Friendship

Be a good friend!

Friendship is being caring and considerate to self and others. A kind person shows concern for the feelings of others and is helpful and generous.

Assembly Read Aloud: Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev.

When the local Pet Club won’t admit a boy’s tiny pet elephant, he finds a solution—one that involves all kinds of unusual animals in this sweet and adorable picture book.

Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.

Books:

Additional Resources:

• Kindness Song in Sign Language
• Friend Song
• Jack Johnson We Are Gonna Be Friends Song
• Bruno Mars You Can Count on Me Song

Kindness is Cooler Mrs Ruler Read Aloud

How To Heal a Broken Wing

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun Read Aloud

The Invisible Boy Read Aloud

How Full is Your Bucket Read Aloud

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_OrxUPE1sD8SnR1SFp0cTgtVjA

Click the link above to practice the Frog and Toad songs WITHOUT THE WORDS! 🙂

Be responsible! Responsibility is being accountable for your own actions.

Assembly Read Aloud:
But It’s Not My Fault! by Julia Cook

My name is Norman David Edwards… but everybody calls me Noodle. Sometimes things happen to me that get me into trouble. But it’s not my fault! This first book in the new Responsible Me! Series, follows Noodle through a very rough day at school. It just isn’t his fault that his brother’s game ran late and he didn’t finish his homework. Or that his mom forgot to remind him to turn in his library book. Or that Mary Gold got in his airspace and hit his arm with her head…

Students will join Noodle on his journey as he learns not to blame others or try to find fault, but instead practices accepting responsibility, and turns his very rough day into a very good NEW day!

Books:

• Pigsty by Mark Teague
• I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer
• Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin
• The Way I Act by Steve Metzger
• Lucy Goosey Takes Responsibility by Katherine Ciriello Clark
• The Worst Day of my Life Ever! by Julia Cook and Kelsey De Weerd
• I Am Responsible! by David Parker
• I Tell the Truth! by David Parker

Read Aloud YouTube Videos:

Charlie and Lola:It Wasn’t Me by Lauren Child

Pigsty by Mark Teague

What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick

The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin

The Emperor’s Egg by Erin Boone

The Way I Act by Steve Metzger

The Worst Day of my Life Ever! by Julia Cook and Kelsey De Weerd

Be Positive! Optimism is the ability to remain hopeful and confident about the future or successful outcome of something.
Assembly Read Aloud:
Pete the Cat I Like My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

Books with Optimism Theme:

Be Positive! A Book about Optimism by Cheri Meiners	Wanda’s Roses by Pat Brisson	Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin	When Pigs Fly by Valerie Coulman
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus	Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best	The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper	I Think, I Am by Louise Hay

Additional Resources:

Songs:

The nation celebrates Veterans Day on November 11th to honor all who have served in the military for the United States. Across America, various parades and ceremonies are held to celebrate the loyal services of our country’s armed forces. Watch the video below to learn more about Veteran’s Day.

The Character Education Word of the Month for November is “Gratitude”. It is important that Americans give thanks for their freedom. Veteran’s Day is an opportunity to honor, give thanks and to be grateful to those who have served or are currently serving in the military.

This year, William O. Schaefer (WOS) is participating in the Vetiquette Program’s; Veteran’s Day Project spearheaded by Maureen Kelly. Each student will decorate a brown lunch bag which will be filled with candy and gifted to a veteran. Students will also write a note of thanks on a dog tag style card identifying at least one character trait that our veterans display by their service. (e.g., brave, generous, selfless, kind, etc.) As liaison to the project, first grade teacher Suzanne Luke coordinates the efforts of all WOS teachers and students assists in collecting, packing and shipping out the project. Thank you Mrs. Luke!

Additional Resources:
Learn a Veterans Day Song or Poem, Songs for Teaching has a long list of Veteran’s Day songs to choose.
Read a picture book about veterans.

Kids Thank a Vet includes many resources to help kids learn more about veterans. There are pictures of famous veterans, book lists, activities, and much more.

Are there additional ways you and your family celebrate Veterans Day? What are they? Please share in the comment section below.

The United States presidential election of 2016 takes place on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Voters will select presidential electors, who in turn will vote for a new president and vice president thro…

Source: Patriotic Coffee Cup Election Challege

Every night in the United States an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets. This October, SoulPancake and Kid President want 2 million people to prove that even the smallest acts of love, like donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless.

Socktober was launched by Kid President creator Brad Montague four years ago. It’s a movement to get kids and grown-ups to help the homeless in an easy, fun way.

Last year, more than 10,000 schools, families, businesses, and churches rallied together to bring Socktober to life. People from every state and continent have taken part in Socktober! This year, William O. Schaefer is participating and we are having a “Sock Drive” the last week in October!

All of the socks we collect as a community will be donated to a local shelter.

H/T to Ms. Kolesar!

Take the Sock Challenge. Leave your answer in the comments below!

Let’s harvest them and bring them to school for some book character fun! Follow the detailed directions below to participate in the October Pumpkin Character Challenge.

1. Select a book you have read or want to read.
2. Choose one character from the story to focus on.
3. Create this character using a pumpkin. Please be sure the pumpkin is small enough to carry to school. You may decorate it, glue things on it, carve it, or paint it! Be Creative!
4. You MUST complete the book report below or your October Pumpkin Character will NOT be accepted.
5. Deadline for the October Pumpkin Character Challenge is October 14th!

It is difficult to believe that most elementary-age children were not born when the horrific events of September 11th rocked our nation. However, as teachers and as communities we respectfully remember and learn about what happened during and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks just like we learned about the American Revolution, the Civil War and the Declaration of Independence. The stories below will empower students at William O. Schaefer to discover their own super powers!

The Man In Red Bandana by Honor Crowther Fagan

When Welles Crowther was a young boy, his father gave him a red bandanna, which he always carried with him. On September 11, 2001, Welles Remy Crowther saved numerous people from the upper floors of the World Trade Center South Tower. “The Man in the Red Bandanna” recounts and celebrates his heroism on that day. Welles’ story carries an inspirational message that will resonate with adults as well as young children.

Listen to the story below read by Emma.

September 12th: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right

Heartfelt and touching book by 1st graders at Masterson Elementary School in Kennet, Missouri, about the day after the tragic events of September 11th.

On September 11th horrific events occurred, yet through the simple text and vibrant art of first graders, we are reminded that the world continued the next day. On each page, children experience the comforts of ordinary routines, such as their teacher reading books to them, having homework and recess, and knowing that 2 + 2 still equals 4. This is a poignant message of hope that reassures us all that even after bad things happen, tomorrow always brings a new day.

Listen to the story below read by our assistant principal, Jeannine Carr.

Hello Friends and welcome to our class!

This year will be filled with great experiences, deep learning and lots of fun!  I am thrilled to get to work with each and every one of you and know that we will have a great year together. This is our class blog.  It is a place where we can connect as a class to discuss ideas we are having and reflections on things we are learning.  You will also find resources that support what we are studying in the classroom, such as games for additional practice, word of the month books and activities, and information for special events or celebrations. I hope that you check out our blog frequently and post your thoughts and ideas!  I can’t wait to meet you all tomorrow!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Benaquista