Ms. Naimey

In response to some questions about math homework, here's a reminder.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:36 PM | Permalink

We have read several versions of the Nutcracker and we have been listening to the music for weeks. A former Consolidated student came in to talk to students.  She explained about the performance and about being a ballerina.  You may have noticed the autographed picture that came home from school.  She will be performing in the ballet and will be there tomorrow when we go to "Backstage at the Nutcracker"  at Merrill Auditorium.  We will be leaving at 8:30 and back at 11:30.  We will have snack on the bus and lunch in our rooms so please pack a simple snack and a bagged lunch (no glass bottles, please). 

Since this is a  ballet, students should dress up to see the performance.  This makes it a really special  since they are at Merrill Auditorium to see a story told only by dance.

Ask your child to tell you the story of the Nutcracker tonight or about the performance tomorrow. Even if they have seen the Nutcracker before, they will learn all the backstage secrets!  It is an awesome experience for students to see this.  I am looking forward to watching their faces as they watch the ballet!

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:16 PM | Permalink

I hope you all have a very special holiday with your lovely children!   Happy Thanksgiving!  Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:25 AM | Permalink

We have been learning a lot about the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving this week.   I hope students can come home to tell you all about what was eaten at the First Thanksgiving and about the feast.  They should also be able to tell you who helped the Pilgrims survive and don't forget to ask them to describe  their voyage over.  We will continue on this theme next week.

I will not be here tomorrow because I am very excited to be going to a great conference in Cambridge called Learning and the Brain   http://www.edupr.com/schedule.html   I hope to come back with all sorts of good ideas to enhance learning for all my students!

 I know many of you are leaving early for Thanksgiving to visit family and friends.  Please have a wonderfully safe  holiday vacation with your awesome children!  Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 11:49 AM | Permalink

 In light of the recent events at Consolidated, we spent a lot of time talking about hand washing this week.  Each student washed their hands or used GermX before they ate their snacks or lunch.  Hopefully, these good habits will stop the spread of any germs! 

If you have not yet signed up for conferences, please call the office and schedule a time.  I can meet at 3 or 3:30 on 12/3 and I have several times available on 12/4.  If neither of those times works for you, I can also meet during any of my specials or during lunch/recess time during the day. 

Next week we will focus on the first Thanksgiving.  Thanks, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:34 AM | Permalink

I would respectfully ask that students have healthy snacks at school.  Please do not send any more Halloween candy in with their snack or lunch.  Thank you.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:15 AM | Permalink

Because of the germs going around school at this time, I would like to make sure that each student has clean hands before eating their snack or lunch.  I have some antiseptic cleanser (Purel?) in the class and I would like to give each student a squirt before they eat anything.  If there are any objections to this, please send me a note or email me.  Thanks, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 07:18 PM | Permalink

We did a lot of activities centered around our core literature book called The Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney in preparation for our October 30th field trip to Olde York Historical Society.  I will be bringing in some artifacts next week and they will see others on the field trip as they compare the chores today to the chores long ago.  Enjoy the weekend before the rains come!

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 03:00 PM | Permalink

The songs that students sang on Friday were very well received.  If you did not get a chance to see them, please ask them to show you the American Sign Language that they learned that goes with the "Friends"  song and the song "Are we living?".  We will be doing other short activities at Friday Morning Meetings.  I think it is a great way for students to get used to being in front of a large group. 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 11:06 AM | Permalink

The songs that we were going to sing on Friday at morning meeting may be rescheduled until next week.  There is a presentation about violins and Mrs. Pence was going to ask to see if we could still sing our songs.  If it is not this week, it will be the next Friday.

 Our field trip to Tyler Brook Preserve was incredible!  We had a fabulous day with the weather and activities. The only complaint from the students today was that it was muddy but they were all prepared with their mud boots.  They noticed and discovered a lot of things and then drew like scientists in their field journals. What a great opportunity this was. I hope you go back there so the students can show you what they saw!

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:11 AM | Permalink

We will be performing two quick songs at Friday Morning Meeting on October 17th.  The first is using sign language singing Friends, Friends, 1, 2, 3 and the second is Am I living? to the tune of Mary had a Litte Lamb.  Both are very short but if you want to come and hear it, please join us! 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 04:25 PM | Permalink

We will be starting an activity today that compares an earthworm (thanks to the Kenneway's) to some gummy worms to illustrate the differences between living and non-living.  I think it will be a fun way for them to remember the differences but I am not sure who will be squeamish.  This is the first lesson of our Science Companion unit called "Collecting and Examining Life".  So be prepared to hear some stories today about the earthworms in class! 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 06:35 AM | Permalink

There is a slideshow of the first day under 2,4,6,8 Multiage is really great!  and there is also one of our Harris Farm field trip on my web page.  Check it out!  http://staff.msad71.net/nnaimey/student%20work/Student%20Work%2005-06/main%20page.htm

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 04:12 PM | Permalink

Today was Mrs. Pence's birthday and we made cards for her and sang her the birthday song.  Best wishes to her for a great birthday and year ahead!  

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 11:34 AM | Permalink

We had a fantastic day today at Harris Farms.  Students arrived to cool temperatures as we boarded the hay wagon to drive to different patches of vegetables around the farm.  They picked potatoes under the mounds of dirt, they picked beans and peppers from the plants.  Then they went into the cornfield and picked two ears of corn.  The corn stalks were well over my head.  One we ate right there, it was so juicy, why do we cook corn?  The other went in the bag to go home. The last thing students decided upon was their pumpkin.  That was a hard choice as there were many beautiful specimens from which to choose.  Then we boarded the bus to come home.  The pumpkins will stay in school for a few days as we do a math activity with them and then they will go home for a homework activity.  The other vegetables will come home today for you to enjoy.  All in all, it was a fabulous first day of fall as we went on our harvest field trip.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:38 PM | Permalink

 This week we focused on the core literature book, Tops and Bottoms, by Janet Stevens and learned about how vegetables grow (above ground or below ground) and what part of the vegetable we eat.  Is it a root, seed, flower, stem, or leaf?  This is something students will see first hand at our field trip on Monday to Harris Farm.

Next week at center time, we will decorate book bags and our home reading program will begin one week from Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:42 AM | Permalink

Hola! Habla espanol?  Our Spanish teacher, Senora Kugler will be coming into the classroom two times a week to teach Spanish to both first and second grade students.  The new schedule is online.  Adios.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:25 AM | Permalink

What a great class!  We started our center work this week and the routines are becoming established!  Students wrote about centers in their home-school journal.  Please remember to send them back so we can write in them.  I have to say again that this is just a fabulous class.  I know it is going to be a great year!

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 11:53 AM | Permalink

A document for the minimum requirements for computers that can be donated to the school can be found at http://www.msad71.net/IT/Documents/Donations.pdf  Thank you all for your consideration.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:17 AM | Permalink

This first week we have spent a lot of time getting to know one another and getting to know the school routines.  We spend a lot of time in the beginning setting up the expectations to set the groundwork for a great year.  We talked about the rules of the class and these are the three rules we decided that worked in our class.  First, the golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated. Second, respect the materials (ours and others) and lastly, we will always do our personal best!  It does not matter what others are doing as long as we are doing our best!  I can see this is going to be a great class and we will have an awesome year together! 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 05:04 PM | Permalink

Welcome back to school!  This is going to be a great year!  I am so excited to welcome everyone back and to meet the new students!  I will look forward to seeing you Thursday night at 6:00 for my parent orientation night.  See you then, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:45 AM | Permalink

I have a pair of JC Penny black snowpants size 10/12  and Sorel black boots size 2 left in the classroom from the winter.  Also, there are numerous items in the Lost and Found.  If you are missing these items, let me know and I will make sure that they make their wayinto your child's backpack.  Please look through the Lost and Found the next time you are in the building.  Thanks, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 02:54 PM | Permalink

Our painted lady butterflies emerged.  Four out of five were released onto our class tree this afternoon!  It was a beautiful sight!

We talked about all the metamorphis that took place and changed the caterpillar into a butterfly.  We learned the word proboscis (which is the straw like tongue of the butterfly).

We also saw that our poor plants without air, sun or with too much water were stressed and the one in the best environment with ample sun, air, water and soil grew large! 

 Thank you for the gifts and lovely notes for teacher appreciation week.  If you drove by school on Friday, there were signs all over the front lawn saying "Consolidated teachers rock!" and other similar beautifully handmade by student signs.  It was amazing !  Thank you one and all!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Enjoy the time with family and friends and remembering those that have passed away.  I still love you dad!  Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:20 PM | Permalink

We started learning  how all rocks fall into three categories -igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic.  Igneous rocks come from magma coming out of the earth and cooling over time.  Sedimentary rocks come from sand and mud pressing together over time and hardening into rocks.  Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have changed.  The rock cycle was also introduced.

We are also watching our caterpillars in class.  Three of them have changed into chrysalises in the classroom.  We are measuring them and watching them grow and change (metamorphis). 

Our experiment with plants is showing us that plants need food, water and air to grow.  When one of those is missing, the plant is stressed.  Students are not very happy with this experiment, they all want the plants to thrive.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 08:02 PM | Permalink

The grades one to three concert is tonight.  Please have your child in the classroom at 6:45.  You can go get a seat in the gym and the concert will begin at 7:00.  See you there :) 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:39 AM | Permalink

The homework project called "Rock and Roll"  is due on Monday.  A notice went home two weeks ago and had all the details.  In short, students need to bring in an egg carton with 12 rocks collected from various places.  The rocks should be various colors, shapes and sizes.  One needs to be from near water and another needs to be from the beach but the rest are up to your child.  Each rock should have a piece of tape with the child's name or initials on it and each rock should also have a label of where it is found.  For extra credit, rocks can be identified but it is not necessary.  We will be doing activities in class starting on Monday with these rocks.

Also,  if you are interested in summer tutoring, please drop me a note. I tutor for the first five weeks of the summer either once or twice a week.  Let me know. 

Lastly,  I want to congratulate Julie Urban and Michele Chadburn.  Julie is our current Reading Recovery teacher and she will be a first grade teacher next year. Michele is our resource room teacher this year and will be a third grade teacher next year.  We are sorry to see Mrs. Morse and Mrs.  Boyd retire anfter many years of service to Consolidated but we wish them the best of luck and hope they come back to Consolidated in a different capacity next year. 

Thank you, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:10 AM | Permalink

We are down to our last box of tissues in the class.  If anyone would be so kind as to send in a donation, it would be greatly appreciated.  Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:03 PM | Permalink

Tonights performance has been cancelled due to an nearby accident involving electrical wires.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 05:22 PM | Permalink

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 04:29 PM | Permalink

We had a great day sharing our dinosaur reports with the school.  We had classes in all morning and the class was very excited to share their knowledge.

We looked at germinated seeds and then planted the seeds as part of our life cycle unit.  The plants should be up when we return to school.

Have a great spring break with your lovely children.  I will look forward to seeing them when school begins.  Enjoy, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 07:50 PM | Permalink

We are finishing up our dinosaur unit this week.  On Thursday, April 17th, we will be sharing our reports and fossils with other classrooms.  Any parent is welcome to join us from about 8:30 to 11:00 when we will informally share our reports!  We would love to see you !

 Also, don't forget our field trip tomorrow to HONK!  Please have your child wear their green "Pride of the Port" shirt and bring a bagged lunch and snack (no glass bottles, please).  Thanks.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 04:41 PM | Permalink

There are two new slideshows ready to view, one is one when we were paleontologists in class and the other is on our museum field trip.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 05:46 PM | Permalink

We are finishing up our learning about dinosaurs in the class but when we went to the Boston Museum of Science, the students really showed how much they learned.  Next week we will finish with the sharing of our reports.  It was a great culminating experience for students to cement all that learning :) Special thanks to the many chaperones that kept the experience for all students so wonderful.

Also, anyone wishing to help tidy up the classroom is welcome to join us on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 a.m.  Your help is most appreciated.  Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:23 AM | Permalink

There are two more slide shows on my web page for your viewing pleasure!  One is from Funky Friday when you dress as a member of your family and the other is from when Scott Nash came to visit.  Click on the underlined link to view :)

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 03:56 PM | Permalink

The April newsletter is available online. http://staff.msad71.net/nnaimey/Old%20Newsletters/April%202008.htm

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 05:07 PM | Permalink

I am sorry to report that I have one confirmed case of the flu in the classroom.  Remind your child to wash their hands, get plenty of rest and have vitamin C so they will not get sick.

We will be walking to Graves Library tomorrow (weather permitting).  Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately.  Thank you. 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:03 PM | Permalink

My conference schedule isin the office.  Please call for an appointment.  I am looking forward to seeing you and talking about your child's progress! 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:52 AM | Permalink

We will be going on a walking field trip to Graves Library on Wednesday leaving about 9:00 a.m. (weather permitting).  Students will be able to find more information about their dinosaurs for their report.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:48 AM | Permalink

SOS

I am looking for a few volunteers to help me on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon to tidy up the classroom in anticipation of the accreditation team's visit in mid April.  If anyone would like to help with dusting, cleaning, sharpening, etc. please let me know.  It would be much appreciated.

 Also, one of our students decided to sharpen something other than a pencil in our electric pencil sharpener.  Does anybody have a used one that they would like to donate to the class?

Thank you, Nancy 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:27 AM | Permalink

The last Funky Friday is "class choice" day.  Our class came up with ideas and voted on what our choice would be.  We will be dressing up as another family member on Friday.  We can dress up like a brother, sister, mother or father.  Have fun at home deciding how to dress your child on Friday!  I will take pictures and post them on the slideshow page so you can see the fun we have:)

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 10:24 AM | Permalink

Students have chosen which dinosaur that they would like to learn more about for their report.  At library time today, they came home with books or copies of pages of encyclopedias about their dinosaur so they can start reading about it.  We will also walk to Graves so they can find more information.  Internet sources are allowed as long as they are from a reliable page.  Wikipedia is not a reliable source but there is a list on my web hunt page that can be used.  So enjoy learning about a new dinosaur. Information about hte report will follow. 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 07:55 PM | Permalink

Periodically throughout the year, I clean our student's unfinished work folders.  Yesterday,  I talked with students about the amount of unfinished work that was in their folders.  I talked with them all individually and then cleaned out the work in their folders and sent that work home.  Many students said that other students would talk to them making it hard to work.  Although this is true, students themselves are talking.  We made a plan which is:

1.  Ask whomever is talking to be quiet.

2. If that doesn't work, ask Mrs. Naimey to turn on the classical music (a sign in our class that it is a quiet working time)

3.  If they still make noise, Mrs. Naimey will split up the noisemakers.

4.  If they still talk, they will get five minutes off their recess.

5.  I they continue to talk, Mrs. Naimey will have to talk to their parents or the principal.

These are the rules that they came up with and we are going to try so that they are able to finish their work.  Anything that you can do at home to help reinforce that it is important to work hard and do your best at school would be appreciated.  If you have a question about your child, do not hesitate to call or come in and we can talk more in detail.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:44 AM | Permalink

 Friday is Welcome Spring Day for Funky Friday.  Students can either wear a spring hat that they own or create one at home.  Students really enjoy participating in these Funky Fridays!

Please continue to read each evening with your child.  Help your child to remember to have their baggie books in their backpack each evening.  Our goal is to make reading a consistent in your child's life so that they read at home and at school and the day would not be complete unless they read!  The more you read with them, the better readers they will become and this will help in all content areas of school.  So, keep on reading!

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 07:34 AM | Permalink

It has been very busy in the multiage since the vacation.  We have learned all about reptiles with a culminating visit from Chewonki.  I put some pictures together on a slide show on my web page.  Check it out at http://staff.msad71.net/nnaimey/index.htm  Look for the new section that is labeled Slideshows. 

This week, we are learning all about Dr. Seuss because of his birthday so we are having fun reading all sorts of Dr. Seuss books and doing activities with them.

 Next week, we will have a very short unit on health and also start our month long unit on dinosaurs.  This culminates with our visit to the Boston Museum of Science where all chaperones are welcome.

The March newsletter is posted on my web page at http://staff.msad71.net/nnaimey/multiage%20newsletters/March%202008.htm  Please let me know if you have any trouble viewing it or would like a hard copy and I will get that to you.

The second trimester is almost over and conferences will be next month.  Hope to see you then, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 02:01 PM | Permalink

We have a two hour delay today.  School will begin at 10:15. a.m. 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 06:14 AM | Permalink

We have learned a lot of interesting information about penguins this week.  The kids have had a really good time understanding more about penguins.  We will be learning a little more next week and also start focusing on the presidents, especially George Washington.  

Please check out the February newsletter on the newsletter link of my homepage or you can go to  http://staff.msad71.net/nnaimey/multiage%20newsletters/Newsletter%20Main%20Page.htm If for some reason you would like a hard copy, let me know.  Otherwise, it will be available online.

Thanks.  Have a great weekend!  Go Pats!  Nancy 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 02:30 PM | Permalink

Ask your child who Wilson Bentley was.  He is also known as Snowflake Bentley.  I think your child will be able to tell you some interesting information about this scientist that lived around the turn of the century. 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 11:44 AM | Permalink

This is the message that I got from our current gym teacher.  If you can be a volunteer for the next two weeks on Thursday from 1:20-2:00, please send a note in to school.  Thanks, Nancy

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 09:45 PM | Permalink

Here is a list of Funky Fridays for 2008:

• January 11 – Places to Travel DayWear shirts, hats, pins and other souvenirs from a place on the map.  (For example, Florida, Boston Museum of Science, etc.)

• January 18 - School Mascot Day!  Lobsters abound!  Wear red; bring stuffed lobsters; claws and masks are optional.

• January 25 - Beach Day - Remember what summer feels like? Wear tropical shirts, island dress, pails, shovels, beach towels. (No bathing suits.)

• February 1- Sports Day -Support your favorite team or dress for your             favorite sport.

• February 8 - Funky Heads and Feet Day -Wear hair styles and/or slippers or other footwear.

• February 15 - Patriotic Day—Red, White and Blue - Flags and red, white and blue outfits.

• February 29 - Favorite Book Day - Bring a favorite book and wear or carry something that has to do with the book. (For example: Little Red Riding Hood-carry a stuffed wolf.)

• March 7 - “Dress Up As A…”Day -Dress for what you want to be when you grow up or for any career.  Dress as if you were going to a prom.  Dress as a nerd or as people did in old times.  Dress as a favorite book, movie or cartoon character or superhero. Dress as a person from another culture.

• March 14 - Welcome Spring Day—Hat day -Wear a favorite hat or create one.

• March 21 -  Class Choice Day -  Each class decides what they will do and tries to fool everyone with their choice.

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 08:02 AM | Permalink

This week, we learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The main message was that people should not be judged by what is on the outside.  We learned about how Dr. King fought for equal rights in a peaceful manner.  What happened to Dr. King is not easy for first and second graders to understand but his message is something of which we can all be reminded! 

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 01:02 PM | Permalink

School is cancelled today due to the snow.  Enjoy the day!

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 06:02 AM | Permalink

Posted by Ms. Naimey at 02:16 PM | Permalink

Dear MSAD71 Parents, Staff and Members of the Kennebunk High School Student Body,
On Tuesday afternoon, January 8, high school officials were notified of an alleged threat made toward Kennebunk High School. The police were immediately notified and took action. Through deliberations with them, and due to the fact that the suspect was apprehended and detained, we decided to hold school today. We continue to be in constant communication with our police department to monitor the situation and assure student and staff safety.
 

We are thankful for the immediate and thoughtful response by our law enforcement agents in assisting us in keeping our school safe. We assure you that the safety of all will remain our top priority.

Below is the press release that our police have provided us.

Sincerely,