IN THIS POST: Halloween Party Zoom, How to Minimize while on Zoom, Distribution Day, Parent Teacher Conferences, Vampire Art, Fine Artist Lesson, Foot Update, Anonymous Feedback Form, Save the Date, This Week
Halloween Party Zoom
What a fun party we had on Zoom! Special thanks to Molly Pincherli and Anna Carrasco for planning and prepping such a fun time! The kids were able to make fun awesome masks, a fun game, make finger play pieces for 5 Little Pumpkins, and designing pictures with stickers and stencils. Check out some of the pictures from our fun day!!
Practice your finger play wearing finger pumpkins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trDl36m9pgA
How to Minimize While on Zoom
Each week at 10:30 on Thursdays, we have Tech Time with Ms. Martin. If we were in school we would be going into the computer lab each week and learning to log on by ourselves and learning different games and tools on Clever. Since we are in Online Learning, we are having Ms. Martin come in and teach some tools each Thursday on our Zoom.
To use and learn any of the tools the students must learn How to Minimize in Zoom on their Chromebooks. This can be a challenge. I’m attaching the steps here from Ms. Martin so you can practice at home. The goal is for the students to eventually learn to minimize by themselves. If you are able, practice at home before Thursday or help guide them to do it on Thursdays when we do it together.
I know it’s hard, but do you best to not tap and click for them as the best learning comes from doing the actions yourself. Guide with words at first and then see if they can try a step or two by themselves! PRAISE all the efforts of independence!
Distribution Day
This Wednesday is our next Distribution Day! We will be swapping materials from 3:00 – 4:00 in the school parking lot! I can’t wait to see those faces!
WHAT TO RETURN to Mrs. Miller: (these items only….all other materials you may keep)
- Student writing journal
- 10 independent leveled books
- Any filled out reading logs
- All ziplocs, envelope and other containers to use again for next Distribution Day (thank you)
WHAT you’ll RECEIVE:
- Yellow Folders (NEW…instead of envelopes)
- new writing paper
- other journal with comments and a goal from Mrs. Miller
- November Scholastic News set
- New Reading logs (one for upcoming each week)
- New alphabet books to use on Zoom
- Yellow Sight Words
- Book Bag with 10 new leveled books
- Craft Ziploc Bag
- Veteran’s Day Craft
- Thankful Tree Craft
- “I love you” gift from Mrs. Miller
Modified Zooming on Distribution Day (NEW)
To help with the time it takes to prep, pack and pass-out at distribution, we are modifying our Zooming that day to allow the time needed to be ready by 3:00pm that day.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Conferences are coming soon! If you missed it in your email this week, I sent out the link and modified schedule for Parent Conference week and the link for Conference Sign-up slots! Take a moment to choose a slot and add it to your calendar. Your children are adorable and working hard in a challenging situation! This a great skill builder for them to know they can overcome “hard things.” This is a life-long skill we all need to work on as human beings! I’m so proud of them and LOVE having them in my class!
If you have NOT signed up yet for a conference time, please check your email. Thank you!
Vampire Art
This week for art, we practiced our drawing skills and drew Vampires! I love focusing this type of art on following directions to make the drawing, but reminding them we are each trying to make our own….meaning it doesn’t need to look like mine or anyone else’s! Typically on this art, I’ll have student’s asking….”like this Mrs. Miller?” I don’t want my approval to be what tells them their art is good, so I often tell them to check their own.
Growth Mindset TIP: I strongly encourage you to praise only especially if your child is saying it’s too hard and they need help. It seems easier at times to “do it for them,” but that also sends a message that confirms they can’t do it and do need your help. Productive struggle is very important as is the cheerleading you give them from the sidelines. Praise the end result and confirm with “see I knew you could do it.” That reaffirms your belief in them and themselves.
Finally, we listened to Looking for Dracula with our Vampire teeth in! Such a fun morning! Thank you for all who posted on Facebook!
Fine Artist Lesson
This week one of our lovely 206 parents, Shannon Tamayo, taught our Fine Artist Lesson this past week! It was our first of 6 lessons to be taught this year.
The lesson focused studied the artist, Maija Isola, born in 1927 in Finland. She created over 500 patterns and designs, of which many were used for textile design for Marimekko, a design house. Marimekko owes their continuing success to her creative work. She was also a well-known visual artist exhibiting all over the world. The artwork of Maija Isola is known for glowing colors and bold patterns.
Special thanks to Shannon for taking the time to get trained and teach the lesson to our class! It was awesome! (pictures are on Facebook due to student pics labeled with names).
Foot Update
Thank you for the many warm wishes and check-ins regarding my injury! I’m doing much better in much better spirits this week! I got my cast on Monday and have 3 more weeks with the cast on and then we will check for next steps depending on the healing that took place during the casted weeks. I’ve been very good at keeping weight off, so I’m hoping for “best results” at the end of the month! Time will tell! For now I’m experiencing my first cast and learning to hop, crutch and scoot! #lifelonglearner
Asynchronous Work This Week:
As we have worked a schedule to limit student online time, try to get practice on these platforms for student practice.
- ST Math (15 minutes) Tuesday/Thursday – 2 – 3 Days a week
- RAZ Kids (15 minutes) Mon./Wed./Fri. – 3 – 5 Days a week
- Seesaw – Assigned activities for whole class and/or Penguin Groups (Royals, Emperors, & Kings).
- SIGHT WORDS (Red, Orange, Yellow): Play the games listed on the cover sheet!
Anonymous Feedback Form
If you have feedback (positive or constructive) please take a moment to share your thoughts and feedback! I am loving getting to know the kids better and that they are getting to know each other better despite the challenges we don’t typically deal with! Anonymous Feedback Form
Save these Dates
- Election Day – Tuesday, November 3rd
- Distribution Day (TK/K) – Wednesday, November 4th
- Veteran’s Day – NO SCHOOL – Wednesday, November 11th
- Parent Teacher Conference Week – November 16 – 20
- Character Education Lesson – Tuesday, November 17th @ 8:45
- Thanksgiving Vacation – November 23 – 28
- December Distribution Day – December 2nd from 3:00pm – 4:00
The Week Ahead…
Monday – 11/2/20
- Morning Meeting 8:40 – 9:10 am
- Social Emotional Lesson – (10:30 am)
Tuesday – 11/3/20
- Morning Meeting 8:40 – 9:10 am
- Art Lesson (Materials Needed: Brown paper with clipped light brown rectangles, and 2 white eyes. You will also need scissors and a gluestick. I forgot to attach a black circle for the nose, so if you could cut out a black circle from anywhere that would be helpful…..Give lots of encouragement, but let the productive struggle happen).
- Voting Day!
Wednesday – 11/4/20
- Morning Meeting 8:40 – 9:00 am
- Music with Mr. Waczek, 10:30 – 11:00
- Modified Zoom Schedule (see above)
- Distribution Day from 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Thursday – 11/5/20
- Morning Meeting 8:40 – 9:10 am
- Technology Class – Ms. Martin at 10:30 If you are able to be present or have another helper present at the beginning of this time to practice minimizing zoom that would be very helpful. 10:30 – 11:00 (see directions above to practice ahead of time if you aren’t able to be there).
Friday – 10/6/20
- Morning Meeting 8:40 – 9:10 am
- Music with Mr. Waczek, 10:30 – 11:00
- Friday Announcements from Ms. Sloan
- All School Dance Party @ 2:00 pm
