Snow Day or No?

Snow Day Calculator!  Have fun...

http://www.snowdaycalculator.com/calculator.php

Gym Leaders

Mr. deForest will be training the new gym leaders tomorrow at lunch.  It's hard to believe that we are at the midpoint of the school year.

The following students will be gym leading either Monday or Thursday, beginning next week:

1. Laine K
2. Jackson
3. Brayden
4. Paul
5. Cameron
6. George
7. Kenny
8. Danny

**Super Sub:  Parker

Thanks to all the 5th graders that served as gym leaders last semester.  It's a tough job and they worked with purpose and thoughtfulness.  Gym leaders miss up to an hour of workplan time each week; it means that leaders have to be able to work around that demanding schedule!

The Twitter Experiment

Are you on Twitter?  I have just joined this afternoon.  Not to share about me, because my life really isn't that interesting.  Instead, I have joined Twitter to share the super funny sayings often shared by my younger daughter!

In my other life--as a mom--I keep a journal of my little girl's funny sayings.  These are often shared on Facebook with family and friends.  I've been encouraged to share them with a wider audience so here we go!  Follow me if you'd like...

According to Abby, using tweezers to pull out armpit hair doesn't really work. @themusingsofabby
— AbbysMom (@AmyPerrien) January 27, 2013

Koo Koo Kanga Roo

Another of our fitness dances!  We do different workouts everyday, mixing it up with Fit With Fred!

Kung Fu Fighting dance video!

Our newest fitness dance!

Box Tops Contest

Parents-

You should have recently received a note about the school's yearly Box Top collection contest.  Box tops are an easy way for our school's PTA to earn money that is used for playground purchases, to sponsor field trips, and so much more!

Please let me know if you are willing and able to count the box tops for our class.  I believe only one parent is needed!  It would likely take only a little bit of time and could even be done at home.

You may also [painlessly] help the PTA earn Box Top money by doing the following:

• Go to the following link:  http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/marketplace/Default.aspx
• Designate Waukazoo as "your school" and shop from online vendors such as Lands End, The Apple Store, Walmart, Target, and many more!  (In this way, you don't even have to eat cereal to earn a box top!)

Send in your box tops as you collect them.  We have A LOT already!

Mrs. Perrien

Friday Popcorn!

Popcorn day returns this week!  Students may pre-pay for all popcorn for the remainder of the school year.  The cost will be $3 and students must make this payment TOMORROW.

Otherwise, students may pay $0.50 per day on popcorn Fridays.  Bags are limited to one per student.  They will be allowed to eat this popcorn during snack.

Let me know if you have any questions.  

Mrs. Perrien

Winter Wear

Parents-

Unlike the lower Montessori classes we take a 35 minute recess after lunch. (Lower Mont. has their recess split into two times--morning or afternoon and lunch.)  35 minutes is a long time to be outside in the winter!  To ensure that students are staying warm while outside please make sure your son or daughter has the proper snow gear.  This includes:

• winter jacket
• snow pants
• hat (hoods don't stay on their heads)
• gloves or mittens (insulated helps fingers stay warm)
• scarf (if desired, but they do help!)
• snow boots (Ladies wearing leather decorative boots should also have snow boots.  These decorative boots aren't warm and usually don't have a good tread for gripping the snow.)

A message about boots:  Because Montessori students are so often working on floor work I have a very strict policy that boots may not be worn in the classroom.  If a student is without shoes I have him or her bring their boots into the classroom and set them next to their table space.  However, all students should have gym shoes.  If your son or daughter has his or her gym shoes at home please make sure these come back to school!  Thank you!

Thanks for your help with this!  Stay warm-

Mrs. Perrien

"Scheduling" Complaints

The question has been asked, "Do you let your kids argue back about things like chores?:

The short answer is no.  But it's really more complicated!  We have recently enacted a new policy about this since we are now entering into adolescence with TWO girls! (Yes...that is TWO!)

My girls are allowed to express their opinions to both their dad and me without consequence provided it doesn't break one of the following guidelines:

• The complaint may not be about a chore.  For example, if your job is to mop the kitchen floor you don't get to complain about it.  Ever.  Part of living in a home is learning to take care of a home.  Everyone in our home contributes to its upkeep!  (I'll try to remember to tell you about letting go of our cleaning lady so the girls could learn to clean a home.)
• The complaint may not take place during the activity.  For example, you don't like having to go to the Griffins game with the family?  You may schedule a time to complain about it and argue for your independence.  You may not destroy the family's evening by pouting all evening or complaining.  Failure to abide by this rule could result in a consequence such as the loss of iPod, computer privileges, time with friends, etc.
• Scheduling is up to mom (or dad...depends on the parent).  This morning I offered one of the Perrien children the option to complain at 5:30 tomorrow morning, or she could eat without complaint at the church's Knights of Columbus breakfast.  She chose the breakfast and it turned out to be pretty nice!

We are really trying to get out kids to think positively.  So much of adolescence of tied up in angst; we want as much of a positive environment in our home as we can manage.  When big "life" issues need immediate attention it is given for as long as necessary.  We use the above strategy (scheduling complaints) when the complaint is about unfair sisters, unfair parents, house rules, and chores.  

We have also started asking our soon-to-be-adolescent girls to state one positive thing that happened to them that day.  They tell us as they are heading to bed.  I have enjoyed this simple idea very much and in turn tell them one nice thing that happened to me!

'Till the cleaning lady story then...  Drive safely!

--Mrs. Perrien

Do you, "broken record" your kids?

Today was a challenging day at my house.  One of my daughters was being particularly challenging.  Everything was SO MUCH WORK.

At the end of her last "challenge" she raised her eyebrows at me and also her hands, "Mom, would you stop broken recording me!"

Do you use this strategy?  Despite her frequent raised eyebrows everything I asked/requested /demanded was completed.  Here's how it goes:

The mom:  "Perrien child, turn off the TV and take care of your laundry."

Perrien child:  "Oh my gosh, Mom, my life is so hard.  Can't I just sit for five minutes?"

The mom:  "Perrien child, turn off the TV and take care of your laundry."

Perrien child:  "Ugh.  This is so unfair!"

The mom:  "Perrien child, turn off the TV and take care of your laundry."

She rises from her chair, heads to her room (Of course, defiantly swinging her hair..) and takes care of her laundry.  We had three more conversations such as these one.  In each, I did not engage with her, rather I stated the task and used the broken record method when she attempted to argue.

Each time she was, in fact, attempting to argue with me hoping that I will give up and simply do the work myself.  However, I know better.  We don't argue because if we argued I would lose.  I would get angry and I would probably do it myself.

I know this.  She knows the strategy because she is, after all, the daughter of a teacher.  Now, you're probably thinking right now, "Perrien lets her kids watch television?"  Yes, on the weekends the girls are allowed to watch television!

If you're interested in learning more about this strategy you can read more about it at the Love and Logic website.  http://www.loveandlogic.com.  Classes for parents are even occasionally offered in the Holland area.  Either way, I have picked up some fabulous parent/child management tips from the Love and Logic books.

Have a fabulous weekend!

--Mrs. Perrien

Parents-

Just an FYI.. Waukazoo basketball night is Friday, February 1.  It would be awesome to see Waukazoo's current students go to support our athletes that were themselves Waukazoo students.  (FYI...a $50 bonus to any student who COMMENTS on this post with the type of Pronoun the word "themselves" is in the previous sentence.  Moms and Dads...no helping!  Let's encourage them to remember this on their own!)

Author Research

The 4^th grade author research will be shared in an author brochure.  4^th graders should pick an author they want to learn more about via research.

Project Requirements:

1.Brochure must be two-sided (front and back) on 8 1/2" by 11" paper and fold into a tri-fold brochure.

2.Author's name must be on the front of the brochure

3.Brochure must contain at least four graphics that are in color

4.Brochure must include information about the author's life, books, and awards

5.Brochure may be typed, but can be neatly hand written

6.Brochures must include the bibliography information

7.Your name must be on the brochure

8.Rubric must be turned in with the brochure

4th Grade Author Brochure Rubric

5^th graders are also completing author research.  However, they are not writing an

author brochure.  5^th graders will be writing an interview script, as if he/she is writing

the questions and answers that resulted from an author interview.  5^th graders are

NOT creating skits and will not be acting in class.  They are writing an interview and

the author’s “answers.”

Project Requirements:

1.  Interview must be single-sided, single-spaced with double-spacing between speakers, and 3 pages in length.  

2.  A cover page must be included with the interview.  This cover page must have the author's name and your name.

3.  Interview must include information about the author's life, books, and awards.

4.  Interview may be typed, but can be neatly handwritten (see #1).

5.  At the end of the "interview," bibliographical information must be included.

6.  Rubric must be turned in with the interview.

5th Grade Author Interview Rubric

Today's Fitness Dance

Have fun!

Photo!

Meet our new class pet, Echo the Gecko!

5th Grade Job Opportunity

5th graders may apply, in writing, to be school store salespeople!  5th graders should submit a letter of application by Friday stating why they'd like to work in the school store, why they would make a good and trustworthy salesperson, and how the school store work experience would be good OVERALL work experience.

All 5th grade workers will be paid $50 in classroom economy dollars for each day worked!

Candy Canes for sale Friday

We have a few leftover from the December 19 sale as well as some I purchased the day after Christmas!

Upper Montessori students may purchase these on Friday for $0.25, with all proceeds continuing to go toward the Harbor Humane Society.

Waukazoo Thank You

The following message is a segment from an email directed to the organizers of the Thanksgiving Food Drive:

Please express my humble ‘Thank You’ to each person who helped to make your 2012 Community Action House Holiday Drive donation a reality.  I am truly blessed to live and work in a community with so many people of outstanding character.  People who genuinely care about the well-being of their neighbors.  People who understand that by living a little more simply, others are able to simply live.

I wish you a new year filled with many opportunities to leave positive marks on those who cross your path.  BLESSINGS!!!

************************

Thank you again for your donations and your time in supporting all our community giving activities!

--Mrs. Perrien

Echo the Gecko

Boys and girls,

Be sure to add your comment to this posting.  What is a new fact you learned about the African Fat-Tailed Gecko?

Resources for Learning:  (Read for at least 30 minutes about the gecko and it counts!)

• The Urban Gecko 

• Pet Care Portal 

• Reptiles and Critters

Email Mrs. Perrien if you have any questions or concerns about the assignment.
croelperriena@westottawa.net

Have fun learning about our new pet, Echo!

--Mrs. Perrien

$1000 Winner!

Yay!  We have a winner of the holiday reading log contest.  Congratulations to Abby O. for reading EVERY DAY over break!

All students that turned in a reading log received a economy bonus of $50 or $100, depending on whether they read every day or the minimum eight days.

Way to go Readers!

Sign Up to Help in the Classroom!

Link to sign up to work the classroom store: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18dEz9CwKd23VQuYV4LeqBUzECDv9Hk9wdk0Fx7dM4R8/edit

Link to sign up to correct the Wednesday night 5-minute timed test:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P7VVFO0zuuIm6RgnnrWxLGTjePV6Na4H1ssJykKelPA/edit

Link to sign up to help with spelling tests:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A9hoNDbBTDxVHJw30TcC_-_TPFvZkeBccBCUdxAx_Nc/edit

Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or if something isn't working correctly!  I'm off to a weekend of DANCE with my youngest; but while she's groovin' I'll be sitting in a coffee shop with the other moms...hopefully with a bit of wifi!

Happy New Year!

-Mrs. Perrien