Internet Issues

I am sorry I have not been able to post everything I hoped to post the last couple of days.  Our internet at schools has been very sporadic.  I hope to get a post up today!  Thank you for your patience!

Singing in the Shower

If your child comes home today and tells you they want to sing in the shower or the bathtub...

Yes, we learned about that in school today!  The children know it as echoing.  Wonderopolis introduced it as 'resonance.'  So they are supposed to see how different their singing sounds in the shower/tub (water included).

No Rush!  Enjoy the fun experiment when it is fun and convenient!

;)

Last Week's Centers

Math Sorting

Writing Center

Wonderopolis Center:  

How many bones do you have in your body? and 

What is the circumference of our biggest pumpkin?

Great discoveries were made!!!

Listening Center.  The favorite:  Monster Pet!

Reading Center

Everybody's Different

Make Yourself Comfortable!

There are many ways to get work done, and sitting for long periods at a table is new for many 5 and 6 year olds.  All of the students have learned to sit and work at their seats without many reminders.  So now, when they need to copy off the board or do a job on paper, they can find whatever spot is comfortable for the job as long as they are still working.  :)

They should be proud of how well they work!

Find the White Envelope!!!

Today in your child's Tuesday envelope will be a white, letter sized envelope.  Inside are some pictures that can be sorted by beginning sound.  The beginning sounds glued to the outside of the envelope.

Please have your child sort the pictures under the correct beginning sound.  Quite a few will have trouble with this.  If your child has trouble, please have them do it every day until it becomes easier!  This is an important beginning reading skill.  Some need more practice than others.

A student practicing their picture sort at school.

Another tip:  Have fun with rhyming words... even if they are silly, Billy!  Being able to rhyme is a big indicator of future success with reading!

Expectations

This morning, the entire school K-5 went through learning centers!  The centers were to review behavior expectations at various places in Discovery.  Stations included:  hallway, cafeteria, Town Square, bathrooms, and playground.  It was great to see K-5 students travel the centers together.  The older students sometimes forget and need the Kindies to model best behavior!!!  ;)

Expectations for Town Square Gatherings

Cafeteria Expectations

Recess Expectations

Working as Scientists

Before the cold weather set in, we set out to look at the tree our class adopted for the year.  When it was still summer, we observed the tree and then did a class writing about what we saw.

For our Fall season, we took our notebooks outside and tried to draw what we saw... and ONLY what we saw!  That meant no added flowers, rainbows or Mario carts...  only the facts!  The students were excellent at seeing the signs of fall including the changing leaves, crab apples on the ground and in the tree, and the deterioration of the bird nest we found in the branches in summer.

Ice Cream!

Who can pass up an opportunity for ice cream! ?!?!?!?!?

Join us for an Ice Cream Social to celebrate the new school year!

Tuesday October 15th

4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

DES South Hallway

(by the gym)

Friday's Learning Centers

Independent Reading

Fire Safety Review

Writing Center

Math: Buddy Patterns Matching

T is for Tractor Craft Project

Fund Raising

I am sure you have seen and heard all about the "Pizza Man" and the frozen food fund raiser.

The "Pizza Man" getting the kids all excited!

I remember from years as a parent what a challenge these activities can be.  But I also saw - and continue to see - the awesome field trips our Discovery students get to go on thanks to fund raisers!  These dollars pay for the busses on our trips and sometimes supplement the cost of the venue.

The pizza's are actually good and I am always a lover of premixed cookie dough!

Please take a minute to review the information in the big white envelope that came home and see if there is a way you and your child(ren) can participate.  The effort and support are greatly appreciated!

Fire Safety

Dinner Table Question for Tonight:  Where is the family meeting spot in case of a fire?

Today the children had a chance to meet two of our local firefighters and review fire safety rules.  We had a chance to see a firefighter dressed in all his gear so they would know not to be afraid.  They had a chance to feel the gear in case they ever need to tug on a fireman to get their attention.

Stop, Drop, and Roll!!

Firefighter in Full Gear

Feeling the Uniform's Texture

In one side...

Out the other!

Introducing...

Ms. Gates!

Ms. Gates is another teacher at Discovery.  She sometimes works with students in her room.  She sometimes comes into our room and works with students there.  Ms. Gates was our guest reader.  She read a story about working together as a team!

Thank you Ms. Gates for the great story!!!

Face the Facts!

October is "Face the Facts" month at Discovery.  This is our chance to show how much we LOVE math!  We focus in on fun and challenging ways to use math throughout the day!

There will be
1)  math stories
2) math facts
3) math puzzles
4) math games
5) morning message math
6) Town Square math
7) even math in Dr. Nelson's morning announcements!

We had a Town Square Gathering to Celebrate the 

Kick-of for 

Face the Facts Month!

Dr. Nelson read a math story...

using the smart board so all could see!  

Chicka Chicka 1 2 3!

Ms. Schroeder and Ms. Anderson explained the 

homework

and all the other fun activities for the month.

Every child at Discovery will be bringing home a math challenge sheet.  For Kindies this is a half sheet of paper with 12 things on it to practice.  When it is all done, send it back with a parent signature and your child will get an award!  THIS SHEET IS COMING HOME TODAY IN THE TUESDAY FOLDER!!!

We will wrap up our Math Celebration on October 31st with a treat of apple slices and caramel sauce and a math-a-thon* with the other Kindie class.

It is a fun-filled month!

* math-a-thon = math games, toys, manipulatives all out at once to play and explore with!

AWESOMESAUCE!

Did we ever have a perfect time at the Deer Lake Apple Orchard!  Every single child (and parent) can be proud of their behavior.  Everyone's manners were impeccable!

The weather was beautiful, they had an excellent tour that included a lesson on apple sorting, types of apples, ways to use apples, caring for the orchard, time in the corn maze and time at the petting zoo.  There was also a wagon ride through the magical forest!

Enjoy these pictures from our morning!

Second bus ride in a week!

Happy is sitting safely in his seat.

Happy learns about sorting apples.

There are so many kinds of apples!

Some apples are even black!

Wagon ride begins!

Happy tried to drive the tractor!

Happy it sitting safely on the ride!

The pumpkin patch.

The corn maze was a favorite spot!

What a blessing that the sun came out for us!

Shar's group on their wagon ride.

Happy did not get lost in the corn maze.  Phew!

Ms. Grahms group on the wagon ride.

Into the magical forest!

Bees are vital at an apple orchard!

An apple tree loaded with yummy apples!

Happy wanted to ride the pig!

The hay pile was another favorite!

What a grand time we had!