Rm. 65’s First Marble Party! by Slidely Slideshow

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:

• Student’s name and teacher’s name.
• Name of the animal.
• 3 facts about the animal.
• 1 question you still wonder/have about the animal.
• Sock animals must not exceed 12 inches in height nor width.

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

Read by Mrs. Berube’s and Mrs. Narciso’s 2014-2015 Classes.

Songs:
Kindness Song in Sign Language

Friend Song http://singdancelearn.com/character-education-songs/friend-song/

Jack Johnson: We Are Gonna Be Friends

Bruno Mars: Count On Me

Activities:

Kindness Valentine: Using a heart shape (attached) and a cloze phrase for the card (i.e., I like you because ____.; I like the way you_____.). Write the card and place it in a classmate’s mailbox or display it on a bulletin board, etc.

Cooperative Picture: Divide the class into partners. Take turns drawing features on a face, butterfly, animal or house together. Each partner signs his/her name and displays the picture. Variation: Have partners work together to use crayons to colour a picture that has already been created. Pictures can be related to existing classroom themes, etc.

Block Exchange: Review safe movements in the classroom and expectations for greetings (i.e., eye contact, friendly voice, handshake, etc.). Give each student a block (half should be one color and the other half another color). Give a signal for students to begin greeting those who have a different color block. When a greeting is complete, the two students exchange blocks. The process continues with students looking for someone with a different color block. After about 2 minutes, give a signal for the greeting activity to end.

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone’s summer has gotten off to a great start! I went to Restaurant 701 and used my gift certificate. Coach Bartell and I had a blast! Hopefully some of you will visit our blog and leave a comment. I would love to know how everyone is doing.

Love,

Mrs. Bartell

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!

• Blauvelt Public Library
• Palisades Free Library
• Piermont Public Library
• Orangeburg Public LIbrary
• Tappan Public Library

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.

The word of the month for June is self-acceptance. Self-acceptance is acceptance of self in spite of deficiencies.
In the video below, Lupita Nyong’o helps Elmo deliver a message to kids about why they should love their skin. This message of self-acceptance and an informative lecture: Our skin protects us, it helps us touch and feel things, and – perhaps most importantly – it allows us to be tickled! “Skin comes in lots of beautiful shades and colors”! It’s important to love the skin you’re in.

Sing along as Will.i.am sings “What I Am” as part of Sesame Street’s 41st season.

Read: I Don’t Want To Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives—a wolf who HATES eating frogs—our hero decides that maybe being himself isn’t so bad after all.