Dear Families,

"Amazing!" "I can’t believe they could move their bodies like that!" "Did you see how they looked like they were hitting each other, but they didn’t really?" "I wish I could dance like that." What was that thing called that they were sometimes standing, and sometimes laying underneath?" "I didn’t know you could make sound like that by slapping your feet or your legs." "I thought the funniest part was when they made that rhythm with their breathing…they were making gasps and sighs with their breaths, but it sounded like music." " It was funny when that guy shouted, ‘French fries!"

The above were some of the comments I heard children speak or write in their memory book reflections after the Flynn performance of ECHOA: Music and Dance From France. I originally thought this performance would highlight traditional music and dance, but after further research realized that this troupe of four amazing musicians and dancers provided an experience that kept their audience on the edge of their seats with slapstick-like comedy using their skills in dance and percussion. I knew we were in for a treat when the director of educational programs announced, "The performers from abroad have visited only five American cities, and Burlington, Vermont is the last performance for this tour before they travel home, AND they ask that you refrain from clapping or stomping to any beat, because this may throw off THEIR beat as they perform for you, but they would love you to let them know how much you love their performance as they go along with "ooooos, ooohhhhhhs, and ahhhhhhs, like in France."

We’ve been busy weaving using yarn and burlap---just like a child in days gone by may have done to pass the time after the chores were done, and their was still daylight or some lantern light burning in the evening. Thanks to Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Werntgen for pulling out the burlap strings to make way for our weaving paths. We each chose the counting pattern of 3 to 7 we would use for counting. Some of us learned some other fancy weaving stitches that could be used once this basic pattern was followed. Your children will be bringing these home by Thanksgiving, and can be used as a placemat under a centerpiece for your holiday table if you wish.

You may remember that we made flavored or herbed butter a week or two ago. Well, we had some butter left over, and I brought in some maple syrup. We combined the two, and ended up with delicious maple butter that we spread on multigrain crackers. "Yum!" was the remark most commonly shared.

We had two small pumpkins left over from some second grade math activities, and I cut one up into quarters in front of the children. I took the quarters home and baked them, and then returned them to school to have the kids look at the change as they watched me scoop out the soft, mushy insides away from the skin. This cooked pumpkin was then used to make mini pumpkin muffins with a cream cheese frosting to celebrate Mrs. Orr’s birthday—(her birthday is Nov. 18, but we celebrated a bit early)!

Thanks to Sarah Nussbaum, Matthew’s Mom, we have been able to touch some historical artifacts—metal candle molds, metal cobbler shoe molds of various sizes, and two different irons—the kind that we think either held a live fire, hot coals, or hot water in order to heat up the metal, so that the wrinkles could be pressed out of the clothing. The candle molds made quite an impression on the children because they saw how these might have saved time and energy after they experienced the "dipping" method. Thank you, Sarah!

I’m looking for some quality games that can help early readers develop reading skills. Games like Boggle, Jr. and Boggle are a couple of examples. I’m also looking for some games that can help children already reading, and ready for more challenge, to develop geography skills. I’ve heard of a game called The State Game and The State Game, Jr., but I have no personal experience. If you have any game ideas with personal experience you can share with me, I’d love to hear from you. I’d like to surprise the children with a gift game or two around the holidays that have real educational benefits for children working at a variety of levels. I’ve also heard a game called "Apples to Apples," and the junior version, advertised as a great game for the family, but I haven’t ever seen or played it. If you have experience with this game and could give me a brief summary, I’d love to hear about it.

You may want to take time to jot down some comments based on the above questions, or other questions you have for me. This will make the time we have together to be more accommodating to your needs as a parent—your child’s first and most influential teacher.

Your next classroom newsletter from me will be Thursday, November 29^th since next week is Thanksgiving break. I wish you all a happy, safe and healthy holiday.

My daughter’s schedule is keeping her 10 hours away in Canada at school. I cannot travel to see her as I did last year…with turkey-in-tow. She has decided to make lemonade out of lemons by hosting an American Thanksgiving Potluck at her apartment. Somehow she got the boy upstairs convinced to cook the turkey. She’ll be making the stuffing, compliments of Stove Top. Skip’s Mom is spending her first holiday without her husband of 52 years, so we will be with her in Massachusetts. I’m hoping I will see my son over the holiday break. He’ll be in Vermont while I’m in Massachusetts, but we might catch him back home in R.I. before we travel back north. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I’m going to enjoy a weekend of shopping with girl friends. North Conway, here I come!

Be well~

Brenda

Dates to Remember: