December 10, 2009

Sometimes a teacher needs a little help. Today 3 students took on some of the leadership. They did a good job. So did those who responded to them.

You can be proud of your children.

December 9, 2009

This afternoon we saw Baby Charlotte again as part of the Roots of Empathy program in our room.

We practiced singing a lullaby in case Charlotte got fussy.

We noticed how much Baby Charlotte had grown. She can hold her own head up a bit now. She can open her hands by herself.

Then sure enough, she got fussy. But she didn't want a lullaby. She didn't even care about being held and rocked. What she really wanted was to eat.

So we got to watch her drinking breast milk. This was the first time for some of us to see a baby drinking from her mom. After she ate, Baby Charlotte wanted to go home, so we sang our good-bye song to her and began to look forward to her next visit.

Tonight we are going to do our concert for our community. We are all ready and will do our best.

December 8, 2009

Tomorrow is our big day!

Please have your child in the classroom IN COSTUME by 6:50. That means brown top and pants and black gloves. Everything else they need will be here.

All children sing in a choir at the end, so you will pick up your child at the end of the performance in the classroom. It can be a bit chaotic in the classroom at the end. I will want to know how each child leaves, so be sure we've made eye contact before your child goes home.

December 7, 2009

Tomorrow is our dress rehearsal. Please do not send the costume pants. Black gloves are fine.

On Wednesday, have your child here by 6:50 so we will be ready for a 7:00 performance.

December 3, 2009

You should have received tail lights in the planner by now. These have a peel and stick backing. To be really secure, they will need some stitching as well.

We will not have spats, so apart from noses, we are all set--

And the noses have to be put on that night in the classroom, so we are all set.

Plan to come early enough to find a place to park and to get your child into the classroom in time to have a nose applied. One strategy would be to park, get into the gym and reserve yourself a seat by putting something on it, and then bringing your child down to the classroom. Once your child is in the room, you can go and hang onto your seat. I'll send a list of who will be where on the stage later so you can sit where you can see your child best.

At this time, during the choir numbers, our class is on the right as you face the stage. I'll let you know if that changes. Every year we struggle to find a way to make every child visible to the whole audience when the choir sings. We've never been fully successful. What we can do, is tell you that the singing is fabulous! For a young choir that has not had much time to practice, your children are amazing! This is, without a doubt, the best group singing from the primary children I've heard at Gibsons Elementary, and I've been here a while.

December 2, 1009

Today we worked on a Christmas decoration. Painting small spaces with tiny brushes takes a lot of concentration.

We also learned more about babies. We learned why babies cry and what we can do to soothe a crying baby.

We learned that a crying baby is not a bad baby. A crying baby is a baby with a problem who needs our help.

December 1, 2009

December is a busy month at school as I'm sure it must be at home.

You can help your child to cope by keeping to bedtimes so you child has enough rest and keeping to routines as much as possible.

Today I saw academic growth in everyone. I also saw a class of very focused children. You can all be proud of the ones you send me each morning.