More spidery stuff coming!

I had a little visit to the classroom yesterday to see the children -- I missed them all so much! (but they tired me out pretty quickly). A few still haven't forgiven me for leaving.... but that's okay -- I'll be back soon!

The pm class is doing some spider patterning (so is the am class -- the picture that I took didn't turn out -- more to come!


Both classes are making spiders! There are having lots of fun with paper mache. I CAN'T WAIT to see what these will look like when they are finished and hanging up in the classroom!!!

Spiders

This week the children are learning about spiders....


They are also learning about the letter S:
S is a tricky letter to print for many children! Practicing drawing S curves on a large piece of chart paper allows them to develop their gross motor skills too!

Apples

Last week the class learned a bit about apples!


I like apples too!

Lost and Found

If you have lost something -- it might be in the class. Here are some recent articles of clothing that have been left in the classroom. If they look familiar, send a note in with your child, and we'll send it home with them.

We LOVE the pigeon

We just love the antics of the pigeon. I'm hoping that we will be able to write our own pigeon book soon! (Don't Let the Pigeon ________ ).

We're also learning about speech bubbles and thought bubbles. I often hold a bubble over my head with a few words on it, and I ask -- "Am I thinking, or am I speaking?"

(FYI -- a pointy end on the bubble means speech and a bubbly-not joined-end means thought or dream). Sometimes I ask the students what they think I am thinking about (I hold up a blank thought bubble) They give the best answers! (candy, your dog, candy, your daughter, candy, your mommy, candy). Ask your child what they think that you are thinking about. Try showing what you are thinking by showing the emotion on your face!

(click on these photos to see them closer -- they are WONDERFUL drawings)

Ms. Brown goes to the hospital

Hi Boys and Girls,

Today is Sunday. This is a picture of me after my operation on Friday. Do you see my hospital bracelet? Just like Franklin!

On my tray is apple juice, orange juice, broth (soup with no yummy bits in it), tea and jello. They had to put some tubes in my nose to give me some extra oxygen to help me breath. I got to come home to my own bed on Saturday, and I have to stay at home and rest so my tummy gets all better. I wish that I could come back to school next week because I miss you all!
Love,
Ms. Brown
note to parents -- I had this photo taken just 2 hours after my surgery. I am doing very well! If you are wondering why on earth I posted a picture of myself it is because a few of the children seemed very concerned about me and asked a lot of questions -- one asked if they were going to take my leg off (like Terry Fox) and one asked if I was going to die. I told them that I would put a picture of myself on the computer after to show them that I was okay :)

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

We talked about how we are thankful for the earth that provides us with the food that we eat. We also are thankful for our families and friends.

Someone did point out that the turkeys aren't thankful to us because we eat them......

We do relate Thanksgiving in our heads with turkeys. But it almost seems cruel to make all of this beautiful turkey art and then eat the turkeys at Thanksgiving. I don't address this at all when I teach about Thanksgiving. Sorry about that........ I'll try to come up with some great cornucopia art for next year.....

Thank You

Thank you to all of my students and their parents/ caregivers for all of your well wishes, cards, and treats. You make me realize over and over again what a special school community Earl Beatty has. I am so lucky to be working at such a wonderful school . The students, parents, caregivers and relatives, the school staff, daycare staff and the community centre staff make it truly a beautiful place to be. Thank you for all of your support -- and I'll see you really soon!

Finally! the teachers have been decided

After a lot of wheeling and dealing (no one's fault -- my surgery date was suddenly moved -- giving myself and the administration little time to organize and prepare)-- we finally know who will be teaching for me. It will be Ms. Sher in the morning and Ms Sawh in the afternoon. Ms. Sher has been volunteering in the classroom for the past month so we know her quite well. Ms. Sawh teaches Kindergarten in the morning across the hall in Room 5. She pops in frequently to Room 9 in the afternoon, so we are familiar with her too! (and many Seniors will know her because she was the supply teacher in my classroom when I was at doctors appointments last year).

Both teachers graciously allowed me to photograph them today and post their pictures here on the blog! (I took some photos of some of our other teachers -- watch the blog for them next week)

This is Ms. Sher:
And here is Ms. Sawh!

Your children are in excellent hands!!!!

Fall Colours

(paint table before children came in)

We are finally painting! I let the children use the last of my favourite paper to make some fall backgrounds. We'll be adding something in the foreground.... but you have to wait until Friday to see it!(yes, I know that brown is also a fall colour -- but that will be in the foreground.....)

Terry Fox

Last Thursday we walked for Terry Fox. I explained to the children that Terry Fox was a young man who got sick and had cancer in his leg. (I also explained that this is very rare) He had to get a fake leg. (I used the word "prosthetic, but they the children kept saying "fake"). He didn't want anyone else to get sick so he decided to run across Canada so people would pay attention to him so he could collect money and give it to doctors and researcher. Every September we collect money and give it to the doctors and researcher too. Then we walk and run -- just like Terry did.

That was pretty much my Kindergarten explanation this year. The students all thought that Terry had a good idea and they thought that it was cool that he ran all that way.

The afternoon class had a chance to see a short video (8 minutes) about Terry Fox with the rest of the school. It was very appropriate for them -- focusing on Terry's strength and what he did, and not so much on his illness and death.

This year was the 30th anniversary of his run. All of the students received certificates this year. It has a space to collect stickers for the next four years (if you can keep track of the certificate throughout the years :) Look in the Thursday folder for it!

Dear Parents

As (most) of you now know -- I will be taking a medical leave for approximately 6 weeks. My last official day at school will be Wednesday, October 6 -- but I am hoping to be at school on Thursday October 7 to help the students transition to the new teacher (who is yet to be determined. A letter will come home when that teacher is hired) (I'll also talk about him or her on the blog!).

I will be in close contact with the new teacher (new temporary teacher :) (called an LTO -- or Long Term Occasional teacher). I will be doing much of the planning -- especially for the first few weeks. I will be updating the blog regularly so you will be able to see what everyone is up to. In October we will be focusing on the Harvest, Autumn and Spiders. I plan to visit the school (and the classes) weekly -- if it isn't too disruptive to the class.

If you need to communicate with the LTO teacher -- please call the school at 416-393-9070 -- or send in a note. You will also be able to make an appointment to discuss the progress of your child with the LTO teacher, if needed.

Report cards for Senior Kindergarten Students will come home on November 11. I will be having an interview with the parents of each child in early December to discuss the progress of your child. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to have individual interviews before I go on leave!


I am presenting this to the children as an adventure. It will be fun and exciting to have a new teacher! And six weeks really isn't that long :). I will be reading Franklin Goes to the Hospital to the classes on Monday. And then we'll talk a little bit about me being away and I will answer any of their questions. I am having abdominal surgery -- I will be telling the children that inside my tummy hurts and the doctor will fix it so it doesn't hurt any more. They will only make little cuts in my stomach, but I will still need some time to heal. (No, I will not be showing them the incisions when I come back :)

The rest of the week will be all about Thanksgiving!

Please email me with any questions/concerns/comments/ funny anecdotes about your children:
martha (dot) brown (at) tdsb.on.ca (I can't put actual email address or I'll get too much spam)
You can also leave a comment on this blog -- or you can email me through the blog -- my email address is under "profile". If you would like to speak to me -- please email me with your phone number, and best time to call and I will call you back asap.
I'll miss you all!