Classroom Pictures: October 2nd (Next Week)

Kindness Counts (and following the rules does too!)

In our class we reinforce the rules by picking "behavior scouts." It's the job of these kids to be watching and listening for other students who are:

Showing Respect
Solving Problems
Making Good Decisions

Periodically, I will call the behavior scouts up and ask them to tell us who was doing those three things. It helps the kids look for and understand good behavior and provides them with the natural reinforcement of being recognized by their peers. When your kiddo comes home with them in their folder, be sure to praise them for their excellent efforts at school and thank them for contributing to the learning environment. With 26 students, we are working very hard on showing respect for learning time and making good decisions. Thanks for your support and encouragement parents!

Open House

Hi Families! Just wanted to drop you a quick note that Open House will be next week. Here is the information:

Where: Bohemia, Room 4

When: Tuesday, September 25th

Time: 6:30 - 7:30

Come visit our classroom, go on a scavenger hunt, and meet your child's reading teacher. We can't wait to see you there!

Our Teddy Bear Picnic Day

We started the day by sharing our "Bear Facts About Me" bags with each other.
Then after lunch we introduced our teddy bears to one another.
We spent time teaching our bears the "ropes" of first grade, and helped them color little books to take home.
We picked out stories to read to our bears and have some snuggly bear time.
We played teddy bear games like the bear toss.
We ended our day with some special bear treats from A.J. and Alexi's mom, Jackie, and also celebrated Tyler's birthday. What a fun end to our first week together! Our next unit of study is insects and bugs. Parents if you have any neat ideas or information, please let me know, I'd love to include you!

Teddy Bear Picnic

Hi Parents! We are having our teddy bear picnic tomorrow. I just realized that I sent home last years "family fun" homework sheet, which won't make sense. Don't worry about the mysterious "vertical line" to cut. All your student needs to do is bring a bear to school tomorrow and finish the attached worksheet (they can imagine what will happen.) Thanks so much for "bearing" with me!

~ Mrs. Elliott

Our First Day All Together

These kids deserve a big round of applause for working together and being such a caring class!
I am thankful for each one of these unique and talented kiddos. Here's to a great year ahead!

Behavior Management: Kindness Counts

Here's a picture of our "Kindness count" this week!

In our classroom, it's our job to work together so that we can learn. When we work together by following directions, making good decisions, and helping one another we earn "kindness count" points. At the end of the week we count up all of the tally marks and record our progress on the "heart tree." Jasper came up with a great idea to add up all the points on the heart tree at the end of the month, which would be fun too!

Everyone has been settling in nicely and working hard to help stay on-task. They really are little sparklers! It's only been two days and they've already earned many points (we give them out in groups of five, so that kids can learn how to make tally marks as well.) I'm very impressed with how willing this new bunch of kids is to show respect, solve problems, and make good decisions. They should be proud of all their hard work!

Safe Place

In our class we strive to build community, help one another solve problems, and in general avoid melt downs. We have a "safe place" in our class, where a student can go if he/she feels sad, overwhelmed, frustrated etc. It has a big cushy chair, oversized stuffed animals and directions for ways to help calm down in a stressful situation. This helps me as a teacher know when a child is "at the end of their rope" and needs some extra care and attention. It also helps ensure that our classroom can stay a safe place for others to learn.

Morning Meeting Routines

Singing songs, stretching and saying pledges to one another helps make our classroom a safe place for all students and also reminds us how much we care about each other. Here are the special routines during our morning meeting that help us start the day:

Sing our Class Song (to the tune of : You Are My Sunshine)

You are my family.
My school family.
I feel so happy,
When we are here.
I hope you know friends,
How much I like you!
(make eye contact and point to a friend)
When we're apart,
I'll keep you here!
(cross hands over your heart)

Say our Class Pledge

I choose to be a peacemaker. I pledge to praise others. I will never use put downs. I will seek wise people. I will speak up about hurt feelings, others or mine. I will solve problems. I will build peace at home. I will build peace at school. I will build peace in my community everyday!

Morning Routines

Here's what your kiddo will do every morning when they come to class:

1. Check-in at the Check-In Chart to see what their weekly job will be and to indicate if they are having hot or cold lunch for the day.

2. Put their backpack in their cubby. Put their lunch in the lunch basket. Put their snack in their desk.

3. Choose a way to say "Good Morning" to Mrs. Elliott. Choices include: elephant handshake, Bumble-bee hello, Butterfly handshake, Grandma's Heart hello, Ladybug hug etc.

4. Put a sharpened pencil in their desk.

5. Work quietly on a fun morning activity until our morning meeting.

Our classroom door is open at 8:10 and attendance is taken at 8:20 when school starts. Please make sure your child arrives at school on-time so that he/she can settle in before the day begins.