I hope you have a happy, healthy, and safe summer. I will miss all of you, but I am looking forward to my new adventure in San Francisco. You can send me an e-mail anytime! I'd love to hear from you. mellagory@gmail.com
Quin "Dress Up" Days
On the following dates, your child can "dress up" at school:
SEPTEMBER 30 - Pajama Day
OCTOBER 30 - Costume and Orange/Black Day
NOVEMBER 23 - Friendship Day
DECEMBER 9 - Crazy Hat/Hair Day
JANUARY 13 - Winter Wear Day
FEBRUARY 12 - Red, Pink, and White Day
MARCH 17 - Wear Green "Be Green" Day
APRIL 8 - Favorite Sports Team Day
MAY 12 - Beach/Hawaiian Day
SEPTEMBER 30 - Pajama Day
OCTOBER 30 - Costume and Orange/Black Day
NOVEMBER 23 - Friendship Day
DECEMBER 9 - Crazy Hat/Hair Day
JANUARY 13 - Winter Wear Day
FEBRUARY 12 - Red, Pink, and White Day
MARCH 17 - Wear Green "Be Green" Day
APRIL 8 - Favorite Sports Team Day
MAY 12 - Beach/Hawaiian Day
Monthly Family Projects
Each month, I will be sending home a project for you to work on with your child. I hope you enjoy the time and process of making the project with your child. After the projects are turned in, they will be displayed in the hallway outside of our classroom.
AUGUST-Family Photo Album Page
You will decorate a page with pictures and decorations that represent your family. The Photo Album will be in our classroom library all year!
Due on Tuesday, September 1st
SEPTEMBER-I'm Learning at School!
You will put a picture of your child inside the school doors. Talk with your child about their favorite things about school and decorate accordingly using pictures, stickers, or drawings.
Due on Monday, October 5th
OCTOBER-Fall Family Trees
You will decorate the tree with your child however you like. Talk with your child about a favorite fall activity that your family does and draw it or put pictures of it on the tree.
Due on Monday, November 2nd
NOVEMBER-I Am Thankful
Talk with your child and share what you are thankful for. Then ask your child what they are thankful for. Have your child think of at least one thing they are thankful for and place it inside the cornucopia. They can draw, cut out magazine pictures, or find pictures.
Due on Monday, December 1st
DECEMBER-Hidden Holiday Patterns
You will be creating a pattern with your child on a tree or present. You can use anything to make the pattern(s). You can keep the same pattern or you can create different patterns.
Due on Monday, December 21st
JANUARY-Winter Snowman (woman or child)
You will create a snowman (woman or child) out of objects you have at home. You can make your snow creature any way you want! Some ideas for objects to use are: ribbon, string, fabric, buttons, bottle caps, popsicle sticks, twist ties, etc. This is a great way to reuse or recycle extra items lying around at home!
Due on Monday, February 1st
FEBRUARY-Start With a Heart
You will "start with a heart" using the supplied paper heart. You can create anything you want with your heart. Here are some ideas to get you started: a heart person (w/arms and legs), a valentine heart, a heart filled with pictures of things/people you love, etc.
Due on Monday, February 22nd
MARCH-The Tail of the Kite
You will decorate the diamond-shaped kite in any way you want. After you have decorated the kite, make a tail for it and attach it to the kite. The tail can be made from string, paper, fabric, etc.
Due on Monday, March 15th
APRIL-Spring Into a New Season
You will decorate the egg in any way you want. Here are some ideas: paint the egg, cut the egg in half and have a baby chick hatching from the egg, attach "egg-stra" special pictures, etc.
Due on Monday, April 19th
MAY-Quin Memories
I will create a picture collage for you and your child to keep as a memory of the 2009-2010 school year.
*Most ideas courtesy of: http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/
AUGUST-Family Photo Album Page
You will decorate a page with pictures and decorations that represent your family. The Photo Album will be in our classroom library all year!
Due on Tuesday, September 1st
SEPTEMBER-I'm Learning at School!
You will put a picture of your child inside the school doors. Talk with your child about their favorite things about school and decorate accordingly using pictures, stickers, or drawings.
Due on Monday, October 5th
OCTOBER-Fall Family Trees
You will decorate the tree with your child however you like. Talk with your child about a favorite fall activity that your family does and draw it or put pictures of it on the tree.
Due on Monday, November 2nd
NOVEMBER-I Am Thankful
Talk with your child and share what you are thankful for. Then ask your child what they are thankful for. Have your child think of at least one thing they are thankful for and place it inside the cornucopia. They can draw, cut out magazine pictures, or find pictures.
Due on Monday, December 1st
DECEMBER-Hidden Holiday Patterns
You will be creating a pattern with your child on a tree or present. You can use anything to make the pattern(s). You can keep the same pattern or you can create different patterns.
Due on Monday, December 21st
JANUARY-Winter Snowman (woman or child)
You will create a snowman (woman or child) out of objects you have at home. You can make your snow creature any way you want! Some ideas for objects to use are: ribbon, string, fabric, buttons, bottle caps, popsicle sticks, twist ties, etc. This is a great way to reuse or recycle extra items lying around at home!
Due on Monday, February 1st
FEBRUARY-Start With a Heart
You will "start with a heart" using the supplied paper heart. You can create anything you want with your heart. Here are some ideas to get you started: a heart person (w/arms and legs), a valentine heart, a heart filled with pictures of things/people you love, etc.
Due on Monday, February 22nd
MARCH-The Tail of the Kite
You will decorate the diamond-shaped kite in any way you want. After you have decorated the kite, make a tail for it and attach it to the kite. The tail can be made from string, paper, fabric, etc.
Due on Monday, March 15th
APRIL-Spring Into a New Season
You will decorate the egg in any way you want. Here are some ideas: paint the egg, cut the egg in half and have a baby chick hatching from the egg, attach "egg-stra" special pictures, etc.
Due on Monday, April 19th
MAY-Quin Memories
I will create a picture collage for you and your child to keep as a memory of the 2009-2010 school year.
*Most ideas courtesy of: http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/
Fun Snack Ideas
Here are some of our favorite snack recipes that we have made for our food experiences!
"Huckleberry Houndog"
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1 cup yogurt, and 1 cup apple juice
Combine all ingredients into a pitcher and mix. We used blueberry yogurt. You can experiment by using different yogurt flavors and different juices to make your own mix!
"Fish in a River"
Ingredients: celery, cream cheese, and goldfish crackersBlue food coloring is optional, it will make the cream cheese "water" blue.
Cut the celery into 2 or 3 pieces. Then add blue food coloring to softened cream cheese and mix. Spread the cream cheese "water" into the celery "river" and put the fish on the "water".
"Ants in the Sand"
Ingredients: graham crackers and raisins
Crush the graham crackers to make "sand" and then put the raisin "ants" into the sand.
"Abracadabras"
Ingredients: ice cube tray, popsicle sticks, and applesauce
Spoon the apple sauce into the ice cube tray, put the popsicle sticks into the ice cube tray, and freeze for at least 3 hours. When the applesauce has frozen - ABRACADABRA! You have a healthy popsicle!
Recipes from: Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids by Penny Warner
"Huckleberry Houndog"
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, 1 cup yogurt, and 1 cup apple juice
Combine all ingredients into a pitcher and mix. We used blueberry yogurt. You can experiment by using different yogurt flavors and different juices to make your own mix!
"Fish in a River"
Ingredients: celery, cream cheese, and goldfish crackersBlue food coloring is optional, it will make the cream cheese "water" blue.
Cut the celery into 2 or 3 pieces. Then add blue food coloring to softened cream cheese and mix. Spread the cream cheese "water" into the celery "river" and put the fish on the "water".
"Ants in the Sand"
Ingredients: graham crackers and raisins
Crush the graham crackers to make "sand" and then put the raisin "ants" into the sand.
"Abracadabras"
Ingredients: ice cube tray, popsicle sticks, and applesauce
Spoon the apple sauce into the ice cube tray, put the popsicle sticks into the ice cube tray, and freeze for at least 3 hours. When the applesauce has frozen - ABRACADABRA! You have a healthy popsicle!
Recipes from: Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids by Penny Warner
Love of Reading
Help your child learn to love reading. It is important that you read to your child every day. Exposing your child to books now will be a benefit for years to come. Make sure that you have books available for your children at home. Visit the library often! Our libraries are great resources for our communities.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
I emphasize the 3 Rs with the students in our classroom: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
We recycle all of the paper that we use at school by putting extra pieces and scraps of paper in a recycling bin in our classroom. We reuse fruit cups and Styrofoam plates for art and science activities. We reduce paper usage in the classroom by using both sides of papers and using re-writable products whenever possible.
Children are the future and it is essential that children learn at an early age the importance of the 3 Rs. Please talk about and practice the 3 Rs at home with your children!
The Green Hills Library offers paper recycling for the community!
8611 West 103rd Street * Palos Hills * 708-598-8446
We recycle all of the paper that we use at school by putting extra pieces and scraps of paper in a recycling bin in our classroom. We reuse fruit cups and Styrofoam plates for art and science activities. We reduce paper usage in the classroom by using both sides of papers and using re-writable products whenever possible.
Children are the future and it is essential that children learn at an early age the importance of the 3 Rs. Please talk about and practice the 3 Rs at home with your children!
The Green Hills Library offers paper recycling for the community!
8611 West 103rd Street * Palos Hills * 708-598-8446
Math Activities
Use food to make patterns or shapes. Kids can use fruit snacks or cereal to make an A-B pattern. For example: grape-peach-grape-peach using fruit snacks and yellow-red-yellow-red for Fruit Loops. Kids can "bite a shape" out of their graham crackers.
Environmental Numbers! These numbers can be found on houses, signs, and at stores. Your child will benefit from knowing and naming numbers all around them. Numbers are all around us. Point out the numbers you see when you are out and about!
Cooking and Baking with kids. Including your child when you are cooking or baking provides them with opportunities to recognize and name numbers in the recipe and by using measuring cups or spoons. It also helps your child to follow directions and empowers them!
Environmental Numbers! These numbers can be found on houses, signs, and at stores. Your child will benefit from knowing and naming numbers all around them. Numbers are all around us. Point out the numbers you see when you are out and about!
Cooking and Baking with kids. Including your child when you are cooking or baking provides them with opportunities to recognize and name numbers in the recipe and by using measuring cups or spoons. It also helps your child to follow directions and empowers them!
Literacy Activities
Environmental Print is a great way to teach letters and words to your child. Environmental print consists of letters, words, and symbols found all around us. A stop sign, the McDonald's logo, and words on food products are examples of environmental print.
Get a library card and/or have books at home. Giving your child exposure to books is essential. Books are great teaching tools and should be readily available, whether they are from the library or books that you own. Your child will learn letters, print concepts, and comprehension through repeated readings and exposure.
Use magnetic letters to increase letter recognition. Having magnetic letters on your refrigerator will give your child an awareness of letters. You can help your child to name the letters, you can have your child find a letter on the refrigerator, and you can have your child make their name out of the letters. Eventually you can use the letters to help your child learn the sounds of the letters.
Get a library card and/or have books at home. Giving your child exposure to books is essential. Books are great teaching tools and should be readily available, whether they are from the library or books that you own. Your child will learn letters, print concepts, and comprehension through repeated readings and exposure.
Use magnetic letters to increase letter recognition. Having magnetic letters on your refrigerator will give your child an awareness of letters. You can help your child to name the letters, you can have your child find a letter on the refrigerator, and you can have your child make their name out of the letters. Eventually you can use the letters to help your child learn the sounds of the letters.
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