Monday, October 30

Boo!


Bette’s Class Notes October 30, 2017
Just a few quick notes:
Thanks to Dina Heller for creating a sign up sheet for the Halloween Party, tomorrow afternoon after the parade.
Remember to help your child to dress for daily outdoor play! Cooler temperatures have arrived- inside and out. Our classroom has been on the chilly side as well. Friday morning it was 62 degrees. Karen Davis said they have been working on the boilers, but it has been mentioned to me that the room tends to be on the chill side. Michiganders dress in layers! And help your child with strategies to manage their layers. Labeling is helpful.

Today we are having our first Community Gathering. Each student is assigned to a K-8 group. It will be at the end of the day.


Anyone interested in making pickles with the class? Friday we completed our mold experiments, and the group that used vinegar discovered that their set up did not grow any mold. I thought it would be fun to make some pickles. I have had mediocre success with pickles in the past. Anyone have a good recipe?
 
The kids made some beautiful art in the Ragamala follow-up workshop. I guess we have a talented group. Last week everyone people at school kept saying how much they liked the pumpkins my class made. I kept saying “thanks, what pumpkin?” It turns out they made them in art, and they were posted in a part of the hall I don’t travel in as much.

Monday, October 23

Bette’s Class Notes


Reminder: Wednesday, 10/25 Early Release 12:52
                    Swimming tomorrow, Tuesday

Today the Toledo Opera performed “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” which is Motzart’s "Don Giovanni”  adapted to incorporate the fairy tales “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The 3 Pigs”. 

We will also began “scientific drawing” of mushrooms in Art class and I-Searches. Information for parents on I-Searches can be found on the class blog. We will send home the contract sheets tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will have a follow up workshop on the Ragamala performance we saw on Friday. The tour of the scenery shop before the performance was really cool.

Thursday, October 19

Written in Water


Bette’s Class Notes 
October 19, 2017

Dear Families,

Tomorrow is our field trip to the UMS youth performance of Ragamala Dance Company. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/ums/15ee3920ebcb2106?projector=1
The performance is called “Written in Water” and is a contemporary reflection of a South Indian classical dance form called Bharatanatyam.
The class has had a workshop on the dance and we will also have a post performance workshop.
“When you write in water, it’s not concrete, so it is constantly changing” -Ranee Ramaswamy (Like life…)
Our bus will leave early, 10am, because Paul Hunter, a parent in Denise’s class, has offered the opportunity to visit the scene shop at the Power Center!

Last Friday’s field trip to waterloo was wonderful. We were able to go in the woods and back to the bog in small groups. Everyone came back tired. Thanks to the parents who were able to come as chaperones.

I’ve enjoyed meeting with you and your child on conference night, and look forward to meeting with the rest of you next week.

In math, 3rd grade is continuing to work on addition and subtraction strategies up to 10, 000. 4th grade is working on estimation using factors and multiples.

Small notes:
Watch for I-Search contracts next week
Cold Weather coming, send kids with enough warm stuff to play outside!
Scholastic due date October 30.
October 31- Halloween Party, more later
November 7- No School
November 9- Picture Retakes

Sunday, October 8

Bette’s Class Notes

Dear Families,
  Here’s the latest for Bette’s class
  • Angie Watson, our volunteer coordinator is asking me for the name for a “Class parent”. This parent would help coordinate information and events with the AAOCC. A contact is needed for the upcoming Silent Auction. Please let me know if you can take this role for our class.
  • We have a field trip this Friday, October 13. This is an AAPS district Environmental Education trip.  We will be going to Waterloo to study “Nature’s Recyclers,” looking for the organisms that transform organic matter into soil and nutrients. We will be studying mold, fungi and worms this week. Permission slips will come home tomorrow. Quick turn around is appreciated.
  • Conferences begin this week. I have created an online signup sheet. Use this link to access the sheet if you want to see the time you signed up for, or the available times if you haven’t signed up yet. Student Goal Setting Conference sign up sheet.
  • A parent goal setting sheet was provided at curriculum night and is also available on the blog. Let me know if you would like a paper copy sent home with your child. The students fill out a similar form in class on their own. We use these as a guide to set academic goals for each student.
  • Thanks to the parents who chaperoned when we went to DeBucks! It was great having you. We had a lot of fun.
  • Thanks to Rick Sansburn for creating a snack calendar for the class. You can access it on the blog. Actually, it started last week. You can still send in snacks at your convenience.
  • Wednesday is Pajamas and Pancakes (for lunch) Day. Here’s a note from Jen Thomas, our Student Council facilitator: Next week is National School Lunch Week, and we (as a district) are celebrating with breakfast for lunch.  As our part of this celebration, next Wednesday, October 11 will be Pajama Day at Ann Arbor Open.
  • Salmon in the Classroom is a go!!! Last week we filled up the tank just outside the office and started the filter. Heidi is helping and we are including Edie’s class. Aina is helping also. She has found 7-8 students who will help us maintain the tank and lead small group activities with the younger children!