Hope you are all staying healthy. Just some reminders, updates, and important information :)
Spirit Week: THURSDAY, Career Day; FRIDAY, Blue Day
Thank you for showing your school spirit by participating in spirit week. Tomorrow is Career Day. This is where your child can dress up in the occupation they would like to be when they grow up. This can be a teacher, nurse, scientist, fire fighter, etc. Friday is Blue Day. Wear your blue with pride :)
Six Flags Reading Program
Your child should have come home with a reading log for Six Flags today. I sent a letter home explaining what it is about. In short, if you read a certain number of hours, your child will get a FREE ticket to Six Flags. The reading log isn't due until FEBRUARY of 2016, so you have PLENTY of time! :)
Book Swap
Don't forget to bring in gently worn books for our book swap. Our goal is to have 2-4 books for every child to take home during the week of 2/29-3/4 of 2016. When our class fills our classroom box with books, our class will win a small, fun prize. Thanks in advance for your support :)
Reflections: Let Your Imagination Fly
I sent out the entry forms home earlier this month for our PTA Reflections contest. The deadline is fast approaching (November 6!) The theme is "Let Your Imagination Fly..." I will be designating time in class for the kiddos to create a piece of art, however, if you are interested in doing it at home, I have extra entry forms if you would like.
I am planning to do the artwork on either Monday or Thursday if you would like to volunteer to help. If you're interested, please email me ASAP, so I can plan accordingly. Thank you :)
New Seats: Carpet Squares and Table Seats
As you may have heard from your kiddo, they have new table seats and carpet squares. I allowed them to CHOOSE where they would like to sit. However, there were a few rules:
1. They had to sit next to someone new.
2. They had to sit at a new table (unless table 4, since there are so many kiddos.)
3. If they did not follow the rules, they would be moved.
So far, they have been doing an AWESOME job following directions. SO PROUD :)
Rewards/Consequences
We have also implemented a few new rewards/consequences as well.
REWARDS
Since we value teamwork, we will be showing teamwork in our table groups by making sure everyone's work space is clean before transitioning to a new subject. This means once everyone has cleaned up, we have to stand behind our chair and the table leader rings the bell. This ensures that EVERYONE is responsible for their table. If we do this correctly, we get a point. If we get a certain amount of points, we get to watch a GoNoodle video or another fun reward :)
CONSEQUENCES
If we do not follow directions as a table, we all have to move our clips down and "think about it" while we fix our table to make it clean. If we, as a WHOLE class, do not follow directions, we lose a minute of FREE choice and have to put our heads down to think about it.
Similarly, if it is just ONE student, that student will either lose a minute of recess or free choice, depending on the time of day (whether it's before or after recess.) This will ensure we have "thinking time" to think about our actions and choices we are making.
Homework Accountability
If a student is making several choices that aren't the best, their homework is to initiate the conversation with their parents when they get home as homework. If the parent emails me that they had a conversation, the child will get to move their clip up the next day as he/she made a GOOD choice in being honest and reflecting on their choices. This is to reinforce making good choices and that each day is a new day.
CHECK FOLDERS!
Your child comes home with papers almost daily! It is helpful if your child returns their folders, so the papers don't get lost and crinkled in their backpacks. PLEASE check your child's backpacks! I will do my best to notify you when important papers go home :)
Donations
Thank you for your continuous support and donations. It is greatly appreciated. If you happen to come across dry erase thin markers (NOT the fine tip. For some reason, they don't work), they would be very useful. Also, if you have more sheet protectors, they always come in handy as well. Thanks!
Great Week So Far
We have been making many transitions and developing new techniques and strategies in our classroom. I am so PROUD of how well our kiddos have been adapting. Please tell your child to keep up the awesome work and that Miss Fiscus and YOU are proud of them :))))
Thanks for your patience, understanding, and support. Your communication makes all the difference! Have a great rest of your week!
Kindly,
Miss Fiscus