August 24 Newsletter

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of August 24, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:
Be on the lookout for the first Student Self Evaluation that will be going home with your child today! They will be going home every Friday and need to be returned with parent signature the following Monday. The goal with the self evaluations is for the child to reflect upon their school week and for this reflection to open the lines of communication between family members.  The student reflects on their work habits and grace and courtesy.  At the bottom there is a space for student, teacher, and parent signatures.  The reason for the signatures is so that the student understands that we are all vested in their status at school and that we are all having conversations about it.  Please sign and return on Mondays.  Thank you for your involvement in this activity!          

*We have already had a couple of parents state that they are interested in sharing  in the building of our classroom community!  I am thrilled with the possibilities. So far we have interests in science/biology, cooking, and gardening! Even if you are unsure of how your skill can be shared with the students, just send me an email and I can help get the ball rolling. 

*In case you missed it, snack is alphabetically assigned.  If you are unable to send in snack for the week, the week that you are assigned, please let me know well in advance so I can find a volunteer.  I post snack weeks well ahead of time on the homework cover sheet on a weekly basis.
Have a great weekend!  

            

Wish List

Plastic Sleeves for Binders(this is something I forgot to put on my supply list that is  important)

White Copy Paper

This Week's Lessons and Skills Practice:

Language/Reading

Compound Words

Root/Suffix

Non Fiction Reading Comprehension

Using Context Clues

Drawing Conclusions

Writing- "Golden Rule" Writing Prompts
Short Vowels
Long Vowels
Blends
Fluency Reading Groups

Penmanship/Cursive

Letter "r"

Arithmetic 

Quantities and Place Value

Place Value Work/Golden Beads
Operations with Golden Beads
Operations with Stamp Game

Read It! Draw It! Solve It!
Weekly Word Problems
Number Order

Practical Life/Jobs
Tool Optimizer
Botanist
Animal Husbandry
Surface Disinfector
Sanitation
Environmental Specialist
Time Keeper
Record Keeper

Cursive

Cursive; and why we are committed to bringing it back at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy.

Cursive

PTA Reflections

Please participate in our PTA Reflections Program!  There is more information on our PTA page at Charles Ellis PTA under "Events" then "Reflections".  If your child completes and enters a piece for the Reflections Program, it shall count as a "Language" homework assignment.  It will take place of the "Daily Language Skills" for that week that they choose to do it.  Please bring it in for me to see! I would also like to share with the class.
Thank you for your participation! 




2015 Relections Ellis Flyer Single (1)

Safe Kids Savannah Youth Triathlon

If you haven’t registered for the Safe Kids Savannah Youth Triathlon, presented by Dr. Mark Kamaleson of Optim Orthopedics, now is the time! The Triathlon will be held on Saturday, September 12, in and around the Chatham County Aquatic Center and Lake Mayer in Savannah for youth ages 7 to 15. This year we’ve added a relay portion to the event.

This is a fun and unique event but we need YOU to help make it a success. Early registration (before Sept. 6) is $45 so don’t wait – register today!

Participants and volunteers can register now by going to www.runsignup.com

For more information on the Triathlon, go to www.safekidssavannah.org/triathlon  or email cjchasta@chathamcounty.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2015 Safe Kids Savannah Youth Triathlon!

Cameron Chastain

Recreation Supervisor

912-652-6782

P.O. Box 8161

Savannah, GA 31412

http://parks.chathamcounty.org

August 17 Newsletter

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of August 17, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:
This week we continue to introduce new concepts and skills.  Third year students are almost working at full tilt with an expected daily minimum of one Language, one Reading and one Math work to be completed.  The only thing left for third year students is research projects and presentations in Science and Social Studies.  First and second year students are working towards the above level, at a much slower pace as they adapt and normalize to their new environment.

We have already had a couple of parents state that they are interested in sharing  in the building of our classroom community!  I am thrilled with the possibilities. So far we have interests in science/biology, cooking, and gardening! Even if you are unsure of how your skill can be shared with the students, just send me an email and I can help get the ball rolling. 

In case you missed it, snack is alphabetically assigned.  If you are unable to send in snack for the week, the week that you are assigned, please let me know well in advance so I can find a volunteer.  I post snack weeks well ahead of time on the homework cover sheet on a weekly basis.
Have a great weekend!  

            

Wish List

Plastic Sleeves for Binders(this is something I forgot to put on my supply list that is  important)

Coffee Filters

White Copy Paper

This Week's Lessons:

Language/Reading

Compound Words

Root/Suffix

Non Fiction Reading Comprehension

Using Context Clues

Drawing Conclusions

Writing- "Golden Rule" Writing Prompts

Penmanship/Cursive

Letter "i"

Arithmetic 

Quantities

Place Value Work/Golden Beads

Operations with Decimal Systems
Read It! Draw It! Solve It!
Weekly Word Problems

Practical Life/Jobs
Tool Optimizer
Botanist
Animal Husbandry
Surface Disinfector
Sanitation

Introduction to Montessori

This is a quick read on the basics of Montessori. It speaks on the hallmarks, the benefits, the schools, the classrooms/prepared environment, the materials, and the teachers/guides.  Click on the link below.  

Introduction to Montessori

Moby Max

All students have been set up in a program called Moby Max that follows the Common Core Curriculum.  For now, students will be asked to work on Moby Max in the classroom as part of their weekly work, but they are encouraged to practice at home as well. At times, throughout the year, Moby Max will be assigned as homework.  

More information will be sent home in folders.  If you are eager to begin now, go to MobyMax.com and click "sign in" at the top right hand corner of the screen. Then, input the information below that corresponds with your child.    

Moby Max Logins

GaDOE Asking for Feedback

Georgia Department of Education seeks feedback on Science, Social Studies standards

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358,mcardoza@gadoe.org Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, andInstagram

August 12, 2015 – The Georgia Department of Education is seeking public feedback as it conducts a review of the Science and Social Studies K-12 standards. After this process is complete, the new standards will be implemented in the 2017-18 school year. Click here to provide input on the current standards. This is a user-friendly, brief survey for professionals, parents and families, community members, students, and others. “Educators have already given us valuable feedback on the current standards, and we wanted to make sure the public had a chance to weigh in as well,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “I’m committed to ensuring guaranteed, viable standards – standards that are appropriate and fully vetted. That can’t be done without input from all education stakeholders.” Responses to this survey will be added to the educator responses and will be considered when Working Committees draft the revised standards. The deadline to submit responses isSeptember 15 at midnight EST.

Building Community

Hello Families!

I'm currently looking for families that wish to be involved in the classroom in one way or another. I have some ideas for those that aren't sure of ways they can be involved, but please don't feel confined to these ideas. If you have a different idea, please let me know.  Also know that I am more than willing to work with you  to develop a plan if you wish.

1. Career speakers- Families that would like to come in and talk to the class about their career and the possibilities it may hold for the students. The students truly do enjoy the parent speakers that come in during Career Day.  I've seen them make connections instantaneously as to how their school work relates to xyz job. I could also see if there are ways that your career ties in with the curriculums, especially if it's science or social studies(history, geography, economics) related. 

2. Artists or creatives- Anybody that would like to come in and do a craft or art project with a small group is welcome. This could be done once, or it could be a scheduled recurring activity. For instance; every first Friday.

3. Reading- If you are one that enjoys reading to an audience of eager children, then this is for you! This could be whole group, or you could read one on one with a child or even run a book group with six or seven students. Again, this could be a one time thing or a regularly scheduled activity.

4. Cooking- Anything that involves food and especially when the students get to help create the food, they are instantaneously drawn in and learning practical life skills as well as working on their reading or math if there is a recipe and measuring involved. If you have roots in another country or simply have culinary and cultural experience from another culture, come in a share your experience with a tasty dish that the students can help prepare. This could possibly be coordinated with an art activity.

5. Gardening- We have a classroom hydroponic garden that we are waiting to set up, but that doesn't mean that we are precluded from using the outdoor garden beds! If you have expertise in gardening please come in and get the seedling started with the students and return to transplant. Depending on your availability, you could come in and take a small group down to water the garden once a week etc.

6. Perhaps philanthropy is your passion- You could organize a classroom drive for your favorite charity; Humane Society, America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, students could make bagged lunches for a local homeless shelter to be handed out, perhaps you have a connection with a nursing home that could use some cards every few months from the students, etc...

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

I would love to have you in our classroom. Please send me an email if you can see yourself fitting into our community.

Thanks in advance!

XtraMath

These are the enrollment codes and instructions to get your child started at home. Find your child's name and get started! If your child had an account last year the accounts will be linked, so long as you follow the instructions on the sheet. Students will be practicing their math facts in the classroom on a daily basis. Students are encouraged to practice at home as well. 

Xtra Math

August 10 Newsletter

Ms. Jazmin & Ms. Marion

Week of August 10, 2015

A Note from Ms. Jazmin:

Hello Families!  We are off to a productive start!  I'm sure you've heard about some of the lessons we've been working on.  I am introducing concepts slowly  as we get into our Montessori groove.  In order for the students to be able to be independent and make choices with their work, they must have learned proper boundaries and have guides in place.  Some of the tools we use are Learning Logs to log their work completed each day and also many work charts for the different materials so that they and I know what they have worked on so they are not repeating work.  Learning to use these tools is an ongoing process. 

 I'm sure you have also heard about the dreaded cursive!  The entire school is currently in the process of transitioning to cursive, from PreK to 8th grade.  In my class students are expected to attempt all work in cursive.  As we move through the year and they receive lessons on letter formation, they will be expected to write neat and correctly, but right now we are going with, "do your best".  They are receiving lessons in the classroom and also they are to be working on their penmanship with their homework.  I suggest that you carefully read the tips and instructions on those sheets as they are very helpful.  Please try to impress upon them the actual stroke and the fact that the pencil never leaves the paper when they are connecting letters.

The students also were presented with the first of the five Montessori Great Lessons as part of their Cosmic Education: The Story of the Universe or God with No Hands.  This is my favorite one!  Follow this link if you are interested in seeing the story for yourself.  This version a little bit different, but you will get the idea.  I encourage conversations with your child about what they are learning in our classroom; especially when they are presented with one of the Great Lessons.  The Story of the Universe 

The students have also completed baseline testing in SRI for the first and second year students.  In the coming weeks they will be testing in MAP, and first year students will be tested in DIBELS.  I will also have them set up and started on XtraMath for math facts practice next week, and hopefully the following week they will be able to access Compass Learning in the classroom.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns!  

            

Wish List

Coffee Filters

White Copy Paper

Plastic Sleeves for Binders

This Week's Lessons:

Language/Reading

Compound Words

Root/Suffix

Non Fiction Reading Comprehension

Using Context Clues

Drawing Conclusions

Writing- "Golden Rule" Writing Prompts

Penmanship/Cursive

Letter "t"

Arithmetic (will be given next week)

Quantities

Place Value Work

Operations with Decimal Systems

Art

Construction Paper Self Portraits

Cosmic Education

The Story of the Universe/God with No Hands

Land and Water Forms

Maria Montessori Timeline

2015/2016 Dress Down Days

2015-2016 Dress Down Days

Reading Logs

First Year Student Daily Reading Log

2nd and 3rd Year Student Reading Logs