Team building

Throughout the first weeks we have participated in a variety of teamwork challenges.  These activities have covered social skills, communication and other skills while building self-esteem, group cohesiveness and validated the importance of each group member.  One activity, “Sneak a Peek,” practiced both listening and communication skills.  The goal for this activity was to duplicate a design made from pattern blocks.  Another activity was the “Cup Pyramid.”  Each group worked to stack a pyramid of ten cups using only a tool made from a rubber band and four pieces of yarn.  Last week, we joined Ms. Gallagher’s class for “The Index Card Tower Challenge.”  As you can see in the pictures below, students are learning a variety of skills, as well as having fun!

A Special Visitor

During the second week of school, our class had a special visitor – the newest member of the Lyford family.  As you can see, she was quite popular with our class!

Our First Week

We have had a busy first week!  Students completed watercolors of nature to put on the cover of their Nature Journals.  Below are a few examples of these beautiful paintings.

 

On Wednesday Kathy Christy, our school’s Literacy Coach, visited our classroom and read The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig.  She then returned to our room on Thursday to teach us a discussion strategy protocol, “Keep the Line Alive.”  Be sure to ask your child about this activity.  

Welcome Back!

I can’t believe that the first day for students is just a week away!  I hope that everyone has had a wonderful summer.  I have spent time with my family, read many books including several of this year’s DCF books, and worked with my daughter on her new home.  I am excited to be back at school and look forward to a fantastic year.  During the past few weeks I have worked with Ms. Gallagher, our new teacher.  We will be working closely together throughout the year.

             Our specials schedule for this year is as follows:

                                                Monday – Art                     Tuesday – P.E. and Technology

                                                Wednesday – Library      Thursday – Music

                                                Friday – P.E.

Fifth and Sixth graders will have Band on Thursday and Friday mornings from 8:45-9:30.

                Some parents have asked for a list of supplies that students need to bring.  We will supply everything needed with one exception.  Students should plan to bring in some type of notebook (such as a three ring binder) to hold their assignment book and homework assignments.  We will supply the assignment book. 

                This year the fifth/sixth grade classrooms will be integrating Social Studies and Science with the Literacy block.  We will be alternating weeks beginning with Social Studies on Sept. 11^th.  Social Studies topics this year will include Early Explorers, Colonial America, Revolutionary War and Westward Expansion.  Mapping and Geography will be embedded throughout.  Our Science units will be Earth Systems (one unit on land, one on water, and one on human impact), and Space Systems.

We will be participating in monthly nature journaling opportunities.  Through these sessions students will record observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world.  Our focus will be on the habitat in the woods surrounding our school and how it changes through the seasons. 

Students will practice drawing and observation skills as well as developing writing skills in prose and poetry.  Our three topics this year are animals, trees, and plants.  We plan to meet on the following dates:  Sept. 15^th, Oct. 20^th, Nov. 17^th, Dec. 15^th, Jan. 19^th, Feb. 16^th, Mar. 16^th, Apr. 27^th, and May 18^th.  These dates are all Fridays and our plan is to meet from 12:50 – 2:15 each day. 

In the past, we have had parent volunteers work with us.  If you would like to join us on any or all of the dates, we would love to have you.  Animals will be the topic during the months of September, January, and April.  Our focus in Oct., Feb., and June will be trees.  We will be looking at plants in Nov., March, and May.  Each month, the lesson will be on a different aspect of the topic (i.e. animals may have a focus on tracks during the winter).

If you would like to volunteer to help, please let me know. My email is eshedd@u32.org . I am looking forward to exploring our environment at EMES with our students!

Nature Journaling - Feb. 24th

Our class enjoyed the beautiful weather as we participated in Nature Journaling on the Friday morning before break.  Students were asked to concentrate on the senses as they explored the woods behind our school.