Awesome August

Welcome back to school, and welcome to my classroom blog. We have a busy year ahead of us! Please read the posts below this one about water and PE. They are from last year, but very much still applicable. Also, I want you to know that we TRY to get some recess or outdoor activity in every day, but with high temperatures our school nurse sometimes advises us to stay in. On those days, we will get our wiggles out inside. Speaking of the nurse, if your child needs to have any medication at school, please stop by the office and see Nurse Elisabeth. As always, if you have questions or concerns...please contact me.

Wonderful Water

Water is truly wonderful! The benefits we we recieve from staying adequately hydrated are tremendous. We know that our brains function better, and we are more capable of learning when we drink enough water. That is why I strongly encourage students to bring water to school. However, 20+ water bottles sitting on student desks can get messy. Therefore, I have some simple requirements I ask you to follow regarding water and its container. First, only bring WATER. Secondly, bring it in a spill-proof bottle. Experience has taught me that bottles with flip tops or pop-up tops leak. I require that water is brought in a bottle with a twist-on top. Store bought water is fine, but if you want to be thrifty and Earth-friendly, send water in a reusable container. As a serious water drinker I have found that polycarbonate bottles are VERY durable. (After several drops and bounces, my bottle is still intact.) You can get one almost anywhere. They will have the recycle triangle with a 7 on the bottom. Some students last year had aluminum containers with twist on tops. Those worked well, too.

Preparing for PE

Please send your child in shoes that are appropriate for physical activity on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. These days will be our scheduled gym days. Children wearing flip-flops, sandals, or other shoes deemed unsafe will not be able to participate in PE. Ms. Hart will have the students participating in the school-wide mileage club. Kindergartners do not participate in the mileage club. This is a privilege reserved for big kids, like first graders. Also, Ms. Hart wants parents to know that PE grades are not based on performance, but on participation. Therefore, wearing the right shoes is very important.

Warm Welcome

Welcome to first grade! For some of you, this is brand-new! For others, this is your last time (of many times) to be involved in first grade. Either way, I hope it will be a positive experience. I'm glad to have siblings of former students this year. I have three this time around. I'm also glad to have a twin back in my class. I've had a twin almost every year. Is there something in the water around here?
Let me know if you need anything...seriously...I'm available.

Seuss Celebration

There will be a party at the Cleveland State Library to celebrate the birthday of the late Dr. Seuss. The event is scheduled for March 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The party promises games, refreshments, reading, fishing, face painting and door prizes. It is sponsored by the CSCC Early Childhood Education Program and The Early Childhood Education Club.

Counting Coins

If you've been practicing counting coins with your child, you've probably noticed something fishy going on! I teach the children to count each "silver"-colored coin by 5s and then to count the pennies. When counting this way, the students only have to switch between counting by 5s to counting by 1s. Before you think I'm crazy, let me tell you that I learned this strategy from a seasoned and very experienced first grade teacher for whom I have great admiration and respect. THIS STRATEGY WORKS! Count the quarter 5 times (once for each of GW's hairs). Count the dime twice (for each Mickey Mouse ear that FDR wears). Count the nickel once because Jefferson is the only one on "silver" wearing clothes, and then count the pennies. If your child does well in math and has demonstrated fluency in counting by 10s, 5s and 1s, please feel free to work with him/her on counting coins the "usual way". Otherwise, trust me. This is the first step.

Pack of Pink Paper, Please

I try not to make a habit of begging...so, forgive me this time. We will be publishing some Valentine's stories next week and will be in need of pink cardstock. If you would like to donate some to the classroom, it would be sincerely appreciated.