This week, we jumped into the biome of the savanna and its ecosystems—though it felt more like the Arctic outside! We learned that savannas are grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs, a wet season and a dry season, and they are home to many incredible animals. We took a closer look at the African savanna and its amazing wildlife.

Some students brought home their Zoology Unit 2 writing this week. You’ll spot lots of scientific thinking, including detailed animal illustrations and thoughtful comparisons. The rest of the students will bring their work home on Monday.

Math time was full of hands-on fun! We played games like Build 20, where students added pennies to a 20-frame and stopped to think: “If I have 3 pennies, how many more do I need to make 20?” Students also loved measuring their legs and arms with cubes—and comparing their measurements with friends.

Snow Motion was incredible! Students with skiing experience found their rhythm right away, while first-time skiers impressed us all with their bravery and determination as they took on the hill. We can’t wait to head back next Thursday!

                                                 Enjoy some fun clips of the week!

Upcoming events:

2/4   Flynn Trip

2/5   2nd Snow Motion Ski/ride day

2/6 Book orders due

  SHOP OUR CLASS PAGE:  https://orders.scholastic.com  

Then click connect to teacher.

Class Code: V4R4N

SHOP FLYERS: https://clubs.scholastic.com/all-flyers

2/13 Friendship Party   This info will be printed and sent home on Monday. 

                                                                      A beautiful Bolton bobcat track

Chilly Greetings!

I just got back from a hike and saw so many incredible tracks, I would have loved my 16 tracking buddies to have been there! Over the past two weeks, we’ve learned about the very cool beaver, an animal that creates an entire ecosystem as it builds its home. This week, our curiosity turned to squirrels and their clever nut-hiding habits. We discovered how forgotten nuts can sprout into new trees, making squirrels unexpected helpers in growing healthy forests!

In math, we continued to engage in games that focused on making combinations and practicing correct number formation.

In literacy, we began introducing our next unit by discussing living and non-living things. Over the coming weeks, we will continue strengthening our reading and discussion skills while exploring the fascinating world of ecology. Students are already showing curiosity and excitement about learning how living things interact with their environments.

On Thursday we had a wonderful time cheering on the VT Catamounts women’s basketball team! While it was a high-stimulation (and tiring!) day for everyone, students had a blast showing their UVM spirit! 🐱

Note: Please continue to check your child for head lice. 

Ski & ride day @ Cochran's on Thursday!

 

We are grateful for this three-day weekend and took time to pause and reflect on the inspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the important work that still remains. Kindergarten, with the help of Mrs. Jones' buddy classroom, ended the week with a thoughtful discussion about Dr. King’s legacy. We talked about how one of the most important lessons he taught was leading others with his words, not his fists. Students then collaborated with partners to create peace pledges.

In literacy, we concluded our Zoology unit by comparing two animals, focusing on what they have in common and what sets them apart. This coming week, we will begin a new unit on Ecology, where we will explore different ecosystems while practicing key literacy skills such as reading for key details, learning new power words, writing about what we learn, and more.

In math, students played Double Compare, practiced solving story problems, and created tile combinations while following specific rules. They also stepped back to examine their combinations and worked on creating equations to match their thinking.

Report cards will be sent home this Friday. Please note: because learning at this age happens so quickly, students may already be demonstrating new skills that were developed after our assessments were completed. Which is a beautiful thing! 

Have a wonderful week!

1/19 No School

1/22 UCS @ UVM Basketball game 9:30-1:45

1/29 1st Snow Motion Ski/ride day

2/4   Flynn Trip

2/5   2nd Snow Motion Ski/ride day

Welcome Back!

We had a great first week back at school! Students settled into their routines nicely, although they were a little tired at times. 💤

This week, we dove into the waters of fish.  This will wrap up our Zoology unit shortly. Students are learning so many fun and fascinating facts about these aquatic creatures.

Kindergarteners began a new digital literacy program this week called Lalilo. Similar to Happy Numbers, Lalilo is a wonderful tool that meets students where they are academically. The program is completely individualized, allowing students to engage in games that build letter recognition, sounds, and early word skills. 

In math, we explored story problems and began identifying what each problem is asking. Students practiced representing their thinking on paper using drawings and simple equations.

We also kicked off our yearly Scat and Track program, presented by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Over the next month, we will watch videos featuring Vermont wildlife and learn about each species’ habitat, life cycle, tracks, and scat. This week, we studied the gray fox, a nocturnal species. The following day, we went on a tracking expedition to search for this unique animal. While it’s still up for debate whether we found gray fox tracks, we did discover many other animal tracks along the way! 🐿

Important Dates:

1/14 Early Dismissal

1/19 No School

1/22 UCS heading to a UVM Basketball game

1/29 1st Snow Motion Ski/ride day

2/4   Flynn Trip

2/5   2nd Snow Motion Ski/ride day