Specialist Newsletter

K - 5th Grades:

Painting begins in October. We worked on crayons in September, our first painting project starts with crayon and adds watercolor paints. As students become familiar with the watercolors, we will move up to tempera paint.

The Magnatiles as well as a new building material will be brought out for sculpture.

Structured:

The theme for October is Fall in the Forest. We will do a variety of nature related projects.

BEAR: Be Enthusiastic about Reading

Schoolwide Reading Incentive Program

We are excited to announce our new BEAR Reading Incentive Program. Our purpose is to increase students’ reading skills and enjoyment. Here’s how it will work:

Grades 1, 2 - Students will bring home a reading log. Please use the log to record the books your child reads at home and return it to your child’s teacher. Students will earn a bear paw sticker for each book they read. Once they have five stickers, they will earn an Eagle Feather. Once they have twenty stickers, they will earn a small bag of gummy bears. (Other prizes are available if students cannot eat gummy bears.) Students may earn up to 3 packs of gummy bears in one quarter (ends November 6). Students will also earn recognition at an awards ceremony if they read more than the other students in their grade level.

Grades 3, 4, 5 - Every time a student finishes reading a book, they will complete a BEAR Paw Print Book Report form and give it to their teacher. Every Thursday, the teachers will submit the form to Mrs. Sinclair in the library. She will record the points and hang the BEAR Prints in the hallway outside the classroom. The students in the class with the highest number of points by the end of the quarter will receive a pack of gummy bears each AND an extra recess. Some teachers are creating other incentives too.

Kindergarten - Our youngest students will join the program soon.

Questions? If you have questions about our BEAR program, please contact your child’s teacher or Evergreen’s teacher-librarian, Mrs. Sinclair. It is easiest to reach Mrs. Sinclair via email at hsinclair@bethelsd.org, but you may also try calling 253-800-8295.

The Learning in Fall

Kindergarten students will continue to practice library skills and read engaging picture books. We will be participating in the schoolwide "Dot" activity. We will also do an author study of Mo Willems (Pigeon, Piggie & Gerald, etc.). Note: As we move into the holiday season, please be aware that we do read books about some holidays. Upcoming we have Halloween, Diwali, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. The lessons are simply reading books that take place on the holiday, not promoting a specific religion. If you would like your child to have an alternate lesson on those days, please let me know at least two weeks prior to the lesson.

First graders will continue to practice using shelf-markers and applying our SOAR principles to picture books like The Book of Rules and What Should Danny Do? By the end of the month, we should begin our WCCPBA (Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award) study.

Second graders will review library expectations, book care, and shelf-markers. Then we will begin reading this year's WCCPBA while practicing reading strategies.

Third and Fifth graders will review library expectations, book care, and shelf-markers. We will begin using BookmojiPlus, which is a great new program to create reading lists. Then we will begin our Inquiry Journal.

Fourth graders will only attend library for a 15-minute checkout every Friday.

Structured Classes: Typically, our library lessons consist of a song, story, craft, and STEM tools or learning centers. Mrs. Kentfield's class will begin our Farm Unit. Ms. Green's class will be reading fan-favorites like Pete the Cat, followed by back-to-school, dinosaur, and fall themes.

Library Checkout

If you did not return books or if they were damaged, please return them or pay the fine to resume library privileges. Fines can be paid at https://wa-bethel.intouchreceipting.com/. Please contact Mrs. Sinclair with any questions at 253-800-8295 or hsinclair@bethelsd.org.

Students are beginning to prepare for Veterans Day! Parents who are current service members or Veterans are invited to attend our assembly on Tuesday, November 10th at 8:55. Additionally, whether you can attend or not, please send pictures of family members who have served in the military to Mrs. Neely at aneely@bethelsd.org for our annual slideshow.

We're beginning to work on sound and silence! Soon, you will see a "muffin" composition come home. Your student can show you how they keep the beat and show silence where there is no sound.

We are working on singing, playing, and composing with songs and patterns that use so/la/mi. Later this month, 2nd grade students will compose and perform their own patterns of so/la/mi as an assessment.

We're continuing to work on harmony and improvisation. Harmony is more than one part playing simultaneously. Improvisation means creating something new on the spot. We are using our barred instruments as we take turns playing different parts and creating improvisational solos. Later this month we will create rhythmic harmony and improvisation on bucket drums.

After School Choir Sign-Up Link: Wednesdays until 4pm

Thank you for choosing your music class!

Please have instruments ready by the week of September 28th.

Here are your ensemble days:

Band:

• (Woodwinds) flute, clarinet: band on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• (Brass) trumpet or trombone: band on Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Orchestra:

• violin: orchestra on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• viola, cello: orchestra on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

Choir

• specialist time choir: Tuesdays and Thursdays
• We are learning how to sing with a good choir sound, music reading review, and preparing for our first performance for Veterans Day

Music Exploration

• music class will be on Wednesdays
• This month we are practicing playing instruments in harmony, meaning we play different parts at the same time. Students rotate trying different instruments. We are also improvising rhythmically.

• Student safety is IMPORTANT in the gym. When your student comes to PE, proper footwear is needed! Please be aware of their PE days so that they can bring proper shoes for the class. Bringing an extra pair of shoes on PE days are also acceptable. When they enter PE they can switch into their tennis shoes and begin to MOVE!