Tuesday News – May 30th


Wow, only 8 more school days and 1 more Tuesday News to go.. the year has sure flown by!!

Upcoming Dates

This Thursday, June 1st: 
We’re taking a walk to the creek with a special end-of year celebratory treat afterward.
 
Please send students to school with adequate walking pants/shoes.

Next Thursday, June 8th:
Exhibition of endangered animal facts & tiny dioramas – 3:00pm in the classroom.

We invite you to see students’ work and art and learn something about some of our earth’s endangered animals.
Also, Progress Reports and students’ year-end bags will be handed out.

Friday June 9th:
Graduation and Carnival

join us for the 8th grade graduation around 1:15 pm in the NWP multi-purpose room before the carnival, the school has been working on a special song!

New Moon News – May Issue

A couple Fridays ago, our incredible team of writers and illustrators put out this school year’s last issue of New Moon News. Congratulations, team, and a job well done!

Thanks for reading!
*Miss Kristen*

“Behind a good-bye there lurks much of the salutation of another beginning to me”
~Walt Whitman

Tuesday News – May 16th

Greetings!

Whoa! 17 more days of school!

Garden Math

We took our learning out into the garden, measuring the dimensions of our garden beds in feet and inches.

Homework

This is going to be the last week of homework!
Today’s Art homework

Oops, I forgot to tell them about this! So if it doesn’t happen that’s totally ok

Each student chose an endangered animal today, and the assignment is to make a colorful illustration of their animal. Chosen animal is on a sticky note in their HW folder. If you are able, please assist by looking up pictures on the internet to help upon request.

We Are Totally Not Going to Make Popcorn

Our little improvisational skit’s third and final showing will be tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12:45 before school lets out. If you haven’t seen it, or would like to see it again (it might different than before?) you are welcome to come.


“Fall seven times, stand up eight”
~Japanese Proverb

Tuesday News – May 9th


Greetings!

May is moving fast! We’ve got a few projects and things that we are excited about to close out our school year…. more news about this in the next couple of weeks.

We are Totally Not Making Popcorn

We have turned our little popcorn joke into a quasi-improvisational play that the students performed for the school last week during Village Friday.
No scripts, just some conceptual ideas and some props… they are learning about and practicing the “Yes, and” style of performance.
If you’d like to come and see it, join us in the classroom this Thursday at 2:45.

Another showing TBD.

Math is everywhere!

We’ve been studying measurement, and getting some practice using this skill for real projects. We are mainly using rulers, but will soon be exploring the outdoor spaces with measuring tapes. I invite you to find your measuring devices and do some measuring at home with your student!

Pictured below, students measuring their bamboo sticks for a special secret art surprise 🙂

Thank you for reading,
and Happy Mother’s Day to all of you amazing moms!

*Miss Kristen*

“Motherhood is being the exquisite inconvenience 
of being another person’s everything”
~Unknown


Tuesday News – May 2nd


We had a wonderful trip to the Academy of Sciences!

Thank you to Amy, Amber, Ms. Parent, Lindsay, etc for taking photos!

Thank you to our drivers and chaperones, we can’t do it without you!!

I threw together this slideshow today to share these fun photos with you all!

Field Trip Slideshow

Geography Presentations

Today we completed our trip around the world!
From Alaska down through the west coast and into Central and South America, over to Europe and Africa, and ending in Asia … students presented about the place they wanted to know more about and researched here in class over the last few weeks with Miss Rachel.
Their posters and presentations were fantastic!

Thank you for reading.
*Miss Kristen*

“O world, I am in tune with every note of thy great harmony”

~Marcus Aurelius

Tuesday News – April 11th


What a fabulous festival! 
Proud of these kiddos and the entire school for all the effort and love they put into this special event! 
If you haven’t yet seen it, check out the  write-up in the PD!

Spring has finally sprung….

…. and what a wonderful opportunity to hang out outside and talk about spring blossoms and write some POETRY! 

Upcoming dates

Friday, April 21st – no school
Saturday, April 22nd
 – Creek Clean up (keep that change coming in, our class has raised over $200 in coins so far!)
Friday April 28th
 – Field Trip (details next week!)
Saturday, May 6th – 
 VILLAGE FEST!  (our students are officially invited to come up on stage with Ashley and me to sings some school songs at the event)

Thank you for reading,
*Miss Kristen*

“You can cut all the flowers 
but you cannot keep spring from coming”
~Pablo Neruda

Tuesday News – April 4th

Greetings!

The photo above is of students with their personalized posters representing something they stand for, something that is important to them, something they care about…Thank you Claudia for facilitating this activity and teaching us more about Cesar Chavez!

Ok, it’s Festival Time!

We had an all-school rehearsal with some of our Mariachi musicians today, and we are putting the final touches together for our dance that we are excited to share during the festival. We look forward to seeing you all in the NWP auditorium at 3:45 Thursday.

Festival Attire: Pretty much the same as May Day last year – Those wearing skirts will have everything provided. 
Those wearing pants and vests should come to school ready to change into BLACK PANTS AND A WHITE SHIRT after school for the festival. 
Any kind of white shirt is fine. If you need some help acquiring these items please let me know, I’m sure someone will have extras!

Field Trip

We had a wonderful field trip last Friday!Thank you sooooo much to our drivers and chaperones, picture-takers, and to Ms. Parent for facilitating our amazing exploration of Armstrong Woods!

Next Field Trip

When: Friday April 28th
Where: California Academy of Sciences
What you need to know: We have all the drivers and chaperones we need at this time. This may be a longer day due to the drive to the city so please stay tuned for updates about departure / arrival times.

Thanks for reading!

*Miss Kristen*

“Honor the hands that harvest your crops”
“Si, se puede!”

~Dolores Huerta

Tuesday News – March 28th


Upcoming Dates
  • This Friday, March 31st – Field Trip to Armstrong Woods! 
    Normal morning drop-off time, we aim to return to campus around 1:30. 
    This field trip includes a hike – please pack extra food for your student!
    Students MUST have rainboots and socks and a coat
     for warmth (and raincoats just in case!)

  • Next Thursday, April 6th – Cesar Chavez Festival 
    The festival begins at 3:45, no need to pick up at 3:15 – check Friday bulletins for details.
    **Please let me know if there is a planned absence so that we can plan for our class’s dance/activities for the festival.. thanks!

New Moon News

Another issue was hot off the press just before spring break!We have inspired some students in Miss Barnum’s class to begin writing their own paper.. so proud of these journalists!

Change is Good!

Keep sending students in with coins! We are continuing to practice coin counting and are now working on multi-number / multi-digit addition to add up our totals as the change comes in.

Spirit Week

What fun! Here are a few highlights from Decades Day….

Thanks for reading!

*Miss Kristen*

“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural
diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community — and this nation.”

~Cesar Chavez


Tuesday News – March 7th


IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Due to the upcoming storms, we are postponing our field trip to Armstrong Woods until after our Spring Break. Please stay tuned for an update on the new field trip date. Thanks!

Compost Tea and Seed Balls with Reed’s Dad Erik!

Thank you Erik for leading an awesome garden center with the kiddos!

Money Math

In class we’ve been identifying coins, adding up piggy banks, and making change. This seems to be a vanishing skill in this age of credit cards and mobile payments, and I invite you to “change” it up a little. 

Whether you decide to use cash out in the real world or not, perhaps you can round up some change for your child to count up or to play games with (my family used to play poker with pennies, nickels and dimes). 

The skip counting and adding-on that happens while counting coins will absolutely help to improve your students number-sense and math fluency.

Thanks for reading!

*Miss Kristen*

“Alone we can do so little,
together we can do so much.”

~Helen Keller

(March’s life skill preview)

Tuesday News – February 28th

Upcoming Dates & Reminders

3/2 – End of Trimester.  Progress reports will be sent home by Wednesday 3/8.
3/3 – No School
3/10 – Field Trip to Armstrong Woods! 
 Please make sure you send your student to school with their carseat/booster if applicable.
3/13 through 3/17 – Spirit Week!
 Check the Friday bulletin and next week’s Tuesday News for more details.

Math in the Real World

As the students know, I love many things, top of the list being ice cream, of course, the second being…. MATH! (do they know the 3rd thing? I’ve talked about it once or twice).

Anyway, I have enjoyed my conferences with parents and students, and one common theme in many of them has been math fluency. I am encouraging students to work on their math facts to gain fluency both in class and out, but this does not always have to be pencil-and-paper work or flash card type drills… math happens in the real world everywhere we look, and I encourage you to help your student find it!

Math is in street signs and telling time, gardening and cooking, and one of my own favorite mathy tasks as a kid, going grocery shopping!! One of Monday’s math homework options is to show math in the real world, and with our encouragement students can notice math everywhere they go, talk about it, share about it, and realize its relevance and importance. 

Friday Sharing

Last week’s Friday Sharing was pretty great…
Students were paired with a random partner, had 10 minutes to prepare a skit, and then up to 2 minutes to perform their skit.
Time-keepers got practice adding minutes and seconds and keeping the time…
Skits were funny and thoughtful, overall delightful and creative.
Super proud of these actors and improvisors!

Friday Sharing

Last week’s Friday Sharing was pretty great…
Students were paired with a random partner, had 10 minutes to prepare a skit, and then up to 2 minutes to perform their skit.
Time-keepers got practice adding minutes and seconds and keeping the time…
Skits were funny and thoughtful, overall delightful and creative.
Super proud of these actors and improvisors!

Thank you for reading!

*Miss Kristen*

“Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, 
to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins.”
~Barack Obama

Tuesday News – On a Wednesday! – February 22nd

Greetings!

At the heels of our New Moon on Monday, students delivered our second issue of New Moon News yesterday! Super proud of these writers/journalists/illustrators/editors/typists!

Thanks for reading our New Moon News!

*Miss Kristen*

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. 
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

~The Dalai Lama

Tuesday News – February 14th


REMINDERS

Village Charter Letters of intent: Due in the office by Friday!  Students are not guaranteed a spot for next year unless these are turned in.
Conferences: Students are invited!
 Minimum days beginning tomorrow through 2/22, dismissal at 1:15

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We enjoyed a day of art, pancake snacks, valentines, heart-pancake deliveries, and of course friendship (with some reading and writing in there too).

Thanks for reading,
*Miss Kristen*

“If you have only one smile in you,
give it to the people you love”

~Maya Angelou

Tuesday News – February 7th

Upcoming Dates:

This Friday – no school!
Feb 15th – Conferences begin
Feb 20th – No school
March 10th – Field Trip, stay tuned for details!

Friday Sharing:

Another fun week of Friday Sharing!Some Rock n’ Roll, snowboard adventures, toilet paper roll creations, and a darling dog!!The audience’s questions and appreciations have been very thoughtful!Next week, Star group is up.

Conferences:

If you have not already done so, you may sign up for conferences HERE.Let me know if none of these times work for you and we will make other arrangements.

Homework – This week’s art element categories are:

Color: Green
Line: Perpendicular
Shape: Partitioned Rectangle

Thank you for reading,
*Miss Kristen*

“My humanity is bound up in yours, 
for we can only be human together”
~Desmond Tutu

Tuesday News – January 31st

Art & Music

Each week students participate in both guided art and music.
We’ve been exploring paper collage, and Miss Rachel brings a kind of musical collage to her songs and lessons with students.
Here are some photos of students applying the final step to their rainy-day umbrella art pieces, as well as the class collaborating to make some sweet beats! 

Fry Bread

Students read the book  Fry Bread  in class today with Miss Rachel and participated in discussion about cultural traditions and foods. 
Does your family have any cultural recipes you would like to share with us? We invite you to either come in or send some in with your student to share. 
Please email me if your family would like to participate and we can discuss/coordinate.

Friday Sharing

This week’s group: Moons – individual shares
A quick note about Friday Sharing: 

This year students may bring a pet in once for their friday share. If a student brings a pet, they should come prepared to talk about what they do at home to care for the pet. And most importantly, 
I must know in advance and have it scheduled with you, the pet-bringer.

February Conferences

For this round of conferences, I would like to invite students along with you to be a part of the discussion of their growth and goals.
Conferences begin February 15th, you may sign up
 HERE

This week’s art element categories are:

Color: Red
Line: Parallel
Shape: Cube

Thank you for reading!
*Miss Kristen*
“Teach us love, compassion, and honor
that we may heal the earth and heal each other”
~Ojibwa Prayer

P.S. – We had a FABULOUS time at our field trip Monday, what a show!

Tuesday News – January 24th

Upcoming Dates & Reminders

Friday, January 27 – NO SCHOOL
Monday, January 30 – Field Trip!     ** Please send your student with seat/booster if applicable! **
February 15th – 22nd
 – Conference week – check NEXT week’s newsletter for sign- ups

Happy Lunar New Year!

Our class kicked off this Year of the Rabbit with our very first New Moon News!
I am so proud of the kiddos for approaching their roles at our class newspaper with excitement and creativity. Their ideas and commitment to the project far exceeded my expectations.
We will continue to keep you informed of the goings-on here at Village through our newspaper, and you can expect another issue around February’s New Moon.

Appreciations

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to……..

Amy for coordinating our field trip drivers!
Stacey for classroom reading support|
Jesse for our new ball pump
Charlie S. for a new needle for the pump
Eva for checking in and fixing our classroom’s random broken things
All field trip drivers – we can’t do it without you!

Homework

Back to the choice board this week for homework! It’s been going well, and I’m loving the artwork and the creative ways students are showing what they know.

This week’s art element categories are:
Color: Green
Line: Horizontal
Shape: Triangle/Pyramid

Thank you for reading!
*Miss Kristen*
“The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy, 
we can all sense a mysterious connection to each other”
~Meryl Streep

Tuesday News – January 17th


This Week’s Homework

This week’s homework is a bit different from the norm! No spelling words this week, but instead there are two alternative projects. Thank you in advance for helping your student this week. Please see some details below:

  • Today’s page: Family tree! Students are working on a project with Miss Rachel related to their identity and heritage…. we are encouraging conversation at home about family members and ancestors. 
  • Each circle is for the name and place of origin (where were they born) – you may help write this if needed.
  • Maternal Great-grandparents and/or any other facts about family related to cultural/ethnic heritage that are not on the front may be written on the back.
  • There is no right way to do this, it’s simply a visual tool to help guide your conversations at home and record the information. 
  • Students should return it tomorrow even if not complete. Thank you!
  • Tomorrow’s Page:  Movie review! Just like a book review but for a movie. Template will be provided, classroom-friendly movies only. Students may do a book review instead if they choose.
New Moon News

We have begun a big and exciting project! (See heading above for a hint)
To keep it a bit of a mystery, invite you to ask your student about it for details, and/or check it out in the classroom right after school on Friday for its unveiling!

Wishes and Fixes

Help, our ball pump broke! The needle snapped off, is this fixable?
Also, we would love a basketball and a kickball to add to our classroom’s ball collection.

Friday Sharing

We had quite the lively first round of Friday Sharing, complete with martial arts, comedic improvisation, STEAM skits, and lessons in slime!
This week’s share group is the SUNS – with individual shares. This can be coming they create at home and/or in class.

Thank you for reading!!!
*Miss Kristen*
“It takes empathy, patience, and compassion to overcome anger, hatred and resentment”
~Martin Luther King Jr.

Tuesday Newsletter – January 3rd

Happy New Year, and welcome back!

It was a wonderful, fun-filled and art-tastic last week before our holiday break!
Enjoy some photos of P.E. with Ms. Parent, crafts with big buddies, and personal pizzas!

Homework this week and looking ahead…

This week students are coming home with a book review for their homework, they can take their time this week to complete it and turn it in by Friday. I have explained in past emails how you might be involved in this task, but let me know if you have any questions.

Next week we will be shifting to our new homework format, so stay tuned for details!

Our lifeskill of the month is Empathy…. more on this later!

Thank you for reading, please stay healthy everyone!
*Miss Kristen*

“I think we all have empathy.
We may not have enough courage to display it”

~Maya Angelou 

Tuesday Newsletter – December 6th


Winter Solstice Festival

Our celebration of the darkest night and the return of the light is fast approaching!
Here are some details:

  • Students may arrive in the classroom beginning at 6:00 and no later than 6:15, dressed and ready to go.
  • We’ll be finalizing our final Solstice attire ideas this week, so please stay tuned for more details in next week’s newsletter (it won’t be super specific, so items already in the students’ wardrobe likely work)
  • If I haven’t already heard from you, and your child will not be attending our festival, please let me know so I can plan accordingly.

Rainy Weather 101

What wonderful rain we’ve had! Hopefully it keeps doin what’s its doin….

  • THANK YOU for sending your student to school on rainy days prepared, it’s allowed us to go outside and be in the fresh air and stay dry.
  • Sometimes we have mishaps and puddles can mysteriously find their way inside boots, and nobody likes soggy socks!  Suggestion: Keep a pair of socks inside student backpacks for such occasions.


December’s Life Skill: Patience

We have been focusing on patience this month so far, and will be continuing to link this skill to the activities we do in class as well as talking about its role in having a growth mindset.
We’re all practicing this, aren’t we? How are you practicing your patience? (yes, I invite you to respond! With your permission I may share with the students)
More to come…

Thank you for reading,
*Miss Kristen*

“Have Patience with all things, but first of all with yourself”
~St. Francis de Sales

Tuesday News – November 29th

Progress Reports

Progress reports are in student homework folders! 
Please return the envelope to be used again.

Jars needed!

We are collecting glass jars to REUSE for a craft…
Please send them in with your student any day this week or next. Thank you!

Here is what we are looking for:

  • Size: around 10-16 oz… all shapes
  • Style: Preferably smooth glass, no words or bumps (think empty food jars, salsa, etc… no mason jars)
  • Lids: No lids needed
  • Label: If possible, peel off the label, but feel free to send in jars with the labels too.
Some Math News from the Archives:

Last month students reviewed their knowledge of 100s, 10s, and 1s by building $1000 houses with base-10 blocks, discussing strategy with their partner and presenting their houses with math-talk… check them out below!

Thank you for reading,

*Miss Kristen*

“May the stars carry your sadness away, 
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty, 
May hope forever wipe away your tears, 
And, above all, may silence make you strong.”

–Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh

Tuesday News – November 15th

Announcements and Appreciations

Pajama Day is this Friday!
THANK YOU to the Collins Family, the Palmer Family, and the Miller Family for donating books to our classroom from our  WISHLIST! There are still more available if you would like to donate.

Family Traditions – This Week’s Homework

If you have not already done so, please read the note in your student’s homework folder about this week’s assignment.
I will put homework folders of absent students out in cubbies today.

The page is due Thursday
I look forward to hearing about your family’s traditions!

Trimester 1 Project- SURVEYS!

One of my favorite ways to teach math skills during the school year is with our Surveys. Students all picked their own question and choices, surveyed ours and Ashley’s class, then practiced math skills such as tallying, graphing, and analyzing data.
Then they got to present their findings!

Surveys will be out on the green table outside the classroom from 3-4 every day this week if you want to check out the students’ awesome work!

Stone Soup

We had a wonderful Buddies’ Lunch last week collaborating to make Stone Soup – thank you for your help making this possible!

Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving 

*Miss Kristen*

“Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty and responsibility to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give our greetings and our thanks to one another as people.
~Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address


Tuesday News – November 1st

Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

I hope you all are having an enjoyable week so far with all the festivities.

Homework today and tomorrow
  • No homework today! (Tuesday)
  • Students will have a different kind of homework tomorrow, Wednesday, so please be on the look-out for some instructions in their homework folders regarding how you can help with upcoming activities.

November’s Life Skill: Responsibility!

Discussions began this week about how students are practicing responsibility here at school and in the classroom….

…one way is called “Porch Play”, where a group sets themselves up outside on the porch to play a game independently. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “With freedom comes responsibility”. Yellow and green groups are handling it well!

Getting Ready for the Weather

We got a bit of rain today! It was quite lovely, and I see more is on its way soon. 

At school students still go to recess in the rain (with the exception of torrential downpours) and will need to come to school prepared! Please begin gathering items for the rain so that we can be ready for the next storm:

During the rainy season, students need to have rainboots at school every day:
  • Students are welcome to keep a set of rain boots to keep here at school all season
  • Even when it is not raining, we go out to recess in the field and it can be very soggy and muddy, which is why they need to be prepared everyday.

Students need to have a raincoat on rainy days:
  • We still go outside in the rain, and in order to stay warm and dry students must have a water-proof raincoat with a hood.
  • They do not need to leave them at school, but students should come to school on expected rain days with their raincoats.


Thank you so much for reading!
*Miss Kristen*

“A hero is someone who understand the responsibility that comes with their freedom”
~Bob Dylan

Tuesday News – October 25th

We had a wonderful field trip! Next up, Friday November 4th to the Academy of Sciences.  Stay tuned for more info next week.

Hoedown
What fun! I got to dance with some kiddos and even some of you!
Here’s the kids’ practice with fiddler Erik from that day:

And now I present to you, our class of painted pumpkins:
(not pictured, “Star-dreidel Deca-gourd”. Ask your student if you’re curious!)

Thanks for Reading!
*Miss Kristen*

“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning”
~William Arthur Ward”

Tuesday News – October 18th

Field Trip Next Tuesday

Our first field trip is next Tuesday, October 25th!
Although this first trip is a close one and a quick one, we appreciate your help in making this and all future trips go smoothly. Here are a few reminders:

  • Have your child to school at the requested time so that they do not miss out on the fun.  I am asking that you bring students to school by  8:30 this Tuesday. This will allow more time for us to check in as a class and arrive to the LBC before the show’s start time. Please let me know if you have concerns about this timing.
  • If applicable, please bring your child’s booster seat so that they may ride safely with our volunteer drivers.
  • Send your student with plenty of snack and lunch. Field trip days are often very busy with a different eating schedule, and students may require more food on these days.
Hoedown!

I can’t wait to dance with the kiddos this Friday at the Hoedown!
Students painted some pumpkins today and we will put them on display at our festival. Students can take them home after the Hoedown OR the next week.

Reminder: This is a potluck and please bring your own plates and utensils! (check the Friday bulletin for details)

Thanks for reading!
*Miss Kristen*

“Curiosity was far greater than our fear”
~Stereolab

P.S. Our class is hosting our Village morning circle on Monday, please join us if you can to hear a sweet song we’ve been singing in class! (Hint, hint… check out the above quote)

Tuesday News – October 11th

Reminders & Upcoming Dates

October 21st – Hoedown! Check the Friday Bulletin for details!
October 25th – Field trip to LBC – Please check your students homework folder tomorrow (10/12) for a permission form.
November 4th – Field trip to Academy of Sciences – details to come

Book Review (this week’s homework)

Students have a page in the folders that is new and requires some explanation. Here’s what you need to know:

Students have all week to complete it – it is not due until friday
No new spelling words this week, instead I’m encouraging everyone to READ!
Reading might look different for every student; reading a book or chapter book on their own, reading along with someone, being read to (ie: some families are reading books/chapter books together)
For a short book, students can read the book then begin to fill out the details on the book review. For a chapter book, the review can be written about one or two chapters.
Students should fill out the front side on their own (with support). Adults you may take dictation for the back side if needed.
I will be giving these periodically for the rest of the year, please let me know if you have any questions.
Homework folders are still due. back everyday they are given so that students practice the routine!

Community Book Library

Speaking of books, did you know our Village community book library is right outside the extended care room? You are welcome to add books for other students to enjoy, or choose a book with your student to read at home!

Thanks for reading,
*Miss Kristen*

And now for this week's edition of Tuesday Twins!... featuring Watson and Lowell :)
And now for this week’s edition of Tuesday Twins!… featuring Watson and Lowell 🙂
“Curiosity and questions will get you further than confidence and answers”
~Maxime Lagace

Tuesday News – October 4th

Book Wishlist 

Students have been enjoying our quiet reading and our read-alouds in the classroom, and we would like to liven up our classroom library!

We would appreciate your thoughtful and generous support in building up our library with books that encourage academic and social/emotional learning as well as celebrate diverse characters.
Here is our current  WISHLIST through local booksellers Copperfields Books.

If you choose to contribute a book, I might suggest to look at the list with your student to make the decision together. Thank you in advance for your support and consideration.

Upcoming Field Trips! 

Field trips are back! We have two trips coming up in the next month, and we are excited to get out there to experience some art, culture, and science in action!

Here’s what everyone needs to know:
  ●  Be on the lookout for permission forms attached to your student’s homework folder next week
  ●  When applicable, you will need to bring your child’s booster seat to school on the day of the trip.
  ●  We rely on parent/adult drivers to help us get there: 
 
 ●  If you would like to be considered to be a driver on one of the field trips listed below (and have been cleared to do so by the office) please send an email to Amy @  amytanzman@gmail.com

When: Tuesday, October 25th
Where: 
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts – Sewam American Indian Dance Company       
(some drivers may be needed to shuttle or drop-off/pick-up only)

When: Friday, November 4th
Where:
 California Academy of Sciences

Growth Mindset & October Life skill 

Our October life skill is… CURIOSITY!We are working on our fall project that incorporates math, art, writing, speaking, and was of course sparked by curiosity.Students will present their projects toward the end of the month, and I look forward to sharing them with you!

Growth Mindset: yesterday we learned a little about our brains, and how “it is like a muscle that grows”. Students have thought about areas in which they have room for growth, and we will be having more discussions about how our brains can change to help us on this path.

I have enjoyed talking with many of you so far at our conferences, and looking forward to meeting with the rest of you 🙂
*Miss Kristen*

“Curiosity is the real teacher”
~Thibaut

Tuesday News – September 27th

Growth Mindset

September’s theme: Everyone can learn!

 ● Today we participated in a class discussion about what is a Growth Mindset  versus a Fixed Mindset.  
● Students were also very courageous in sharing something for them that was difficult to learn.  
● I then interviewed students afterward about an area in which they 
GLOW, and an area where they would like to GROW.   I look forward to sharing these at our conferences.

Conferences

If you have not already done so, you can sign up for a conference  HERE.
This is a chance for you to ask questions, as well as begin a discussion about your student’s progress and areas for growth, and how you can help support them at home. 
I look forward to talking with you!

Buddies with Ashley’s Class

Did you know our class is buddies with Ashley’s class? This means we get together every couple of weeks to share and collaborate in games, art, and other activities. 
Ashley’s class also hosts a monthly lunch with all the classes here at Village, and a few weeks back we all got to have our first lunch with them!
They were wonderful hosts, engaging us in fun get-to-know-you conversation.

Art Exploration

We have been exploring and practicing different painting techniques during art on Tuesdays. So far students have made a summer tree, the sunrise, and the sunset using the same technique. Last week they learned some new paint techniques to create their autumn trees.
I just love how different they all look when they’re TOGETHER…
“It’s like an autumn tree forest” ~Oliver

Thanks for reading!
*Miss Kristen*

“No matter what your ability is, 
effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment”
~Carol Dweck


Tuesday News – September 20th

Reminders & Upcoming Dates

This Friday, Sept. 23rd – No School
Beginning October 3rd – Conferences (see below for more information)
October 7th & 10th – Fall Break – No school
October 21st – Hoedown! This event is one of my favorites and should not be missed!

Selections from the STEAM Shelf

One of the shelves in the middle of our classroom is full of fun activities related to math, science, engineering and art. Students can build creations with friends, or choose to work on an activity alone. 
The STEAM shelf is available at choices time, as well as during some of our group rotations.

Fall Conferences

It’s that time already! I look forward to meeting with you to discuss your student’s progress and goals for the year so far.
See the link below to sign up for a conference day and time. 

Tomorrow our class will be celebrating the  International Day of Peace with a couple of activities… we briefly discussed today during circle that peace-related shirts/signs/flags, etc are welcome tomorrow (but not required).

🕊️

*Miss Kristen* 

“I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls.”
~Malala Yousafzai



Here is a team creation by Levi and Ousei, and an individual mosaic project by Emmaline:

And now for this week’s installment of TUESDAY TWINS featuring Nayeli and Noa…

Tuesday News – September 13th

Homework

Homework has begun this week! I gave this information at the parent meeting, and this serves as a reminder. Here are some logistics to remember regarding this routine:

● Homework is given Monday through Wednesday
● Homework folders come back to school the day after they are given out (in the case of absences, etc, they come back asap!)
● Spelling lists are given on Mondays and are kept AT HOME (students may have a special spot that works for them; the fridge, the wall, a desk, or their backpack but it may get squished in there). Sometimes their homework might involve their spelling words and they need to know exactly where to find them, and I also I encourage students to look at them daily)

Ok, and now the more nuanced details:

● The homework routine is mainly about students practicing their responsibility and organization.
● It is the students’ responsibility to be in charge of their homework folder and bring it back to school. You may give reminders, but the ultimate goal is for them to learn to keep track of it.
● If there is no time in the evening or morning for them to get it done, that’s ok! I know families are busy, some days are easier than others to sit down for this task. Just do your best.
● The homework is NOT a one-size-fits-all.  SOme students love it, some dread it. Some students may think its easy, some may think its too hard and need a lot of help. That’s ok. Help as much as you are able, and remember it’s ok if it comes back incomplete. Please let me know if you have questions about how you might help your child at home.
● Steps for students to remember:  Take home folder, look at paper, put name on paper, put paper back in folder, put folder back in backpack, bring folder in backpack to school the next day, turn in homework. 

Ok now on to the fun stuff!

Village Friday

On Fridays, our whole school gets together in the afternoon before the end of the day for Village Friday! Each week a different class gets to host the school in music, presentations, skits, etc. Our class had the task of hosting the school’s first Village Friday last week, and it was a very fun time!

We played a version of “Would You Rather?”, and students from our class came up with the questions, the choices, AND they each made the artwork to represent each of the choices. I was so proud of their careful attention to detail with their artwork, and for helping to lead our school in our activity!

Here they are with their signs:

“What is your favorite place to visit?”
“What is your favorite fast food?”
What is your favorite dinner?





Thank you for reading!
*Miss Kristen* 

“I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you thought you could be”
~Ken Venturi

And now for this week’s installment of   TUESDAY TWINS featuring Laine and Cambria with their star shirts and cotton candy signs!


Tuesday News – September 6th

Reminders:

See you tonight at our parent meeting!
Picture Day this Thursday!

Outdoor Academics

When the weather and the activity allows us, we like to take our centers outside!
Here’s some writing and math review centers we took outside last week:

Woodworking with Matt

Every Tuesday in the afternoons our rotations include woodworking with Matt! During free-build students are practicing their hammering skills while creating something tangible (and often useful!) from their imaginations.

Thanks for reading, stay cool out there!
*Miss Kristen* 

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. 
Life is about creating yourself.”
~George Bernard Shaw


Tuesday News – August 23rd

What a wonderful and wild first week of school!

I was both delighted to be back and see all of the students again after the summer, and then devastated I couldn’t be in our classroom. I’d like to extend a huge thank-you to Matt for his hard work and flexibility in facilitating these first days of school for the students.  
This year has already shown us what it means to be a part of our Village! 

Reminder: Please fill out an  Independent Study request and turn in to Carolyn when students are absent.

Parent Meeting ‘Back to School Night’ – Tuesday September 6th 6:00-7:00pm
  • You’ll hear about a typical school day and have an opportunity to walk through the classroom
  • Bring your questions!

Classroom Support Jobs

If you are able and would like to sign up for a classroom support job, here they are, now with some added alliteration:

  • Towel Team – I’m calling it a team because I ask that your student helps out, because I will often forget to send the basket home and they may be better at remembering! This job is best done over the weekend – you’ll take the basket of towels home to launder and then bring them back all clean and folded and ready to dry our clean, clean hands.
  • Porch Patrol – Our front porch & ramp gets a lot of wear and weather, and therefore dusty and dirty. We spend a lot of time there, eating, working, and playing so it’d be nice for it to be clean. This would include dusting, vacuuming and wiping down the cubbies, sweeping the ramp, and even finding all the little bits of trash that make their way down into the berry garden below. Perhaps a good cleaning every other week or so would do the trick?
  • Water Wizard – Just when the students think the water cooler in our classroom is empty and they can’t fill their water bottle, voila! I grab the other 5-gallon bottle that has been magically and mysteriously filled by our water wizard and fill it up again. Thank you water wizards, for hauling those heavy things to the classroom from your car, often undetected… we couldn’t stay hydrated without you!


You can sign up for Classroom Support jobs here!

Thank you for reading, stay healthy out there!

*Miss Kristen*

“Adjusting to the passage of time, I think, is a key to success and to life: just being able to roll with the punches”
~Dolly Parton


Tuesday Newsletter – August 16th

Greetings, Village Families!

School begins tomorrow! I hope everyone enjoyed the summer!
I cannot wait to see all the students’ faces again and get back into our school routine.
The following information serves as a quick introduction and the very basics of what you will need to know as our first day approaches. 
Newsletters will be sent every Tuesday with updates, special dates, requests, and information and photos about what’s going on here in our classroom.


Hi, I’m Miss Kristen!

This will be my 9th year here at Village, and I am excited to start the year alongside old friends and new. I love teaching in a multi-age classroom and look forward to bringing new activities and routines to our classroom this year.
In my free time I like to sing and make music, go hiking or swim in the river, and eat ice cream.


Our first day of school is tomorrow, Wednesday, August 17th – 8:45 – 1:15

  • Join us if you are able for our all-school spiral dance beginning at 8:45
  • Students will be excused from class at 1:15 each day this week
  • You may pick up your student outside our classroom, otherwise please communicate with me if you haven’t done so already if you would like your student to walk out with someone or meet you in the pick-up area in front of the school.


Students will be expected to bring these items everyday:

  • Backpack – big enough to hold their daily items, small enough not to be cumbersome 
  • Water Bottle – filled in the morning, but can be refilled throughout the day
  • Lunchbox – with enough healthy food to last for 1-2 short snacks and a lunch.


*all other materials and supplies will be provided for students in the classroom
**requests for additional supplies, etc may be made throughout the school year if needed.


Welcome Miss Rachel to our Classroom!

We are pleased to welcome Miss Rachel to our classroom as our teacher aide! Rachel has been working with Village students for the past several years teaching music, and we are thrilled to have her helping in our classroom this year facilitating music, math, language and art activities.


And lastly….

  • Be on the lookout in next week’s newsletter for a classroom jobs sign-up and information about a back-to-school night Tuesday, September 6th.
  • Please feel free to email me with any questions
  • Please let me know if you would like these newsletters to go to a different or additional email.


Thank you so much for reading!

*Miss Kristen*

“Tomorrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.”
~John Milton