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

Flexibility…Be flexible!

April’s word of the month is flexibility. Having a positive and hopeful attitude helps us to overcome challenges. When times are difficult or mistakes are made, it is important to stay motivated and be flexible. Being flexible helps us when we need to cope with changes. Flexibility helps us to think about problems in new, creative ways.

Overview: Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Assembly Read Aloud: But, Excuse Me, That Is My Book by Lauren Child

In this funny “Charlie and Lola” adventure, Lola insists on going to the library to get her favorite book, the same one she has taken out over and over again. What will happen when she discovers that the book she loves is not on the library shelves? Will Lola be flexible and take an different book from the library shelves?

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Read Alouds:

Zoom by Istvan Banyai

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy

Not a Box by Antionette Portis

The Girl Who NEVER Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

Duck Rabbit by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Not a Stick by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

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

Today is the 33rd Annual Rockland Read-In. We will tabulate the total amount of minutes of reading throughout our day. Take a look at our photos from the start of our morning.

Be persistent! Persistence is the continuous effort to do or achieve something even when faced with obstacles.

Assembly Read Aloud: My Brave Year of Firsts by Jamie Lee Curtis

Books that teach persistence:

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

The Very Busy Spider written and illustrated by Eric Carle

I Knew You Could! A Book For All The Stops In Your Life by Craig Dorfman

Below is a fun little animation that illustrates persistence!

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.

Today during our technology class Mrs. Nerkizian had the children work on the computers to practice using a mouse. There are some fun games for the children to try at home. Enjoy!

Friday, October 14 was Fire Prevention day at WOS. The children had an opportunity to see the fire trucks in our community and ask the firefighters questions. The firefighters showed the equipment used to fight fires and conduct rescues. The children were reminded what to do and who to call in case of an emergency.  Remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and set up a family meeting place in case of fire or emergency.

We are having a sock drive at WOS.  Take a look below.

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!