If you give a Mouse a Cookie and other books!

We read many Laura Numeroff books this week, including "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", "...a Moose a Muffin", "...a Pig a Pancake" and "...a Cat a Cookie". These books are a great way to understand cause and effect. 

We introduced the Coping Skill, "move away". It is important for students to understand that they shouldn't tease, touch, get close to someone who is already upset...they should move away from the situation. 

                                

We had a fantastic practice fire drill on Tuesday morning - everyone did a great job! 

We noticed that our monarch chrysalis had turned dark, almost black...and then on Monday we saw that a beautiful monarch butterfly was flying in the butterfly habitat. We were able to observe it and let it go out the window!

                            

When we went to the Media Center, we were able to use the computers there!

We sat with partners to share book boxes for partner reading!

Apples and our author study...

We read more apple themed books this week, and used a real apple to print a head for a Johnny Appleseed project. 

We also finished our Leo Lionni author study. We read "Fish is Fish" and "A Busy Year". Our books are ready to go home!

We spent some time talking about the green, yellow and red zones. The red zone is when we feel very angry and really lose control. People in the red zone are often unsafe, and others feel uncomfortable around them. People in the red zone need to use a coping skill or let an adult help them get calm and safe. We talked about a new coping skill: Stop and take a Break. Students are encouraged to just stop - stop working, stop talking, stop arguing...and take a few minutes to just sit quietly. They are never in trouble for taking a break. You can review deep breathing, getting help and stop/take a break with your child at home- praise them when you see them using these coping skills. 

We worked together to make this fall bulletin board in the hallway. Can you find us hiding in the leaves? 

We are working hard at being learners and building our stamina for challenging tasks!

***Reminder - next Tuesday, Sept. 17, is a half day of school for students. 

A Peek at Some of our Routines...and a new coping skill.

Every morning we meet outside our classroom and say/read these words together. They help us begin our day knowing that our room is a happy place and that everyone is loved and cared for. 

During our morning group time, we take turns being the morning greeter. This gives us an opportunity to choose how we'd each like to be greeted: a handshake, fist bump, high five or a hug. We also have practice learning our classmates' names. 

We continued our Leo Lionni author study this week and read "A Color of His Own","Inch by Inch" and "The Enormous Egg". We're working hard on creating special pages for each book we read! 

We also have been reading some folktales about Johnny Appleseed, and created some Johnny Appleseeds of our own! We used special chalk to make some colorful apples too.

We introduced a new coping skill this week - "Get Adult Help", and learned how to raise our hand and wait quietly for teacher help in the classroom. Getting help for problems is a great strategy - whether we are feeling sad, can't do our work or are having problems with a friend. We learned about the "yellow" zone this week too. When we are frustrated, upset, or annoyed, we are in the "yellow zone". This is a great time to stop and use a coping skill - yellow is like a warning signal that we are beginning to lose control. A coping skill will help us get back to the green zone. 

We also learned what to do when a direction is given...we practiced stopping, listening, saying "OK" and then doing it fast! 

A fourth grade classroom gave us a surprise! It was a Monarch Butterfly Chrysalid. We have it in a butterfly habitat and are waiting for it to come out so that we can let it go! 

Curriculum Night for parents only will be on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6:00. We ask that children do not come to Curriculum Night. I hope many of you will be able to come! 

Our First Week!

Our first week was sure busy! We went to art, PE and music and to recess. Our actual schedule will be ready sometime next week. We learned how to be workers...

On our first day, we read a funny story called, "The Pigeon Has to Go to School!" by Mo Willems. We really liked the pigeon, and made some pigeons of our own! 

We introduced our first coping skill, Deep Breathing,  and we practiced this every day. Deep breathing helps our bodies calm down so that we can think and problem solve. 

We are also practicing some yoga and used our breathing for the astronaut and butterfly poses. 

We learned how to be good listeners at group time:

    * quiet voices  * eyes watching  * ears listening  *bodies still

We talked about the green zone - this is when our bodies feel calm, happy, focused and ready to learn. We are in control of ourselves in the green zone. Our friends feel comfortable around us. 

We had many opportunities to use some of the Centers and the Green Zone Tubs this week. 

We began an author study and read "Swimmy" and "Frederick" by Leo Lionni. We created a big fish out of many little fishes, just like Swimmy did. 

We also used paint crayons to create beautiful sunflowers for our wall!

I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! The beginning of school can be a big adjustment, especially for our youngest students. It takes time to learn the routines and to build stamina for a busy school day, but I think everyone did a great job this first week! Just a reminder that Curriculum Night for Parents only is on September 10 at 6:00 in our classroom. 

Room 1 is almost ready!

Our new school year is about to begin and Room 1 is almost ready! We have a new Sensory Path right outside our classroom - I can't wait for our students to 
give it a try! 

         

 Our Zones of Regulation Board is up, along with our Calendar area...

The book area near the window has boxes of books for us to enjoy. 

Mrs. Ellis filled the bird feeder on our window, and also had some visits from our friendly cranes! 

Mrs. Ellis has gotten her desk area all set for school, and can't wait to see all of the boys who are going to be in Room 1 this year! I hope many of you will be able to stop in anytime between 3:00 and 5:00 on Monday, August 26. Our first full day of school will be Tuesday, August 27. We have exciting things planned!