Expedition News

 
The Bell Crew has been hard at work, becoming experts on black bears!  Throughout the first case study, the kindergarteners have been enthusiastically reading and writing about hibernation, black bears’ physical features and their functions, and all about their diets.  The classroom has transformed into a black bear habitat, including a creative bear den under the loft!  Above the bear den, the students have turned the loft into a Bear Research Center, participating in activities such as, observing black bears live in their dens, examining bear paw prints, and recreating the ideal habitat on a felt board.  Thank you again to our drivers/organizers to the Folsom Zoo: Tina, Stacey, Mark, Kerri and Crescent!
 
 
This has been a very exciting time for the kindergarteners, as they are developing their reading and writing skills daily!  They are working hard on a variety of skills, such as letter/sound correlation, one to one correspondence while reading, and using the pictures and first consonant to help them figure out words.  The Crew has also been working daily on whiteboards, practicing their letter formation and isolating sounds within words.  We are very pleased with the responsibility they are taking for learning.  Their hard work is paying off! 
 
We are transitioning from our science based case study, #1 “Bear Necessities”, to a literacy/analytical based Study #2, “More Than a Bear”.  In this next case study will focus on the bear as an important symbol in our local community and beyond.  We will look at how bears are featured in folklore, the CA state flag, in our SELS logo.  This week the students will be creating a papier mâché bear for the SELS library.  In the days to come, they will be learning about symbolic meaning/representation in objects, as well as in literature.   
 

Crew News

 

  • Please remember to put names in clothes!  We do our best to help the students keep track of their clothing, but there is a lot of new snow gear coming to school.  We want to make sure it doesn’t end up in the over-flowing lost and found!
  • Please bring in indoor shoes/slippers to help preserve the classroom carpets.  Make sure they have a sole to walk outside for bathroom usage and in case of an emergency.
  • We have made adjustments to the Independent Study packets. Please make sure to read instructions carefully upon completion. Please note: We would like the students to use “best guess” spelling when writing a caption under their drawing. J
  • We will be sending home a Snow Day Packet.  SELS students are allotted two freebies, where you get to just enjoy the day off!  After that, every SELS student must complete independent study to ensure June 15th is our last day of school.  The packets will come home in the Tuesday Folder for you to keep on hand.  Please save until needed (instructions included in packet).  Come on snow!!!
  • FYI– As a staff we have come to a consensus about letter formation!  We will continue to emphasize the letter formation that was sent home earlier in the year.  The only changes are to the W and M– we will NOT be picking up the pen. Instead we will be instructing to keep the pen on the paper to form the letter, going both up and down.
  • SELS does not celebrate Valentine’s Day. That said, Valentine’s Day falls within our “Empathy and Caring” month (design principle) as well as close to the 100th day of school.  The students will not be passing out valentines from home, although in the spirit of caring, they will be writing thoughtful notes to each other.  

 

Important Dates

 
Wednesday, Feb. 8– Minimum Day – school dismissed at 1:00 pm
Sunday, Feb. 12 (Ms. Bell’s Birthday!)- Fun Family Event at the Nevada Discovery Museum in Reno! Special guest Rachel Mazur, author of If You Were a Bear… , and Black Bear expert. Click below for more info. About this free event!     http://www.nvdm.org/plan_a_visit/calendar.php
Monday, Feb. 20– Friday, Feb. 24:  Ski/Skate Week – NO SCHOOL
 

Poems and Songs

 
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
 
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain.
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
 
But all that he could see,
But all that he could see,
 
Was the other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.
 
 
Five Little Bears
 
One little bear
Wondering what to do.
Along came another
Then there were two.
 
Two little bears
Climbing up a tree.
Along came another
Then there were three.
 
Three little bears
Ate an apple core
Along came another
Then there were four.
 
Four Little bears
Found honey in a hive
Along came another
Then there were five.
 
Grandpa Bear’s Lullaby, by Jane Yolen
 
The night is long
But fur is deep.
You will be warm
In winter sleep.
 
The food is gone
But dreams are sweet
And they will be
Your winter meat.
 
The cave is dark
But dreams are bright
And they will serve
As winter light.
 
Sleep, my little cubs, sleep.