Remote Learning Update

First of all give your loon a hug for me! I miss them all!!!

Secondly, I wanted to reach out and encourage all of you to contact me with any questions and/or concerns. I'm hoping the menu of learning opportunities sent home on Friday is helping your child stay busy. Kate Lucas shared out a wonderful sample schedule for a daytime routine. I highly recommend utilizing iReady for math and Raz Kids for reading during the technology academic block in the afternoon. (The reminder notes about how to log-in were in their home school folder.) Both are adapted to your child’s individual learning needs. The kids love both of these and I can check in on their progress from home. Plus this will definitely buy you some time of peace and quiet! During the morning block of academics encourage kids to read books, write letters or stories, practice math facts, etc.. Some of you have even sent pictures of letters which I love to respond to! I am happy to become a pen pal for your child in hopes of motivating more writing.

This is the plan for the next couple weeks. Administration is requesting we focus on these activities for now and on March 27th you can expect to see an updated plan for the following week or more depending on how the situation unfolds. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.

If you're looking for ways to build independence please see the list below:

School Closure

Please refer to your child's folder for important information regarding the next 2 weeks. I will still be accessible via email if you have questions. I will hold a specific "Office Hour" 10-11am each day but will be checking my email regularly throughout the day. Take care!

March 6th

Important Dates: 

• Conferences coming ..., more details soon!
• No School on Tuesday - Teacher In Service
• Early Release on Friday, March 20th at 11:50.
• Field Trip to the Portsmouth Music Hall to see Pout-Pout Fish on Wednesday, March 25th.
• SMS presents "Friendly Neighborhood Helpers" on Wednesday, May 6th at 6:30 pm Stay tuned for more information..

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Enjoyed some guest readers to celebrate Read Across America
• Practiced adding two digit numbers
• Talked about forgiveness in their Wolf Pack
• Read lots of Dr. Seuss books
• Did a Cat in The Hat
• Wrote about our vacations
• Discovered why we have tears when we cry
• Read even more National Geographic for Kids
• Solved word problems that had multiple answers

February 21st

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL 2/24-2/28
• NO SCHOOL Tuesday 3/10
• EARLY RELEASE 3/20
• Field trip to The Portsmouth Music Hall 3/25

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Finished and shared our nonfiction books
• Worked on subtracting 10 in math
• Earned a play day after lots of hard work listening
• Read Mr. Popper's Penguins
• Visited the second grade wax museum 
• Attended an assembly to learn more about school wide expectations 
• Read about how crayons are made 
• Learned about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
• Worked on a STEM challenge with our fourth grade buddies 

When we return it is Read Across America Week!
Monday~Fox And Socks

Wear crazy socks! (Dr. Suess!)             

Tuesday~Achieve Your Dream Day

Dress up as what you want to be when you grow up!

Wednesday~Wacky Wednesday

Dress as wacky as possible! (wacky hair,wacky clothes,wacky everything)

Thursday- Book Character Day 

Dress up as your favorite book character!

Friday- Pajama & Book Day

Wear pajamas and cuddle up with a good book

Field Trip 3/25

In your child's folder there is a permission slip to the Portsmouth Music Hall on 3/25. Due to the Music Hall's policy, we need to have the money in by next week. Please return the slip and money no later than Friday. Thank you!

Also please note hot lunch will not be available that day. Your child can bring a lunch from home or you can fill out the form in their folder for a bagged lunch prepared by the cafeteria. We will be eating when we get back around 1:15.

February 14th

Koala Market Grand Total: $1,700!!! Thank you so much for your support!!!!

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL 2/24-2/28

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Exchanged compliments
• Made nonfiction posters about a topic of their choice
• Reviewed odd and even numbers
• Continued practicing gratitude
• Played Scoot +10 and -10
• Solved a variety of math word problems
• Made some heart craft
• Reviewed balance equations
• Watched how toys are invented
• Began reading Mr. Popper's Penguins

First Grade Market

The First Grade Market will be held tomorrow at 8:30. If there is a delayed opening, it will begin at 10:30. If school is cancelled, it will be held on Friday morning. Thank you for your flexibility!

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL 1/20
• FIELD TRIP to McAuliffe-Sherpard Discovery Center 1/23
• We will be leaving school promptly at 9:00. Please make sure your child eats a hearty breakfast. There will be no time for snack. Chaperones can follow the buses or meet us at the Discovery Center no later than 10 am. If you plan to bring your child home after the field trip, please reach out to me for a necessary form to be completed before the trip.
• First Grade Market "Save the Koalas" is Thursday, February 6th at 8:30 am. All families are welcome to attend.
  This is our 3rd Annual First Grade Market. This year will be donating all the money raised to help the koalas in fire-ravaged Australia. First graders will be working on a variety of handmade creations to sell at the market. Most items will be sold for $1. Any donations are also welcome! We will work on making and creating in class but they are welcome to create at home too! Last year we raised over $2,300 for The Georgie Badiel Foundation. (This foundation provides clean drinking water for those living in Burkina Faso.) They are so excited to make a difference.

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Completed a Double Dude craft 
• Worked on doubles facts
• Began learning more about nonfiction texts
• Learned the difference between even and odd numbers
• Learned about Martin Luther King Jr. 
• Completed a "peace" quilt with the Koalas
• Learned if animals can laugh
• Began working on things to sell at our market 
• Shared our writing with our buddies

January 10th

Important dates:

• EARLY RELEASE 1/17
• NO SCHOOL 1/20
• FIELD TRIP to McAuliffe-Sherpard Discovery Center 1/23
• First Grade Market "Save the Koalas" is Thursday, February 6th at 8:30 am. All families are welcome to attend.
  This is our 3rd Annual First Grade Market. This year will be donating all the money raised to help the koalas in fire-ravaged Australia. First graders will be working on a variety of handmade creations to sell at the market. Most items will be sold for $1. Any donations are also welcome! We will work on making and creating in class but they are welcome to create at home too! Last year we raised over $2,300 for The Georgie Badiel Foundation. (This foundation provides clean drinking water for those living in Burkina Faso.) They are so excited to make a difference.

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Completed a penguin craft
• Learned the difference between fiction and nonfiction 
• Wrapped up our How-To writing unit
• Learned what fact families are and how numbers relate. 
• Talked about the moon
• Had readers' workshop with the Koalas

This month our class will begin to recognize the features and patterns of the moon as observed from Earth but I need your help! Find time in the evening to observe the moon and the night sky. We will use their nighttime observations for our moon science talks the following day. As a culminating activity, we will visit the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center in Concord on Thursday, January 23rd. A permission slip was sent home today. We will need as many volunteers as possible so please let me know if you are available!!! 

Happy Moon Gazing!

December 13th

Important dates:

• Lights for Lives PJ Day Friday, December 13th
• Field Trip to Dover Children's Museum Wednesday, December 18th
• Chaperones please meet us no later than 9:30 at the museum. Your child must have a packed lunch unless you already signed up for a bagged lunch from the school. 
• Class Game Afternoon with families Thursday, December 19th at 1:00

We are still looking for donations for our Holiday Mission:

Girl Age 5
Shirt size 6
Pant size 6
Shoe size 11-12
Pretend makeup kit or play makeup
Stocking stuffers
Loves to color, play outside and paint nails

Mom & Dad: Holiday Mission (we are sharing the family with other classes)

December 6th

Important dates:

• Lights for Lives PJ Day Friday, December 13th
• Field Trip to Dover Children's Museum Wednesday, December 18th
• Class Game Afternoon with families Thursday, December 19th at 1:00

Our class will be supporting a local family in need. Participation in this cause is completely voluntary but strongly encouraged instead of any "teacher" gifts.  The family has not asked for much so feel free to supplement with stocking stuffers such as gift cards.  All items should be UNWRAPPED and must be turned in by Thursday, December 19th.

 I think this is a great opportunity to teach our children to help out those less fortunate. Below are the gifts our class is responsible for..

Girl Age 5

Shirt size 6

Pant size 6

Shoe size 11-12

Pretend makeup kit or play makeup

Stocking stuffers

Loves to color, play outside and paint nails

Mom & Dad: Holiday Mission (we are sharing the family with other classes)

Thanks so much for your anticipated kindness and generosity.

Take care,

Lindsay

Field Trip Update

Hi Loon Families!
We will now be attending the field trip to Dover Children's Museum on Wednesday the 18th. If you are now able or unable to chaperone please let me know. Chaperones will meet us at the museum 9:30 until 1:15.

November 22nd

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL Wednesday 11/27-Friday 11/29
• SMS Book Fair 12/2-12/6

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Received some mysterious reading missions from the SSDA (Super Secret Detective Agency) 
• Met two amazing authors Anika Denise and Jamie Michelak
• Worked on balanced equations for Math Menu
• Practiced adding motion to our stories
• Learned more about what it means to have courage 
• Made some fall crafts
• Learned about turkeys 

Book Fair Volunteers
If you are interested in volunteering at the book fair please sign up here:
Volunteer Sign Up

November 8th

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL Monday, November 11th 
• Early release November 14th

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Started using a rubric to guide our writing
• Began working on balanced equations 
• Practiced crashing parts of words together to solve tricky words
• Enjoyed an awesome Veterans Day assembly 
• Learned about the importance of our bones
• Introduced our class Character Clip Chart

Questions to ask:

• Have you clipped onto the clip chart yet? How did you earn that? 
• Why do we need a skull? 
• What is Veterans Day? 

November 1

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 5th 
• Early release November 7th 
• Early release November 14th

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Practiced just right size letters
• Continued working on comparing numbers using symbols
• Planted rye in the garden
• Learned more strategies for solving tricky words 
• Enjoyed a fun filled play day!
• Learned about courage and Brave Breaths 

Questions to ask:

• What are size 1 letters? Size 2? Size 3? 
• How do you do a Brave Breath?
• What does courage mean? 

Play Day

• Thursday will be SMS play day. Your child may bring in a toy from home they are willing to share with others. We will spend the day practicing our social learning through play. I promise your kids (and their teachers) will come home tired!!!  Your child may wear their costume to school if they would like to, please leave accessories resembling weapons at home. 

October 25th

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 5th 
• Early release November 7th 
• Early release November 14th

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Learned the steps of writing a story
• Began to learn how to compare numbers using the symbols <, >, =
• Enjoyed Fire Safety Day with the fire department
• Learned how to play Word Wall I Spy
• Learned some strategies for solving tricky words in reading
• Did a craft with the Koalas
• Made a life sized scarecrow craft

Questions to ask:

• What did the firefighters teach you?
• What crafts did you do with the Koala? 
• What does your scarecrow look like? 

October 18th

Thank you for the great turn out this morning! The Loons were all so excited to show you all of their amazing work! 

Important dates:

• NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 5th 
• Early release November 7th 
• Early release November 14th

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Began our narrative writing unit
• Practiced building numbers using tens and ones
• Learned about how maple syrup is made
• Practiced reading snap words in funny voices
• Set reading goals and recorded how we did
• Did math with the Koalas
• Read lots of fall books
• Created our very own Loon playlist

Questions to ask:

• How many books do you read during reading time?
• What songs did you request for the Loon playlist?
• Who was your Koala buddy?
• What are you writing about? 

October 11th

Important dates:

• Loon Open House Friday 10/18 7:50am-8:25am
• NO SCHOOL Monday 10/14

Here's just a glimpse of what we've been working on:

• Finished up our Mo Willems writing unit
• Began to work on understanding place value
• Learned about how the alphabet was formed
• Practiced some new snap words
• Kicked off our RAH 
• Practiced rereading to smooth out our voice
• Went to our first school assembly of the year 
• Got new VIP spots on the rug
• Introduced our Choose Love social learning program 
• Tried our first SeeSaw assignment 

CONFERENCE SIGN UPS HERE

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