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

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!

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!

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

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:

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!

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!

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!