Our Lovely Classroom

Dear Parents, Please read the final details very carefully: Camp Surf Packing List  (for those who may have lost it)  see the link: http://www.camp.ymca.org/lib-local/assets/Downloads%20and%20PDFs/Summer%20Camp%20Forms/Surf%20Equipment%20List%202013.pdf  or see below: ALL PROGRAMS REQUIRED ITEMS: □ 1 hat or cap with brim  □ Sun Block (waterproof) SPF 30+  □ Lip Block (waterproof) SPF 30+  □ Water bottle or canteen  □ RASH GUARD (nylon shirt worn in water to protect from irritation & sun exposure. $20-$30 at camp store.)  □ Sleeping bag or blankets/ sheets  □ Pillow  □ 2 pairs of long pants  □ 5 pairs of short pants  □ 1 or 2 sweatshirts or jackets  □ 5 T-shirts  □ 1 swim suit  □ 6 pairs of underwear  □ 6 pairs of socks  □ Pajamas  □ Sneakers/tennis shoes  □ 2 towels (1 beach, 1 bath)  □ Toiletry articles—soap, toothbrush, toothpast...

Musical Instrument Museum This is a reminder that we are leaving on our field trip to the Musical Instrument Museum first thing tomorrow morning.  Please make sure to arrive on time or your child may miss out!  Please make sure your child brings a water bottle and a disposable lunch.  We plan to eat lunch at a park nearby. Camp Surf Update: We have noticed many parents are behind in making their camp surf payments and/or returning chocolate money.  While we have scholarship money for those who have requested it, we are still approximately $900 shy of our goal to pay for all of those who wish to go.  If those who haven't made a tax credit donation would do so, we would easily have three times that amount.  I hope that we can raise these final dollars so we don't have to make some difficult decisions.  Please stay tuned for a packing list and more detailed itinerary.  Also please see our class blog for previous emails and announcements. ...

Camp Surf Update We are so excited to go to Camp surf on May 20-22!  We have raised a significant amount to help with scholarships, and are thankful to those who have been able to make partial payments and/or tax credit donations on or before the deadlines.  We are hoping to have enough raised to also be able go out for a snack on the way back from Camp Surf. Chocolate Money was due on the 30th of March and we hope to be able to add that to our funds to cover the remaining cost of the trip.  Thanks again for all your support in our fundraising efforts! Classroom Publishing Projects The students are working on their own stories to publish in book form and it has been rewarding to see every child's growth as a writer.  You can help by helping your student type in their words at home and emailing it to us so we can format the words in booklet form and then bind into a book.   As in last year, each student is choosing their favorite photos, writing sampl...

We want to thank you with all our hearts for your support during testing week.  This has been a challenging week, with a new test to become familiar with.  However, it is also quite rewarding for us to see all the things our students have been able to do.  We are finished with AZ Merit testing, however 4th graders are still being tested in science tomorrow.  We thank you again for making sure your child arrives well-rested and well-fed each day of testing.   On Friday, we will have Pizza as a celebration, thanks to Tammy Whiting, whose vision made this school possible.  Please make sure your child packs a drink and vegetables or other side items as well as money for Kona Ice.  We will also finish some of the projects we started last week as well as continuing our work for our class yearbook and storybook publishing projects.  Please stay tuned to hear more about our upcoming field trips as well as our fundraising updates for Camp Surf. ...

We are so pleased with how much effort everyone has put into their work in language and math.  It has been a pleasure to watch everyone work so hard to meet and exceed the new state standards this year.  Not only have we witnessed such excellent collective academic growth, but we have also seen exponential growth in good habits, study skills, grace and courtesy, and emotional intelligence.   As the new AZ Merit test approaches next week, our students are planning a party this Friday as a way to let go of stress and also as a celebration of completing our Performance Coach workbooks.  We are in the process of planning some fun activities and projects to recycle our books into something more beautiful or interesting. We are planning to have Pizza for lunch and would like to have some donations of crackers, cheese, chips, salsa, veggies, fruit, granola bars and bottles of water.  Please use our  link  on volunteer spot that more fully lists ...

Thank you for supporting your child at home with all our math activities at school.  We had a wonderful time at Pi day, with the edible part of the calculation and exploration work and also a fun introduction to trigonometry concepts.   Please ask your child about polar graphing, the degrees of a circle and what the ratio of Pi really means.  I hope everyone is able to see these many interesting sides to help them see math as exciting and fun.  We notice that each Pi Day brings new discoveries and realizations.  I am amazed at how well so many of our students understand math because of their understanding of the historical aspects and  the  sensorial  issues of these mathematical discoveries.  I feel privileged to be a Montessori teacher and have the flexibility to connect these many topics in an interesting way. Every child in our class is a unique scientist, mathematician, and writer. Tomorrow, students will be receiving a report t...

It is hard to believe how fast the time has flown!  We are so pleased with how much everyone is learning and how many members of our class are challenging themselves.  This week we have been doing additional math activities that are centered around the study of circles and the unique ratio known as Pi.  Please note that our Pi Day Celebration that was originally scheduled for Friday is being moved to this Thursday.  We ask that all students bring the following in as part of this mathematical and circular celebration: Edible Circular items to share with the class. (this can include oranges, cookies, donuts, pies, cakes, brownies, candies, etc.  There is no need to have one item for each class member as we expect to be able to cut items up as needed from the many offerings available. A sheet of paper that has a clear and accurate drawing of the circular item to be shared at the celebration, legibly labeling the circumference, radius, diameter, in cm or in...