Baker’s Dozen Plus 3

Oh my goodness, I am having the worse time keeping my blog password.  The Edublog people are working on this problem, but it makes life very difficult when I am trying to get to you on a regular basis.  Enough of my rant…because the blog is “up & running again” thank goodness.

I was talking to Bear after school today and was excitedly sharing with her the joys of teaching your children.  Truly the best part of teaching is watching children get involved, making connections to the curriculum being presented.  Today Grace found a song in a Disney book written about Johnny Appleseed and shared it at rug time.  Sophie found Steven Kellogg’s version of Johnny Appleseed’s life’s story and checked it out for us.  Izzy exclaimed that she has a copy of the Ox Cart Man at home while we were reading it for the first time last week.  I could go on with examples like this, but suffice to say, YEAH…FANTASTIC…KEEP IT COMING!!

Each year the PTA makes it possible for each student to see a professional production at the Flynn Theatre in Burlington.  This year the lower unit will be seeing The Velveteen Rabbit on November 3rd.  The PTA funds half of the ticket price and busing to the event.  We are very lucky!  The cost for each family is $3.50.  I apologize for asking for this amount right on top of the apple trip.  For those who it is not a hardship to pay for both trips now, please do.  For anyone that this does pose a problem for, please call me.  Our communication will be completely confidential.  We will work out something together.  I will write more about this production as the time nears.

I realized in my apple picking field trip article I did not mention the need for parent help.  Well, yes we do and would welcome as many as possible to join us.  I received one favorable comment about using it as a fundraiser.  So, unless I hear of any strong objection, I am going to proceed with organizing it as such.  The person who commented noted that there are many elderly people who would enjoy fresh apples, but are unable to get out and pick for themselves.  Great thought!

We went to the garden today for the first time this year with Kristen.  Yes, it was raining, but we survived.  Half stayed in the classroom with me, half went outside and then we switched.  While in the classroom we had our first reading of the Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney.  This quaint circular story is our focal point for this fall’s harvest.  This is an exciting time.

Yesterday we cut what seemed to be hundreds of apples in quarter chunks. It took all morning, but we successfully filled our pan with apples left for a second batch. During lunch and recess time, the apples were cooked in the kitchen. We looked at the apple “mush” and decided it would be safer to “mill” the applesauce once it cooled down the next day. We read a fun adventure story called, Folks Call Me Appleseed John, by Andrew Glass

This morning we began reading, Johnny Appleseed by Carol Beach York. We will compare this folktale to the one read yesterday. Using a Venn Diagram we will keep our information/observations organized. Ask your student to tell you a couple of ways these two folktales are alike/different. This morning we milled the apples and made some of the prettiest applesauce any of us have ever seen. We tried a couple of mills. One definitely had smaller holes and thus made very smooth applesauce. A few of us taste tested the first more textured batch and compared it to the smoother second milled batch. It was decided that the smoother texture was most liked. We made 16 cups of applesauce that was served at the upper and lower unit lunch sessions today in celebration of the Vermont Localvore week coming up next week.

Speaking of apples, I would like to take the kids on a field trip to an Adam’s Apple Orchard in Williston. The trees are small enough for everyone to pick and the orchard quaint. We will be going on September 23rd, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. I spoke with Peggy Adam about our visit. The tour will include a talk about the history of their trees, a wagon ride, 1/2 peck of apples, and cider that the kids will see pressed. The bus expense will be covered by the school. The tour costs $4.00. If this is a hardship for anyone, please drop me a note and I will find funds to cover your child’s fee. A bushel of apples at the orchard costs $26.00 and a 1/2 bushel $15.00. I think this could be a fundraiser for us if we took orders beforehand adding a three to four dollar charge to each price. What do you think?

CHECK OUT THE SOCIAL STUDIES PAGE FOR MORE PICTURES OF OUR ADVENTURES WITH THE LOCALVORE APPLES.

Last Friday we harvested the apples from the trees just outside our classroom door.  We were amazed to see just how many there were.  Although they are not the prettiest apples we have ever seen, we thought they were tasty.  This week we will try making applesauce with them in the hopes we can serve it at lunch.  Does anyone have an applesauce grinder?  Isabel says her family does and she was willing to bring it in tomorrow.  If anyone else does, feel free to send it in tomorrrow.

During conferences, I mentioned I would like each individual to set an academic goal for this trimester.  I would like each child to discuss possible ideas for his/her goal for this trimester.  Please help your child be specific.  For example, “I want to be a better reader” is not specific enough.  It would be difficult to measure and/or prove.  However, “I would like to improve my timed fluency test” is measurable and improvement can clearly be noted.

Everybody is doing great!  I am really excited about the dynamics of the group.  I hope those who have joined our class for the first time this year are feeling welcome and at home.  It is exciting to see new friendships develop and old ones becoming reaquainted.

This week we began taking assessments helpful in determining where each child is as he/she enters third grade.  Thus far, everyone has completed a comprehensive math assessment and a grammar, usage and mechanics assessment.  Upon completion of all the assessments given, I will be happy to share your child’s results with you.

Just a reminder that all students MUST be accompanied by a parent in the classroom until 7:40 a.m.  This is a school rule and must be followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

“Yesterday we started reading The Doll People by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin. I really like it.” Isabel

“We made a journal cover. We will use the journals to keep track of what happens in The Doll People story.” River

“Yesterday we saw some videos of Newton’s first and second law in action.” Ellie

“On the first day of school we started science with Mrs. Kingsbury’s class and that is how we started learning about Newton’s Laws and motion.” Eli