Sarah's September School Happenings

Sarah had a good September, second month, of school.  She is doing well in all of her subjects and is in the high reading and math groups in her grade level.  She is a hard worker and tries to do her best.  She was selected to fill a spot in the gifted/enrichment group again this year.  She meets with the gifted/enrichment teacher and a small group of her peers two times a week for new lessons and learning opportunities.

What types of things/activities do you do in reading everyday?
Sarah:  "We play games, read stories and poems.  There are four stations.  One is states and maps.  One is activities.  Then there is one that is listening station - sometimes we do listening and sometimes we do things with the teacher about photographs, headings, and artist drawings.  The next station is library station where you read books and take AR tests.  Each day I get to go to every station."

Sarah:  "Do you know what my best subject is?"

Me:  "No, what is it?"

Sarah: "It is reading because I like it.  It is fun.  I like to rotate to the different stations and I like to read."

What happens during math?
Sarah:  "We get our things to go to math.  We do our math journals.  We do math facts.  Sometimes we play math games.  One time we played BINGO with multiplication and I won.  So I got a candy.  Sometimes we do quick look cards.  It is where there is dots on a screen (It's only on there for like 2 seconds).  Then we have to write down on our slate how many we saw."

What is your favorite thing about getting to go to the gifted/enrichment classroom?
Sarah:  "We get to do work that is fun.  Like coloring, drawing, and learning different things and reading in there."

Here are two of her gifted/enrichment assignments.  Above, is a picture that Sarah had to draw of fall things that she would like to sell.  She drew blankets, hot cocoa, fall decorations, and candles.  Below, is a poem that Sarah wrote about Pizza.

Time For Pizza
There were two friends named Tony and Pete.  Pizza was their favorite treat.
They like to eat it all the time.  It cost them lots more than a dime.
In the morning when they wakin, They like their pizza with crispy bacon.
When it is time for lunch, hamburger pizza is what they munch.
Mini pizzas are a snack for Tony.  His favorite is pepperoni.
They like their pizza with extra cheese.  They do not like it with any peas.
When they have their dinner, they do not get any thinner.
And when it is time for dessert, Pete likes sausage.  When he's done he has to flossage.
And when they're done with everything toppings are flying everywhere.  Oh doom!  Get out that broom!
By: Sarah

In September, all of the students learned about the Constitution.

What are your favorite school lunch items so far this year?

Sarah:  "Cici's Pizza, Corn Dog, Burrito Bowl, and Fudge Bar.  Lettuce and Ranch dressing.  They give us a lot of Ranch.  It tastes really good with a lot of Ranch."

Phoebe's September School Happenings

 Phoebe did very well in school in September.  She made more friends, follows rules and directions easily, and continues to tell us more and more about school and her days at school when we ask her about it at home each evening.  She still goes to speech twice a week with a small group.  We have seen big improvements in her speech!

What is your favorite center during reading?
Phoebe: "Computers.  We type.  We wear headphones."

Do other teachers come into your classroom and teach you about different things?

Phoebe:  "The counselor comes in.  She reads us a story.  She talks to us about good choices and bad choices and friends."

(Below) What was this a painting of?

Phoebe:  "A flag.  I used paint and a brush and water."

(Below) It looks like you got to do some special things on Constitution Day.  What were they?
Phoebe:  "I made a hat.  I made a book about Constitution Day,"

Your class did a lot of apple activities.  What was your favorite?
Phoebe:  "We made applesauce.  I got to help peel the skin off the apples.  When it was cooking we got to look at it.  And then we eated it when it was done.  It was good."

What is your favorite thing to do during math centers?
Phoebe:  "Computers."

Below is Phoebe's September calendar that she brought home every night from school in September.  A parent must initial it each night and send it back to school in the morning.  Each school day, at the end of the day, Phoebe gets to color the square with the color that her clip/clothespin has moved to and is still on at the end of the day.  11 green days, 8 blue days, and 1 PURPLE DAY!  GREAT JOB PHOEBE!!!!!

What did you get to move to purple for?  What happened when you got to move to purple?
Phoebe:  "First I was at my table doing ready position.  Then she said when you're done doing your paper you put it in your backpack and go sit at the magic board and people were still sitting in ready position and I was the only one listening.  Then I got to move to purple and she writed a note of good things and I got to give it to the office.  Then I went to the office and gived them the paper.  The next day the principal called me down and I got to call Mommy on the phone and I got to write my name on the good behavior board, Phoebe Hendrickson."

The paper that Phoebe brought home on her "Purple Day" was a Positive Office Referral.  Her teacher had these things to say about her, "Phoebe works extremely hard every day in our classroom.  I can always count on her for honesty.  She is great to have in class and leads by example.  Way to go!"  The principal wrote this, "Phoebe demonstrates the appropriate behaviors at all times.  Her quiet gentle spirit sets a positive example for her peers.  Keep up the great attitude Phoebe."

The Stick Bug

My Dad found and caught a Walking Stick Bug in September.  He placed it into to a jar with holes poked in the lid and brought it to our house for the kids to see.  They all thought it was very interesting.  Both girls wanted to show their classmates before we let it go in our backyard.

How did your class like the bug?  What did they say about it?  How about your teachers?
Sarah:  "I stood in one place and told them about it.  Then I took it around in the jar and showed them.  They liked it and one girl said it was cute."

Phoebe:  "My teacher took it out of the jar and she hold it for everyone to see.  The kids liked it.  Some of the kids said thank you for bringing it."

What did you think was the coolest or neatest thing about the Stick Bug?
Sarah:  "That he looks like a stick.  He is a nice bug.  He does not bite."

Phoebe:  "That he can be safe from other creatures and animals cause he looks like a stick."

Silas:  "Nanee and Popee brought it in a jar.  It was crawling all over some things.  Popee hold the Stick Bug.  It crawled all over him."

Where else have you seen a Stick Bug before?
Sarah:  "No where.  Only in the jar."

Phoebe:  "I seen one on a show before... A Bug's Life."

Tell a few facts about the Stick Bug.
Sarah:  "He is nocturnal.  He pooped a lot.  He has two legs that he folds up by his face then he takes them out to walk."

Phoebe:  "He has six legs.  He eats leaves."