Class Pictures

I am trying to get better at taking more class pictures (and trying to get Ms. Mills and I in them!).  I know I take a lot of pictures but I enjoy sharing what we are doing at school with all of the parents/guardians. My guess is a lot of kiddos answer, "Nothing," when asked what they did at school that day.  Here is more proof of the many "nothings" we do. :)

November Newsletter/December Snack Calendar

Turkey Talk

This morning Katie Cantu came to talk with us about turkeys.  She talked about how you can tell which turkey is a tom(boy) and which is a hen(girl).  Toms have "prettier" feathers, a snood,a waddle, and a spur on their legs.  Students got to see a real wing, feathers, beard, and a foot.  Katie also showed them different types of turkey calls that hunters use.  The kids really enjoyed learning about turkeys!

Happy Bear

Tuesday we had Happy Bear come in to talk to us about good touches, bad touches, and mixed-up or confusing touches.  Good touches are hugs, high fives, hand shakes, and pats on the back.  Bad touches are punches, kicks, and slaps.  Mixed-up or confusing touches are touches on private parts.  Happy Bear talks about private areas as ones that a bathing suit would cover and we shouldn't show to others.  The kids learned how to handle a situation when/if someone is giving bad or mixed-up/confusing touches or talks about want to touch them in a bad or mixed-up/confusing way.  They now understand that they can tell the person to stop, to run away while screaming, and to tell an adult right away.  Happy Bear also taught them not to keep "secrets" about mixed-up/confusing touches.  Students had the chance to give Happy Bear a good touch and take a picture at the end of the presentation.

Happy Bear giving a good touch--a hug.

Happy Bear giving another good touch--a hand shake.

Talking about how good touches make us feel.

Good touch--holding hands.

Good touch--high fives.

Happy Bear was actually someone dressed in a costume.  This was to settle kids' feelings if they were scared of Happy Bear.

Our class picture with Happy Bear. :)

Veteran's Day Assembly

On Monday, Thomas Jefferson Elementary held an assembly to celebrate Veteran's Day.  The students spent the last four weeks learning all of the service hymns for each branch of the military.  They also learned the "Pledge of Allegiance" (which we say every day), "This Land is Your Land," and  "The Star Spangled Banner."  Students were invited to bring in photos of loved ones who serve or have served in the military.  The kids did an outstanding job!

Veterans were invited to come to the celebration and the turn out was wonderful!  The students said the "Pledge of Allegiance" and sang the service hymns, a song they learned in Music, "This Land is Your Land," and "The Star Spangled Banner."  Veterans were invited to stand during their service hymn. The ceremony was very touching and I couldn't have been more proud of the kids!

Field Trip!

Last Friday, we went on a field trip to Ames to see "The Three Little Pigs."  Students did a wonderful job being responsible, respectful, and safe throughout the whole day.  We even had one of the staff members at the auditorium mention how well behaved the TJ kids were! They made me so proud!

Enjoying the bus ride

Showing good bus safety skills

Someone was a little tired on the way home!

Excited to go

Excited for the bus ride/performance

We always have to take a goofy picture! :)

Class picture at the auditorium

Enjoying a class picnic after the performance

Fall Party Pictures!

Good Morning!
    Yesterday was a fun-filled, BUSY day! :)  We first paraded around the school in our costumes, singing songs in almost all of the rooms.  In the afternoon, we had our Fall Party, which was a huge success!  Kids listened to Halloween stories, tried to pin the nose on the pumpkin, made a candy corn craft, and frosted cookies.  They had so much fun!  A big thank you to Denise, Tiffany, Heather, Heather, Shannon, Tisha, and Jose for helping out yesterday!  Thank you also to Kelly, Lesley, Heather, Denise, and Shannon for buying all the materials for the party!  There was a lot of time and effort put into it and it showed! :)  You all made it such a memorable day for the kids!