An Apple a Day...

     Happy Saturday everyone!  Well another week down in the wonderful world of First Grade!  These kiddos are already showing marked improvement not only with their behavior and understanding of our daily routines, but also with their printing! They are slowly but surely remembering that we print with one hand on the paper (not on the head!) and one hand using the pencil.  They are also remembering to keep both feet on the floor and to try and keep their heads away from the paper (aka sitting up straight) in order to be wonderful writers.  Please praise your child when you see them writing like this at home! They really are coming a long way!
      This beginning chapter of the year is really all about the students testing = ) getting to know their teachers, their new friends, and their many new rules.  There are always a few card changes, and sometimes these are the first "behavior" checks that they've ever really received in a classroom setting.  Some of you may recall that our Firsties have been told that "yellow isn't that bad," and we mean that!  No one is perfect- and we really emphasize that in our classroom.  However, with that said, we also have many talks about learning from our mistakes.  We tell them that this is why God allows us to make mistakes- to learn from them.  Another saying that is heard quite frequently in our classroom is "A time and a place for everything."  When asked, a First Grader is actually very aware of the correct time and places for silly behavior and the time and places for a more "studious" attitude.  With that said, when asked, any First Grade teacher is also very aware of how often a First Grader needs "wiggle breaks" (and bathroom breaks!) to allow for a little change from the demands of our busy day!  = ) You should ask your Firsty about their favorite dance The Tooty Ta... they love it!  One of these days we will have to record them dancing The Tooty Ta... it is too funny!  In fact, if you can't wait that long to watch them do this dance, click on this youtube link to play the song, but make sure your child does the dance for you! (and then you can join them!) Dr. Jean's Tooty Ta
     On another topic, your child celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day with some delicious homemade applesauce made in the slow cooker!  It was a big hit with 97% of the class... we weren't about to force feed anyone applesauce if they didn't want to try it, but I have to say, I was impressed with how many kids tried something new! The recipe is really simple- 12 apples of different sweet varieties peeled and cubed, about a tablespoon or two of cinnamon, about a tablespoon or two of brown sugar (to taste), and enough water to almost cover the apples in a slow cooker.  Then cook on high for about 6 or 7 hours, then mash with a potato masher.  Voila! Delicious applesauce (that really tastes similar to apple pie filling!)  I've also heard that substituting pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon makes it taste great, too!  Bonus- it makes your classroom or home smell amazing all day long!  Here are some photos from the applesauce extravaganza:

The class passed around the uncut apples to study the apples with a few of our senses...

Adding some cinnamon...

And now some brown sugar...

The kids came up to check out the cooking applesauce... many thought it looked like mashed potatoes!

Needless to say, the kids and I had a great day!  We finished the day by enjoying the freshly cooked applesauce and watching a short video about Johnny Appleseed- I have to say, I am loving the new interactive whiteboards for thousands of reasons, but let's just add "watching movies" to that list- there was not one kid who complained that they couldn't see!  It really is like having our own little movie theater in our room.  The kids are now really trying to earn that first Popcorn party now that they've had a taste of what watching a movie in our room is like!
     A couple notes about next week: 

• We are beginning a new month already! October! Get ready for some Halloween crafts and centers!  At the end of the month we will have a fun pumpkin experiment.  More info will go home closer to that date...
• All school mass on Friday- no mass on Tuesday. Please remember- no shorts on mass days!
•  The kids are learning about seeds- we will be observing some seeds growing in plastic baggies around our room = ) (Of course I will have photos posted!) and we will be working with seeds throughout the month.
•  St Jude School is having a book fair at Barnes And Noble Friday October 5th through Sunday the 7th. I will be reading a book to the kids there on Friday right after school... I also heard that Clifford may be making an appearance!
• Our gift wrap drive begins Monday! Look for the packet of information going home with your children on Monday.
• Our school Golf Tournament/fundraiser is Monday October 15th.  Please sign up if you haven't already!
• Our fabulous art program, Meet the Masters, begins this month! 

 Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Johnny Appleseed Day, and thank you to everyone who has donated items to our prize box!  Don't forget to sign those behavior charts!
Take care! 
~Ms. Hudson