Denali Montessori ~ Room 177: 2015

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Dear Parents,

Denali Holiday Night is Friday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m. The students have been working on a presentation piece with the choir during their music class. I hope you can join us for a night of music, food, holiday stories and more!

On Wednesday afternoon, December 16, we will be making and decorating gingerbread houses. I have included a list of items that the students chose to bring to help decorate the houses. This is always a fun activity for the students. We will begin at about 1:05. Parents are welcome to join us if they would like.

On Thursday, December 17 Ms. Ashleigh and I are planning to have a sledding party here at school. We will sled from 10:15 to 11:10 and then come in for hot chocolate and a movie. We would like students to bring their own sleds that day. I will bring some as well. I know you’re saying, “Mr. Moyer are you crazy? There’s not enough snow to have a sledding party.” I hear you and I have it taken care of. If it doesn’t snow by next Wednesday, I am planning to do my famous “Snow Dance”. I am very cautious of when I do my snow dance, because the last time I did it was on March 17, 2002. That was the year of the famous St. Patrick’s Day snowfall of 29 inches in 24 hours. It’s hard to control the “Snow Dance” powers, so I hope it doesn’t come to that. Think snow!

I have decided that there will be no homework for the remainder of the year. We will resume homework in January when we return from the break. You can still take time to read every night, relax and enjoy some family time.

The students have had a great week working on capitalization, spelling, math operations, problem solving, writing thank you notes to Mr. Hickel, math facts, reading comprehension, penmanship, the backstroke, reading, writing letters, adverbs, learning about momentum and problem solving with Hot Wheels cars and racetracks, and more.

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer


Mr. Hickel answers questions about his gingerbread village at the Captain Cook Hotel.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Dear Parents,

Tomorrow is our trip to the Captain Cook Hotel to see the gingerbread village. Then we will walk to the Anchorage Museum to eat lunch, explore the Discovery Center, Spark Lab and any other areas we would like to see. We will leave the school at about 11:00 and return about 2:30. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 10:45.

On Tuesday, December 8 we will celebrate a successful first semester with a pool party at West High Pool. We will drive to West High Pool at 1:30 and return at 3:30. We will have use of the slide and the entire pool. Don’t worry if your child is not a good swimmer. All students will be required to wear a life jacket unless they choose to take a swim test and pass it. No one should feel embarrassed if they can’t swim. I am not the greatest swimmer and will be wearing a life jacket. No one will make fun of you if you are wearing a life jacket. This is a fun time to enjoy the slide and water fun!

The students have had a great week working on capitalization, spelling, math operations, problem solving, writing, math facts, reading comprehension, poetry, reading, writing letters, learning about momentum with Hot Wheels cars and racetracks, and more.

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Gavin's Teacher of the Day Experience!

Sarah's Mom reads during our Read-In.

Getting comfortable with a good book!

Reading fun!

Gavin shares his fossils, rocks and other treasures.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Dear Parents,

Tonight, Thursday, November 19 is Denali’s Literature Night! Please join us from 6:30-8:00. There will be games, art, food, and more in this great community event!

Please help us with our Denali Montessori Food Drive. We are collecting all the pieces to make great holiday meals for our Denali families in need. Each class is contributing a specific item and ours is a can of corn. If you could bring in a can of corn for those in need, it would be much appreciated!

Our class is going to have a Thanksgiving potluck on Wednesday, November 25 from 12:30-1:30 with Mr. Harjehausen’s class. Students will be making placemats, cooking, and preparing for our guests. In addition to the items we make, students may bring an item to share. So we don’t have 24 Jell-O molds, we will have first graders bring fruit or a salad or a Jell-O mold, second graders a dessert, and third graders a main dish item. Parents are welcome to join us for the feast. This should be a fun event to get to know our neighbors and celebrate our blessings.

Our next scheduled field trip is Thursday, December 3. We will walk to the Performing Arts Center to see Junior Theater’s production of “Madeline and the Bad Hat”. We will leave school at about 9:30 and return at about 11:45. On Friday, December 4 we will be walking to the Captain Cook Hotel to see the gingerbread village created by master chef, Mr. Hickel. He will talk to us and answer questions about how he created the village. Afterwards, we will walk to the museum, eat lunch and explore any areas we wish. We will walk to the hotel at about 10:30 and return about 2:30. On Tuesday, December 8 we will be driving to West High Pool for an end of the semester swimming celebration! We will leave school at about 1:30 and return by 3:30. Permission slips are in today’s folder.

It has been a fabulous week with the students working on biome research, spelling, science experiments, math operations and facts, adverbs, writing, compound words, capitalization, reading, geometry, penmanship, vocabulary, fractions, and more.

There is no homework for next week. Please enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with health and happiness!

The cupboards are bare in Room 177. If you could help replenish the snack cupboard, the students that have hot lunch or forget their snack would really appreciate it. Thank you!

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Dear Parents,

It is with a sad heart, but well wishes that we are saying goodbye to second grader, Gavin, and his wonderful family next week. We will have a Farewell and Good Luck Ceremony next Thursday. I also asked Gavin what would be one thing he would like to do before he left and he immediately said, “A Read-In!” So, next Tuesday, November 17 we will have a class Read-In. We will start the day with waffles and juice. Students may bring their favorite books, a pillow, and a stuffed animal. The students will read, be read to, and participate in other reading activities. If you would like to bring in your favorite picture book and read it to the class, please let me know. There are no specialists that day, so morning or afternoon times are available to share your book with the class. This should be a fun way to celebrate all we have gained by having Gavin as part of our Room 177 family!

Thursday, November 19 is Denali’s Literature Night! Please join us from 6:30-8:30. There will be games, art, food, and more in this great community event!

Our class is going to have a Thanksgiving potluck on Wednesday, November 25 from 12:05-1:30 with Mr. Harjehausen’s class. Students will be making placemats, cooking, and preparing for our guests. In addition to the items we make, students may bring an item to share. So we don’t have 24 Jell-O molds, we will have first graders bring fruit or a salad or a Jell-O mold, second graders a dessert, and third graders a main dish item. Parents are welcome to join us for the feast. This should be a fun event to get to know our neighbors and celebrate our blessings.

Our next scheduled field trip is Thursday, December 3. We will walk to the Performing Arts Center to see Junior Theater’s production of “Madeline and the Bad Hat”. We will leave school at about 9:30 and return at about 11:45. On Friday, December 4 we will be walking to the Captain Cook Hotel to see the gingerbread village created by master chef, Mr. Hickel. He will talk to us and answer questions about how he created the village. I have scheduled a visit to the museum to follow, but have not heard back as of yet from the museum. We would walk to the hotel at about 10:20 and return about 1:45 if we get into the museum. On Tuesday, December 8 we will be driving to West High Pool for an end of the semester swimming celebration! We will leave school at about 1:30 and return by 3:30. I will send out all the permission slips in next week’s folder.

It has been a very productive week with the students working on biome research, spelling, math operations and facts, adverbs, writing, compound words, capitalization, reading, geometry, penmanship, vocabulary, fractions, and more.

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Thursday, November 5d, 2015

Dear Parents,

Last Friday, October 30 we had another wonderful time, as Brianna and Samantha were our “Teachers of the Day”. The teachers did a super job giving spelling tests, doing pumpkin work, teaching us about the Steller sea cow, and more. It was a very peaceful and informative day!

Thursday, November 19 is Denali’s Literature Night! Please join us from 6:30-8:30. There will be games, art, food, and more in this great community event!

Winter has finally arrived in Anchorage and with it comes all the winter gear. Please remember to label your child’s boots, hats, gloves, snow pants, and other gear. It will make it a lot easier to sort out whose is whose. If you haven’t had time to get your child’s snow gear, please get it soon. We want your children to enjoy outdoor recess as comfortably as possible. If some of you have gently used gloves, hats, boots, coats, or snow pants that you don’t want any more, please consider donating them to nurse Pattie. We have several families in need of snow gear for their kids.

The students have had a great week working on synonyms, vocabulary, geometry, spelling, math operations, adverbs, creative writing, reading, writing letters, science experiments, informative writing, and more. This class is really impressive in their work habits, how they work with each other, and their love for learning. I am having a great time working with your kids. Thank you for all your hard work you do at home with them.

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Good morning!

The teachers take the attendance and lunch count.

The word is.....

Spelling test with the teacher.

Pumpkin drawing!

Watch out!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Dear Parents,

The Denali Fall Carnival is tomorrow night Friday, October 30 from 6:00-8:30! Please join us for music, games, and a lot of fun. If you are able to donate a cake for the cakewalk, it will be greatly appreciated. It is rumored that Ms. Dene will be dressed in a gorilla suit, so look out for her!

Our next scheduled field trip will be on Thursday, November 5. We will be walking to the Performing Arts Center to see Junior Theater’s, “Click, Clack, Moo” We will leave the school at about 9:35 and return at about 11:45. We look forward to this fun event!

If you have not done so, you can access all future newsletters and pictures at http://denalimontessori177.blogspot.com/. If you type in your email in the box on the right hand corner, you will automatically receive an email when I have added anything. Thank you again to Mr. Horning for putting this together for me!

We are back to a full week and the students are back in the flow! We have been studying math operations, spelling, writing friendly letters, penmanship, reading, continents, adverb, synonyms, and more! It’s been a wonderful week!

This week we welcomed a new second grader, I’a, to our classroom. I can’t tell you how proud and fortunate I felt about how gracious and welcoming the other students were in making him feel safe and at home. You, as parents, have taught your children well and it has made such a difference to everyone who enters Room 177. Thank you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Dear Parents,

I have enjoyed meeting with you all to discuss your child’s progress this quarter and set goals for the next quarter. I will meet with each student as well to have him or her set goals for themselves as well. I have also sent home your child’s report card in today’s folder. You can also view it on the Zangle Parent Connect site as well. Please take time to go over the report card with your child and celebrate their accomplishments and set goals for improvement. With all of us working together it should be a great year!

The Denali Fall Carnival is on Friday, October 30 from 6:00-8:30. Please join us for music, games, and a lot of fun. If you are able to donate a cake for the cakewalk, it will be greatly appreciated.

Homework has returned! I have put in the homework in today’s folder that will be tested and due on Friday, October 30. It will be nice to get back to our regular full week routine.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Dear Parents,

It’s hard to believe that it’s the end of the quarter already. I have been amazed at the growth the students have made. I want to thank you for all your hard work with your children. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who have been able to read with students, give spelling tests, chaperone field trips, make copies, cut, laminate, and put together Montessori materials, and everything else you have done to help me. I really appreciate it.

I am looking forward to meeting with you all next week to talk about your child’s progress. Conferences will be held Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 from 12:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. I will also be offering conferences on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20 from 7:00 a.m.-8:15 a.m. Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. on October 21 and 22 and there is no school on Friday, October 23. Parents now have the ability to schedule conference times online. The Conference Scheduler is now available. Please schedule soon to secure conference times that work best for your family. If you don’t sign up, I will be forced to clean my desk and that is never a fun thing for me. Please visit the online scheduler at: www.asdk12.org/parents. You will need to choose 1^st grade and then find my name and you will find my schedule. If you are not able to use the online system please call or email. I look forward to meeting with you all and celebrating your child’s progress.

What started out as a bet I lost to two students five summers ago, turned into a wonderful experience that keeps on going. Evan and Leland, now eighth graders, approached me at the end of the school year and proposed a bet. If the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship, they would become teachers for the day. I agreed, but said if the Cleveland Cavaliers won, they would have to wash my car. As you know, my car still needs a wash and they became teachers for the day. Over the summer I wished I had come up with this idea on my own. I’ve always told the students that I’m not the only teacher in the classroom. Each student is a teacher. Each student brings unique experiences and expertise to our class and when he or she shares those gifts, the rest of us receive new learning. Leland and Evan wanted to take over the class the first day of school, but I told them they needed to take a teaching course first. They came in several times during their lunch time and wrote lesson plans, practiced the lessons they would teach, and promised to be professional. On Friday they came dressed in ties, greeted the students at the door, conducted circle, gave math lessons, spelling tests, and a volcano science lesson that Evan said, “had the crowd going crazy”. After a few giggles from the students seeing their new teachers, they settled in and were respectful to our guest teachers. The whole day was a real joy for me to see these third graders demonstrate such responsibility and see a little of myself in their teaching style. I was so impressed and excited by the entire experience that it will forever be a right of passage for every third grader to be teacher for the day. Thank you Leland and Evan for your wonderful gift. On Monday, October 12 we continued the tradition with Sarah and Svea taking over the teaching duties for the day. They did a marvelous job teaching subtraction to the first graders, multiplication to the second graders, and double digit division to the third graders, taught us how to make survival bracelets (Thank you to Annie’s family for providing the materials to make them!), and more. The students and I were impressed on how peaceful and quietly everyone worked. It was a great day!

The Denali Fall Carnival is on Friday, October 30 from 6:00-8:30. Please join us for music, games, and a lot of fun. If you are able to donate a cake for the cakewalk, it will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to Michael, Annie, and Sarah’s family for providing snacks for the snack cupboard this week!

There is no homework for next week due to the short conference week. I will send homework again next week that will be due on Friday, October 30.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Van Gogh came alive!

The teachers lead the circle discussion.

The teachers greet the students.

The teachers giving the 1st graders a math lesson.

Explosive fun at the museum.

The Spark Lab was a big hit.

Spark Lab fun.

Having fun in the Discovery Center.

Let's build something fun in the Spark Lab.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Dear Parents,

Our first field trip is tomorrow Friday, October 9! We will be taking a bus to West High School to see the musical production of “Aladdin”. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00. We will leave the school at about 9:15 and return at about 12:00. We have read the book and seen the Disney movie version and are eager to compare those to tomorrow’s performance. Thank you to all the chaperones that were able to make this trip possible.

One of my favorite times of the year is fast approaching. Conferences will be held Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 from 12:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. I will also be offering conferences on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20 from 7:00 a.m.-8:15 a.m. Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. on October 21 and 22 and there is no school on Friday, October 23. Parents now have the ability to schedule conference times online. The Conference Scheduler is now available. Scheduling early offers you the opportunity to secure conference times that work best for your family. Please visit the online scheduler at: www.asdk12.org/parents. You will need to find my name and go to 1^st grade and you will find my schedule. If you are not able to use the online system please call or email. I look forward to meeting with you all and celebrating your child’s progress.

I sent homework home on Monday. That list will be tested and due on Thursday, October 15 because there is no school on Friday, October 16.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Monday, October 5, 2015

Dear Parents,

Unfortunately, I was hit with a flu bug and was out last Thursday and Friday. It is not easy for the students or me when I sometimes have to be gone, but I appreciate when the students treat the visiting teacher with respect and go on with the works they know how to do. Both visiting teachers wrote that it was a “nice working group” and that things went well. I am very proud of the students for their kindness and independence while I was gone.

One of my favorite times of the year is fast approaching. Conferences will be held Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 from 12:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. I will also be offering conferences on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20 from 7:00 a.m.-8:15 a.m. Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. on October 21 and 22 and there is no school on Friday, October 23. Parents now have the ability to schedule conference times online. The Conference Scheduler will be available for your convenience beginning October 7^th. Scheduling early offers you the opportunity to secure conference times that work best for your family. Please visit the online scheduler at: www.asdk12.org/parents. You will need to find my name and go to 1^st grade and you will find my schedule. If you are not able to use the online system please call or email. I look forward to meeting with you all and celebrating your child’s progress.

Our first field trip will be this Friday, October 9. We will be taking a bus to West High School to see the musical production of “Aladdin”. Chaperones please meet in Room 177 by 9:00. We will leave the school at about 9:15 and return at about 12:00. I have sent home another permission slip to those that have not returned one and have posted it on the website as well. Please return them as soon as possible. This should be a great trip.

I am also excited about our next field trip that is next week! On Tuesday, October 13 we will be walking to the Anchorage Museum to see the Van Gogh Alive exhibit, explore the Spark Lab, have lunch, and explore the Imaginarium. We will leave the school at about 9:45 and return at about 1:15. This trip is free because we are business partners with the museum! It looks like one of my colleagues, Ms. Atkinson, made a permission slip for me and sent it home in the Thursday folder. Thank you Ms. Atkinson! I have posted it on the website as well. Please return these forms by Friday!

I can hear the cries now, “Mr. Moyer, say it isn’t so!” It is sad but true. There will be no homework this week due to the fact that I didn’t get it to you soon enough and we have a field trip on Friday. I am sending homework in today’s folder that will be tested and due on Thursday, October 15 because there is no school on Friday, October 16. You can always continue to read to and listen to your child read every evening this week for at least 20 minutes.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Dear Parents,

I am sending home the permission slip for our first field trip of the year in today’s folder! On Friday, October 9 we will be taking a bus to West High to see the musical performance of “Aladdin”. This should be a fun trip. We will leave the school at about 9:15 and return at about 12:30. Please return the permission slips and money as soon as possible. If you are writing a check for the performance please make it out to Denali Montessori.

Thank you to Gavin and Annie’s families for sending in snacks to help fill our snack cupboard!

The students are settling in nicely to the work cycle and have been working on setting goals and fine-tuning on how they can be more productive. This week we have been working on points, lines, rays, segments, planes, angles, and quadrilaterals in geometry, writing in our journals, spelling, math facts and operations, writing a friendly letter, adjective and article work in grammar, rhyming, classification, reading activities, phonics, penmanship, writing persuasive letters, and more. We also told the Maria Montessori’s Second Great Lesson, The Coming of Life. It’s been a wonderful week!

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely

Craig Moyer

Celebration of Life!

Another Celebration of Life!

Super concentration on geometry work!

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Dear Parents,

Please join us tonight from 6:30-8:00 for the Denali Open House. We will begin in the multipurpose room with a brief introduction of the staff and PTSA meeting. Then you will get a chance to visit the classrooms. The students are anxious to show the Montessori materials. I look forward to seeing you tonight.

The students have really been working hard this work concentrating, persevering, and creating a peaceful learning environment. It’s been very nice to see all the students engaged in learning. I have been really impressed with the first graders and how they have adapted to so much change in their lives. We have also been working on learning about adjectives and articles, math facts and operations, “Who Am I?” stories, writing friendly letters, place value, penmanship, classification, spelling, rhyming words, and more! I love working with your children.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Have a wonderful sunny (I hope) weekend!

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Dear Parents,

It’s been another great week in Room 177! The 2^nd and 3^rd graders have been great role models this year in their work effort and citizenship. The 1^st graders have been following along and are working very well. It’s been a lot of fun to see. We have been studying spelling words, nouns, classification, rhyming words, penmanship, reading, place value, math facts and operations, geometry, writing our own creation stories, and writing friendly letters. I really enjoy working with your children and observing their growth.

Open House at Denali Montessori is next Thursday, September 17 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please join us to see what we’re doing in Room 177 and how the students use all the wonderful Montessori materials. I look forward to seeing you then.

I have sent home your child’s Lexia username and password in today’s folder. If you would like to use this program at home, simply go to mylexia.com and have your child login to use the reading skills program. Your child has taken a placement test this week to place them at their current skill level.

I have had questions about our specialist schedule, so here it is.

Monday: 9:10-9:40 Music; 9:45-10:15 P.E.

Wednesday: 9:10-9:40 P.E.; 2:50-3:20 Music

Thursday: 9:10-10:10 Art/Health

Friday: 1:10-1:40 Library; 1:45-2:15 P.E.

Our recess is daily from 12:05-12:30 followed by lunch from 12:35-1:00.

We do not have a snack calendar in Room 177. I ask that students that bring their own lunch pack a snack to eat during the morning, as they get hungry. We do have a snack cupboard for those that have hot lunch or forget their lunch. If you would like to help stock the snack cupboard with items such as goldfish, pretzels, string cheese or other items, it would be very much appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Working together on noun books.

Classifying our nouns into person, place, and thing.

Working in the jungle.

We have so many great role models helping out in the classroom.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Dear Parents,

It’s been another wonderful week in Room 177! The students are learning the routines, learning how to work independently, and having a good time doing it. We have had math lessons using the various Montessori materials such as the golden beads, stamp game, and dot paper. The students have worked on spelling, learning the parts of the friendly letter and writing to our person of the week (Marcus), reading creation stories and reenacting the scientific story of creation (It was a bang up presentation!), phonics, science experiments using our sound science kit, penmanship, the noun, place value and more this week.

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, September 17 from 6:30-8:00. This is your chance to visit the classroom and find out more about the Montessori program at the Denali Open House. I look forward to seeing you then.

If you haven’t paid the $15 supply fee yet and are able to pay it, I would really appreciate it. So far I have spent $136 for the Time for Kids subscription, which will begin in two weeks and $150 for shared classroom supplies such as journals, folders, pencils, glue, paper, and other materials. I have collected $150 so far. Thanks for your support.

If you have any questions or concerns please e-mail me at moyer_craig@asdk12.org or call or write me a note.

Sincerely,

Craig Moyer

Svea is hard at work!

Cora and Julia just finished the 45 layout!

Lucas and Annali playing an exchanging game called, "Race to 50".

Friday, August 28, 2015

Picture Day!!!!

Picture Day is Thursday, September 3. Please have your child practice their best smile and send them with a great big one on Thursday, September 3! I have sent home picture order forms with your student tonight. Thanks!