August 30, 2024

Good Afternoon,

I hope this finds all of you doing well.  We have had a great start to the year.  This is my 28th week of school as a professional and I always find the "newness" and excitement to be very rewarding. I hope your child is excited as I am and finding things they are already excited about.

This week we introduced some of the basic expectations of the school and some norms of the classroom. This involves a lot of modeling and practicing.  I find front loading allows for a very smoothly run classroom during the year. We have also worked on learning each other's names and connecting with peers in our classroom. We have one new student (to our school) and the class has worked really diligently to connect with this individual.

I have talked a lot about "leadership" with the 2nd graders. I have explained that their job isn't to do the work for the 1st graders but rather be great examples and help when something might be needed (i.e. reading the morning question). This is the beauty of the multi-age classroom and it allows great peer to peer interactions and student voice.

One of the goals of the first few weeks is to fill the room with kids work. I want to make it feel like it's their space. This week the kids made a banner that highlights some facts about them.  We have also been working on owl posters that allow us to get to know each other. I also use these type of projects to push them to do their best work.  It is something that I establish right away, as an expectation of mine. By doing it through art, it takes away the fear and worries of having to fix "written academic work." 

On Tuesday, we started our first math class. As a reminder, the 1st graders all have math with me.  The 2nd graders have math with Mr. Hubbard. Ms. Beattie will be conducting booster group work with both math classes during the slotted math time.  

This week also allowed us to get a sight word assessment completed and a letter ID assessment for those who needed it.  The students started their handwriting practice. During the first 5-6 weeks we will introduce or review the correct starting spots for each letter. This work will allow me to see who needs continued practice and who is ready to move on to keyboarding practice. This practice is review for all of my 2nd graders but it allows me to hold them accountable when expecting their best work and neat writing. 

I read a bunch of books, to the class, during our read a loud times. This week's titles are as follows (I have linked recorded readings of these in case you would like to listen to them with your child).  

The Day You Begin

School's 1st Day of School

First Day Jitters

Our Class is Our Family

This School Year Will Be the Best

The Wonky Donkey

Cats Don't Like That

A Letter From Your Teacher

NOTES:

*Please make sure your child is in the classroom by 7:40. If that means adjusting your morning routine by 5 minutes, please do so. This is something that is important to me and the ability to allow your child's morning to start in the way you would want. I appreciate all of your efforts. As a parent of two, I remember how mornings aren't always easy but good planning can go a long way. 

*I will have opportunities for parents to sign up to be classroom volunteers.  They will start in October. I will send home a sign up sheet next week.

That is all for now.  I hope you all have a great long weekend.  It was a great first week and I am so excited for week 2.

Peace,

Mr. Young

 I just wanted to thank you all for such a great school year. Wrapping up year 28 and it still feels like year 5 is such a great feeling. I appreciate all of you and the support you give in so many ways.  Have a great summer!

Tommy

June 7, 2024

Good Afternoon,

I hope this finds all of you enjoying the month of June and balancing all that comes with gatherings, endings, and activities. On Thursday, June 13th I will be making pancakes for the kids and celebrating our conclusion of a very successful year as a class. I will be providing some of the items but am looking for help with some donations too. Please click here if you are able to help donate an item. We are doing this on Thursday because I will miss the first hour of school on our last day (doctor's appointment that couldn't be rescheduled). This will allow us to enjoy breakfast and talk about our year with each other. Please remember that Friday is a half day. If you would like to join us, sign up your name on the breakfast donation sheet. 

Your child will not be bringing home a big bag of trash and recycling on the last day. They will have three items in their bags.  You may want to be on the lookout for these as they are good keepsakes.

1. A bound version of their non-fiction book

2. A Highlight reel (graphic novel format) of their favorite moments from the year,

3. A "yearbook" of sorts from the reflection activities we do next week.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Peace,

Tommy

May 21, 2024

 Good Afternoon,

  We just finished our  final day of the Inspiration Hour events. It is so awesome to see how much the students loved their experiences. During our Morning Meeting, the students were telling me how excited they were for the afternoon. We will spend some time writing Thank You notes to the group leaders during our literacy block (tomorrow).

  The final day of school is June 14th.  I have a physical at 8:00 am that morning. I will be in that day around 9:15ish. Typically, I do a breakfast for the kids on the last day (instead of a sugar party). I have decided to do this on June 13th instead. This way  it won't be rushed and I will have time to make pancakes for the kids. There will be a sign up sheet for items needed (this will come out next week).

 I am going to go a different route and write a little bit about our district's budget vote that is coming up on May 30th.  I am very concerned about several things, but the one that really stuck with me was the lack of voters in the last vote.  Waitsfield only had around 500 of the 1,5000 registered voters voice an opinion last time. If you voted, Thank You!. If you didn't vote, I ask that you  please do this time. Along with voting, I ask that you host a discussion in your home or at a park about the budget. It would be nice to get more people involved in something that impacts so many.  I will be voting "yes" for the third attempt at this budget.  I hope many more do as well. However, I am just asking you all to please get involved, become aware, and please vote! 

NOTES:

*The Scholastic Book orders arrived yesterday and were sent home. I gave each child a canvas bag to put them in.  Please return the bag to school.

*The whole school student body has earned another celebration because of their behavior and collection of We Rock Tickets.  This will happen at 2:00 this Friday. There will be a variety of game type options offered to the students. 

*The Thursday and Friday afternoon classroom volunteers will end on May 31st.  The Math and writing volunteers will end on Friday June 7th.  I want to thank all of the volunteers for their help and dedication this year.  I hope you know how impactful your time in our classroom is.  The students and I are truly fortunate for this.  Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Have a great weekend!

Peace,

Tommy

May 6, 2024

Good Morning,

I hope this finds all of you well.  This post is going to cover all of the events and dates that are coming up over the next few weeks. Please take note of the details of each thing.

Inspiration Hour:  Our school's annual Inspiration Hour will start this week.  The students are very excited about this and it is always such a great experience for all.  As a reminder, this will happen on the next three Wednesdays. We will start right after lunch and go through the end of the day. Below are the activities that each student picked.  They will be mixed with kids from k-6.  Please have your child dress for the weather and their activity.

Survival Skills: Landen, Miles, & Warren

Gardening/Cooking: Annabelle

Cooking for Pets: Wiley & Olive

Photography: Zip & Nora

Cooking with Marci: Ava, Rowen, Edie, & Patrick

Wood Working: Finn & Ashton

Hiking/Naturalist: Jacob & Keegan

Pottery: Hazel and Amelie

Book Clubs: The final book order will start today and close on 5/14/24.  This will insure delivery before the last day. Place an order of $25 or more and you can pick a FREE $5 book (use code READS at checkout) to add to your reader’s TBR pile!

Family Order Due Date: 05/14/2024 

SHOP OUR CLASS PAGE: https://orders.scholastic.com/K3277

SHOP FLYERS: https://clubs.scholastic.com/all-flyers.  There is also a flyer in your child's homework bag today. 

Walk Bike and Roll to School!

This Wednesday, May 8, is Bike, Walk & Roll to School day! We hope you will consider biking, walking (rollerblading? scootering? canoeing?). It's a great way to start the day with some movement, fresh air and enjoy this beautiful place where we live. Plus it cuts down on cars in the parking lot and on the roads!

All students are encouraged to consider alternate ways to get to school from now through the end of the school year. We will be sharing punch cards, which students can have signed off on by a parent/caregiver. Complete 20 alternative trips to school and be entered for a prize of a gift certificate to the Canteen Creemee!

Notes:

*My daughter is graduating from college this coming weekend.  I will be out of school on Thursday and Friday to attend the festivities and ceremonies. Sally Utter will be my substitute.  

*Tuesday, May 14th is our school's annual spring concert. It will be held at our school and will start at 6:00.  The students will not go to the classroom but rather head straight to the gym, upon arrival. I have a training that evening and will not be at the concert.  Mr. Mongeon will be covering my class that evening. 

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

Peace,

Tommy

April 15, 2024

 Good Morning to all of you.  I hope you had a nice weekend. My wife and I were on the North Shore , visiting Abby, and enjoying the sunshine and the ocean. It certainly felt relaxing and very spring like. As you know, this is the final week before vacation. We are finishing up our persuasive writing unit with an assessment piece. The goal is that each kid finishes this before the break. 

We will be going on a field trip on Friday. Our gym teacher Kai has put together a trip to a gymnastics facility in Essex. I have everyone's permission slip with the exception of Rowen, Hazel, and Edith. I will put new ones in their homework bags today.  Please return them tomorrow. I have signed everyone for a bagged school lunch for the trip but kids are also allowed to bring their own if they prefer that.

Notes:

*I will not need parent volunteers on Thursday or Friday of this week. We will be doing a classroom library project on Thursday and Friday is the field trip.  

*Your child has book order forms and information in their reading bags. This will be the last book order of the year. This is a cheap way to get new books for summer reading.

*If you would like to come on the field trip, please let me know by Wednesday. We will have room on the bus. We will be leaving at 10:15.

I hope you all have a great April break.

Best,

Tommy

April 5, 2024

Good Morning All. I am writing this post, from my classroom, and wondering how it is that we are having another snow day.  Mother nature has certainly played havoc on our school calendar this year. Today I was going to read a book to the class about the Solar Eclipse, we were going to have an assembly about it too. I didn't want to miss out on reading the book I bought for the event and I also wanted to make sure the kids all got their viewing glasses. So I made the below recording and I am leaving the glasses on a bag outside my exterior door (by the gazebo).  Please top by and grab a pair for your child. There are exactly 18 and I ask that you only take one pair.  That way every member of the classroom gets a pair.  I hope you all enjoy the book.

Last week we read the book Mud by Mary Lynn Ray. As much as Mud can be a problem and a hindrance for us, it can be absolutely magical for kids. The book is "An ode to muddy hands and feet, brown earth, and new grass. The Simple text and exuberant illustrations make children and their grown-up friends want to sink their feet into gooey, gloppy, mucky, magnificent mud." After reading the story, the students were asked to think about something they truly enjoy about mud. The class drew pictures and wrote about their favorite "mud thing." The pictures are e hung up in the hallway and in our classroom library.  Feel free to stop by and take a look.

This week we also worked on writing a counter point to an opinion.  I wanted to teach the class how you can disagree with someone without attacking them.  The idea being that you use facts to support a counter argument.  I started Monday by telling the class that I had a big announcement. I decided that we would be more productive if we cut recess from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. I told them how excited I was about this idea and thought they would really like it. HOWEVER, your children (most of them) didn't particularly agree. So they spent the week trying to convince me otherwise. The one student who thought it was a good idea is writing a piece on why she agrees.  We will look to finish these as we start the new week.

NOTES:

*I will be doing one last summer book order.  The flyers will be in your child's homework bag and an email with the ordering information and other online flyers will be sent next week. This is a great chance to stock up on some summer reading books.

*Recess Attire for Next Week: Monday: Snow Clothes, Tuesday: Fleece and pants, Wednesday: Winter Coat and Shorts,  . . . Just kidding.  Please make sure your child is dressed for being outside each day next week.

Have a great weekend.

Tommy