Welcome to the 2014/2015 School Year in the Manatee Classroom!

Our first day of school was a busy success!  We attended an assembly to celebrate the first day and played a fun team activity called "Skittles" Getting to Know You.  We began reading The Chicken Squad, 

by Doreen Cronin.  Students also made "foil creation" with aluminum foil and pipe cleaners.  Upon completion, they wrote to describe their creation.  Ask your child about their personal creation!

Another discussion starter:  Students answer a question written on the white board every morning.  Sometimes it is related to books we read, content facts, or activities in which we are engaged.  

Today's Question of the Day: 

Do you think a manatee is a fish or a mammal?

Go-Home Folders

 

Go-Home Folders will go home tomorrow (Thursday).  

Please be sure to look carefully at the time-sensitive material.

There will be forms for you to fill out, and crucial information

regarding student allergies in our classroom.

Thank you for being diligent. :)

 

We will be going to P.E. for specialist the remainder of this week.  Please make sure your child wears appropriate clothes/shoes.

Our permanent schedule will begin next week:

3rd Graders (Red Group)

Monday: PE

Tuesday: Music

Wednesday: Science

Thursday: Science

Friday: Art 

2nd Graders (Blue Group)

Monday: Art

Tuesday: Science

Wednesday: Science

Thursday: Music

Friday: PE 

Library on Thursday

 

This year, we will be using a new classroom management tool called ClassDojo. 

ClassDojo is a web based program which allows teachers to track students’ positive behaviors easily and efficiently. The program is based on points, and students can be given positive points for things like being on task, being respectful, participating, or working hard.  Our goal is to fully implement the program right away, but please bear with us as we are learning as we go!

After students have been added to the system, there is a student access code we will send home on Thursday.   You can log onto the website, and see how many points your child has, and which positive behaviors were noted.  As points ecru, students will earn Panther Paws to reinforce good behavior.

One of the greatest features of ClassDojo is that it allows us to send parents a “behavior and skills report” every Friday by e-mail.  All you need to do is enter the parent access code to sign up. Our hope is that this will help you better understand the progress of your child’s behavior on a week-to-week basis.

We will continue to send behavior slips home every Thursday. 

           Please contact us if you have any questions!

                            

Thank you for entrusting your children with us every day.  We are looking forward to spending the next 179 days with them.  It's going to be a super year!