A new month....
Tuesday starts the wonderful month of November where we will shift our focus to fall and Thanksgiving!
Also our special snack we were going to make last Wednesday has been postponed to this Wednesday. Be on the look out for an update to hear how much fun your student has had.
Books we have been reading:
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
AlphaOops: H is for Halloween by Alethea Kontis
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Class Needs:
- Baby wipes: If your child is in diaper please send in one container of baby wipes. We are starting to run low.
- Parent Volunteers: I am in need of parent volunteers for the winter show. Please let me know ASAP if you would like to help.
- Corn- I would like to have 12 ears of corn on Monday, November 14 to go along with our Thanksgiving unit. Please leave the husks on. Please e-mail if you would like to help with this.
- Potatoes- I would like to have 10 potatoes on Monday, November 14 to go along with our Thanksgiving unit. We will be eating and painting them. Please e-mail me if you can help out with this.
Important Dates:
Thanksgiving Treat- Friday, November 18 at 10:00am: Join your student for a Thanksgiving Treat in Mrs. Massey's class
Winter Show- Friday, December 16 at 9:00am: Join us for our winter show followed by our winter party
Polar Express Day- Wednesday, December 21: Send your child in their pajamas to enjoy Polar Express Day
Also our special snack we were going to make last Wednesday has been postponed to this Wednesday. Be on the look out for an update to hear how much fun your student has had.
Books we have been reading:
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
AlphaOops: H is for Halloween by Alethea Kontis
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Class Needs:
- Baby wipes: If your child is in diaper please send in one container of baby wipes. We are starting to run low.
- Parent Volunteers: I am in need of parent volunteers for the winter show. Please let me know ASAP if you would like to help.
- Corn- I would like to have 12 ears of corn on Monday, November 14 to go along with our Thanksgiving unit. Please leave the husks on. Please e-mail if you would like to help with this.
- Potatoes- I would like to have 10 potatoes on Monday, November 14 to go along with our Thanksgiving unit. We will be eating and painting them. Please e-mail me if you can help out with this.
Important Dates:
Thanksgiving Treat- Friday, November 18 at 10:00am: Join your student for a Thanksgiving Treat in Mrs. Massey's class
Winter Show- Friday, December 16 at 9:00am: Join us for our winter show followed by our winter party
Polar Express Day- Wednesday, December 21: Send your child in their pajamas to enjoy Polar Express Day
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thoughts from Ms. Still
Have your child pick up and carry a pumpkin (the large “Pumpkin Patch” displays at various community locations are great for this). Have your child put his or her pumpkin beside, behind, in front of, or under other objects. This helps to teach positional words and concepts that are so important for early learning. You can also work on size concepts, by having them pick up a big, medium, or small pumpkin. This is a great activity to work on using both hands, upper body strengthening, and can be organizing due to the heavy work aspect of carrying heavier pumpkins.
You can also play Pumpkin Bowling. Fill empty 1 or 2 liter bottles with sand or water – just enough to weigh them down a bit. Have your child ROLL several of the small decorative pumpkins at the bowling pins to try and knock them over. The practice skill is ROLLING, not throwing. Have them count how many pins they knock over each time to reinforce 1:1 correspondence. You can try having the child bowl turn their backs to the pins and try to roll under their legs for increased vestibular/sensory experience. You want them to get their head down to look at the pumpkins and come all the way up after they roll the pumpkin. Be sure to give them a big bear hug after they do this exercise a few times.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A Fabulous Day!
Tomorrow (Thursday) at 1pm is our parent meeting to prepare for the holiday show. We will be meeting in the special education conference room. I hope to see you there. If you can't come and are interested in helping I will be sending out contact information after the meeting.
The Book Fair is coming! All children will have the opportunity to shop and they need volunteers! Please contact Mrs. Powell in the Media Center or Meredith Gartner to volunteer: megartner@aol.com. AND: if your household is anxiously awaiting the newest Wimpy Kid book consider pre-ordering it from the RNE Book Fair! The pre order price is $8.49 and books will be delivered to RNE on November 15. Forms and details can be found in the media center and on our school website.
Today the students also received cut out pumpkins. They glued the pumpkin on a sheet of paper. Then using their pincer fingers they decorated the pumpkin with green and orange pumpkin seeds. We have also been watching a video about the life cycle of a pumpkin. http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=134153&title=The_Life_Cycle_of_a_Pumpkin
Please make sure to always write a note/e-mail after your child has been absent! I appreciate phone calls, but I also need something in writing.
A fine motor activity
Snip drinking straws. Kids love to watch the small pieces of straw pop away as they cut. Use the small pieces of straw as beads and have your child string them onto yarn to make a necklace!
Snip small strips of sturdy paper such as cardstock or construction paper. Use the small pieces to create a mosaic art project.
A gross motor activity
Balloon Bopping: Have your child tap a medium sized balloon in the air. Try not to let it touch the floor!!!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday
Hi Everyone,
A couple of updates I want you to pay close attention to (they are numbered because it helps keep my brain organized)
1. On Wednesday, Ms. Susan is coming in to do a scavenger hunt and special snack. The snack is called ghost in the graveyard. It is made of chocolate pudding, chocolate graham crackers, and whipped cream. Please let me know if you want your child to have a modified snack (such as less food, vanilla instead of chocolate pudding, cinnamon graham cracker instead of chocolate graham cracker, no whipped cream, etc.)
2. Also on Wednesday, the afternoon group is going to have a picnic and nature walk to the Roswell area park. I will have my cell phone with me so if there is an emergency or you are checking your child out early please call!
On with the great learning that is occurring. Today we started cleaning out the insides of the pumpkin. We started with discussing the shape and color of the pumpkins. We then decided which pumpkin was taller and which one was shorter. Then using a scale the pumpkins were weighed, which lead to which one was heavier. The kids helped scrap out the goop and used their pincer fingers to help pluck out the seeds. The students then decided the inside of the pumpkin was gooey, not rough, on the inside. Overall it was a very enjoyable activity.
We will be having show and tell next Monday, October 31. Please be on the look out for a flyer with the information.
Additionally please DO NOT send your child in their costume to school on Monday, October 31. Also please DO NOT send Halloween candy as a snack!!!!!! Thanks for your understanding!
A couple of updates I want you to pay close attention to (they are numbered because it helps keep my brain organized)
1. On Wednesday, Ms. Susan is coming in to do a scavenger hunt and special snack. The snack is called ghost in the graveyard. It is made of chocolate pudding, chocolate graham crackers, and whipped cream. Please let me know if you want your child to have a modified snack (such as less food, vanilla instead of chocolate pudding, cinnamon graham cracker instead of chocolate graham cracker, no whipped cream, etc.)
2. Also on Wednesday, the afternoon group is going to have a picnic and nature walk to the Roswell area park. I will have my cell phone with me so if there is an emergency or you are checking your child out early please call!
On with the great learning that is occurring. Today we started cleaning out the insides of the pumpkin. We started with discussing the shape and color of the pumpkins. We then decided which pumpkin was taller and which one was shorter. Then using a scale the pumpkins were weighed, which lead to which one was heavier. The kids helped scrap out the goop and used their pincer fingers to help pluck out the seeds. The students then decided the inside of the pumpkin was gooey, not rough, on the inside. Overall it was a very enjoyable activity.
We will be having show and tell next Monday, October 31. Please be on the look out for a flyer with the information.
Additionally please DO NOT send your child in their costume to school on Monday, October 31. Also please DO NOT send Halloween candy as a snack!!!!!! Thanks for your understanding!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Rainy Day
Today was a great day to talk about the rainy weather and how it is now cold outside. We are continuing our theme of farm and farm animals. This morning we read The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle and many of the students are starting to verbalize at the end of the phrasing the correct words. This is so wonderful to see.
Also in circle time we read The Old Lady Who was not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. The students took turns being various props and helped act out the story. For instance in the story two shoes go "clomp clomp" and a student will act out the pair of shoes each time that comes up or someone will act out the "wiggle wiggle" of the pants. The kids love it and are getting very good at acting out their various parts.
Additionally today we made chickens out of circles and triangles to go along with our farm theme. Also the kids played duck, duck, goose to talk about animals.
A couple of house keeping things:
- The weather is changing! Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately everyday to play outside.
- There will be a meeting Thursday, October 27 at 1pm to start talking about our winter show in the special ed conference room. Please come and learn how you can be a part of it.
- Thanks for coming in for conferences! I appreciated the time we can talk face to face. If parents ever want additional meetings throughout the year please let me know.
Also in circle time we read The Old Lady Who was not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. The students took turns being various props and helped act out the story. For instance in the story two shoes go "clomp clomp" and a student will act out the pair of shoes each time that comes up or someone will act out the "wiggle wiggle" of the pants. The kids love it and are getting very good at acting out their various parts.
Additionally today we made chickens out of circles and triangles to go along with our farm theme. Also the kids played duck, duck, goose to talk about animals.
A couple of house keeping things:
- The weather is changing! Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately everyday to play outside.
- There will be a meeting Thursday, October 27 at 1pm to start talking about our winter show in the special ed conference room. Please come and learn how you can be a part of it.
- Thanks for coming in for conferences! I appreciated the time we can talk face to face. If parents ever want additional meetings throughout the year please let me know.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Brooke's thoughts
FALL IS HERE!
The beautiful weather is a great time to get outside and model great language! Here are some great fall activities to practice great language (as well as all other developmental areas) and spark conversation with your child:
- Go to a pumpkin patch
o Ride the hay ride
o “We are picking a pumpkin”
o Discuss big and little
o Practice counting and colors
o What pumpkin do you like?
- Take a walk through the fallen leaves
o Practice colors
o Discuss big and little
o “The leaves are crunchy when we step on them”
o “ Leaves fall from trees”
o Make big piles and practice jumping
o Which leaf is your favorite?
- Look at all the scarecrows in down town Roswell or make your own scarecrow
o Practice identifying and naming body parts
o Practice identifying and naming clothing
o Talk about emotions: happy, sad, scary
o Talk about the scarecrows function
o If you make your own, “We are stuffing the scarecrow”, “Push the straw in”
This Month’s Vocabulary:
Spoon
Fork
Spider
Farmer
Pumpkin
Pig
Cow
Hen
All done
Sit Down
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Updates on the week
Hi Everyone,
All About Me is officially done, but we are rolling right into farm animals and healthy eating. We will start reading the Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle on Monday!
Today we practiced drawing our face! We took turns looking in the mirror and after being given a model of Mrs. Massey the kids went to town drawing their own faces. This is a great activity to do at home and while you do it make sure you takl about the different facial features and circles. Also we talked about how no one looks same and that is ok.
This afternoon kicked off our healthy eating by making hands with popcorn in carrots. We spent time discussing hot (popcorn) and cold (carrots). We used an old fashion pop corn maker where the kernels are put in and the kids see the kernels come spilling out after it is plugged in. So the popcorn was completely free of butter and salt. Then each student was given a glove. They put carrots into the finger spots and filled the rest of the glove with popcorn. They laughed and thought making the gloves was so much fun!
In art this week we practiced drawing a large orange circle and a small green square to make a pumpkin! Then students made faces on their pumpkins with black crayons.
In music Mr. David helped by pre-teaching some of the vocabulary with the animals we will be learning about next week. We talked about sounds the animals make and the kids got to make those sounds into the microphone. Some of your children become quite little hams when faced with a microphone (even if it is just pretend!)
Also just an FYI, but I will be out on Monday because I have jury duty summons. All non- emergencies please send a note and I will address everything as soon as I get back. Also thank you for everyone who returned their forms saying whether or not they were getting updates on the blogs and whether or not to add your spouse. I am at home updating the blog so I will not be able to input your spouse's e-mail addresses until I get back. I will let you know once I do so you can make sure they are also receiving the information.
Have a happy, healthy weekend!
All About Me is officially done, but we are rolling right into farm animals and healthy eating. We will start reading the Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle on Monday!
Today we practiced drawing our face! We took turns looking in the mirror and after being given a model of Mrs. Massey the kids went to town drawing their own faces. This is a great activity to do at home and while you do it make sure you takl about the different facial features and circles. Also we talked about how no one looks same and that is ok.
This afternoon kicked off our healthy eating by making hands with popcorn in carrots. We spent time discussing hot (popcorn) and cold (carrots). We used an old fashion pop corn maker where the kernels are put in and the kids see the kernels come spilling out after it is plugged in. So the popcorn was completely free of butter and salt. Then each student was given a glove. They put carrots into the finger spots and filled the rest of the glove with popcorn. They laughed and thought making the gloves was so much fun!
In art this week we practiced drawing a large orange circle and a small green square to make a pumpkin! Then students made faces on their pumpkins with black crayons.
In music Mr. David helped by pre-teaching some of the vocabulary with the animals we will be learning about next week. We talked about sounds the animals make and the kids got to make those sounds into the microphone. Some of your children become quite little hams when faced with a microphone (even if it is just pretend!)
Also just an FYI, but I will be out on Monday because I have jury duty summons. All non- emergencies please send a note and I will address everything as soon as I get back. Also thank you for everyone who returned their forms saying whether or not they were getting updates on the blogs and whether or not to add your spouse. I am at home updating the blog so I will not be able to input your spouse's e-mail addresses until I get back. I will let you know once I do so you can make sure they are also receiving the information.
Have a happy, healthy weekend!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Another day filled with learning
Dear Parents,
We are just rocking and rolling now and I think most of us have finally found our groove. We are finishing up our All About Me unit this week.
Yesterday we experimented with touch by using hot and cold paint. Paint was frozen in the freezer or put in the microwave (so it was really more luke warm) and then the students painted with it. It was a great way to work on our sense of touch. Some of the students preferred one paint texture to another as they experimented with the different paints.
In the afternoon we practiced matching body parts on our worksheets. The students identified which were the same body parts and drew lines to match them.
I hope to see everyone in the Youth Day Parade on Saturday! I would love to have lots of people walk!
Also don't forget to sign up for conference times!!
-Mrs. Massey
We are just rocking and rolling now and I think most of us have finally found our groove. We are finishing up our All About Me unit this week.
Yesterday we experimented with touch by using hot and cold paint. Paint was frozen in the freezer or put in the microwave (so it was really more luke warm) and then the students painted with it. It was a great way to work on our sense of touch. Some of the students preferred one paint texture to another as they experimented with the different paints.
In the afternoon we practiced matching body parts on our worksheets. The students identified which were the same body parts and drew lines to match them.
I hope to see everyone in the Youth Day Parade on Saturday! I would love to have lots of people walk!
Also don't forget to sign up for conference times!!
-Mrs. Massey
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Parent Teacher Conferences and Donations
Hi Parents-
On October 17 is parent teacher conferences. They will be held from 8am-12pm in Mrs. Massey's classroom. (Conferences last 20 minutes so your choice of times are 8:00, 8:20, 8:40, etc) Please send in your top 3 times for that day. If you cannot meet that day please let me know. Please make other arrangements for your child so that we can talk interrupted.
Roswell Youth Day Parade
Saturday, October 1. Come out and show your Roswell North pride. Wear your sports activity uniforms or Roswell North green spirit wear and be loud and proud of Roswell North Elementary!! If you and your child intend to walk with Roswell North’s float, please ar-rive no later than 9:30 a.m in front of Roswell First Baptist Church on Mimosa Street by our float. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Please bring a bag of candy to throw to parade watchers. Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Clausen will bring the wagons for tired children. Parents will need to accompany their children.–
In October we will start talking about farm animals and food farmers grow which will. I would like for the students to have the opportunity to try and eat some of these things and use some of these things to paint with.
I am looking for
6 apples- October 3 for painting
6 apples (2 red, 2 green, and 2 yellow)- for eating- October 3
1 big pumpkin- October 17 (we will be eating the seeds)
1 medium pumpkin- October 17
1 small pumpking- October 17
1 whole carrot & small bag of baby carrots- October 31
12 ears of corn (with the shucks on)- eating and painting- Nov. 7
Please e-mail me if you can help with any of these things!
On October 17 is parent teacher conferences. They will be held from 8am-12pm in Mrs. Massey's classroom. (Conferences last 20 minutes so your choice of times are 8:00, 8:20, 8:40, etc) Please send in your top 3 times for that day. If you cannot meet that day please let me know. Please make other arrangements for your child so that we can talk interrupted.
Roswell Youth Day Parade
Saturday, October 1. Come out and show your Roswell North pride. Wear your sports activity uniforms or Roswell North green spirit wear and be loud and proud of Roswell North Elementary!! If you and your child intend to walk with Roswell North’s float, please ar-rive no later than 9:30 a.m in front of Roswell First Baptist Church on Mimosa Street by our float. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Please bring a bag of candy to throw to parade watchers. Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Clausen will bring the wagons for tired children. Parents will need to accompany their children.–
In October we will start talking about farm animals and food farmers grow which will. I would like for the students to have the opportunity to try and eat some of these things and use some of these things to paint with.
I am looking for
6 apples- October 3 for painting
6 apples (2 red, 2 green, and 2 yellow)- for eating- October 3
1 big pumpkin- October 17 (we will be eating the seeds)
1 medium pumpkin- October 17
1 small pumpking- October 17
1 whole carrot & small bag of baby carrots- October 31
12 ears of corn (with the shucks on)- eating and painting- Nov. 7
Please e-mail me if you can help with any of these things!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Today
Hi Parents-
Today was a busy and eventful Monday.
Please Please Please write your child's name in their jacket!!!!!!!
Today we talked about seeing and using our eyes. Students took turns looking in the mirror and telling what color their eyes were. After that they took a di-cut person and put it on a chart we use to create a pictograph of people's eye color in the classroom. They did a great job participating!
Also in the afternoon we created our own pictures of decorating the hermit crab shell from A House for a Hermit Crab. Students use glue, stickers, feather, glitter, and markers to each create their own unusual decorations.
I hope to see everyone Wednesday at Chick-Fil-A night!
Today was a busy and eventful Monday.
Please Please Please write your child's name in their jacket!!!!!!!
Today we talked about seeing and using our eyes. Students took turns looking in the mirror and telling what color their eyes were. After that they took a di-cut person and put it on a chart we use to create a pictograph of people's eye color in the classroom. They did a great job participating!
Also in the afternoon we created our own pictures of decorating the hermit crab shell from A House for a Hermit Crab. Students use glue, stickers, feather, glitter, and markers to each create their own unusual decorations.
I hope to see everyone Wednesday at Chick-Fil-A night!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Just catching up
Hi Parents-
Our school weeks have continued to be extremely busy filled with laughing, learning, playing, and talking! Our schedule is continuing to be tweaked with minor adjustments as we go and I hope that by the end of September the schedule will be finalized and I will re post it here. One of the changes we have been trying out that I currently like is morning circle with a gross motor group. In the spot of our regular morning circle I have split the class into two groups. One group goes to a gross motor station and the other goes to circle time. In the gross motor group the kids follow a short obstacle course (the course is going to stay the same for a two to three week period because I am hoping to build independence for them). This gross motor group is jumping (and counting) on the trampoline 10 times, then walking on a textured balance beam (colored: red, blue, red, blue), and then throwing bean bags into the corresponding hoop color. The circle time group is working on days of the week, weather, and other language concepts with our theme. After 15 minutes each group flip flops and does what the other group does. This allows me a little more individual time with each child when I work with them because the groups are smaller. The groupings change often so the kids can work with different kids. This most likely will be a permanent change, but I am going to try it out a little longer.
As part of circle time, I have been incorporating more you tube videos. Check out the links below to our favorites!
We have continued our all about me talk and also really started talking about our bodies. (Head, shoulders, knees, and toes is a current favorite). We have been practicing labeling body parts while rolling on the scooter board and talking about our emotions when looking at happy and sad faces.
In the afternoon we have spent this week reading Eric Carle's A House for a Hermit Crab. When reading this book we talk about where does the Hermit Crab live? (in his shell, in the ocean). Where do we live? (in a house/apartment/condo, in Georgia)
Reminders:
- if your child is absent send a note or e-mail saying why they are absent
- Chick-Fil-A Night on Wednesday, September 21 from 6-7, the one on Hwy 9 and Holcomb Bridge
- if you have any questions or concerns please e-mail, call, or write a note, I know sometimes there is something you want to know please feel free to ask
- please label all jackets!!!!!! (they sometimes fall of the hooks and I have a hard time remembering who wore them that morning).
- I will be absent Thursday and Friday. I have an absolutely fabulous sub coming in so please make sure to send in notes for changes of transportation! Other concerns I will address as soon as I get back!
- If there are any dad's who also want to be e-mailed when the blog is updated please e-mail me there address
- Also please always feel free to e-mail or call about questions in the classroom! masseya@fultonschools.org
Our school weeks have continued to be extremely busy filled with laughing, learning, playing, and talking! Our schedule is continuing to be tweaked with minor adjustments as we go and I hope that by the end of September the schedule will be finalized and I will re post it here. One of the changes we have been trying out that I currently like is morning circle with a gross motor group. In the spot of our regular morning circle I have split the class into two groups. One group goes to a gross motor station and the other goes to circle time. In the gross motor group the kids follow a short obstacle course (the course is going to stay the same for a two to three week period because I am hoping to build independence for them). This gross motor group is jumping (and counting) on the trampoline 10 times, then walking on a textured balance beam (colored: red, blue, red, blue), and then throwing bean bags into the corresponding hoop color. The circle time group is working on days of the week, weather, and other language concepts with our theme. After 15 minutes each group flip flops and does what the other group does. This allows me a little more individual time with each child when I work with them because the groups are smaller. The groupings change often so the kids can work with different kids. This most likely will be a permanent change, but I am going to try it out a little longer.
As part of circle time, I have been incorporating more you tube videos. Check out the links below to our favorites!
We have continued our all about me talk and also really started talking about our bodies. (Head, shoulders, knees, and toes is a current favorite). We have been practicing labeling body parts while rolling on the scooter board and talking about our emotions when looking at happy and sad faces.
In the afternoon we have spent this week reading Eric Carle's A House for a Hermit Crab. When reading this book we talk about where does the Hermit Crab live? (in his shell, in the ocean). Where do we live? (in a house/apartment/condo, in Georgia)
Reminders:
- if your child is absent send a note or e-mail saying why they are absent
- Chick-Fil-A Night on Wednesday, September 21 from 6-7, the one on Hwy 9 and Holcomb Bridge
- if you have any questions or concerns please e-mail, call, or write a note, I know sometimes there is something you want to know please feel free to ask
- please label all jackets!!!!!! (they sometimes fall of the hooks and I have a hard time remembering who wore them that morning).
- I will be absent Thursday and Friday. I have an absolutely fabulous sub coming in so please make sure to send in notes for changes of transportation! Other concerns I will address as soon as I get back!
- If there are any dad's who also want to be e-mailed when the blog is updated please e-mail me there address
- Also please always feel free to e-mail or call about questions in the classroom! masseya@fultonschools.org
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Important People
Here is a brief synopsis of the people working with your child this upcoming school year.
Teacher:
Welcome to an exciting year of preschool special education. My name is Alane Massey and I am very excited to be working with your student this year. I am currently in my seventh year of teaching and this is my third year at Roswell North. I have my undergraduate degree in special education from the University of Georgia and my maters degree from Georgia State in Early Literacy Development. My free time is kept busy by my husband, two dogs (Buzz and Ivy), and our extended family that all lives in the Atlanta area. This year is going to be filled with change, growth, and fun! Please let me know any questions/concerns you have.
Assistants:
Hi, my name is Nancy Bland. I graduated from Michigan State. This is my fifth year in preschool special education. I have a dog name Bella (English Setter). I love to travel, go to the movies, fly fish, and needlepoint. I think this is going to be a great year.
Hi, I am Mike Garvin and I am one of the assistants in Mrs. Massey's classroom this year. I was born and raised here in Atlanta. My wife and I have two daughters (14 & 13), three dogs and two cats. This is my eigth year working in preschool special education. I look forward to another great year.
Speech Therapist:
Occupational Therapists:
Teacher:
Welcome to an exciting year of preschool special education. My name is Alane Massey and I am very excited to be working with your student this year. I am currently in my seventh year of teaching and this is my third year at Roswell North. I have my undergraduate degree in special education from the University of Georgia and my maters degree from Georgia State in Early Literacy Development. My free time is kept busy by my husband, two dogs (Buzz and Ivy), and our extended family that all lives in the Atlanta area. This year is going to be filled with change, growth, and fun! Please let me know any questions/concerns you have.
Assistants:
Hi, my name is Nancy Bland. I graduated from Michigan State. This is my fifth year in preschool special education. I have a dog name Bella (English Setter). I love to travel, go to the movies, fly fish, and needlepoint. I think this is going to be a great year.
Hi, I am Mike Garvin and I am one of the assistants in Mrs. Massey's classroom this year. I was born and raised here in Atlanta. My wife and I have two daughters (14 & 13), three dogs and two cats. This is my eigth year working in preschool special education. I look forward to another great year.
Speech Therapist:
My name is Brooke Flanagan and I’m the pre-school speech therapist for Roswell North Elementary. Often you will see me listed as Kimberly Flanagan since that is my legal first name, but I go by Ms. Brooke. I have my undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia (GO DAWGS!) and my master’s degree in Communication Disorders from Valdosta State University. I absolutely adore these little guys and fully believe in the benefits of early intervention. Thank you so much for taking part in your child’s development and we are positive this will be a great year! Welcome to Roswell North.
Occupational Therapists:
Hi, I am Lynda Turley, one of Roswell North’s three Occupational Therapists. This is my twelfth year in Fulton County Schools serving students in PreK through high school. I have a degree in Biology from University of Georgia and a degree in Occupational Therapy from Medical College of Georgia. In my free time, I enjoy reading, movies, cooking and baking, and spending time with friends and family. It is a pleasure to be back at Roswell North this year.
Hi my name is Susan Still and I will be your child’s occupational therapist this year. I graduated from Boston University’s Sargent College of Allied Health. I have been practicing Occupational Therapy for 14 years and this is my fourth year at Roswell North. I have worked in the Children’s hospital, an early intervention day care, private clinics, and home health, in addition to schools. I have specialty training in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT), therapeutic listening, feeding/swallowing therapy, and yoga for the special child. I love going to concerts and musical theatre. For fun I collect angels. This will be a great year!
Physical Therapist:Hello my name is Linda Weaver and this is my third year as the Physical Therapist for the Preschool Special education classrooms here at Roswell North. I have my Doctorate Degree in Pediatric Physical Therapy and have been practicing for 17 years. I have worked in two of the top children’s hospitals in the nation. I left Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta a year ago to work in the Fulton County schools, so that I would have more time with my two sons. I have a 78 year old son named Myles, 6 year old named Cole, and baby Kai. They are the light of my life. I am looking forward to a wonderful year and truly cannot wait to work with your children.
Music Teacher:
Hi! I'm David Symons, and this is my second year as board-certified music therapist at Roswell North Elementary School. I currently have three degrees, including a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Brewton-Parker College, a Master of Music Education in Music Therapy degree from the University of Georgia, and an Education Specialist in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. I play the piano in my free time, and love sharing the joys of music with kiddos of all ages. I look forward to another great year of musical fun!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thoughts from Ms. Brooke
Vocab for the month
eyes
arm
stomach
ears
leg
boy
girl
nose
wipe
throw away
Working on phonemic awareness (what letters make what sound) is a great facilitator for speech production practice and your child’s literacy skills. The following books are great ways to practice letter sounds and the alphabet outside of singing the ABC’s all the time J:
The Farm Alphabet Book, by Jane Miller; The Alphabet Book, by P.D. Eastman and Philip D Eastman; An A to Z Walk In The Park, by R. M. Smith
Help your child practice recognizing and sounding the letters in their first name. You could also choose a letter of the week and find words that start with that letter.
Another great resource for furthering this skills is a website called: www.starfall.com. Go to the ABC section and they can click their way to better phonemic awareness!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Fabulous Friday
Dear Parents,
We had a great day today. Mr. David (our music therapist) came! We practiced turn taking by throwing a ball back and forth and waved scarves to practice following directions. Mr. David is always extremly wonderful to work with. Additionally we spent time today coloring worksheet pages. Some of the coloring pages have a hot glue border. This allows for a tactile reminder to stay inside the black lines. We spend time coloring worksheets because that is an important skill to help address cognition in kindergarten. For the afternoon we sequence, made, and ate rice krispy treats. We spent a lot of time talking about sticky and squishy! Such a fabulous day!
Not to be obnoxious, but I absolutely must have those affadavit of residence returned to me notarized! This is a mandate by the county.
Have a happy Labor Day Monday and remember the school is not open!
We had a great day today. Mr. David (our music therapist) came! We practiced turn taking by throwing a ball back and forth and waved scarves to practice following directions. Mr. David is always extremly wonderful to work with. Additionally we spent time today coloring worksheet pages. Some of the coloring pages have a hot glue border. This allows for a tactile reminder to stay inside the black lines. We spend time coloring worksheets because that is an important skill to help address cognition in kindergarten. For the afternoon we sequence, made, and ate rice krispy treats. We spent a lot of time talking about sticky and squishy! Such a fabulous day!
Not to be obnoxious, but I absolutely must have those affadavit of residence returned to me notarized! This is a mandate by the county.
Have a happy Labor Day Monday and remember the school is not open!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wonderful Wednesdays
Thank you for everyone who came to Curriculum Night last night! I am trying to figure out how to upload the powerpoint to the blog....I will either figure it out soon or e-mail the powerpoint so you can learn more.
Today was a very productive day! This morning we was very busy. We practiced turn taking by rolling a ball back and forth to our friends, but students had to say the name or point to the picture of the friend who they wanted to roll the ball too. We also practiced our prewriting strokes by giving the llama body a head, legs, and a tail. Of course we had to read our favorite llama llama book while doing this. The students are really enjoying the llama, llama book. This afternoon we practiced cutting and glueing and created a wonderful school bus! Students cut yellow paper in half then put black circle wheels on it. Students then chose to decorate the bus how in their own way.
Today was a very productive day! This morning we was very busy. We practiced turn taking by rolling a ball back and forth to our friends, but students had to say the name or point to the picture of the friend who they wanted to roll the ball too. We also practiced our prewriting strokes by giving the llama body a head, legs, and a tail. Of course we had to read our favorite llama llama book while doing this. The students are really enjoying the llama, llama book. This afternoon we practiced cutting and glueing and created a wonderful school bus! Students cut yellow paper in half then put black circle wheels on it. Students then chose to decorate the bus how in their own way.
Sign Language Websites
Some students respond better to sign language instead of pictures. Here are some websites to help you:
Some of the common ones we use in the clasroom are stop, sit, no, yes, thank you, and more.
Websites
Some of the websites we will use in class this upcoming school year are
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/
http://www.sesamestreet.org/
http://tarheelreader.org/
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
http://www.sesamestreet.org/
http://tarheelreader.org/
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
That's all folks! Please let me know any comments or concerns you may have!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A Fabulous Week!
We have really started to work together to become a great little community in our classroom. We are continueing to work on our back to school theme. We are daily reading Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anne Dewdney. This week all the students made a collage of all the pictures of places at the school we see. The afternoon students also created school buses out of egg cartons! (Please consider donating all used egg cartons and plastic cartons from food to the classroom)
Curriculum Night is Tuesday, August 30 at 6:30pm. We are meeting in Mrs. Clausen's room to go over all the information together.
Your notarized Affadavit of Residence is due! Please turn it in as soon as possible. Here is more information from the Fulton County Website http://portal.fultonschools.org/News_Room/Pages/AffidavitofResidencerequiredforallFultonstudents.aspx
Curriculum Night is Tuesday, August 30 at 6:30pm. We are meeting in Mrs. Clausen's room to go over all the information together.
Your notarized Affadavit of Residence is due! Please turn it in as soon as possible. Here is more information from the Fulton County Website http://portal.fultonschools.org/News_Room/Pages/AffidavitofResidencerequiredforallFultonstudents.aspx
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Learning and Developing Together
Dear Parents,
We are slowly and surely building a classroom routine and learning how to work together. This week (and probably a lot of next week) is about learning how to be in school. We have been walking around the school (walking in a line is a skill we have been developing) and talking about how school and home are different. We have also painted, played, and sang.
A couple of reminders: please return the packets you were given with all the forms complete....I do read them all and refer to them throughout the year so I need your help by returning them.
Also please make sure your child's things are labeled with their name! I am still learning to recognize everyone's belongings, but I do need extra help!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions!
We are slowly and surely building a classroom routine and learning how to work together. This week (and probably a lot of next week) is about learning how to be in school. We have been walking around the school (walking in a line is a skill we have been developing) and talking about how school and home are different. We have also painted, played, and sang.
A couple of reminders: please return the packets you were given with all the forms complete....I do read them all and refer to them throughout the year so I need your help by returning them.
Also please make sure your child's things are labeled with their name! I am still learning to recognize everyone's belongings, but I do need extra help!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions!
Monday, August 15, 2011
First Day of School
We had a FABULOUS first day! We ate, played, and sang for a great day. I look forward to seeing your child's smiling face tomorrow. Please remember to return all paperwork from open house so I can have the information on file for your child.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to another wonderful and great year at Roswell North Elementary.
Open House is Thursday, August 11 from 3:30-4:45 last names A-L and 5:00-6:15 last names M -Z. Please bring your child to meet with Mrs. Emily Clausen (who used be Ms. Emily Foster, but got married this summer) or Mrs. Alane Massey in our rooms.
Our wish list for classroom supplies:
baby wipes
soap
a box of tissues
plastic spoons
paper plates
plastic cups (3 oz or 5 oz)
glue sticks
disinfectant wipes
markers
crayons
All children need to either bring breakfast or buy breakfast and a small snack. If your child eats breakfast at home please send in something small for them to eat with the group. I provide cups of water during meals and snack so you do not need to send in a drink unless you want to. Additionally all children need a complete change of clothes to stay at school (shirt, shorts, socks, underwear). As the outfit becomes used or the weather changes I will send home the clothes for replacements. Make sure each item has your student's name on it! This makes life much easier. Also all children need some type of book bag to carry to and from school everyday.
If your child is in a diaper please send in another container of baby wipes, 2 rolls of wax paper, and diapers for your child. Please send in 3-4 diapers a day or you may leave a box at school and I will contact you when they run out.
If your child is staying all day your child will also need a fitted sheet and blanket for nap time plus lunch or money for lunch.
During the first week of school we will be doing an art project involving family photos. Please send in 4-6 photos of your child's family.
Please come to open house to meet your fellow classmates and talk to your teacher! There will be more information to receive and forms to fill out at open house.
We can't wait for a great year! We love this school!
Emily Clausen- fostere@fultonschools.org
Alane Massey- masseya@fultonschools.org
Open House is Thursday, August 11 from 3:30-4:45 last names A-L and 5:00-6:15 last names M -Z. Please bring your child to meet with Mrs. Emily Clausen (who used be Ms. Emily Foster, but got married this summer) or Mrs. Alane Massey in our rooms.
Our wish list for classroom supplies:
baby wipes
soap
a box of tissues
plastic spoons
paper plates
plastic cups (3 oz or 5 oz)
glue sticks
disinfectant wipes
markers
crayons
All children need to either bring breakfast or buy breakfast and a small snack. If your child eats breakfast at home please send in something small for them to eat with the group. I provide cups of water during meals and snack so you do not need to send in a drink unless you want to. Additionally all children need a complete change of clothes to stay at school (shirt, shorts, socks, underwear). As the outfit becomes used or the weather changes I will send home the clothes for replacements. Make sure each item has your student's name on it! This makes life much easier. Also all children need some type of book bag to carry to and from school everyday.
If your child is in a diaper please send in another container of baby wipes, 2 rolls of wax paper, and diapers for your child. Please send in 3-4 diapers a day or you may leave a box at school and I will contact you when they run out.
If your child is staying all day your child will also need a fitted sheet and blanket for nap time plus lunch or money for lunch.
During the first week of school we will be doing an art project involving family photos. Please send in 4-6 photos of your child's family.
Please come to open house to meet your fellow classmates and talk to your teacher! There will be more information to receive and forms to fill out at open house.
We can't wait for a great year! We love this school!
Emily Clausen- fostere@fultonschools.org
Alane Massey- masseya@fultonschools.org
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Summer Activities
Hi Parents! This is the last blog of the school year! Let me start off saying how much I enjoyed your children this school year. I hope you all have a relaxing summer planned.
A couple of dates I want you to be aware of
Open House for Roswell North Elementary
Thursday, August 11
A- L 3:30-4:45
M-Z 5:00-6:15
First Day of School
Monday, August 15 at 7:45
Activities
Parents below are some activities to help enrich your child.
Reminder: The important thing to remember is to have FUN! Children learn through play and FUN!
Literacy:
- Make a travel/summer scrapbook for your child. Have them glue a picture on a piece of construction paper. Ask them what they want to write or say about the picture. Write the sentence they say! Talk about the letters to make the words. Let them try to write the sentence.
- READ! At minimum once a day. It is OK to read the same book over and over again. By doing a repeat reading of the book the child learns to the way language flows, they can predict what will happen next, and gain greater comprehension. Ask them questions about the story. It will amaze you how much more they learn and understand as you continue to read.
- WRITE! Many of us make lists: shopping, grocery, to do, etc. Have your child also make a list of things they want to do that day. Even if they are not forming letters yet allow them to experiement. Scribble is the beginning stages of writing. Encourage your young writer.
- Act out stories. Use a book your child likes (maybe the one you are doing a repeat reading) and create hand puppets to act out the story. Have your child try to retell the story without you.
- Point out words in your environment. When you see any words and you are out and about point them out: McDonalds, carwash, Publix, Stop, etc. The more environmental print you can point out the more your child will realize words have meaning.
Mathematics:
- COUNT! Everything everday! Have them count the tires on a toy car, the number of dolls they have, the number of pages in a book, the number of people sitting at the table. Count things all the time!
- Make necklaces that have patterns. Dye some noodles put on a red noodle, then a blue noodle, a red noodle, then a blue noodle, etc.
- Sort! Have your child help with laundry. Shirts here, shorts here, socks here, and underwear here. Then have them put it away!
A couple of dates I want you to be aware of
Open House for Roswell North Elementary
Thursday, August 11
A- L 3:30-4:45
M-Z 5:00-6:15
First Day of School
Monday, August 15 at 7:45
Activities
Parents below are some activities to help enrich your child.
Reminder: The important thing to remember is to have FUN! Children learn through play and FUN!
Literacy:
- Make a travel/summer scrapbook for your child. Have them glue a picture on a piece of construction paper. Ask them what they want to write or say about the picture. Write the sentence they say! Talk about the letters to make the words. Let them try to write the sentence.
- READ! At minimum once a day. It is OK to read the same book over and over again. By doing a repeat reading of the book the child learns to the way language flows, they can predict what will happen next, and gain greater comprehension. Ask them questions about the story. It will amaze you how much more they learn and understand as you continue to read.
- WRITE! Many of us make lists: shopping, grocery, to do, etc. Have your child also make a list of things they want to do that day. Even if they are not forming letters yet allow them to experiement. Scribble is the beginning stages of writing. Encourage your young writer.
- Act out stories. Use a book your child likes (maybe the one you are doing a repeat reading) and create hand puppets to act out the story. Have your child try to retell the story without you.
- Point out words in your environment. When you see any words and you are out and about point them out: McDonalds, carwash, Publix, Stop, etc. The more environmental print you can point out the more your child will realize words have meaning.
Mathematics:
- COUNT! Everything everday! Have them count the tires on a toy car, the number of dolls they have, the number of pages in a book, the number of people sitting at the table. Count things all the time!
- Make necklaces that have patterns. Dye some noodles put on a red noodle, then a blue noodle, a red noodle, then a blue noodle, etc.
- Sort! Have your child help with laundry. Shirts here, shorts here, socks here, and underwear here. Then have them put it away!
Easy Speech and Language Practice for the summer:
- Going to the pool (opportunities for: following directions, turn taking, peer interaction, typical peer models)
- Play dates with typical peers (opportunities for: turn taking, peer modeling for articulation and sentence structure, parallel play or creative play) * suggested to be in a small group
- Designate story time where the child and adult sit down together in a quiet environment and read a story together. Discuss the pictures, what is going on in the story, who is the main character, what are they doing, where are they going, ask to identify: colors, shapes, animals, items, actions. Don’t be afraid to read the same book over and over. After many read throughs see if the child can tell you the story and give a few cues to fill in holes or cues to look at the pictures to assist in the retelling.
- Any kind of cooking activity (pre-made or just helping out with dinner). Tell them what you are doing in each step with simple words or phrasing: cutting or I am cutting meat, washing or I am washing my hands, stirring or I am stirring, spoon or give me spoon please.
- Game Night (opportunities for: social exchange, conversational turn-taking, sequencing, following directions, dealing with change or things not going their way)
- Model clear, steady speech for articulation practice. This can be done anytime and anywhere. Take opportunities when the child asks you what something is or when reading stories together. When you are at the grocery store as you place things in your cart just say the name: tomatoes, milk, bread. You don’t have to make them say it like you do or correct them if they misarticulate. If their speech isn’t as clear as it could when asking a question or making a statement, simply repeat what they said after them allowing them to hear the clear and steady way it should sound. For example: child, “ah wan mi” or “I want milk. Great asking”. Simple exposure to clear and steady speech will build their foundation of speech sounds in English.
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