Family Conferences
I’m looking forward to connecting with you during our upcoming family conferences. This is a great opportunity to celebrate your child’s strengths, discuss their progress, and share insights about their first-grade experience. I’d also love to hear any updates from home!
The district has scheduled March 4 as our designated Family Conference Day. To accommodate different schedules, I am also offering additional conference times on March 6 and 7.
To sign up, please review the available time slots and select one using the sign-up button below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Thank you for your continued support—I look forward to meeting with you soon!
Best regards,
Karen
We had so much fun ice skating! Well, minus my concussion, but I had fun watching the kids!
February 24 - March 4, Winter Break, No School for students
March 4, Family Conference, 7:30-2:30
Please help your child come prepared with appropriate winter gear, including:
Warm hats
Mittens or gloves
Snowpants
Winter boots
To keep everyone comfortable and ready for learning, we also want students to have a pair of indoor shoes here at school. Wearing boots all day can be uncomfortable and messy. If it’s easier, your child can keep a pair of shoes at school.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with winter gear.
Notes and Updates
It feels absolutely wonderful to be back in the classroom, surrounded by the laughter, energy, and boundless curiosity of your amazing children. I didn’t realize just how much I missed their bright smiles, their eager questions, and the joy they bring to each day until I walked through the door again. Seeing their faces light up when they saw me, hearing their excited voices sharing stories, and feeling their warmth and enthusiasm reminded me just how special our little classroom community is. There's something truly magical about being in a space where learning, creativity, and friendship bloom every single day.
Being away made me appreciate even more the small, beautiful moments that make teaching so rewarding—the proud grins when they master a new concept, the way they support one another, and even the silly moments that make us all burst into laughter. Their kindness, curiosity, and determination inspire me, and I feel so lucky to be back where I belong, guiding them on their learning journey. My heart is full knowing that we can continue growing, exploring, and dreaming big together in 2025!
Dear Families,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a joyful and relaxing holiday season. I’ve missed the kiddos and am excited to reconnect with them this Thursday and Friday.
I want to take a moment to share some important news about an extended leave I will be taking. From January 6-17, I will be in Florida to care for my father, who is recovering from thyroid and larynx removal surgery and undergoing radiation treatment. This is a critical time in his recovery, and my support is needed.
While I understand that my absence may not be ideal, please rest assured that I have carefully prepared detailed plans to ensure your child’s learning continues smoothly. A guest teacher will be in the classroom, and I will remain in close contact with both the guest teacher and Mrs. Grykien during my leave to stay connected and informed about the class’s progress.
Your child will be in excellent hands, and I am confident that the first-grade team’s support will ensure a positive and productive learning environment. Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Karen
A special thank you to everyone who helped make our Hand to Hand Sale a success!
Hand to Hand Sale
Our Hand to Hand Sale is in 8 school days. We will spend the first part of the morning "selling" items to other students, and then later in the morning we will have an opportunity to shop for items as gifts for others. You may want to help your child create a list of people to shop for. Generally, students are able to get 10 items.
Wednesday afternoon we will wrap our gifts. To help with this, we could use the following items here at school:
Wrapping paper of any kind, (birthday, generic, holiday, etc..) partial rolls are fine
Clear tape. 1st graders go through quite a bit of tape when wrapping gifts.
Gift tags. We have 14 students and each child will have 10 gifts. That's a lot of tags. Again, this can be partial rolls/sheets.
Gift Bags, for those awkward shaped items.
Tissue Paper, for those fragile items.
Also, it is helpful if your child comes to school with a sturdy, reusable bag (or 2) to keep their items in.
Thank you,
Celebrating Ruby Bridges
Week 12: Nov. 11-15
Literacy: In literacy, we wrapped up our 12-week unit on Tools and Work. Students completed their "magnificent things" and proudly presented their creations to Mrs. Whitmore's Kindergarten class. Throughout the project, they demonstrated important habits of character, including initiative, collaboration, perseverance, and responsibility!
Math: In math this week, we wrapped up Unit 2 by focusing on addition and subtraction story problems. Students have shown great understanding in modeling, representing, and solving these problems—what a fantastic accomplishment!
SEL: This week in Health and Wellness students focused on practicing a Zones Check-In, which involves three key steps:
Pause and observe: Students take a moment to notice their body's signals, such as their breathing pace or movement level.
Name the emotion: Identifying their emotion is the first step toward self-regulation.
Identify the Zone: Students match their emotion to one of the Zones of Regulation.
This process helps students build awareness and develop skills to manage their feelings effectively!
Week 11
Jolene's Golden Ticket revealed "Be the Photographer for the Day!"
Week 10
Working collaboratively to build our Magnificent Thing!
Week 9
As we dive into creating our classroom "Magnificent Thing," I am so proud of our first graders' progress! We’ve been exploring key habits of character: initiative, collaboration, and perseverance.
Each student has shown initiative by brainstorming creative ideas that can enhance our classroom, taking ownership of the project from the start. Collaboration has been essential, with students sharing ideas, listening to each other, and working together to reach common goals. They’re also building perseverance as they face challenges, revisiting and adjusting their plans when things don’t go as expected.
Through planning, working, and revising, they’re learning that creating something magnificent takes time, patience, and a willingness to improve. We can’t wait to see the final results of their hard work and creativity!
Week 8
Leaf Making
Pumpkin Adventures
Weeks 6 and 7
In literacy, our class has been diving into an exciting new text, The Little Red Pen. Students have been practicing their close reading skills, searching for key words that reveal how characters are feeling and exploring the shades of meaning behind those words. This has helped them deepen their understanding of language and how emotions are expressed. Additionally, we’ve been analyzing the characters' Habits of Character, discovering which habits help them get the job done. The students are thoroughly enjoying this fun and engaging story!"
Indian Brook Hike
Our hike was absolutely incredible, and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! A huge thank you to all of our wonderful chaperones—your support made this field trip possible. We are so grateful for your time and help in making it a memorable adventure for our students. We truly couldn't have done it without you!
Our mathematicians have been hard at work exploring various types of story problems. They've been learning how to carefully analyze each problem and write matching expressions before solving them. In the process, students are starting to showcase their thinking in multiple ways—using words, diagrams, and equations to explain their approach. This is helping them deepen their problem-solving skills and gain confidence in expressing their mathematical reasoning!
Week 6 Pictures
Week 5 Highlights
High Quality Work
Math in Action
We Just wrapped up our first math unit, “Adding, Subtracting, and Working with Data,” the students have been building important skills in both math operations and data analysis.
Adding and Subtracting: Students practiced addition and subtraction within 10, especially focusing on adding and subtracting 1 or 2, as they build fluency throughout the year.
Data Work: Students sorted, collected, and organized data through class surveys, creating their own representations of the results. They used pictures, tally marks, and numbers to describe and analyze data, asking questions like, “Which animal would make the best class pet?”
It’s been a great start to the year, and your child has already grown so much as a mathematician!
Literacy Skills at Work
Students have been engaging in close reading of the story The Most Magnificent Thing. Through this text, we are focusing on understanding the characters, the central message of perseverance, and the process of invention and creativity.
As we read, we are practicing important skills like asking and answering questions about key details, making predictions, and discussing the challenges the main character faces as she tries to bring her ideas to life. This unit has sparked some great conversations about how mistakes are a natural part of learning and problem-solving!
Our lessons also include vocabulary building, where we’re focusing on words related to tools, creating, and persistence, as well as opportunities for students to express their ideas through drawing and writing.
Weeks 3 and 4
We’ve had a wonderfully busy few weeks! The students are settling into the routine of school, becoming more familiar with expectations, and building their stamina for a structured day. I can honestly say, "We have a TERRIFIC class!"
We’ve been learning about tools and how different people use them in their work and lives. In math, we’ve explored strategies for both addition and subtraction, as well as answered questions to collect and analyze data. The class has also been sorting shapes, focusing on different attributes, and learning how to compare them.
On the social side, students have been deepening their friendships and discovering that friends don’t always need to be together to have a strong connection. I’m also seeing a growing sense of curiosity and excitement about learning, which I know will make this year especially fun and rewarding!
Looking forward to what’s ahead!
Week 2 Highlights
Literacy
Our first Literacy unit, "Tools and Work," introduces students to tools, their functions, and how they help with tasks. Through reading, writing, and discussions, students explore different tools and their purposes, building foundational literacy skills and fostering curiosity and critical thinking for the year ahead.
Math
This week in math, we focused on relating counting to addition. Students practiced using counting strategies to combine groups of objects, helping them understand how counting leads to adding. They also worked on simple addition problems to reinforce these skills.
SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
This week in social emotional learning, we focused on whole body listening. Students learned how to use their eyes, ears, hands, and bodies to show they are paying attention. We practiced listening with respect and staying engaged during conversations, helping everyone understand the importance of focusing on both the speaker and the message.
1st Day of 1st Grade Pictures!
Dear First Grade Families,
I hope this email finds you well and full of excitement for the upcoming school year. I am thrilled to be your child's teacher and to embark on this wonderful journey together. The start of a new school year is always filled with anticipation, and I want you to know that I am here to support both you and your child every step of the way.
I understand that the transition to first grade can bring a mix of emotions, and I want to do everything I can to make this experience as smooth and comforting as possible. Tomorrow, I invite you to come into the classroom to help your child get settled in. This is a special moment, and you're more than welcome to take a few minutes to snap some pictures, explore the classroom, and help your child feel comfortable in their new environment. I will gently signal when it’s time for parents to leave, ensuring that your child transitions smoothly into their first day.
If you’re unable to join us tomorrow but would still like to capture this important milestone, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would be more than happy to take a picture of your child in the classroom and send it to you. I understand how meaningful these moments are, and I want to make sure that you feel connected to your child’s first day, even if you can’t be there in person.
I am genuinely looking forward to getting to know your child and your family as we embark on this exciting year of learning and growth. Please know that my door is always open, and I am here to answer any questions or concerns you may have as we begin this new chapter together.
Wishing you and your child a restful evening before our big day tomorrow. I can't wait to see all of their smiling faces as we kick off what promises to be a fantastic school year!
Warm regards,
Karen
Aug. 1, 2024 Click Here to Read On-Line
109 Power Words
The Archives!
2024-2025
2023-2024
Mindfulness with Inner Explorer!
Dear Family,
We are thrilled to share that we've been practicing mindful awareness in the classroom, as you may have heard from
your child.
Evidence-based practices have been shown to:
Boost students resilience and
Enhance well-being,
Reduce behavioral issues by as much as 60%
Improve academic performance by up to 15%
Our school has an account with Inner Explorer. It's a simple, just press 'Play' audio program, which means -- no experience is required! A daily practice of 5-10 minutes moves the needle from chaos to connection, equipping all who practice to alleviate stress and anxiety. Inner Explorer's HOME app is a way for families to bridge school to home and help your child to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.
'TUNE IN' BRIDGING SCHOOL TO HOME!
Tune In is an exclusive feature within the Inner Explorer HOME app for parents and caregivers. When a teacher presses 'Play' at school, our companion app will 'Tune In' to help families practice together and stay connected.
Click here for more information about Tune In for families.
If you need technical assistance, please email the Inner Explorer Tech Team at tech@innerexplorer.org.