Friday, December 9, 2011

12/9/11

December 9, 2011

“Hey, Mr. Bolger, I already picked up 49 pieces of paper from the floor.”

“Alright. See if you can pick up 100. How many more would that be?”

“Let’s see… 1…and then 50 more --that’s 51 -- ‘cause once you get to fifty, you just need 50 more ‘cause 5 + 5 = 10.”

Dear Parents,

We have been firing on all cylinders this week…

Reading: Ms. Ward and Ms. Bakshi have joined us starting this week to help with reading groups. For at-home reading, especially with the younger students and the older, struggling readers, it’s so important to have them read out loud to you for 10 minutes or so every day. I know that can be hard to fit into our busy evenings, but reading experts tell us that having your child read to you out loud (a book they have already read and can move through pretty easily) is the single best thing you can do to ensure future reading success. It builds confidence, it builds their ability to get beyond reading word-by-word, and if you are hearing them read, you can correct them. It takes four or five times of seeing a new word and saying it correctly for our brains to create the neural model of that word in our brains.. If you can help your child get solid with knowing that when means when and not one or won or win, they will be able to store the correct neural representation of that word, and from then on, they will recognize it automatically.

So, whether your child is bringing home a book each night from his or her guided reading group, or whether your child is reading, quite independently, a book from the school library, please think about getting into the habit of having your child read out loud to you for ten minutes or so each day. Thanks!

Writing : in writing, we are working on our handwriting (!) and our grammar at the same time as we are finalizing our “special moments” stories. Students have also chosen topics for their ILPs (Independent learning Projects). I will have more info for you in the coming week about the ILPs, but, in short, they are mini-research projects your child will be completing (about one every two weeks) on a topic of his or her choice. Ask your child what his or her ILP topic is!

Read-Aloud: ask your child which character he or she is most like (Lumphy the buffalo is nice, but kind-of grumpy, the Shark is the new kid on the block and was misunderstood by the others. The Stingray is bossy. Plastic the ball is friendly. The Washing Machine likes everyone to join him in the basement for rock-n-roll dances!)

Ask Your Child About The Sneetches: We read The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss today, as part of our World of Difference Unit. Dr. Seuss is brilliant in the way he writes about important social issues in a way that kids can understand. You’ll remember that The Sneetches is a story about Star-Bellied Sneetches who have stars on them being snobby towards the non-Star-Bellied Sneetches. A shrewd salesman comes along and sells stars to the non-Star-Bellied Sneetches. Then, to help the Star-Bellied Sneetches be different again, he removes their stars – for a price.

It goes back and forth like that in frantic see-saw until in the end, all the Sneetches are broke, the salesman leaves town a rich man, and the Sneetches realize that stars are irrelevant; it’s being accepting and kind to each other that counts.

Upcoming Polar Express Day: On December 22nd, (we have December 23rd off) remember that students should come to school dressed in their pajamas. We will be watching The Polar Express, we’ll drinking hot chocolate, and we’ll be doing a series of holiday crafts.

A Word About Gifts: Dear Parents, I have spent this entire fall being the lucky recipient of countless, overwhelming gifts -- both material and emotional – in the wake of the flood my family and I experienced in Moretown. I have always loved my job, but this year, I have felt, with a sharper perspective, a gratitude at being part of this wonderful community. It’s fun to give and receive gifts at this time of year, but know that I hope you will take a break and a breather and take a pass on giving me yet something else. If your child would feel better giving me something, I will certainly oblige, but know that I have a special fondness for toilet-paper-roll napkin holders and anything made out of coat hangers. I love paper snowflakes. I love log cabins make out of pretzels. I would love for your child to look in your recycling bin and think of something cool and weird and funny and thoughtful (and quick!) to make me for a holiday gift. Something that’s long on inspiration and short on details is just fine.

Have a great weekend, Everyone. Easy on the eggnog.

Mr. Bolger