A few updates -

First grade math - This week we worked on adding three numbers together.  We also worked on reading a story problem three different ways - changing where the missing number was.  Today we started working on 100 charts and looking for the patterns.

First grade phonics - We learned four new glued sounds this week.  We learned ang, ing, ong, and ung.

Religion - Every day we have been reading a Bible story related to Christmas.  Each day we color in a bulb on our tree until we get to Christmas day.  Our promise paper this week continued teaching us about Advent.  We added our third flame to our Advent wreath this week - for the pink joy candle.

Writing - We have been very busy writers!  We wrote letters to Santa.  We have also been busy writing Christmas cards to all of our classroom volunteers.

Reading - Our word work focus is adjectives.  We made an art project called "Awesome Adjectives About Me".  We are also making snowman adjective books.

Today we made an adorable elf project.  I'll snap a picture and post it.  Thank you to Katie Meyer for helping us out.

Art - In keeping with the season, students are working on illustrating the Nativity story in a landscape. They need to include a horizon line, and show part of their story close and part of their story far away. People or objects closer to us look larger, and those off in the distance appear smaller. Have a blessed Christmas. Mrs. Jeanne Ihlenfeldt

Have a great weekend!

I was cleaning Zak's closet last weekend.  I have a ton of size small and extra small short sleeve and long sleeve polos. (mostly red and white...a few green)  I also have three size six uniform shorts.  If anyone wants any let me know.  I'll gladly pass them on to you.  :)

An update from Mrs. Friday -

Social Learning Session #3

Last week we introduced using Social Behavior Maps as they relate to the various
Zones. Attached you will find the EXPECTED behavior social map for “Green Zone
in the Classroom” that we completed as a group. This week we will complete the
UNEXPECTED behavior map for the Yellow Zone in the classroom. One of the main
objectives of this week’s lesson is to emphasize that everyone has thoughts about
unexpected behaviors triggered when someone is in a different zone (other than
Green). Linking these (invisible) thoughts to outward consequences is reinforced as
well. As Leah Kuypers points out in her book, The Zones of Regulation, if behavior
is only addressed by attending to positive behavior, we may not be giving students
all the information they need to see the bigger picture of what they are doing.
Typically, adults assume that children are easily able to “read” people’s emotions
intuitively. However, this is not always the case. Although our students at times
may be purposely misbehaving, at many other times those same students are doing
an unexpected behavior with no awareness of how it impacts others in their
environment. These students may have difficulty understanding that they have
done an unexpected behavior. Using the Zones is a tool to help explain the effects
of unexpected behaviors in a non-threatening way.
Some questions you can ask your child this week:
 How do you get along with others when you are in the different zones?
 In which zone are you most successful?
 What kinds of thoughts do people have when you are in the Green Zone?

Next week we will start to introduce the three types of tools to help students
regulate and move from a Red, Yellow or Blue Zone back into the Green Zone:
1) Calming Techniques
2) Thinking Strategies
3) Sensory Supports

Please don’t hesitate to contact Mary-Beth Friday with any questions, comments or concerns at the
Communication Pathways office: 920-632-4488 or by email: marybeth@communicationpathways.com

Tonight - The students are meeting in school at 6:00.  Please take their coats with you.  They will be dismissed from church after the concert.

This week - We are not having a spelling list.

Spanish - The students do have Spanish homework.  Our next Spanish class is on Friday.

See you tonight!  :)

This week's update from Mrs. Friday -

Social Learning Session #2

We will continue exploring EXPECTED and UNEXPECTED behaviors using the following concepts this
week:
 GREEN THOUGHTS/RED THOUGHTS:
As a visual cue to help students become more observant of their own behaviors we will use
“thought bubble” props. A green thought bubble indicates the teacher/parent/friend is
observing an expected behavior in another, which leaves them with a comfortable feeling. A
red thought bubble indicates a person is observing an unexpected behavior, creating an
uncomfortable feeling in himself or herself.
 EXPECTED BEHAVIORS: These are things we do and say that give people positive thoughts
about us and make them feel good too. Doing what is expected is different based on where
we are and who we are with.
 UNEXPECTED BEHAVIORS: These are things we do and say that give people
uncomfortable thoughts about us and makes them feel icky or mad or bad. Doing what is
unexpected is different based on where we are and who we are with based on the situation.
For example, using a loud voice/yelling might be expected outside at recess, but not in the
classroom.
 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR  MAPPING helps connect behavior, emotions, and consequences:

Expected Behaviors  Make other people have comfortable/positive feelings of you 

Creating positive consequences  Leading you to have positive feelings about yourself

Unexpected Behaviors  Make other people have uncomfortable/possibly negative

thoughts about you  Creating more undesired consequences  Leading you to have more

negative feelings about yourself

Everyone does Unexpected Behaviors throughout each day, typically not on purpose. The

POWER of being a Social Thinker comes from being able to recognize that you have done

something unexpected. Then changing your behavior to something more expected; which can

change people’s thoughts and feelings about you back to being comfortable and more

positive.

Looking forward to meeting with parents this Thursday to explain more about these sessions!

Please don’t hesitate to contact Mary-Beth Friday with any questions, comments or concerns at the

Communication Pathways office: 920-632-4488 or by email: marybeth@communicationpathways.com

Samantha Snowbell and some of her letters