Fall Read-In Tomorrow

Two Room K-3 students partnership read.

It was great meeting so many of you last week and listening to your thoughtful reflections on your students and their progress in class.

No School On Election Day
On Tuesday, November 7th all Ann Arbor schools will be closed so they can be used as voting locations.  There will be no school on Tuesday, November 7th.

Curriculum Overview

STEAM Project - As we study our own school community, we will try to better understand the word 'community' as well as different 'roles' within that community.   To do this we will read non-fiction books about communities and community members.

Reading - We have been studying the differences between fiction and non-fiction books.

Writing - This week we are studying ending punctuation and how it can change the meaning of sentences.  We are also trying to 'hear' complete sentences so we know where to put our ending punctuation.

Math - We will solve and act out simple addition and subtraction word problems.

Word Study - This week we will practice reading and writing simple 3 letter words.  We will start with the -at family (cat, hat, rat, mat, bat).

Classroom Reading on October 31st

Some A2Steam students pose in the photobooth at the Fall Festival.

It was great seeing so many of you at the A2Steam Fall Festival.  There are some pictures in the Room K-3 Photo Gallery.

October 31st Family Read-In
This is repeated from last week: You are welcome to join us on October 31st for a Room K-3 family read-in at 2:20 PM!  Students and parents will read non-fiction books about pumpkins, non-fiction books about autumn, and some 'scary' stories.  If you would like to join us and read to a small group of kids please email our Room K-3 room parent at the email address I provided over email.  I have a lot of books to share but if you would like to bring a favorite from home that is fine too.  If you do not want to read but still want to join us that is possible too!  Younger siblings are welcome to come as well.  While we read the kids will enjoy snacking on healthy items like popcorn and carrot sticks.  If you are interested in bringing some simple popcorn, carrot sticks, or something similar let our Room K-3 room parent know when you email.  Please do not send in any cookies, candies, or other sweets, save that for trick-or-treating later in the evening.

No Costumes on Halloween Please
This is repeated from last week: For families new to Ann Arbor STEAM please be advised that students do not wear costumes to school on Halloween.  Also, as I wrote above, please do not send in any cookies, candies, or other sweets, save that for trick-or-treating later in the evening.

Conferences
I look forward to seeing you this week.  You can review your parent/teacher conference times here.

Half Day For Students Next Wednesday
This Wednesday, October 25th, will be a half-day for students.  Students will be dismissed at 12:52 PM.

No School On Election Day - Millage Renewal Information
On Tuesday, November 7th, all Ann Arbor schools will be closed so they can be used as voting locations.  There will be no school on Tuesday, November 7th.  We encourage to vote in the election.  If you would like more information on the Ann Arbor Public Schools millage renewal, which is on the ballot, click here.


Curriculum Overview

STEAM Project - As we study our own school community, we will try to better understand the word 'community'.   To do this we will read non-fiction books about communities and community members.  We are also writing about the people we interviewed.

Reading - This week students will be identifying the characters and setting of fiction books.  Ask your students about Big Al, Tikki Tikki Tembo, The Snowy Day, and Library Lion.

Writing - Students have been practicing putting spaces in between the words they write.  This week we are also study ending punctuation.

Math - This week we will looking at different ways to sort and classify objects.  Ask your student about the shoe sort we did today.

Word Study - This week we will practice hearing the ending sound in words.

Kindergarteners Interviewing the A2STEAM Faculty

Two Room K-3 students head off to interview one of the A2STEAM faculty members. More photos below.

As part of our Community PBL kindergarten students are interviewing and photographing the adults at our school.  We still have a few people left to schedule this week but most kids have gone on one interview.  A couple of times I have sent our classroom aide Ms. Colden to take photos (below) but for the most part kids are conducting the interviews on their own.  They are asking everyone what name they want students to call them, what they do here at school, and whether or not they can take their picture.

October 31st Family Read-In
You are welcome to join us on October 31st for a Room K-3 family read-in at 2:20 PM!  Students and parents will read non-fiction books about pumpkins, non-fiction books about autumn, and some 'scary' stories.  If you would like to join us and read to a small group of kids please email our Room K-3 room parent at the email address I provided over email.  I have a lot of books to share but if you would like to bring a favorite from home that is fine too.  If you do not want to read but still want to join us that is possible too!  Younger siblings are welcome to come as well.  While we read the kids will enjoy snacking on healthy items like popcorn and carrot sticks.  If you are interested in bringing some simple popcorn, carrot sticks, or something similar let our Room K-3 room parent know when you email.  Please do not send in any cookies, candies, or other sweets, save that for trick-or-treating later in the evening.

No Costumes on Halloween Please
For families new to Ann Arbor STEAM please be advised that students do not wear costumes to school on Halloween.  Also, as I wrote above, please do not send in any cookies, candies, or other sweets, save that for trick-or-treating later in the evening.

Conferences
I look forward to seeing you next week.  You can review your parent/teacher conference times here.

Half Day For Students Next Wednesday
Next Wednesday, October 25th, will be a half-day for students.  Students will be dismissed at 12:53 PM.

No School On Election Day - Millage Renewal Information
On Tuesday, November 7th, all Ann Arbor schools will be closed so they can be used as voting locations.  There will be no school on Tuesday, November 7th.  We encourage to vote in the election.  If you would like more information on the Ann Arbor Public Schools millage renewal, which is on the ballot, click here.

Volunteering
I know many of you would like to come to the classroom to volunteer.  I am waiting for final clearance from the district and the office based on those background forms you filled out.

Curriculum Overview

STEAM Project - Last week students were interviewing and photographing different adults here at STEAM.  This week we will write about the people we interviewed.

Reading - Last week we focused on identifying the characters of fiction books, including the main character.  This week we will also discuss the setting of fiction books.

Writing - Students are writing about a time they had a strong emotion.

Math - Last week we practiced breaking apart different numbers into parts and combining those parts back together again.  This week we will study and practice all the different ways to break apart ten (i.e. 5 + 5 = 10, 4 + 6 = 10, 3 + 7 = 10, 2 + 8 = 10, 1 + 9 = 10)

Word Study - This week we will practice hearing the beginning sound in words.

Two Room K-3 students interview assistant principal Brooke Stidham.

Two Room K-3 students interview principal Meg Fenech.

Two Room K-3 students interview our custodian, Mr. Yousuf.

The A2STEAM Community

Students created these posters about themselves.  They were sent out to you in Seesaw.  Now we are interviewing and making posters for other people at STEAM.

Kindness Challenge
Our Music teacher Ms. Huckabone, along A2STEAM as a whole, is launching a 'Kindness Challenge' this week.  This is perfect for Room K-3 because as part of our study of the A2STEAM community we have been learning about and practicing acts of kindness in class.  We have practiced compliments, helpful actions, and greetings.  I have challenged students to complete acts of kindness both at school and at home.  Ask your students what acts of kindness they have done today.  You can also ask them about the book Kindness is Cooler Ms. Ruler, you might even see if you can find that book at the Ann Arbor Public Library.

Fall Festival
The A2STEAM PTO is hosting a school-wide Fall Festival party at our school on October 20th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  This flyer has more information.  It is always a fun time for.  I plan on being there for the first hour or so.  They also need volunteers, if you are interested this is where you sign up.

Fall Conferences
If you haven't already please sign up for a Fall Parent/Teacher conference. 

Curriculum Overview

STEAM Project - Last week students began interviewing and photographing different adults here at STEAM.  We will do more interviews this week.

Reading - This week students will be identifying the characters of fiction books.

Writing - This week students are writing a simple opinion piece.  Students are choosing a favorite book and writing about what they like about it.

Math - Today we studied hexagons.  This week we will study and practice all the different ways to break apart ten (i.e. 5 + 5 = 10, 4 + 6 = 10, 3 + 7 = 10, 2 + 8 = 10, 1 + 9 = 10)

Word Study - This week we will practice hearing the first sound in words.

Please Sign Up for Fall Conferences

What does STEAM stand for?  A is for Artist.  A local artist visited kindergarten to teach us how to paint landscapes.

Lots of new photos this week in our photo gallery and on our twitter feed.  Both of those are linked on the upper right side of this page.

Fall Conferences
I have Fall parent teacher conferences scheduled for October 24th, 26th, and 27th.  Please use this link to sign up for a Fall parent/teacher conference.  This will be a time for us to sit down, review some of the work your child has been doing in class, and discuss goals for the next marking period.  If the times I have made available do not work for you, no problem, just email me and we will find another time that works.  It is very important that we find a time to meet.

Room Parent
Are any of you interested in being our Room K-3 Room Parent?  Primarily you would act as an online liason between the A2STEAM PTO and our classroom parents.  I will be here to help you and I don't think it ends up being tons of work.  Please email me if you are interested.

Another Half-Day
Great job planning around the half day we had last week.  I noticed that we have another half day coming up.  On Wednesday, October 25th, students will again be dismissed at 12:53 PM.

Curriculum Overview
STEAM Project - Last week students began creating posters to teach the rest of the class about who they are.  We also finished reviewing the family photos you sent in to help each student tell their story a little bit more.  This week, students will begin going out into to the school to photograph and 'interview' adults at STEAM like Principal Fenech, Assistant Principal Stidham, and the different special area teachers.  We will take their photos and make them posters as well.  Our overall goal is for students to learn about all the people at STEAM and demonstrate how to create a safe, respectful, and responsible school community.

Reading - This week students will beginning identifying the characters in fiction books, including understanding which character would be considered the main character.

Writing - Students have been practicing the steps necessary to capture and communicate their experiences using drawing and writing.  They will also write about the adults at STEAM for our current project.

Math - Our focus this week is learning to recognize and describe two-dimensional shapes and understanding what mathematical attributes define squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.

Word Study - This week we will study the spelling of our names and look similarities in our names like matching beginning sounds and spelling patterns.

Assistant Principal Mrs. Stidham met with all the A2STEAM kindergarteners and presented us with two challenges:  Challenge 1: Learn the names of all the people who are part of the A2STEAM community.  Challenge 2: create videos to teach the whole school how to be Responsible, Respectful, and Safe.