Halloween party '11

What a Spooktacular day!!
Click the picture to see all the fun.
Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween

Just a reminder to send your child's costume with them tomorrow! Our Halloween party will be from 1:00-2:30. We will be having an all school Halloween parade in the gym at 1:30. Have a great Halloween!!

Pumpkin Patch

We had our first field trip today to the Pumpkin Patch! We got to play a variety of games, feed llamas, walk through a maze and bravely make our way through a haunted house. At the end everyone was able to go in the field and find a pumpkin to take home, just in time for Halloween. We all had a blast!! Click on the picture to see all the fun we had today.

Kindergarten Pajama Family Night

Yay! I figured out a new way to post pictures! Click on the picture to see more from our first Kindergarten Family Night!

Volunteers Needed!!!

  

The Scholastic Book Fair will be at Hawthorne on November 3rd, 4th, and 10th.  The book fair will be open: November 3rd from 3:00-7:30 pm, November 4th from 7:30-3:30 pm, and November 10th from 3:00-7:30 pm.  If you have some time to help conduct the book fair, please call Nikki Worman at 507-379-4967 or e-mail her at: nworman@albertlea.k12.mn.us.

Thanks!

PALS

What exactly is PALS? According to Professional Learning Exchange, it’s a version of classwide peer tutoring where teachers evaluate and identify students who need help with specific skills and determine the most appropriate students in the class to assist them with those skills. The students are paired as "coaches" and "readers" but rotate roles as activities change and students are required to work on a variety of skills. PALS is designed to complement, not replace, the existing math or reading curriculum by providing opportunities for students to practice what the teacher has taught. Research supports that the use of pairs in the classroom provides more focus on individual student needs rather than a teacher-directed activity that may address the needs of a few students but not be able to meet the needs of all student. Some benefits attributed to the PALS program include:

• Actively involves all students in tasks they can perform successfully.

• Increases student opportunity to read and practice basic math skills.

• Motivates students to do better in reading and math.

• Expands instructional resources in the classroom.

• Provides for positive and productive peer interaction.

• Creates opportunity for lower functioning students to assume an integral role in a valued activity.

• Helps teachers accommodate academic diversity.

• Accelerates student achievement in reading and math.

Firemen Visit Today!

This afternoon we were lucky enough to have 3 firemen come to our classroom! We talked about what to do if we catch on fire (stop, drop and roll), what number we call if we need help (911), how to get out of a burning room or building and how important it is to have a fire plan at school as well as at home.
Thank you Albert Lea Fire Department!