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October Newsletter
3K2 – 104A
Mr. Jackie, Ms. Erika, and Ms. Esther
For roughly the month of October, the children and their teachers will be exploring and studying the following unit – “Pets.”
Week 1: What kind of animals are pets?
- The children begin their investigation with learning about what makes something a pet, specifically the difference between a domesticated versus wild animal! During this time, the children will work with animal figurines, photos, and books to better learn this.
Week 2: Where do pets live?
The children will look at a few different types of animal homes and work to figure out what makes some environments and homes better for some animals/pets as opposed to others. During this time, the children will also be introduced to the idea of possibly getting our own class pet and deciding what kind of home we might need for it.
Week 3: What do pets eat?
- The children will begin their inquiry into what pets eat. A few children have pets in our classroom, so those who do have pets at home will share their knowledge first before we build on it as a class.
Week 4: How do we care for pets?
- The children will briefly discuss the basic needs of animals/pets. However, the focus will quickly be shifted to deciding what our class pet will be. The children take some time to decide and vote on it! We spend some more time working to figure out what our class pet will need.
Week 5: How do pets make us feel?
- The children and their teachers will spend some time talking about how we feel about getting a class pet and what it means to have one. The children and their teachers will discuss how for a lot of people pets are so much more than just a pet and that some people have pets that are service animals and others have pets for emotional support!
- Upon finishing our discussions, the children and their teachers will work together to first create a class collage of what our fish tank could look like. This is done to help them prepare a bit before getting the real fish.
- Once the children finish creating our class collage and have shown that they understand the needs of our class pet to ensure they survive and thrive, it is time for them to get our fish!
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November Pre-K Newsletter
What We Are Learning…
Your children are continuing to learn about trees. We will be observing and comparing trees to learn about what lives in them, what they are made from, and who cares for them. We hope that this study helps children explore and appreciate nature. If you are able to go on a ”tree walk”, you may collect a small bag of tree parts such as leaves, bark, acorn, twigs, etc. We will celebrate the end of the unit by making applesauce.
Reminders
• Please be sure to send a healthy snack and a reusable bottle of water each day.
• Blankets will be sent home for cleaning. Please be sure your child returns with a clean blanket the following week.
Important Dates
Diwali (No School)- November 1st
Election Day (No School)- November 5th
Parent-Teacher Conference (No School)- November 7th
Veteran’s Day (No School)- November 11th
Thanksgiving Break (No School)- November 28th & 29th
Birthdays
Ava P- November 3rd
Mrs. Kelly- November 5th
Ms. Mondesi- November 5th
Mica P- November 6th
Rayan D- November 30th
November Newsletter
Dear Parents,
Welcome to November at P.S.81! As we get closer to closing out the year, we have many fun and exciting activities planned as the holidays start coming around.
We would like to wish all of our November babies a very happy and healthy birthday!
Literacy Focus:
Some of our main focus points in literacy that continue into November are:
- Learning to write our names
- Learning alphabet letter names and sounds
- Learning Heart words
- Responding to a story in the form of a picture
- Labeling our pictures using letter-sound recognition
- Forming simple sentences
Math Focus:
Some of our main focus points in math that continue into November are:
- Recognizing and quantifying numbers 0-20
- Comparing groups of numbers; greater than, less than, equal
- Forming numbers 0-20
Important Reminders:
Parents, please be sure to dress your child appropriately for the weather as we do try and have outside recess every day when it isn’t too cold, or does not rain. Please also be sure that your child has an extra set of clothes in case he/she has any accidents in school.
SCHOOL TRIP:
Kids N Shape –
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024: Classes K202M & K211
- Wednesday, November 20, 2024: Classes K204M & K202A
November
1st Grade Newsletter
Mrs.Villalta, Mrs.Frydel, Mrs.Scherr, Ms.Oro, and Mrs.Benenati
• Djembe
• Ballet
Reminders:
• Please check your child’s folders every day.
• Please check homework every day.
• Please sign into google classroom.
• Arrival is in the gym at 8:00 am on Bleecker St.
• Dismissal is in the gym at 2:00pm on Bleecker St.
A peek at what we are learning:
MATH: Students will learn how to add and subtract within 20 using number line, double
facts, and near double facts.
Phonics: Students will learn how to print upper & lower-case letters and sounds.
Students will learn the short vowel sounds O, U and digraph sh. They will continue to
practice using CVC words and creating sentences.
ELA: Students will describe characters, setting, and key details in a story. They will write
a descriptive essay about something wonderful in their world.
Second Grade Newsletter
Second Grade Newsletter
Ms. Garcia, Ms. Olivo, Ms. Ululati, Ms. Arias, Mrs. Saleh, and Mrs. McKenna are thrilled to share that the school year is off to a fantastic start! We’ve loved getting to know your children and can’t wait to continue learning and growing together in the months ahead.
What we are learning:
· HMH Into Reading: We will read about how to get along and compromise and even learn tips about settling differences from a conflict-solving superhero.
· Math: In units 3 and 4, students will learn about adding two-digit numbers using strategies such as a hundred chart, a number line, and place value.
· Writing: Children will also write a persuasive essay about an issue that may cause disagreement.
Reminders:
· Please check your child's folder and homework daily.
· Arrival is at 8:00 a.m
· Dismissal is at 2:00 p.m
· There are spelling tests every Friday
Important dates:
· No school on November 1st, 5th, 11th, 28th and 29th
· Parent-teacher conferences will take place virtually on November 7th from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
· Swimming begins for second-grade classes on October 28th
Terrific Third Graders
Reading: Module 2: Use your words
· Essential Question- How do people use words to express themselves?
In this module, students will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts and media that present them with information about the importance of words and how they are used to express ideas and feelings. A genre focus on letters and poetry provides students with opportunities to identify elements of poetry and figurative language to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will also
encounter memoir and fantasy to build knowledge across genres.
As students build vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they
will learn that words can take them on an adventure or teach them something new.
Writing: Letter
· READ the following sentence: The future me is open for all possibilities.
· THINK about your hopes and dreams
for the future.
· WRITE a letter to your future self as a grown-up. Describe your goals and how you think you can accomplish them.
Math: Topic 1 Understand Multiplication and Division of Whole Numbers
· In topic 1 and 2 we will focus on interpreting the meaning of multiplication and division and using patterns to begin to build fluency with multiplication facts.
o Multiplication and division are interpreted as equal groups situations.
o Skip counting is used to connect addition to multiplication using visual representations.
o Arrays
Science: Force and Motion
What is force and motion?
· Unit Question: What can make an object move or not move?
4th Grade
Reading-Rise to the occasion - What does it take to meet a challenge?
We are still working on Module 3. Over the next few weeks, they will build and strengthen their reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking skills as they explore facing challenges. Titles include
● Rent Party Jazz
● Hurricanes:A Force of Nature
● My Diary:From Here to There
These titles will provide students with opportunities to synthesize ideas, identify plot elements, and identify themes to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will also encounter narrative nonfiction, autobiographical fiction, and a play to build knowledge across genres.
As students build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they will learn that with personal courage and the support of family, friends, and community members, people can face any challenge.
WIN – What I Need
We are almost finished with assessing students for placement for the school wide phonics program which will begin promptly at 8:15. It is important to have students come to school on time so they do not miss this program.
Writing: Opinion Essay (continued)
Friends and family can work together to overcome challenges.
Students are coming along with the new writing unit. Students are learning how to
• clearly state opinions
• support opinions with reasons, facts, and examples
• use persuasive language
Math: Topic 3 In this unit students will use strategies and properties to multiply by 1-digit numbers. They'll be able to use basic facts and place value patterns to find products when one factor is 10, 100, or 1000. They will also use rounding to estimate products and check to see if answers are reasonable. More importantly students will be learning multiple ways to multiply including distributive property or alien ears, partial products, as well as the traditional way of multiplying.
Science: Mrs. Fanning has begun the Amplify Science Program during her classes. She is currently working on Earth's Features. In our classes we will be concentrating on the 2nd Unit of Energy and Electricity.
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Upcoming Events
Students are meeting weekly with Mr. Carlos and working on different art projects. Some pictures have been posted on the website.
- 5th Grade NEWS
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In ELA, we are reading realistic fiction text and a drama (play). The skills we are focusing on this month are using visualization to notice how an author uses our five senses to bring a story to life, identifying literary elements in order to understand how each element develops the story, Text Structure, Central Idea and Key Details, Making Inferences, Author’s Craft and Purpose, and responding to texts.
When responding to texts students must write a complete paragraph. This includes:
o Restating the prompt into a topic sentence
o Answering the question in their own words. (Fully Explain your idea)
o Proving their idea using text evidence.
In Writing, we are writing narratives. Students are writing a story about a character who is on a journey to discover something. Students choose the type of genre. Their choices for writing genres include realistic fiction, science fiction, fantasy, fairytale, etc. They are using the writing process to help them such as brainstorming their literary elements for their narratives using an organizer, conferencing with teachers and peers, editing and revising using a rubric and checklist.
In Math, we began Topic 4 which focuses on multiplying decimals. This month we multiplied decimals by powers of ten, estimated products of decimals and whole numbers, used models to multiply decimals and whole numbers, and multiplied decimals by whole numbers.
We will also be entering Topic 5 which focuses on dividing whole numbers. The children will be estimating and dividing with two-digit divisors.
Remember to study those multiplication facts!
Helpful Links: khanacademy.org mathgames.com
Art is in full swing with Mr. Darwin. The children have be taught to draw and design different pictures such as sugar skulls and pumpkin faces. We look forward to what’s next!
Upcoming Events:
11/1 Diwali (No School)
11/5 Election Day (No Schools for Students)
11/7 No school for students (P/T Conferences)
11/11 Veteran’s Day (No School)
11/28 and 11/29 Thanksgiving Holiday (No Schoo
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November Literacy Newsletter
Ms. Kassnove, Mrs. Ulati, Mrs. Bakke
**We reinforce all of the reading/writing skills that classroom teachers teach!**
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES-these are virtually on November 7th from 1:00pm -3:00pm and 5:30pm -7:30pm
Kindergarten: HMH- Narrative Writing- students will be learning to write about setting and characters.
1st Grade: HMH- Descriptive Essay- students will be learning about their community and writing a short description of what makes our world wonderful.
2nd Grade: HMH- Persuasive Text- students will learn how to explain their point of view on an issue with something they disagree on.
4th Grade: HMH- Argumentative Opinion Essay- students reflect on themselves with friends or family overcoming something and then learn to write an opinion essay about why it is important to rely on friends and family members when faced with a challenge
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ENL
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Our ENL teachers are Ms Austern and Mrs. Izquierdo. We are supporting our MLLs (Multi Lingual Learners) through the HMH Into reading Program. We work in small groups to help the students develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. We support students' language acquisition in a dedicated and risk -free environment. We intoroduce, practice and reinforce key academic language functions. We support students at varying language proficiency levels with three levels of scaffolding: Substantial, Moderate and Light. We provide Visual, Contextual and Language Support through the use of vivid images to spark interest and support background knowledge, word and phrase banks to expose students to important academic language, and graphic organizers to support use of academic language functions We do minilessons with language supports, such as sentence frames, vocabulary strategies, and language structures.
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Library Newsletter
We have been very busy in the library during the months of September and October. We have a beautiful library with many new and exciting books. Last year, 253 new books were purchased with NYS funds. Additionally, the PTA graciously donated many new books from the Scholastic Book Fair for the library, such as Dog Man, Cat Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The students love these additions to the collection.
In September and early October, we learned about book care and how to have good manners with our library books. We learned to keep food, drinks, pets and babies away from our books. We also learned that tape, glue and scissors need to be kept far away from our library books. We read Mr. Wiggle’s Book, What Happened to Marion’s Book? and The Book that Jake Borrowed to help us understand the correct ways to take care of our books.
October has been filled with exciting read alouds about autumn and fall holidays. Along with the stories, students have discussed story sequencing, comparing fiction and nonfiction, and story mapping. Students in grades 2-5 began checking out books at the beginning of the month. Students are allowed to borrow 2 books and enjoy them for a week. All students are asked to return their books when their classes visit the library.
So far, there have been 850 book checkouts this school year! We are off to a great year of reading, growing and learning!
Music Newsletter for November
SPOTLIGHT: Thanksgiving is on the way, but we will be working mostly on our Holiday concert in December this month!
THIS MONTH:
Kindergarten - I’m Mr. Turkey, Holiday Concert Songs
First Grade - Turkey Woogie, Holiday Concert Songs
Third Grade - Many Thanks, Holiday Concert Songs
Fourth Grade - It’s Good to Give Thanks, Holiday Concert Songs
Fifth Grade - The Great Big Holiday Bake Off Show for Holiday Concert
DID YOU KNOW?: Mrs. Brosky loves Thanksgiving! Her favorite food is her mom’s sweet potatoes! She is thankful for being your music teacher!
JOKE OF THE MONTH: What is the most musical part of the turkey? The drumstick!
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Mindfulness & Yoga for Kids!
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to November! This month, we’re focusing on mindfulness and yoga to help our students stay calm, focused, and grounded as we transition into the fall season.
Mindfulness Tip: The “Five Senses” Trick
Encourage your child to notice what they can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. It’s a great way to relax before bedtime or during a busy day!
Yoga Pose of the Month: Tree Pose
Try the "Tree Pose" at home! Stand tall, balance on one foot, and reach your arms high like tree branches. Hold for a few seconds, then switch. This pose builds balance and confidence.
Mindfulness & Yoga in the Classroom
We’ll be introducing short mindfulness moments and fun yoga activities in class to help our students feel focused and calm.
Stay tuned for more tips and activities throughout the month!
Wishing you a mindful November!
Ms. SavageCoding and Robotics
Coding and Robotics
Grades 4 and 5
Computing with Minecraft: Unit 1 - The Agency introduces students to coding, providing an overview of Minecraft: Education Edition and the MakeCode editor with Code Builder. Students will learn how to use the on chat and other commands to code their Agent to complete different actions in the game.
This month and throughout the year fourth and fifth grade will continue with Coding Fundamentals: Part 1 – Animal Research Center. The lessons are specially designed computer science content for students in Upper Primary/Grades 4-5. Students will learn, practice, and apply relevant computer science skills and concepts as well as literacy skills in both unplugged and digital experiences. The lessons are designed to provide students with an opportunity to build knowledge of the concept(s) in an unplugged version (i.e., demonstrate the concept on paper), practice the concept with the direct support of their teacher in the Minecraft world, and then finally by completing the task independently.
Grades k through 3
In December we introduce powerful ideas from engineering and computer science, to the second and third grade. These powerful ideas are not usually highlighted in early childhood education. The term “powerful idea” refers to a concept that children can learn through a curriculum that will serve them beyond the lifetime of a specific classroom technology. In this case, the curriculum revolves around the IPad applications Scratch for third grade and Scratch Jr. for grades k through 2. Powerful ideas may be applied to many disciplines and will be rewarding in students’ academic and personal futures. Throughout the following weeks, both activities and lessons will seek to illustrate these powerful ideas. Some of the skills we will learn are Drag block to scripting area
· Connect blocks
· Choose character
· Create new character
· Start program with green flag
· Stop program with red end block
· Choose backgrounds
· Create new backgrounds
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Science with Mrs. Fanning
November News
Grade 2- we are studying the properties of materials and investigating how to make an effective glue. We are testing various materials to design and create our own glue.
Grade 3- We are studying how environments can help an animal survive. We welcomed three pet snails to our class “Mercury, Venus and Jupiter”. These snails will help us learn about organisms, traits and survival.
Grade 4- Students are studying how the Earth has changed over time. We are exploring fossils and how they teach us about the past.
Grade 5- we will be studying Ecosystem Restoration with animals, plants and decomposers. We will be creating terrariums to study how plants get what they need to survive.
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Speech-Language TherapyHi, We are the Speech-Language Pathologists (Speech teachers) at P.S. 81!What is our role in helping the students at P.S. 81?Speech-language pathologists, also called SLPs, are experts in communication. SLPs work with people of all ages, from babies to adults. SLPs treat many types of communication and swallowing problems. These include problems with speech sounds, language, literacy, social communication, voice, fluency and cognitive-communication. Speech sounds are how we say sounds and put sounds together into words. Language is how well we understand what we hear or read and how we use words to tell others what we are thinking. Literacy is how well we read and write. People with speech and language disorders may also have trouble reading, spelling, and writing. Social communication is how well we follow rules, like taking turns, how to talk to different people, or how close to stand to someone when talking. Voice is how our voices sound. We may sound hoarse, lose our voices easily, talk too loudly or through our noses, or be unable to make sounds. Fluency, also called stuttering, is how well speech flows. Someone who stutters may repeat sounds, like t-t-t-table, use "um" or "uh," or pause a lot when talking. Cognitive-communication is how well our minds work. Problems may involve memory, attention, problem solving, organization, and other thinking skills. Feeding and swallowing is how well we suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid. A swallowing disorder may lead to poor nutrition, weight loss, and other health problems.If you have any questions about your child’s development, please feel free to contact any of us.Jessica Amato, Jaclyn Castaneda, Rose Ann Mascia, Cristina Quintanilla and Noelia Rosenthal