First Community Trip

Friday, September 27th was our first community trip.  It was a beautiful day to walk to McDonald's and Berkots!  Everyone did a wonderful job ordering their food and cleaning up while at McDonald's. While at Berkots, the students had a list of 10 items they needed to locate.  After they located all the items, each had items they were to find for our classroom.  I was proud of the students for being safe as we walked to/from school.  I hope all of our community trips go as well as Fridays trip! :)

Homework Chart

Starting Monday, September 23rd, I am going to have a Homework Chart for the students.  The chart is a jar of beans they get to color.  To color a bean students need to return:
1. Assignment notebook
2. Reading book
3. Math ws (if they had one)
4. Folder

When the jar is full the students can have a choice of a few fun things: iPad time, prize from the treasure box, etc.

I will explain this to the kids this week and get things rolling on Monday.  Please remind your child and have them be responsible to make sure all the items listed above are in their bag for school.

Here is a copy of the Homework Chart.

Today was the 12th anniversary of 9/11.  Like most of you, I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with when I found out what happened.  I know none of my students were born at that time, but it is an important date in our history to talk about.  Yesterday we made mosaic American flags to display today.  News-2-You had a short article about Patriot Day (9/11) and what it stands for.  The article mentioned how flags fly at half staff on Patriot Day, so we took a short "field-trip" to the flag flying out front of CCIS.

I was talking to a teacher friend Saturday night and I said "I wonder how the school year started for the faculty, staff, parents, and students at Sandy Hook Elementary?"  Then today, Dr. Bugg emailed this article.  I can not even begin to understand how the students, parents, or teachers feel/felt about what happened last December, but this mother's letter sounds like she and her family are trying to move forward with their lives and support the school.  This is such a beautifully written article, that it made me cry.

I am thankful that you allow me to spend the day with your children each day.  I am hopeful that you trust me to keep your children safe while in my care at CCIS.  Thank you for your trust and support! :)

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/09/06/03marquezgreen.h33.html?tkn=VZTF3CYMOTTIb%2Bzy2iBQTvgKvVFKEdGpv3Vv&cmp=ENL-EU-PROMO

I found this article on my Facebook news feed this morning, and I wanted to share it with you.  It talks about how important relationships between children with special needs and children who are typically developing are.  The mother in the article talks about how it will take work on the parents part to get these relationships going, but worth it in the end.  My favorite part of the article in when they say that "they are children first."

I know my students love to be in specials, lunch, and recess with their typical developing peers.  The kids will ask questions about my students because they are curious (as most children are).  Myself and my assistants always answer the kids with honest explanations and try to explain that my students are MORE alike them than they are different.  :)

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7152646714024333274#editor/target=post;postID=2380170887525126546;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=link

How do you get through your day?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIAP04cc6qc&list=PLGQfj8pKWXeioLMJ1ISN5sAEHr2mfuNui&index=5

People who are differently abled can do anything with family support and self determination!

Reminder:

NO school today: Labor Day

Early dismissal (11:35)  Wednesday

Enjoy your time off kiddos! :)