December 17, 2021

 Good Afternoon,

I hope everyone is having a fabulous week. Let me start by setting the tone for the week. We had kids getting their 2nd vaccinations, we are close to a long vacation where many families celebrate big holidays, we had snow, rain, and mud, the kids earned the school wide celebration of popcorn and a movie (Mountain Film Festival) and for the cherry on top we added a circus coming to town (school). Oh yeah, and we taught! The good news is your children were rock stars. We had a ton of fun this week and their enjoyment was evident all week long.

Troy Wunderle and brought his Big Top Adventures to the gym of the Waitsfield School. During PE class, the students have been learning the talents and equipment needed to perform in a circus performance. They have been practicing all week. The final performance will be on Tuesday afternoon. IF POSSIBLE, the children are being asked to wear dark pants and a plain bright colored top. If there is writing on the top, please have them turn it inside out. However, there is no expectation that you go out and buy something. So, please don't. If you would like to watch the live stream of the performance, please be on the lookout for an email from the school. You will get that next week.

During guidance, Ms. Ashley has been working with the class on honoring December's theme of a month of giving. She has worked with the class on giving thanks to a variety of people that do things for your children and/or for our school. Today they worked on making cards for me. While I was out of the room, during guidance, they made cards and hid them. I was then given clues to find the cards. The kids were really excited about this. I decided that we needed some card searching music. Here is a short clip from today.In math this week, the first graders were all about addition and subtraction facts. All of our activities were focused on these skills as well as some story problems that required the students implement the kills they have been working when trying to solve story problems. Ms. Figdor reports: This week in second grade math we wrapped up unit 3. On Friday we took the end of the unit assessment. Students were asked to model their mathematical thinking in a variety of ways. The second graders in Mr. Young’s class are very good at showing their thinking in multiple ways. In second grade we strive to become flexible problem solvers. Being flexible as a problem solver is one math practice that leads to being strong mathematicians.

NOTES:

*I am not sending homework bags home today. However, there is a note about the circus in their bag.

*You all have been doing a great job with kids having boots and sneakers. I truly appreciate the effort.

*I am going to plan a little celebration for the kids on Wednesday. I don;t need anything for it. I want to do this for them.

This will be the last post until after the break. I hope you all have a wonderful break, for those who celebrate, Happy, Merry, (You fill in blank here). I am looking forward to the start of 2022 with this group.

Peace,

Tommy

December 10, 2021

 Good Afternoon,

  This week has certainly flown by.  We have done a variety of really exciting learning activities and lessons, so let's get to the summary. 

Coding:  Mr. Mongeon continued leading our class through our coding unit.  The students are absolutely getting into this unit.  They have started writing their own codes to make a simple interactive game on their i-pad.  We will use the afternoon of December 22 to play each others games.  Ask your child about the game he/she is starting to create.

Math:  The 1st grade math students have been working on developing fluency within 10.  Specifically, what makes 7, 8, 9.  We have been doing this through a variety of card games, as well as a motor-cross game.  We also discussed the concept of even and odd numbers and looked at the numbers 1-20 and why they were odd or even.  Ms Figdor had this to say about 2nd grade math. "This week in second grade math we continued to use an open number line to model subtraction problems. Students are currently using “adding up” and “subtracting back” strategies on a number line and are becoming more efficient in solving problems. In addition, students have been working on being flexible thinkers during math class. They have been doing this by solving problems in more than one way and trying to understand how others solve problems. We have learned several new games this week to continue to practice our addition and subtraction basic facts. Next week the focus in second grade math will be adding by place value."

Writing:  The students continued to hone in their ability to state and defend their opinion on a specific focus.  The students are learning to state their opinion, defend it with three or more reasons and then restate their focus as an ending to the piece.  So if you ask your child to clean their room and they say they don't want to and proceed to give you three solid reasons why; I do apologize!

Geography:  Today the students finished their books that helps them understand the relative size of themselves, their town, their state, their country, their continent and their world.  Each student has their circular book in their homework bag.  This book can stay at home but they can use them with you and explain their learning.  

NOTES:

*Please have your child here at 7:40.  Mr. Hubbard and I are sending out the same note.  This seems to be a big challenge this year.  A lot of "extra" work, help, and choice time goes on right off the bat.  Please help us out.

*Please label all of your winter gear. Including hats and gloves.

That is all for now.  I hope you all have a great weekend.

Peace,

Tommy

December 3, 2021

 Good Afternoon,

  I hope everyone is doing well and you all had a great Thanksgiving.  It is hard to believe we only have two and a half weeks left before the December break and all that comes with it.  We will certainly be busy and have a lot of things to get through before the break.  

  This week we started a new science unit that focuses on computer coding.  In this unit "students investigate numerical relationships while learning about the sequence and structure required in computer programs. Starting with computer-free activities and moving to tablet-based challenges, students apply addition and subtraction strategies to make characters move on a grid. Angelina presents the design problem when she expresses her desire to design a game she can play on her tablet. Using skills and knowledge gained from these activities, students work together in groups to design and develop a game in which a player interacts with objects on a tablet screen."  Mr. Mongeon is leading this unit and we will use the last day before break to play the games that each student designed.

  This week's writing focus had the students writing about their favorite item from their collection.  We have talked about how to state your opinion and then support it with details.  The main idea is that the writer has to persuade the reader about his/her opinion.  We are just getting started with this unit and it will most likely extend through February break.

  This week's first grade math had us finishing up the concept of 1/2 and 1/4.  We also spent some time working on fluency with subtraction.  We will be getting into a study of 3 dimensional shapes and their characteristics.  Ms. Figdor reports that the 2nd graders continued their work with subtraction on the open number lines.  This is where kids could start at 37 and if they ahd to take away 16, They could jump 10 and then 6 more without having to count by 1's back.  

NOTES:

*Please have your child bring their winter gear for recess time.  They should also either bring or leave a pair of shoes at school.  I don't want the kids wearing their boots all day long.

*If you are looking for babysitter's, both of my daughters will be around during the December break. Abby is here after that as well. They both can drive. I can send you their contact information if you need it.

*I AM NOT SENDING HOME THE

HOMEWORK BAGS TONIGHT.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Peace,

Mr. Young