Our class has been working hard with all types of writing: personal narrative, small moments and nonfiction how-to!
A classroom celebration will be held on Tuesday, December 22nd at 2:15pm. Students will share their writing piece, make a small winter craft and have a yummy snack!
Help us celebrate our Nonfiction “How To” writing by leaving a message for us in the comment section of this blog. To read our stories click on the red target on the bottom left of each child’s photograph!
Please post to your blog in order to remind the community to give to Meals on Wheels this holiday season. Thank you.
December is the perfect month for families to consider helping others in need. For the fourteenth year, William O. Schaefer family’s are given the opportunity to share food with the home bound and elderly residents of South Orangetown by making Covered Cupboards for the Meals on Wheels Program.
Covered Cupboards are simply made by filling shoe boxes with nutritious foods. Do not wrap paper around the lid and box or glue 3-D decorations to lids. Please just loosely tape the lid to the box. Drawings on the lids or covers is welcomed! These Covered Cupboards are delivered to seniors for use when inclement weather prohibits delivery of a hot meal.
Please drop off your Covered Cupboards at William O. Schaefer (WOS), 140 Lester Drive, Tappan, New York. The Executive Director of Meals on Wheels, Jim Burton, will pick up the Covered Cupboards at WOS on Wednesday, December 23rd.
Thank you in advance for giving so generously to the seniors in our community during this winter season.
Please refer to Covered Cupboard Food List to find out all the details, including the suggested food list. Questions can be forwarded to mchaudoir@socsd.org.
Responsibility is being accountable for your own actions.
Assembly Read Aloud: What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
Additional Suggested Titles:
I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer |
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 |
But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook |
I Tell the Truth! by David Parker  |
Pigsty by Mark Teague
An amiable fantasy on a common theme. When Wendell’s mother takes a look at his messy room, throws up her hands in resignation, and tells him he can live in a pigsty if he wants to, he is delighted. What only he knows is that two pigs have found his room so agreeable that they have moved in. He enjoys playing with them, even though he has to give them his bed and they hog his pillows and blankets. But even Wendell has his limit, and when they chew his baseball cards, he reaches it. His mother hands her son a broom, and in a flash of inspiration he organizes the porkers into a cleaning crew.
The Paperboy by Dave Pilky
Early one cold morning a boy and his dog rise to deliver newspapers. In almost reverential silence they eat breakfast, prepare the newspapers, then step out into the chill, leaving sleeping parents and sister inside.
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin
Ruthie loves little things–the smaller, the better. When she finds a teeny tiny toy on the school playground, she can hardly believe her luck. There’s just one problem: it belongs to somebody else! Ruthie insists the toy is hers, but deep down, she knows better. How could one little toy turn into such a great big problem?
The Emperors Egg by Martin Jenkins
Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch.
Look at our pumpkin! It lost a tooth!
This year we celebrate National Day on Writing with all first graders at William O. Schaefer. The first graders completed their first writing unit of study! Congratulations! The students will proudly share their work in each first grade classroom on Tuesday, October 20th. Please help celebrate their hard work and efforts by congratulating them when you see them!
Read: Arthur Writes a Story by Marc Brown
When Mr. Ratburn gives a creative writing assignment to the class, Arthur wonders what makes a good story. When D.W. yawns through Arthur’s first tale, he decides he needs to look a some new angles. With each new angle, Arthur’s story takes one more hilarious step further from his original idea — but is the end result really the tale Arthur wants to tell?
Watch the animation, Arthur Writes A Story, below.
Kid President’s Socktober and Ms. Kolesar are inspiring students to donate a pair of socks to others in need. This small act of love inspired this month’s creativity challenge. So take out those socks you’ve never worn or the forlorn socks in the laundry room with no partners and whip up a cute sock animal!
Challenge: Research an animal of your choice. Once you have researched and learned about the animal, transform an ordinary sock into that animal.
Entries should include:
No Monkey business! All entries must be submitted before October 26th.
Creativity is seeing the world in a new way.
Have Fun!
Learning how to sew some basic stitches is an important life skill. Spend a quiet afternoon learning these two simple stitches. The two simple stitches illustrated in the video below are a great starting point for how to sew. Watch the how-to video tutorial to find out how to do a running stitch and a backstitch. Both stitches will be very useful when making your sock animal. Happy sewing!
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: Heartprints by P.K. Hallinan
Additional Titles:
Are You Empathetic Today? by Kris Yankee and Marian Nelson |
Millie Fierce by Jane Manning |
Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes |
The Potato Chip Champ by Maria Dismondy |
South by Patrick McDonnell |
Pirates and Princesses by Jill Kargman and Christine Davenier |
How to Lose All of Your Friends by Nancy Carlson |
Giddeon and Otto by Oliver Dunrea |
Friends Always by Tanja Wenisch |
Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
When Mrs. Ruler asks five of her kindergarteners to miss recess, she’s got a special plan up her sleeve. She’s about to teach a new golden rule:
KINDNESS IS COOL!
How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
In a city full of hurried people, only young Will notices the bird lying hurt on the ground. With the help of his sympathetic mother, he gently wraps the injured bird and takes it home.
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Marie Dismondy
How can Ralph be so mean? Lucy is one of a kind and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy’s defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make a good choice.
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.
When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.
How to Fill Your Bucket by Carol McCloud and David Messing
Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. As he goes about his day, Felix interacts with different people — his sister Anna, his grandfather, other family and friends. Some people are happy, but others are grumpy or sad. Using the metaphor of a bucket and dipper, Felix’ grandfather explains why the happy people make Felix feel good, while the others leave him feeling bad — and how Felix himself is affecting others, whether he means to or not.
Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle
In a 2009 Newsweek article, Eric Carle was asked which of his books were his favorite. He named this book, stating that it was an autobiographical story of his search for friendship as an immigrant 5-year-old. He finally found a close friend just before he moved back to Germany, which was soon war-torn.
How Kind by Mary Murphy
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.
Respect is demonstrating courteous behavior, being polite, gracious, well-mannered and considerate around others.
Assembly Read Aloud: Are You Respectful Today? by Kris Yankee & Marian Nelson
Please Say Please by Margery Cuyler |
Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller |
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel |
Clifford’s Book of Manners by Norman Bridwell |
The Legend of Papa Balloon by C. R. McClure |
How To Be a Friend by Laurie Kransy Brown & Marc Brown |
Additional Titles:
Me First by Helen Lester
Pinkerton Pig always has to be first — first to eat, first off the bus — until, running to be first for a sandwich, he finds himself in trouble with the Sand Witch.
The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill
Mean Jean is the reigning Recess Queen, pushing and smooshing, hammering and slammering the other kids whenever they cross her. And then one day a puny new girl shows up on the playground and catches Mean Jean completely off-guard. Not only is little Katie Sue not the least bit intimidated by the bully, she actually asks her to jump rope with her. In no time flat, Jean and Katie Sue are best buddies, and the playground is safe for all again.
Same Same But Different by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw
Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different!
Respect Song:
Below is a short film created to help teach my students “What is a Friend?”
June is here and you can feel the heat of summer in the hallways. Days are longer, attention spans are growing shorter, and everyone is ready for summer break. Just because the school year is ending doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. Students who do not continue reading over the summer are likely to lose ground. Encourage your child to keep reading! This blog post is filled with recommendations, activities, tips, and resources to help you motivate your child all summer long! If you want to receive tweets about “Summer Reading” subscribe to @WOSNews! Don’t have a twitter account? Sign up HERE.
Don’t Miss the Summer Reading “Kick Off” Celebration, Tuesday, June 23, at ST. Catharine’s with Chip Bryant! Pick up a flyer at the event which will include summer programs from all 5 public libraries. Your child can visit and participate in any or all of the “Mighty 5 Libraries!”
Please Note: Your child will NOT be receiving a Summer Reading log from William O. Schaefer (WOS). The children can visit any of the Mighty 5 Libraries in our district to register for summer reading and pick up a reading log. Please have your child bring their Summer Reading log to school with them in September.
Check out all of the available “Summer Reading Events” at the Mighty 5 Libraries of South Orangetown!
Did you know the Mighty 5 Libraries of South Orangetown have eBooks and audiobooks? Listen to a book alone or with your family and add it to your reading log. Talk to the librarians and tell them about the books you have read!
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children and offers a Summer Reading list for Grades K-2.
Caldecott Medal and Honor Books, 1938-Present
Below are a few book trailers of Barnes and Nobile recommended top picks for grades 1 & 2.
Audiobooks are the perfect companion for a family road trip! Visit tryaudiobooks.com for FREE DOWNLOADS and suggested ways you can listen to audiobooks.
Booklists from the Brooklyn Public Library: Books for Kindergarten & Grade 1 AND Books for Grades 2 & 3
NY Public Libraries 100 Great Children’s books.
Incoming 3rd graders can access the Cottage Lane “Summer Reading” page HERE.