First Blog of

Welcome to our first blog of the 2022-2023 school year.  Here is where I will update you on all things happening in our class and at Marshall. My goal is bi-weekly this year, but if you ever have questions you are always welcome to email me at ashaw@fusd1.org. Here is what we have been up to so far this year our learning:

Math:  We have been working on foundations and mental strategies for adding and subtracting within 20. Relearning how to use strategies like ten frames, number bonds, and quick tens and ones to help us solve problems and using the CUBS method to solve word problems.

ELA:  We are really focusing in on the science of reading and using our new phonics program here at Marshall. I’m telling you, this is going to be revolutionary for our students and their reading success!! We also learned a little of our Daily 5 routines. I will finish teaching those this upcoming week so that we can dive into our small groups the following week. You may have noticed no spelling homework has gone home. This is intentional. Gone is the days of memorizing lists. It is embedded in our phonics, and I will be tweaking our use of it in Daily 5. When (if) I decide how I want spelling in a phonic form to be done at home I will share that with you, but do not look for that for a few more weeks. 

Science/Social Studies:  We have been focusing a little more on social studies. Building our classroom communities. Focusing in on who we are, how we fit together as a classroom. We read “Our Class Is A Family” and incorporated ELA by focusing in on vocabulary and will be writing about how our class is a family, which we will be attaching to a fun guided drawing activity. We will extend this to our broader community to compare and contrast different types of homes. While looking at communities we will also begin our culture unit (which kind of expands throughout the year). We will discuss what is culture and make our culture cases. The kids will take these home to complete so that you can discuss and share with your child some of your families traditions, beliefs, special days, ways of dress, etc… Then when your child brings their culture case back home we will have them share during a community circle.

Community Circle:  When the kids first arrive at school they sit with me in circle. After attendance and lunch count we have a community circle. We basically talk about anything of importance. It can be a celebration circle, a problem solving circles, a discussion, how we feel about something (we just did this for testing and boy did it help!!). One person talks at a time and at the end I do a wrap up then a few students get to talk about who they made a connection with and why. This is probably my favorite part of the whole day! It gives the children to really build connections with peers that they may not have realized they have something in common with and helps us build our classroom community. 

Supplies Needed: If you have not purchased over the ear head phones with the three notches yet you may want to soon. We have given each student a pair of ear buds but they have all complained they hurt their ears. We will be using these almost daily. Also, we need water bottles sent every Monday, which will go home on Friday’s to be washed. We are also in need of snack. We are currently out. Thank you for everyone who sent in snacks for 20 last time! They kiddos loved all of it. Remember, healthy and individually wrapped is what we are asking for. Nothing that needs to be served or cut up by me, I just cannot get to that. Also, I do have a fridge in my room if we need to keep something cold. Thank you.

Birthday’s: I am reposting this from our beginning of the year information. As with most things, we have tweaked our celebrations due to Covid. Treats from home will not be allowed into the classroom. Also, in accordance to Marshall’s no sugar policy we have stepped away from the cupcakes and food the last few years anyway. No worries, I have your child’s big day covered. I will be providing a personal, non edible birthday treats for the birthday child after we sing in celebration! This has also made for more equitable celebrations, and has worked incredibly well. In addition to all this I will be allowing the birthday child to bring in a show and tell on their birthday. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in May and I will assign each child a special show and tell day. 

Open House: This Thursday, September 1st is our first open house in a few years! I am very excited to have the opportunity to meet with parents and guardians inside the classroom. Feel free to show up anytime between 5:-00 – 6:30. See you then!

I have had such a great start to the school year. I have truly enjoyed getting to know this group of kids and I am excited about the new programs we are implementing. We have a great class size and I really am ready to see what great things we are going to do together this year. If you have any questions feel free to email me as I mentioned above, or reach out at the number provided in the sidebar of this blog. -Ms. Shaw