Newsletter December 7

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of December 7, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:
Another fabulous week in the books! The students thoroughly enjoyed tasting the delicious kheer(Indian rice pudding).  Here is the recipe if you are interested: Kheer Recipe. They also created beautiful Rangoli patterns using lentil beans and printed patterns of their choice. This activity especially worked on their concentration skills! I created one as well and it was almost meditative.      

Diyas and Rangoli

The Festival of Lights was just beautiful! Thank you to all that were able to attend. Here is a photo of the Diwali display and the special clothing I wore.

The Musical Explorers field trip was a hit as always! This is always such a wonderful field trip as the children learn about regional music and artists before they even go on the field trip, so they are prepared to sing along and interact with the artists. It's very special. The types of music that they focused on this time was Soul, Musical Theater, and Cajun.  

We had a special visitor this week from Coastal Pet Rescue. We decided to extend the date for donations until next Friday December 18, 2015,  to give families the opportunity to gather donations over the weekend. So far we have two bags of food, a package of puppy pads, and a couple of leashes and collars. The furry friend(dog) will be visiting next week Thursday. One of my goals for this school year was to find more philanthropy opportunities for our class to participate in.  Our first drive this year will be for Coastal Pet Rescue. They have specific needs, so please read the letter bellow for information on their needs:

First and foremost, thank you and your class for adopting Coastal Pet Rescue as your charity for this holiday season. Thanks to the generous support from our community, we have been able to rescue over 400 dogs and cats this year...FAR surpassing our numbers from last year. 
Many people ask how we do it? Through dedicated foster homes,  monetary donations and fantastic support from folks just like you! Without strong community support, our rescue would not be possible! 
I have made a list of items we are particularly in need of. Of course we appreciate anything! 
The only thing we are a bit particular about is food since many of our fosters have come from less than ideal situations. I have listed preferred brands but of course, if something comes in not on the list, we will pay it forward! 
Cats~
Clumping cat litter
Dry kitten food
Dogs~
Wet/Dry Puppy food
Grain Free Adult food
Puppy Pads (either homemade or store bought) 
Preferred brands include: Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo, Nutrish (Rachel Ray) 

Toys for both, leashes and collars are always welcome!

Please let me know if you have any questions. You can call me or email me....
Also, I would love to visit your class and talk about our rescue and/or responsible pet ownership if it fits into your schedule! 
If you, your students or families would like to check us out, our website is coastalpetrescue.org or click here Coastal Pet Rescue

Many thanks!!Sarah 

  

Students are continuing their studies and research in their chosen science and social studies related subjects. Please continue to encourage them to work diligently to meet the presentation deadline, which is the week before Winter Break, next week.

Who wants Panda and Shadow (the guinea pigs) over the winter break? If so, please let me know via email and I will enter your child's name in the drawing. The drawing will be Monday December 14, 2015. Food and bedding will go with them. I have two interested families as of now.    

A note from Coach Lesley:

Fuel Up to Play 60-We have the opportunity to get $5,000 and Field Day fun with NFL players! I also have the link on the Ellis page! Click here: Fuel Up Play 60

Wish List

construction paper
plastic utensils

Dates to Remember:

12/15       Field Trip 3rd Grade
12/16       Field Trip 1st and 2nd Grade
12/18       Bobcat Dads Reading Day (Holiday Stories)
12/18       Dress Down $1- 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony Fund 
12/18       Holiday Sing-Along
12/21-1/4 Winter Break (students return on the 5th)

Upcoming HEALTHY snack weeks for 26 students: We do have a low level peanut allergy in the classroom, so we prefer peanut free snacks so that the student may also participate in snack with the class. 

Some suggestions for snack are: precut fruit (apples, grapes, bananas cut in half, oranges, etc.), precut vegetables with hummus for dipping, cheese and crackers, granola bars or chewies, trail mix, applesauce, hummus and crackers, yogurt or Gogurt, graham crackers…  The purpose of snack is to provide a nutritious energy booster when the students need it.  Please keep in mind the nutritional value when choosing a snack. 

          

12/14 ANGELINA

1/5     NAZYIA

This Week's Lessons : (students continue to work on previous lessons)

Language/Reading

Writing- Paragraph Writing
Detective Adjective Game
Pronoun

Penmanship/Cursive

loop letter practice

Arithmetic

Golden Beads- Static Subtraction
Subtraction Strip Board
Checker Board x

Stamp Game +x-/

Golden Beads- Dynamic Addition

Subtraction Strip Board
R.A.C.E. Math

Geometry

Constructive Triangles
Types of Quadrilaterals

Cultural and Cosmic

Asia-Desert People of Asia(Human Needs and Tendencies)
Asia-Indian foods and Diwali
Asia-Temperate Forest Animals
North America- Temperate Forest Animals

Georgia-Our State

United States Geography (Rivers and Mountain Ranges)
Land and Water Forms

Students are also working on their own research projects and presentations in both cultural and cosmic education that also align with the Common Core Curriculum.  If they wish to extend these projects to their home environment, they are more than welcome to and encouraged.   

Practical Life/Jobs

Arithmetic Materials Specialist

Geometry Materials Specialist

Kheer Recipe

Inquiring minds want to know! The students LOVED the kheer (Indian rice pudding) and a few have requested the recipe for home. This is what I have:

Whole Milk-1 Liter
Sugar-6 Tablespoons 
Rice- 4 Tablespoons

To Taste:
Cardamom Pods(about 6)
Nuts
Raisins
Saffron (pinch)

Put milk and rice in the slow cooker, on high, for several hours, until the rice looks about cooked. Stirring occasionally.  
Stir in the sugar, nuts, raisins, and saffron and allow to cook for another hour or so.
Allow to cool before serving.  It will be very hot.  May also be eaten cold from the refrigerator. 

Tis the Season!

Hello Families!

I know that during this time of year families enjoy giving gifts to show their appreciation. In the past I have received wonderful and thoughtful gifts that are so appreciated! However, I am asking that this year, if you wish to give a gift, that you do so via donations towards our Donors Choose project and also sharing the link with family members such as aunts,uncles, and grandparents, that may wish to donate to your child's classroom. Please consider helping my students. 

It is a huge project, but I truly feel as though we need these materials.  Over the years I have seen how important building community is to insure academic success.  If the child feels like they are a part of something bigger than them, they will feel at ease and more open to learning and challenging themselves with new material because they feel safe in their community/our class.
Having all of these cooking utensils right here in our classroom that can be easily accessed whenever needed will make me more inclined to planning more cooking opportunities. As it stands now I have to lug lots of materials back and forth from home each time we cook, and I always end up forgetting something.

In regards to the requested art materials; we have an easel and board that were both donated by parents, but no paper, paint, or brushes to use it with! I would love to see them creating more art in the classroom, not just at indoor recess, but also during work periods after certain works are completed. I also added a couple of math games because what child doesn't love a math game? 

Lastly, the rug. The rug is something we need to make our space more inviting and comfortable.  The rug we currently have is what I could find this summer at Home Goods that was fairly inexpensive, just so we wouldn't have a big bare space in the middle of our classroom.  I think the children would love a new rug that speaks to our philosophy.

Please go to this link to find the details.  Please share this link with family and also on Facebook on your own pages and the Charles Ellis Facebook page. I am no longer a member of our school page, or I would share it there. You never know who is in the giving spirit; especially when it comes to bettering the educational opportunities for children! Feel free to direct them straight to this post as well. All donations are tax deductible! 

VERY IMPORTANT! When you enter a donation, enter the code SPARK and your donation will be doubled if you haven't already used this code twice this year with Donors Choose. The code must be used in the first 7 days that the project is posted! Please be sure to share this information with the people you share the link with.

Thank you all so very much!!
Happy Holidays!  

 
  Community Through Cooking and Fun

Newsletter November 30

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of November 30, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:
What a beautifully busy time of year we are in! The week before Thanksgiving break our class prepared a Harvest Feast  that as always was a huge hit! The students not only prepared the meal, but they also collected objects from nature such as pine cones, twigs, leaves, etc. for our centerpiece. Unfortunately, I was so busy helping with the feast that the only picture I have that does not have students' faces in it is a lonely picture of the centerpiece by itself. I will email a picture that includes students.

Today we cooked and sampled some Indian dishes! The students tasted sweet and savory dosas of their choice. They will taste the kheer (Indian rice pudding) on Monday. Please ask your child about their experiences today! I was thrilled to see them delving into new flavors without fear. They also got to see some authentic rangoli made from templates with rice flour.

This week I had students focus on their individual research projects in place of "reading" work so that they can be prepared to present their findings by the winter break. Please ask them about their research and encourage them to work diligently to meet the deadline. They will be working on research in this manner for the next two weeks.  

Next week, Thursday December 10, is our school's Festival of Lights in the Multipurpose Room at 6:30.  Students that wish to be a part of the presentation may show up with their Diwali artifacts that they have created in class, diya and rangoli. All students have been practicing the songs/performance during music with Ms. Jennifer and Mr. Tyler. If you happen to have a sari at home that they can wear, feel free to allow them to come in their saris as well! I will be there in a Sari that Ms. Tanya is lending me.


The Scholastic Book Fair begins next week as well. The night of the Festival of Lights, the Book Fair will remain open for families to visit.      

Who wants Panda and Shadow (the guinea pigs) over the winter break? If so, please let me know via email and I will enter your child's name in the drawing. The drawing will be Monday December 14, 2015. Food and bedding will go with them.  

 
One of my goals for this school year was to find more philanthropy opportunities for our class to participate in.  Our first drive this year will be for Coastal Pet Rescue. We will need to have all items in to the classroom by Friday December 11, 2015 so that we can arrange a visit the next week with a furry friend and some education on responsible pet ownership. They have specific needs, so please read the letter bellow for information on their needs:

First and foremost, thank you and your class for adopting Coastal Pet Rescue as your charity for this holiday season. Thanks to the generous support from our community, we have been able to rescue over 400 dogs and cats this year...FAR surpassing our numbers from last year. 
Many people ask how we do it? Through dedicated foster homes,  monetary donations and fantastic support from folks just like you! Without strong community support, our rescue would not be possible! 
I have made a list of items we are particularly in need of. Of course we appreciate anything! 
The only thing we are a bit particular about is food since many of our fosters have come from less than ideal situations. I have listed preferred brands but of course, if something comes in not on the list, we will pay it forward! 
Cats~
Clumping cat litter
Dry kitten food
Dogs~
Wet/Dry Puppy food
Grain Free Adult food
Puppy Pads (either homemade or store bought) 
Preferred brands include: Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo, Nutrish (Rachel Ray) 

Toys for both, leashes and collars are always welcome!

Please let me know if you have any questions. You can call me or email me....
Also, I would love to visit your class and talk about our rescue and/or responsible pet ownership if it fits into your schedule! 
If you, your students or families would like to check us out, our website is coastalpetrescue.org or click here Coastal Pet Rescue

Many thanks!!Sarah 

A note from Coach Lesley:

Fuel Up to Play 60-We have the opportunity to get $5,000 and Field Day fun with NFL players! I also have the link on the Ellis page! Click here: Fuel Up Play 60

Wish List

sequins off all shapes and sizes
plastic gem stones

Dates to Remember:
12/7-11    Book Fair

12/10       PTA Holiday Bake Sale & Student Festival of Lights 6:30
12/15       Field Trip 3rd Grade
12/16       Field Trip 1st and 2nd Grade
12/18       Bobcat Dads Reading Day (Holiday Stories)
12/18       Dress Down $1- 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony Fund 
12/18       Holiday Sing-Along
12/21-1/4 Winter Break (students return on the 5th)

Upcoming HEALTHY snack weeks for 26 students: We do have a low level peanut allergy in the classroom, so we prefer peanut free snacks so that the student may also participate in snack with the class. 

Some suggestions for snack are: precut fruit (apples, grapes, bananas cut in half, oranges, etc.), precut vegetables with hummus for dipping, cheese and crackers, granola bars or chewies, trail mix, applesauce, hummus and crackers, yogurt or Gogurt, graham crackers…  The purpose of snack is to provide a nutritious energy booster when the students need it.  Please keep in mind the nutritional value when choosing a snack. 

          

12/7   JUMAL

12/14 ANGELINA
1/5     NAZYIA

This Week's Lessons : (students continue to work on previous lessons)

Language/Reading

Writing- Paragraph Writing
Detective Adjective Game
Pronoun

Penmanship/Cursive

loop letter practice

Arithmetic

Golden Beads- Static Subtraction
Subtraction Strip Board
Checker Board x

Stamp Game +x-/

Golden Beads- Dynamic Addition

Subtraction Strip Board
R.A.C.E. Math

Geometry

Constructive Triangles
Types of Quadrilaterals

Cultural and Cosmic

Asia-Desert People of Asia(Human Needs and Tendencies)
Asia-Indian foods and Diwali
North American Temperate Forest Animals

Georgia-Our State

United States Geography
Land and Water Forms

Students are also working on their own research projects and presentations in both cultural and cosmic education that also align with the Common Core Curriculum.  If they wish to extend these projects to their home environment, they are more than welcome to and encouraged.   

Practical Life/Jobs

Arithmetic Materials Specialist

Geometry Materials Specialist

Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Oh My!

Please find the SignUp Genius link below for our upcoming art projects that correspond with Diwali, Christmas, and Chinese New Year.
Thank you for all that you do.  

Art Project Sign Up

Indian Cooking- THIS FRIDAY

Please follow the link for more information and the sign up for our cooking activity this Friday.

Thank you!
Indian Cooking Sign Up Genius

Parent Education-Montessori Language and Literacy Workshop

Parent Induction Program ELA

Newsletter November 16

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of November 16, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:
*Reflections are not going home this week as I will not be here Friday. 

The field trip to Skidaway Island was a great success! Students spent a large amount of time learning about different reptiles. Then, they had the opportunity to walk a little bit of the trails. On the trail they observed raccoon and deer tracks, as well as periwinkle snails on the cord grass and hermit crabs. Unfortunately, my phone died, so I couldn't take any photos. 

Thank you those that were able to make it to the parent education evening Montessori 101-Human Needs & Tendencies-The Montessori Cultural   Curriculum! Those that have been able to attend these parent education work shops are getting to see a glimpse of what we do, and why. If you would like to come and observe in our classroom, please let me know and we will make arrangements. 

I was able to pick up the new classroom guinea pigs this week! I'm letting the class get to know them before they vote on names. Right now they are known as "the boys". As of now, I have one student whose parents said they would take them over the Thanksgiving break.  If you are interested, please let me know soon!  The drawing will be done Monday morning.     

Thank you to all that have signed up to bring items for the Harvest Feast! We are still in need of a few items. Follow this link for a list of the needed items: Harvest Feast Please send in all items by Monday morning as we begin feast preparations the day before the feast. Our Harvest Feast is a classroom community building opportunity in which students enjoy a meal that they have prepared, as a class. We will have events throughout the year where parents are welcomed such as Donuts with dads in February and Muffins with Moms in May.  

PTA Read-A-Thon is well underway! You should have received information last week from your child. Please help us with our goal of 100% participation! Even $1 raised counts as participation. Proceeds this year will go towards readers theater that will be housed in the media center for all to use. Readers theater provides fluency practice for students and is also always enjoyed by the students! The top class that raises the most money gets a $50 gift card for classroom materials! Also, the top two classes get entered into a drawing for a class party!

One of my goals for this school year was to find more philanthropy opportunities for our class to participate in.  Our first drive this year will be for Coastal Pet Rescue. We will need to have all items in to the classroom by Friday December 11, 2015 so that we can arrange a visit the next week with a furry friend and some education on responsible pet ownership. They have specific needs, so please read the letter bellow for information on their needs:

First and foremost, thank you and your class for adopting Coastal Pet Rescue as your charity for this holiday season. Thanks to the generous support from our community, we have been able to rescue over 400 dogs and cats this year...FAR surpassing our numbers from last year. 
Many people ask how we do it? Through dedicated foster homes,  monetary donations and fantastic support from folks just like you! Without strong community support, our rescue would not be possible! 
I have made a list of items we are particularly in need of. Of course we appreciate anything! 
The only thing we are a bit particular about is food since many of our fosters have come from less than ideal situations. I have listed preferred brands but of course, if something comes in not on the list, we will pay it forward! 
Cats~
Clumping cat litter
Dry kitten food
Dogs~
Wet/Dry Puppy food
Grain Free Adult food
Puppy Pads (either homemade or store bought) 
Preferred brands include: Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo, Nutrish (Rachel Ray) 

Toys for both, leashes and collars are always welcome!

Please let me know if you have any questions. You can call me or email me....
Also, I would love to visit your class and talk about our rescue and/or responsible pet ownership if it fits into your schedule! 
If you, your students or families would like to check us out, our website is coastalpetrescue.org or click here Coastal Pet Rescue

Many thanks!!Sarah 

A note from Coach Lesley:

Fuel Up to Play 60-We have the opportunity to get $5,000 and Field Day fun with NFL players! I also have the link on the Ellis page! Click here: Fuel Up Play 60

Below are some fall activities in our area to enjoy with your children.  Make sure to go to the respective websites for more information and details:

Madrac Farms-Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maize-Rincon, GA

Holiday Farms-Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, and Pig Races- Ridgeland, SC

Savannah Children's Museum and Scribble Art Studio (story time and art workshops)

Oatland Island- Harvest Festival (November)

Wish List

Construction Paper (thank you to those that have sent some in)

Dates to Remember:
11/25-29  NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Holiday
12/1        Parent Education Montessori Language and Literacy Language of the                   "Mother Tongue" 6-7 Media Center

12/4        MESS Holiday Party- fundraiser for teacher Montessori training
12/7-11    Book Fair
12/10       PTA Holiday Bake Sale & Student Festival of Lights
12/18       Bobcat Dads Reading Day (Holiday Stories)
12/18       Dress Down $1- 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony Fund 
12/18       Holiday Sing-Along

12/21-1/4 Winter Break (students return on the 5th)

Upcoming HEALTHY snack weeks for 26 students: We do have a low level peanut allergy in the classroom, so we prefer peanut free snacks so that the student may also participate in snack with the class. 

Some suggestions for snack are: precut fruit (apples, grapes, bananas cut in half, oranges, etc.), precut vegetables with hummus for dipping, cheese and crackers, granola bars or chewies, trail mix, applesauce, hummus and crackers, yogurt or Gogurt, graham crackers…  The purpose of snack is to provide a nutritious energy booster when the students need it.  Please keep in mind the nutritional value when choosing a snack. 

          

11/23   EVAN (2 day week)
11/30   SOPHIA

This Week's Lessons : (students continue to work on previous lessons)

Language/Reading

Writing- Paragraph Writing
Antonyms
Synonyms
Dictionary Usage
Quotation Marks
Pronoun
Detective Adjective Game

Penmanship/Cursive

Letter "f"

Arithmetic

Golden Beads- Static Subtraction
Subtraction Strip Board
Checker Board x

Stamp Game +x-/

Golden Beads- Dynamic Addition

Subtraction Strip Board
R.A.C.E. Math

Geometry

Constructive Triangles
Types of Quadrilaterals

Cultural and Cosmic

Asia-Desert People of Asia(Human Needs and Tendencies)

Georgia-Our State

United States Geography
Land and Water Forms

Students are also beginning their own research projects and presentation in both cultural and cosmic education that also align with the Common Core Curriculum.  If they wish to extend these projects to their home environment, they are more than welcome to and encouraged.   

Practical Life/Jobs

Arithmetic Materials Specialist

Geometry Materials Specialist

Newsletter November 9

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of November 9, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:
We had an enriching Friday morning baking apples together! Thank you for donating the needed items!  

We also had the opportunity of presenting the second Great Lesson: The Black Strip, this Friday. We had the pleasure of hosting Dalton State University education students during the lesson. This serves as the springboard for many more lessons and research such as the Timeline of Life, in which we have a brand new, beautiful material, to our school, that is now available to us! Eventually students will create their very own timelines of their lives as well. I am interested and excited to see what peeked their interest during the lesson and what they will choose to research and learn more about. Click here for a sample of The Black Strip lesson: Sample of the Black Strip lesson 

The Black Strip

      

The 1st and 2nd year student field trip was canceled, once again, due to the rain and it being a walking field trip.  We have rescheduled for April 26, 2015. Forms will go home in March for that date.  We also have our field trip to Skidaway Island State Park on Wednesday November 18, 2015.  Remember to send your child in appropriate clothing for the outdoors/woods such as pants, tennis shoes, etc. You must apply any desired bug spray at home, as we are not allowed to apply at school.   

I am hoping to pick up the new classroom guinea pigs this weekend. If you are interested in keeping them over the Thanksgiving break, please let me know via email or a note and I will put your child's name in the drawing.

The Children's Book Festival at Forsyth Park is this coming Saturday. For more information, follow this link: Children's Book Festival Post

In case you missed the post about the classroom Harvest Feast, please follow this link for more information. We need a lot of items! Harvest Feast Post  

PTA Read-A-Thon is well underway! You should have received information on Tuesday from your child. Please help us with our goal of 100% participation! Even $1 raised counts as participation. Proceeds this year will go towards readers theater that will be housed in the media center for all to use. Readers theater provides fluency practice for students and is also always enjoyed by the students! 

This week we continued our Montessori certification and focused on the cultural/cosmic aspects of Montessori.  

Geography Impressionistic Charts

Follow up lesson for solstice and equinox after the initial impressionistic chart presentation/lesson (the yellow and green items represent the sun)

Interdependence Chart

Economic Interdependence Chart

Below are some fall activities in our area to enjoy with your children.  Make sure to go to the respective websites for more information and details:

Madrac Farms-Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maize-Rincon, GA

Holiday Farms-Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, and Pig Races- Ridgeland, SC

Savannah Children's Museum and Scribble Art Studio (story time and art workshops)

Oatland Island- Harvest Festival (November)

Children's Book Festival (details in an earlier post)

Wish List

Construction Paper (thank you to those that have sent some in)

Dates to Remember:
11/17       Montessori 101-Human Needs & Tendencies-The Montessori Cultural                      Curriculum

11/19       PTA Meeting 6:30 Multipurpose Room

11/20       Dress Down $1 Pennies for Patients

11/25-29  NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Holiday
12/4         MESS Holiday Party- fundraiser for teacher Montessori training
12/7-11    Book Fair
12/10       PTA Holiday Bake Sale & Student Festival of Lights
12/18       Bobcat Dads Reading Day (Holiday Stories)
12/18       Dress Down $1- 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony Fund 
12/18       Holiday Sing-Along

12/21-1/4 Winter Break (students return on the 5th)

Upcoming HEALTHY snack weeks for 26 students: We do have a low level peanut allergy in the classroom, so we prefer peanut free snacks so that the student may also participate in snack with the class. 

Some suggestions for snack are: precut fruit (apples, grapes, bananas cut in half, oranges, etc.), precut vegetables with hummus for dipping, cheese and crackers, granola bars or chewies, trail mix, applesauce, hummus and crackers, yogurt or Gogurt, graham crackers…  The purpose of snack is to provide a nutritious energy booster when the students need it.  Please keep in mind the nutritional value when choosing a snack. 

          

11/16   DOROTHY

11/23   EVAN (2 day week)
11/30   SOPHIA

This Week's Lessons : (students continue to work on previous lessons)

Language/Reading

Writing- Paragraph Writing
Main Idea
Predicting Outcomes
Making Inferences
Verb

Penmanship/Cursive

Letter "k"

Arithmetic

Checker Board x

Stamp Game +x-/

Golden Beads- Dynamic Addition

Subtraction Strip Board

Geometry

Cultural and Cosmic

Asia

Georgia-Our State

United States Geography
Land and Water Forms

Students are also beginning their own research projects and presentation in both cultural and cosmic education that also align with the Common Core Curriculum.  If they wish to extend these projects to their home environment, they are more than welcome to and encouraged.   

Practical Life/Jobs

Arithmetic Materials Specialist

Geometry Materials Specialist