November 9th, 2009
Dear Parents,
I would like to extend a big thank you to all who helped make our Halloween celebration so
successful. We received donations of sugar pumpkins, goodie bags and snacks/treats for the day.
In math last week we began working with large numbers, as we totaled up the seeds we
collected from all of our pumpkins. We grouped them by tens, then combined groups of tens into
100s, and 1000s. Our grand total was 5, 607!! We will be solving all kinds of math problems this
week based on our pumpkin activities.
In reading we continue to practice retelling a story, with all the important details. We are
learning about setting, character, beginning, middle, end, problem and solution. We have begun
reading a new chapter book: Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo, which is generating a
lot of excitement.
Our field trip today was a great success. We saw thousands of minerals, learned about to
tell rocks and minerals apart, as well as the attributes of minerals. After a picnic lunch outside
in the sun, we all headed for home full of excitement about what we’d seen. Thanks to Mrs.
Jacobs and Mrs. Traveis for being our chaperones.
We hope you will be able to come to the classroom to see our latest work during the
week of Thanksgiving. Exact date/time will be advised shortly.
As always, keep in touch,
Ann Golesworthy
October 4th, 2009
Dear Parents,
This week we begin studying rocks, soil and natural features that cover the earth. Now that
the children have brought in their collection of rocks, we will be sorting, grouping, measuring,
weighing, graphing, describing and drawing them. We will spend the month of October and early
November on our rock studies, which will culminate in the field trip to the Harvard Natural History
Museum on November 9th. Chaperones will be designated shortly.
The children did a very good job with their homework last week. As we move into Week 2,
there are a couple of pointers I would like to give for the upcoming homework assignments:
BOOK BUDDY BAGS
Some children are bringing home reading books to practice. These books are at a “just right” level
for your child to read to you. They can read them multiple times throughout the week so that they
figure out the tricky words, using the strategies they are learning in school. Their goal is to be able
to read the books at a fluent pace, and with expression, by the end of the week.
READ IT, DRAW IT, SOLVE IT
These often require several steps in order to come up with the final solution.
Please remind your child to write a number sentence for each step.
HANDWRITING
When a handwriting sheet comes home, it is because your child is having difficulty forming the
letter correctly. It is very difficult from them to break this habit, and they need to relearn and
practice with close monitoring.
I will be sending home a visual guide, and the verbal directions for forming the problem letter. To
make it fun, you could have your child practice the letter several times in shaving foam, pudding,
wet finger on a chalkboard, drawing it in the air, or whatever takes your fancy! They should start
by making the letter huge, then make a smaller and smaller letter, until ready to try it on their
homework handwriting paper.
With supervised practice of correct letter formation, the old bad habits will disappear.
CLASSWORK TO FINISH
You may find classwork in the homework folder that your child needs to correct or finish.
THANK YOU PARENTS
I appreciate you taking the time to check your child’s work, watching for names on papers, and
quality control. Parents … students … teacher….we make a great team!
Ann Golesworthy
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Parent Newsletter
September 28th, 2009
Dear Parents,
It was a pleasure to see so many of you at Curriculum Night. I look forward to our partnership
over the next one or two years, as we endeavor to bring out the best in the children, both from
a learning and social/emotional perspective. In the multi-age classroom the children are taught
that we are all students, and we are all teachers. They become used to each others’ different skill
levels, and help each other with their learning, as well as seek help from each other when they
need to. As I move into my second year with the older children in this group, I notice that they
are keen to pass on to the younger group traditions and memorable moments from last year. I
frequently hear “Remember when …..”, and I often get requests to “tell the story about when ….”
Volunteers
Thanks to those of you who signed up for volunteer duties. I really appreciate the support you
provide. I will be in touch shortly with reading volunteers, once all of our reading routines are
firmly established.
Homework
Homework will begin this week, and is due on Friday. This will usually take the form of word
problems, math facts practice, handwriting or spelling, and Making Words. Some children will
have a bag of books to practice, and every child is required to read for twenty minutes a day at
home. Please help your child with any directions, and check that their name is on the paper.
Homework should take no more than 15 or 20 minutes. Please drop me a note if homework is
taking any more time than this.
Routines and Responsibility
Please encourage responsibility in your child by having them think about what they need to bring
to school each day. Perhaps you can get in the routine of going through a check-list for such
needs as homework/snack/library book/gym shoes etc. Or, a list posted on the refrigerator
might help. The more they can think for themselves, the less they will arrive to school saying
"My Mom forgot to pack my snack / put my homework in my bag / give me my library book!"
Weekend News
Each Monday, we talk about our weekend news, and then write about it in our Journals. It would
be helpful if you would chat with your child on Sunday night or Monday morning about all the
things that they did that weekend. Even just playing a game with a good friend, or doing errands
with parents would qualify as Weekend News. It is amazing how often the children report that
they didn't do anything, or that they just played on the computer. A prod from parents about
what other things they did, will help them remember, and ensure a varied collection of
newsworthy stories!
Read Alouds
Ask your child about the books we have been reading this week:
The BFG, by Roald Dahl; The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss; Math Curse, by Jon Scieszka, The Island
of the Skog, by Stephen Kellogg, and Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad, Bully?
Social Studies
We have been learning about citizenship and responsibility. We have also begun a unit on the
prevention of bullying. Bullying takes many forms, including teasing, mean looks or tone. The
children are learning to recognize types of bullying behavior, and about what to do if they or
someone they know is being bullied.
New additions to the Wish List
Do any of you have a box or two of ziploc baggies (small size) that you would be willing to
donate? We will be using them to make Collection Books.
We are also in need of several empty Altoid tins. We use these to hold words that we are
working on reading or spelling.
That’s all for now. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns or
triumphs regarding your children,
Ann Golesworthy