Get ready for the 1st day of 1st grade!! Download the link below to see fun books about going to school. See you soon!
First Day of School: Tuesday, Sept. 8th
Author Archives: kb
Welcome First-Grade Families!
Summer Learning for New 1st Graders
Summer Learning Packets
To help support our students over the summer, the Office of Early Childhood, with the help of some amazing teachers, will be developing summer learning packets (in English and Spanish) for Pre-K students transitioning to Kindergarten and Kindergarten students transitioning to 1st grade. These packets can be used by families at any point during the summer to help students stay on track for the fall.
As packets become available, they will be posted on the PrE-Learning website at http://www.chicagoprelearning.org/ (under the Families Remote Learning Resources page).
The first two packets can be found here:
Remote Learning 6/15-6/18
Download activities below:
Updates & Reminders:
- Disney has scheduled Monday, June 15th, 9am-1pm for all 1st-grade families to retrieve personal items. If you are unable to collect your child’s items during the designated times, please contact the school directly at (773) 534-5840.
- If your family plans to change schools or leave the school district please return leased iPads to the main office. If you plan to remain at Disney School please take good care of your school iPad during the summer months. We will collect all technology, library books, and other school property next fall.
- Report cards will be mailed to student home addresses at the end of the month. Your child’s grades can be viewed in Aspen Parent Portal.
- I plan to keep our ClassDojo message board active until September. I will post updates from CPS that are important for your family and will respond to any questions you have during the summer months. Please do not hesitate to reach out with concerns. This school year has been especially challenging and much still needs to be determined about what our 2020-2021 will look like for families.
Thank you everyone for an amazing school year! This year has had more challenges than most and I greatly appreciate the support you have provided to your 1st grader. We could not have reached our learning goals without your hard work! Congratulations 104 parents and students, you are off to 2nd grade! I will miss you!!
Resources for your family.
Disney hosted some important community conversations last week in response to the challenges our nation is facing. Below you will find some resources for your family. Our school social workers are available to help parents meet the social emotional needs of our students. Contact by email: Ms.Colletti mcolletti1@cps.edu or Ms. Moore-Taylor mlmoore@cps.edu
For Parents:
Talking to children after racial incidents
July 13, 2016
Why talk about social justice?
Stevenson: Adults often have a romanticized view of childhood that ignores how much children actually know. Our research, for example, has found elementary children are acutely aware of racial attitudes. Talking about injustice allows children to make sense of the things that don’t go right in the world.
At some point, your child will be treated differently. Or one of her friends will be. They will be exposed to or have a sense of unfairness or injustice that is rightfully upsetting.
Explain that: “I’d like for you to be able to talk about it if someone treats you unfairly because of the color of your skin, or because you are a girl, or because of your religion, or because of a disability.”
Right now, as chaotic as things might seem, is a good time to begin having these conversations with your child. It opens the door to you saying, “Here’s what we are going to do. Here’s how we can face this. You might feel helpless, which is natural and OK. I want to talk to you about this so you can feel strong.”
Why talk about race?
Stevenson: We tell our kids not to approach strangers promising them candy. That’s a scary situation for a child to imagine. Why do we do it? So children will be prepared for what to do.
Talking about race in America can be scary. People don’t want to be seen as a racist or someone trying to start a conflict. But the less prepared we are to think about race and talk about race, the scarier those conversations are when they occur. And children need tools for how to feel and speak about these issues.
Remember “Affection, Correction, and Protection”
Stevenson: Think of this as a three-step plan for conversations about race and social justice:
- Embrace your child’s difference. Make it clear how much you care about her, how her difference is a gift, not a liability, and how not everyone will view it as a positive.
- Correct misperceptions the world has about people who are diverse. We certainly know the adult world is filled with misinformation after a racist incident makes news. Kids hear that too. Help them better understand that no one is less human than another.
- Monitor your child’s emotions before, during, and after the conversation. Say, “this is an ongoing conversation.” You’re going to keep talking about these issues and they should too. When another incident makes headlines, follow up.
Reason it out
Stevenson: Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. Rather than simply give them rules (“Don’t talk to strangers”) give them reasons (“I would be afraid that a stranger would misunderstand you.”)
Explain the reasons and emotions of why you are having this talk with a child. Explain that you want them to be able to talk about what makes them afraid, because that will make them strong.
It’s OK if they’re upset by what’s happening in the world. You are too. Any reaction, as long as it’s not violent or retaliatory, is OK.
Video Resources:
Part 1: Racism and Protests with Elmo and how we can make a change
Part 2: Big Bird is a victim of prejudice and his friend learns how she can help
CPS Book Recommendations:
http://www.nnstoy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NNSTOY-Social-Justice-Book-List.pdf
Remote Learning 6/8-6/12
Download this week’s assignments below:
Reminders & Updates:
- PTA Book Giveaway is Tuesday, June 9th 9am-11am at the back playground door (door 6). Each child will receive a book while supplies last. Please wear a mask and maintain safe social distancing during your visit.
- The last day to submit missing work is Thursday, June 11th. I will contact families via Class Dojo about missing assignments and 4th quarter grades by Tuesday. Current grades and assignment information is also available in the Aspen Parent Portal.
- An email about bus form applications for the 2020-2021 school year was sent to families last week. Please contact me if you did not receive this email or need a bus application form.
This is our last week of graded classroom assignments. Check in next week for fun activities to end our first-grade school year!
Remote Learning 6/1-6/5
Download our weekly lessons and assignment links below”
Updates and Reminders:
- GoMath and Journeys Reading workbooks can be picked up from Disney School Monday-Friday 9am-1pm.
- PTA Scholastic Book Giveaway: Tuesday 9am-11am at door 6 (back of building). Children will receive 2 FREE books of their choice while supplies last. Remember to wear a mask and practice safe social distancing during your visit to Disney School.
- Please reach out if you need assistance during this challenging time. Visit Disney’s website for resources to meet your family’s social-emotional needs + assistance for housing, food, and other needs. https://selwithmc.weebly.com/
Be Safe! I miss you all!
UPDATE: The PTA book event has been moved to June 9th. More information to come.
Remote Learning 5/26-5/29
Download lesson plans below:
Reminders & Updates:
- Your child will be starting Chapter 12 math lessons this week. GoMath workbooks are available for pick-up at Disney School. Office hours are 9-1 Monday-Friday. The workbook pages are also available in the lesson plan document if you would prefer not to go to the school building.
- CPS has asked teachers to help prepare personal belongings for pick-up. I know we have some headphones and changes of clothing left in the classroom. I will send updates about when your child’s items will be available. (most likely the week of June 8th)
- The weather is the focus of our reading book this week. Spending time outdoors observing weather patterns, clouds, and how people enjoy different kinds of weather are wonderful extensions of our learning. Frog and Toad fly a kite in our story. Maybe one day this week will be a good day for your family to fly a kite too!
Have a great week, everyone! I miss you, and I hope you are keeping safe!
Memorial Day
Reminder: No School Monday, May 25th
Memorial Day is a day to express our gratitude to all those brave hearts who laid down their lives to safeguard our nation. Check out the “Explore Chicago” link on the sidebar to find local Memorial Day events for your family.
Remote Learning 5/18-5/22
Download this week’s lessons and links below:
Updates & Reminders:
- Progress Report Grades are due on Wednesday, May 20th. Be sure to have at least one completed assignment submitted to your child’s Exploratories teachers by this date. (Ms. Rowe, Ms. Dunne, Mr. Fahrenbach, and Mr. O’Neill) See Exploratories links in our daily lesson plan to connect with these teachers.
- Time has been provided on Tuesday to “catch-up” on missing assignments. Students were contacted via ClassDojo on Sunday with instructions. Please let me know if you have any questions.
- This week is the last week for GoMath chapter eleven. Disney has very nicely arranged for our class to pick up the GoMath chapter 12 workbook. I will be providing details about pick-up on ClassDojo soon. This is optional. I will continue to provide the worksheets in our lesson plans for families that would prefer not to come to the school building.
- Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You are the most AMAZING parents! Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home, your patience & flexibility during this crisis, and for sharing your children with me! This has not been an easy time for any of us, but room 104 has SHINED in participation and classwork! The Exploratories teachers were thrilled to see so many assignments from our class last week. You are fantastic!
Have a super week everyone! I look forward to seeing your talent video in our class Flipgrid.