Family Thanksgiving Feast- Tuesday 11/20/12 @ 12:15 pm

We hope you will be joining us for our Thanksgiving Family Feast. We have so much to be thankful for, especially so soon after the aftermath of Sandy. We will join together to give thanks and enjoy a holiday meal. I ask that parents who can help set up arrive at about 12:10. Come right up to the classroom after signing in at the security desk. I'll bring the kids up at about 12:45 pm. We hope grandparents will be able to join us, as well. See you on Tuesday.

Harvest Day

Hi Everyone,
Just a little reminder that PS 10's Harvest Day has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Monday November 19.  It is also Character Day!

In addition, classes have been asked to provide items for a meal box, including:

• Fresh and canned fruit
• Fresh and canned vegetables
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes
• Rice and other grains
• Dried and canned beans
• Stuffing mix
• Baked goods in plastic containers
• Homemade baked goods
• Frozen Turkey
• Frozen Chicken
• Canned and Fresh Ham

If you can contribute, please bring your items tomorrow.  They are going to a food pantry that can refrigerate items.

Thank you all for your generosity.

Museum of Natural History- "Spiders Alive" Trip 10/30/12

Our first trip of the school year will be on Tuesday October 30th. We'll get on a bus and head up to the upper west side of Manhattan, to the American Museum of Natural History. We'll go to see the "Spiders Alive" exhibit.

Our QUICK Non-Fiction SPIDER Unit is Underway

Probably the most famous of the creepy crawlers is the SPIDER. With 8 legs and 2 body parts the spider is an ARACHNID, NOT AN INSECT. More to come...

Leo, Deep in Thought

Sajel at Work

Caleb Sande...future engineer!!!

Hi Margot

Choice time is drawing time.

Math Time with Maribel (Sounds like a TV Show)

Here's Maribel working during math time. She is putting her number card towers in ORDER.

We're Learning Strategies that Good Readers Use

This month in reader's workshop we are learning strategies that reader's use when they are stuck on a tricky word. Here's a look at how we SOUND across a word.

We're Making Great Friends in 1-303

Janiah and Lucia

More Shared Reading

Shared Reading- Weeks 1&2

The first 2 weeks of shared reading have been great. We have introduced "find, cover, say," and taken 10 sight words, 5 from each week.

What a Smile!

Class Parents Needed

I have been contacted by the PTA in regard to "class parents." I am told that we need two parents to volunteer for the role of class parent. I imagine the responsibility of a class parent is to coordinate PS 10 activities from the class perspective. We need 2 parents. Please contact me if you are interested. Thank you.

Our Met Opera Urban Voices Program Begins Monday 10/15

Beginning Monday, October 15th, we will be taking part in the Metropolitan Opera's Urban Voices program. Our teaching artist is Mr. Arri Simon. We will work with Mr. Simon every Monday (and a few Wednesdays) for about 30 weeks. Please include Urban Voices in your nightly "so how as school today?" family discussion. More to come...

A Peak into 1-303's Math Workshop

A big part of TERC unit 1 deals with putting numbers in to a particular ORDER. Along with ORDER is the concept that numbers are representative of the actual presence of that number of..."something," UNITS. In this case, the number card is accompanied by a snap cube tower that "is" that number. Here's Jerod, hard at work. Great job, Jerod!

Picture Day is Tomorrow

Put on your cutest smile and spiffiest outfit. Tomorrow is Picture day at PS 10. Our photo session is 9:30- 10:20 am. Don't forget to send in your money and form.

Tenstock was Great!

I was happy to make it to PS 10's Tenstock yesterday. Fun was had by all. Games, singing, costumes and great food took center stage in the schoolyard. It was great to see some of you yesterday. Hope you had a great time.

Fall Arrives Today at 2:49 PM

Happy Autumnal Equinox! Summer is over and fall is here. Today, at 11 minutes to 3:00, the change of seasons will occur. Cooler weather with beautiful colors are ahead. Happy Fall!

We've Been EXPLORING our Math Tools

As we continue to get routines in place we've been getting to know the tools of a 1st grade mathematician. We have worked with snap cubes and pattern blocks. Next week we'll use some of these tools to form TOWERS on numbers in a certain ORDER.

"Every Picture Tells a Story"

I have asked everyone to try to bring in some family photos. These photos will help the kids become storytellers. Before a child can become a WRITER of stories, they need to first TELL a story. They need to HEAR a SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. They need to hear each other ask the question, "what came next?" Pictures of meaningful times in their lives stir memories that become stories.

We're Reading "Just Right Books"

This week we introduced "just right books." Just Right Books are books that are ON OUR LEVEL. They are NOT TOO EASY, and NOT TOO HARD for us. We'll try out the "Five Finger Rule." Words that are tricky for us should be expected, but if while you are reading a book you find that you have had 5 "bumps in the road (words that we're stuck on)," then we need to talk to find out if that book is "just right" for us.

Mohawk Monday

Inspired by Jack Lappin's outrageous 'do, we'll try to duplicate his style on Monday. We were treated to a great "how to" on how to give yourself a "Jackhawk." Give it a try...I will.

Happy Birthday Gisele and James A.

At the end of the day today we were treated to cupcakes for Gisele and James A.'s birthday. We'd like to thank both families for the sugary treats. Happy birthday to our classmates

, Gisele and James.

Our Self-Portraits are Done

It took us three days, but our self-portraits are finally done. It was a PROCESS. Today we used pastel crayons and water color paints to put on the finishing touches. Everyone did a great job. Take a look at them the next time you're up in room 303.

Kevin Henkes Author Study...Up Next...Shelia Rae the Brave

Shelia Rae isn't afraid of ANYTHING. She is fearless. At least she thought so. When she takes a new way home and things start to look unfamiliar, she finds out that we all have some fears. We are all human. Her sister, Louise, is by her side and leads the way.

We Have our Parent Bloggers!!!!!!!!

Zach (Kayla's step dad), Lisa (Margot's mom) and Helen (Sajel's mom) have all generously offered to eventually take over the class blog site. They were the first three offers that I received. We will sit down in the next week to discuss the transition. Thank you.

"Hello, I'm Owen." "This is my blanket, Fuzzy."

We're Finishing Up our "Summer Fun" Quick Publish in Writer's Workshop

We start our year as writers by publishing a quick 2 or 3 day writing piece about a fun time that we had over the summer. This quick publish allows me to see where the children are as writers and introduces them to the ROUTINES that accompany the workshop. One of my two stories made the kids laugh. That one took place on a water slide. the other was about striped bass fishing. Ask the kids to tell my stories.

Curriculum Day and Night - October 2nd and 3rd

Curriculum Day is a great opportunity for our parents to meet with me and learn as much as possible about the work that we do in school and the expectations that we have for the school year. There will be a short Q & A, as well. October 2nd is the morning session, while the 3rd is the evening meeting. I hope to see everyone.

Rosh Hashanah Holiday is Next Week

Just a reminder that next Monday and Tuesday, September 17th and 18th, is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. School will be closed. If you are celebrating, happy holiday. Have a sweet New Year.

Our Kevin Henkes Author Study Continues with "Owen"

Today we continued our look at the books of Kevin Henkes. Today we read the story of "Owen." Owen is the story of a mouse with a fuzzy yellow blanket named, well..."Fuzzy." When school starts Mrs, Tweezers tries to help Owen's parents figure out a way to get Owen to give up Fuzzy before school starts.

Our Out of Classroom Schedule

As you know, we are out of the classroom once a day in another classroom. These classes are referred to as cluster classes. Our cluster classes are... Monday- Gym, 6th period, Tuesday- Gym, 3rd period, Wednesday- Computers, 3rd period, Thursday- Science, 3rd period AND Music, 4th period, Friday- Art, 3rd period. Our teachers are: Gym- Ms. Gorberg, Science- Mrs. Kaminash, Art- Ms. Fontana, Music- Mr. Ellis and Computers, with Mr. Waisome.

We Have Begun our NAME STUDY!

As we begin to take a look at our community, first we will get to know ourselves. We will get to now as much about us and our families as we can. We are starting with our names. Where did they come from? Does it have a meaning? Were we named after someone? Why do I have that certain nickname? Today we read "Chrysanthemum," by Kevin Henkes. Chrysanthemum is the story of a little mouse with a unique name. As school begins she starts to think differently of her name. You see...Jo, Victoria and Rita have been poking fun at her and the name that she once thought was "absolutely perfect." More to come....

Math- Fun with Pattern Blocks

We got busy with math on the very first day of school. First, we closed our eyes and thought about what "math" meant to us. Next...we were able to build with one of our math TOOLS, pattern blocks. We shared about the shapes that we worked with. We used hexagons, squares, trapezoids, triangles and the shape that we are no longer calling "diamond," the RHOMBUS.

The Kissing Hand

Don't forget that little kiss if it will help. Press it to your cheek and you'll feel better.

Name Our Blog

Think of a great name for our blog. Write it down on a piece of paper and bring it in on Thursday or Friday. We'll have our first class vote to name our blog. With the presidential campaign season in full swing, a VOTE will be quite appropriate. We'll discuss the upcoming vote for el presidente'.

Our Lunch Time is 5th Period (12:15 pm)

I received our schedule for the year today. Lunch will be a little later than normal for us. We'll eat @ 12:15. That's 5th period. We'll get a snack going soon. That's a long morning. I'll get a snack survey out to everyone soon. Shortly thereafter, we'll get a schedule out. Ciao...CB and Ms. Mini

Subway Sparrow

What is COMMUNITY?

Tomorrow we begin our school year. In preparation for tomorrow you might discuss the meaning of "COMMUNITY." What is COMMUNITY? How can I be an active part of MY community? We'll look at community building through one of my favorite books, "Subway Sparrow."

PS 10 Rocks! See you on the 6th.

One More Supply....SORRY.

If you can...please try to pick up some Lysol or Clorox disinfectant wipes. We will go through a ton of these during the school year. In 1-303...we're keeping GERM FREE. Thanks again. CB PS- Obviously, for all SUPPLIES, please only get what you can. I do not want supplies to be a financial burden for anyone. Please contact me if there are any problems. Cheers!

Contacting Me

I have set up an e-mail account that will be used ONLY for our class. The address is mrcliff303@hotmail.com. During the school year you may contact me at this e-mail address. I am "e-mail lazy." I do admit to not being the best at keeping up with my e-mail. I'll try my best. You may also reach me on my cell @ 917-670-0858. Thanks...CB

Supplies Without Tears

Over the years I've managed to compile class supplies that can be used at any time. This will cut down on the normal school supply list. Here's a look at some of the supplies that we will need from our families. 1 box of gallon size zip lock baggies 1 pack of EXPO dry erase markers 1 large box of CRAYOLA crayons 1 black Sharpie marker 1 roll of paper towels 1 box of tissues 1 box/package of black Flair pens 1 pack of ELMERS gluesticks 1 tray of water color paints Our supplies will be communal. We will take from our supply as need be. If anything else is needed, I'll let you know as the year progresses. Thanks for your help. CB

Welcome to Class 1-303

Hey everyone! My name is Mr. Cliff. I'm so excited to let you know that I will be your 1st grade teacher this year at P.S. 10. I hope you and your family are having a super duper summer vacation. I know I am. I can't wait for Thursday September 6th. That's the first day of our 1st grade adventure. We'll meet in the schoolyard at 8:35 a.m. I'll be holding a sign that says, "Mr. Cliff- Class 1-303." I'm really looking forward to meeting you and your family, and to all the fun that we will have this year in 1st grade. Keep smiling! Mr. Cliff