Dear RES Families, You’re invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online from 10/12-10/25! All purchases benefit our school and connect kids with new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more.
You’ll love the NEW option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy these special online shopping features:
Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, and value packs
All orders ship direct to home
FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25*
All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards
Visit our Book Fair Homepage and click “Shop Now” to get started:
*Free standard shipping is available on book-only orders of $25 or more, after all discounts are applied. Free standard shipping (books) must be selected during checkout. Orders containing products other than books are not eligible for this shipping promotion.
During this time of distance learning, third graders spent many weeks watching videos of lessons, workshopping their stories at home, and creating amazing fairy tales! Students were given many choices throughout this unit: to write adaptations of fairy tales, to write in notebooks, to write and publish as a document, or even to publish in a story book creator application! The result: MAGIC that truly captures the unique qualities of each writer! Enjoy!
While we can't gather together and celebrate the end of our year as we would like to, we still wanted to take just a few minutes to reflect on ALL that we have learned and experienced together in this crazy year! We will miss you!!!
Lake Champlain is a treasure trove of history and most of us would never even know! The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (at Basin Harbor in Vergennes) is a wonderful place to discover the history of our lake and all of the mysteries hidden beneath the surface!
While you're staying socially distant this summer, try exploring underwater shipwrecks and learning even more about the history of our lake.
WHEN: Thursday, May 21st-starting at R.E.S. at 1:00
WHERE: Main roads throughout Richmond. If you live on a side road you will want to come to the main road so we don’t miss you!
WHAT: RES teachers will be chanting, cheering, and honking from our cars.
We would love to see your waves, signs, posters, and hear you make some noise! You can wear your R.E.S. gear or purple and yellow!
PLEASE NOTE: It is important for us to be mindful of social distancing and safety during this time. Please do not approach the cars as they drive past. Please follow all social distancing and safety guidelines provided by the state of Vermont.
Epic has partnered with Every Child a Reader this week to bring new books and collections that kids love! Some of the high-interest books are in audio, as well. Check out the link and keep hitting load more to see all the great books added.
Third and fourth graders were given an opportunity to write to nurses serving on the USNS Comfort in New York's Harbor during this pandemic to thank them for their service. Lt. Margaret Taylor is the cousin of one of our RES third graders. She says,
I wanted to also thank you for sending my mailing address to Robert’s classmates & friends in Vermont. We love all the artwork & fun cards. They have brought joy to our ward. We look forward to mail call during the week to see if there are any new letters with fun jokes, cartoon stories, or drawings. We have posted them around the nurses station. The patients are able to appreciate them too as they walk around. I hope to be able to write some of them back as soon...
Attached is a picture of some of my coworkers showing their appreciation. Just know that we are smiling under our masks. I hope you and the family are doing well, keeping safe and sane.
Much love,
Cousin Margaret
Lt. Margaret Taylor with pictures & letters from 3rd & 4th Graders
Note: While the age range is 8-11 years old, the content is geared for students finishing grade 4. Most of the work is likely accessible, there will be some work that will be challenging for third graders to complete (three-digit multiplication, among other topics!).
We wanted to share with you a free resource from Scholastic & the Yale Child Study Center to help navigate and cope during this time. The letter below gives more information about the development of this resource. More information and a downloadable workbook can be found here.
Dear Families,
This is a stressful time for families and children. We want to give comforting answers, yet we are looking for comfort ourselves. At a time when we all need hugs and closeness, we are asked to maintain distance.
We’ve designed this workbook to be used flexibly so you can bridge the gaps created by our changing circumstances. Share it with your child for activities and as a conversational tool. You can also encourage an older child to work with a younger sibling, or go to a calming corner and reflect independently.
We believe that your family will form bonds through these shared activities that lead to greater resilience. And we hope that the emotional resources your children develop will serve them well in this time of crisis, and in months and years ahead.
It is our deepest hope that you find strength together. Please reach out to us with questions, and let us know how you are doing.
Our very best,
Denise Daniels RN, MS Creator of The Moodsters, child development expert
Karen Baicker Executive Director Yale Child Study Center–Scholastic Collaborative for Child & Family Resilience
This Friday's Celebration is PJ Day! Share a picture (1) or a short video (under 30 seconds) with Mrs. Touchette (wendy.touchette@mmuusd.org) or Ms. Spaulding (danielle.spaulding@mmuusd.org) on Friday by 3:00 PM to be included in our virtual, video celebration!!
Some of you may remember Mrs. Ankerson, she taught at RES for several years before moving to Florida with her family in 2018. Currently, she is the Arts Integration Curriculum Specialist working with teaching artists as they design lessons for their Artists-in-Residency programs in the Palm Beach County schools.
Schools in Florida have also closed, but that doesn't mean that the Arts have to stop! Check out these activities and lessons, many using simple household materials (toilet paper rolls anyone?)...Check it out!
Mrs. T reminds us of our schoolwide expectations and how we can continue to follow them at home. And tells us about the next school wide celebration -- check it out!
At some point Friday, you and your child will receive a learning template from us. This will be our format moving forward to help organize the essential learning and activities for students. We will include a video to show everyone how to best utilize this.
Our goal for the next two weeks is to establish learning routines and allow students to be more comfortable (and ourselves) utilizing long-distance learning. This is really important! We don't want students feeling uncomfortable using a new format and also trying to learn new skills and concepts.
Our goal will be to post this in our blog, in an email to families, and to students via Google Classroom. Every Friday moving forward, your families can expect a new template so that when ready, you can plan and schedule out your following week.
As always, Tonya and I are always here to help and support you and your families. Anything you need, just ask! We miss being in the classroom with your children. It's okay if there is a day that your child wants to just reach out to chat via video. We are here for them! You are not alone as we are all in this together!
:)Marie and Tonya
The nurses of MMUUSD have gathered resources for students and families as we navigate this time in our community. Please check out the new webpage here.
If you or your family are in need of support, you may always reach out to RES Nurse Jen Hadley.
<a href="http://clipartmag.com/comic-book-clipart">Comic Book Clipart</a>
There are sooo many wonderful opportunities to interact and learn from children's book illustrators, graphic novelists, and authors and we wanted to share them with all of you. This is a perfect opportunity to take a "course" from one of these instructors and improve your skills -- perhaps it could be a family learning project even!
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems -- The author/illustrator of the Elephant & Piggie and Pigeon books invites us to join him every day at lunch for a new activity. The activities are archived for access later, too. New episodes arrive every day at 1:00 ET.
Draw Everyday with JKK -- Author/illustrator of the "Lunch Lady" series and "Hey, Kiddo" provides daily drawing lessons on YouTube Live (archived after). These lessons will have one focus for the week which continues to build skills each day. Special guests will appear on occasion, too. New episodes everyday at 2:00 ET.
Ed Emberley's Drawing Blog -- This is a great spot if you are just looking to learn how to draw specific items. Posts include "thumbprint" drawings, too. Check it out!
Jarrett Lerner's Comic Activities -- A plethora of activities are available on Jarrett's site. (Jarrett is a Massachusetts author and graphic novelist -- he's been to Vermont several times for workshops & events.) Activities include blank comic book pages and "finish this comic" activities to encourage creativity. Bonus: Share your comics with him and he might even post on his social media accounts!
As MMUUSD navigates our move to distance learning, we want to be sure that we are meeting the needs of each of our students and their families. IF you have not already seen this survey via district email, please take just a moment to fill it out. It will help us to better meet your needs as we continue to make plans. Distance Learning Survey
One resource available to our students during this dismissal is Epic Books. Hopefully, you (parents) have received an invitation from Epic to create a home account for your child that connects to our classroom account. If not, please reach out and let us know the email address you'd like the invitation sent!
For now, students can get on and explore...read and listen to a wide variety of books and become familiar with the platform and the nuance of e-reading.
Eventually, we may "assign" collections of books for students to read that correspond to learning in our virtual class. We'll let you know when this happens.
Also, Scholastic Magazine has out some online resources if you are looking for extra activities for your children. They offer preschool through ninth grade. The activities are set up daily and after students have read an article they can complete some work in a variety of academic areas.
We know we are all trying to settle into a new routine for the next two weeks. As teachers, we are working hard to learn all the ways we can access each other, our families and students through technology. Please continue to reach out to us if you have any questions or any needs for your family. We can work with you to help find the needed resources. Together, we will get through this and be a stronger community!
The goal until April 6 is for maintenance learning for students. That means we want to make sure students are still practicing all the skills and concepts they've been taught this year, but are not being required to do "new learning." That'll start on April 6 (remotely) if we aren't back in school. Everyone now has their learning bags and Chromebooks to access Google Classroom and other sites that students are already familiar with.
Here is an idea of how to use the materials in the bag and other programs, along with a sense of how much time to devote to each:
Cursive 10 min. a day (in bag)
Reading 30-45 min. a day (choice books already at home)
Word Study twice a week (in bag)
Math 15+ min. a day either through games (in bag) or eSpark
Check Google Classroom daily for updates from all teachers
Other Things to Work On: Flipgrid, Edutyping, and Listen to Class Read Aloud
Here are some anytime go-to activities for students to work on while we are experiencing this school dismissal and distance learning. Please reach out to your teacher if you need any help accessing these sites! (We will likely keep updating this as we think of more lessons/activities.)
EduTyping: This can be accessed via ClassLink or the "Student" section of the RES website.
Account ID: cesuschools
Sign in with MMUUSD google account
eSpark: Math and reading lessons, games and activities that we can tailor specifically to your child. This can be accessed via Google Classroom.
Code.org: Online coding tutorials and "classes" available for free. Many are able to be completed independently. If you need a sign-in and don't remember it, check in with your teacher.
Other great websites: Multiplication.com: Also includes games for addition and subtraction.
The Enrichment Program invites families to come learn together at our annual STEAM night. Families will participate in science, technology, engineering, art & math related activities and workshops. The PTO will be providing a snack table. This event is free, but donations to the Enrichment Program will be graciously accepted.
Here are some of the activities that will be available for families to do together:
Family Garden Planning with a local horticulturist, Hattie White from Apis Garden Coaching
Robotics with parent and STEM educator, Darcie Rankin
Make a kinetic sculpture mobile with a local artist, Keri Hess of Wabi Sabi Art Studio
Stop motion animation - make a short film with Librarian, Emily Wood
Guided stargazing and telescope demo with the Vermont Astronomical Society
Outdoor Education with Vermont Audubon
Cardboard Engineering Challenge with the Society of Women Engineers
Sustainable Energy & Electricity with Vermont Energy Education Program
Coding & math games - learn about & play logic and computer programing games.
Please email Enrichment Teacher, Harmony Roll at harmony.roll@mmuusd.org if you would like to help out with this event. Thank you in Advance!
lonely mittens/gloves (38 ones looking for their partners, 13 pairs)
hats/neckwarmers/balaclavas (23)
snow pants (4)
boots/shoes (3 pairs)
clothes (13 shirts/hoodies & 2 pairs of pants).
Next Wednesday all the items will be on display outside the main entrance and anything not claimed will be disposed of or donated on Thursday. Thank You!
We reviewed all of the things we learned about: how valuable trees are, how to identify them, and ways to protect them. Ask your child what was one thing new they learned in this class.
Tree Challenge: Can you and your family plant a tree in your yard or community? Learn more about how to choose a tree and where to plant it at vtcommunityforestry.org.
Due to the Snow Day, we have reschedule GSPD to Wednesday, February 12th!
RES Third Graders will be participating in Global School Play Day all day on Friday, February 7, 2020. We'll be spending our entire day engaged in "unstructured" play -- board games, card games, building, making, creating, outdoors...you name it! We won't be on technology!
Here's a quick TedX video on the decline of play:
So, on February 7th...students may bring (clearly labeled) board games, card games, dolls, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, empty boxes for building/creating, puzzles, blankets (for fort building!), and more! If it doesn't use technology (computers/screens/apps), and it is appropriate for school, bring it!
We'll spend the day immersed in play...we can't wait!
We were back to Cochran's today for another week of Snow Motion. While the weather was MUCH warmer than last week, the snow conditions were a wee bit icy. Nevertheless, we persevered!
Tree Challenge: Try to identity the trees in your yard or
neighborhood! Use the Arbor Day Foundation’s “What Tree is
That” online tool found at www.arborday.org.
Lesson 3: What do trees need?
Ben, Finn & Will are back this week (Tuessday with Mrs. Girouard and Friday with Mrs. Ayer) to teach another lesson about trees. This week's focus is all about what trees need:
This week, we learned what trees need to survive! Trees need space, water, nutrients, sunlight
and air.
At home, you could try a family Tree Craft: Search for tree crafts and create some tree art for your
home!
What a fantastic day to be on the mountain today...despite the cold temperatures! We can't wait to return again next week!
Just a reminder -- ski boots & helmets should come to school; ski & poles should be dropped off at Cochran's. (It really does make it much faster for us to get off the bus and get onto the mountain!)
Great news! After much time coordinating with our curriculum coaches and coordinators, our district now has a website for families to explore. Check it out! https://www.mmuusd.org/family-curriculum
Will, Ben and Finn from CHMS returned yesterday to teach our students about the parts of trees. They even had the opportunity to create costumes and act out the life cycle of a tree! You can read below to see more information about the lesson taught:
Lesson 2: What makes a tree, a tree?
In our lesson today we learned what sets trees apart from other plants. Trees have three
main parts: woody stem, crown and roots. We also discovered the life stages of trees. Ask
your child what makes a tree a tree and have him or her show you their tree costume!
Tree Challenge: Do you want to know what the tree in your
backyard provides? Check out the tree benefits calculator to see
the economic and ecological benefits of your tree. Visit
www.treebenefits.com/calculator/ to learn more!
Starting today, we have Ben, Will and Finn from CHMS teaching a science lesson to our class about trees and forests. They are participating in the TRY (Teens Reaching Youth for the Environment) Program, through UVM Extension and 4-H. They will be in every week through February break to teach a lesson to our students. We are so excited to see former RES students take on this leadership role and to help support them grow as leaders. Below you will find the overview of today's lesson so that you can connect with your child at home:
Finn, Ben & Will
Lesson 1: Why are trees important?
Today we had our first lesson in the TRY for the Environment—Forests and Trees Program.
TRY stands for Teens Reaching Youth and it is an environmental leadership program
where teens teach younger youth about environmental responsibility. There are 6 lessons
in this program and each one will help your child become a better environmental
steward for our forest and trees.
This first lesson focused on how we value forests and
trees for their aesthetic, cultural, ecological, economic, educational and recreational
benefits.
Fact: Trees improve air quality, mitigate stormwater, provide
shade and enhance aesthetic beauty, provide wildlife habitat,
and increase property value. Visit www.vtcommunityforestry.org
to learn more about tree benefits.
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Some of you may remember Mrs. Ankerson, she taught at RES for several years before moving to Florida with her family in 2018. Currently, she is the Arts Integration Curriculum Specialist working with teaching artists as they design lessons for their Artists-in-Residency programs in the Palm Beach County schools.
