Kinder Meets the Counselor by Mrs. Turner

 

Our kindergarten students were so excited to have Mrs. Ratliff come and teach a guidance lesson! The lesson focused on how to be a good listener. It began with an awesome read aloud Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen and ended with an interactive smart board activity. The students were able to take away tips on how to be a good listener. 

Dramatizing Stories by Mrs. Tas

Kindergartners LOVE to act out stories we have read.  This past week we read and acted out The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything. In this particular story, a little old lady goes for a walk and runs into different articles of clothes and a scary pumpkin head that keep following her.  They follow her home to try and scare her, but she isn't afraid of anything, so she tells the articles of clothes and scary pumpkin head to make themselves into a scarecrow in her garden.  This story allowed everyone to take part in the story for the first few days as we all enjoyed making the different sounds each article of clothing makes, and repeating the little old lady's phrases.  We then made a puppet of the little old lady and the objects she meets so each student could retell the story individually.  We were then ready to start acting out the story.  We start by counting how many characters are in the story.  Then we figure out if there are any speaking parts and who has the speaking parts.  Finally we get to pick which student will be which character and act it out.  Everyone has a role to play - some are actors and others are audience members.  The audience gets the play started by saying, "Lights, Camera, Action!"  The actors are "back stage" until it is their part of the story and each actor then comes "on stage" and performs their part.  At the end, the audience applauds and the actors take a bow.  The following day we get to perform it again with different actors.  The students enjoy putting on the plays and getting to participate in the different aspects of theater.  

 

Dramatic Play in Kinder by Mrs. R. Williams

 

The Kindergarten Team at TWE values the importance of Dramatic Play as a part of its Developmental Center time!  This year, the team has worked together to build eight Dramatic Play stations that will rotate amongst the classrooms all year long.  Some of the stations the students have to look forward to are the farm, post office, bakery, construction, and veterinary clinic.  There are many benefits for adding Dramatic Play into the early childhood classroom.  The students are engaged in real life learning of the world around them, as well as building personal social skills needed to work cooperatively with their peers.  They are also exposed to so much new vocabulary and are able to build upon their developing language skills.   Dramatic Play also benefits students' cognitive growth as they are involved in abstract thought when using their imagination to make this new world in the corner of their classroom come to life.

 

Kindergarten Goes to Dewberry Farm by Mrs. Abraham

Kindergarten enjoyed their field trip to Dewberry Farm in Brookshire a few weeks ago.  The un-fall-like heat didn't stop our kiddos from having a blast.  We were able to explore farm life and get a first hand look at the properties of plants and animals on the farm.  The cow train, slide mountain, corn maze, rubber duck pump races and feeding goats were just a few of the many attractions at Dewberry Farm.  The most exciting part comes when each student gets to pick their own little pumpkin from the 8 acres of pumpkin patches.  We brought the pumpkins back to TWE and have enjoyed exploring and investigating pumpkins this past week in Kindergarten.  Thank you to all of the parents that went with us as chaperones! It was a great day!

Teamwork and Collaboration in the ART Room

 

 

 

Collaboration is in almost every list of skills needed to be successful in the present day workforce, and for good reason!

It helps students to learn to communicate effectively, listen to others, compromise, give constructive feedback and see each other’s strengths and weaknesses and fill in where needed. 

When we do these types of projects in the ART Room we also tie in art concepts and skills as well as life skills. In this project you can see Line, Color, Pattern & Shape, painting techniques were also taught.

As you can see Collaboration is just one of the keys to success.

 

Fire Safety is what’s HOT in Kinder! by Mrs. Spath

 

 

“Stop, Drop, and Roll” is what we do.

The Kindergarten classes enjoyed a visit from Willowfork Fire Department.

The firemen discussed fire safety, and even showed us how they use the tools on the fire truck.

We learned about creating a fire plan at home so that we can stay safe. We even got to get inside the fire truck.

 

Is that Mrs. Spath dressed up like a fireman?  It sure was, she was able to show the students how the firemen get dressed if full gear.

 It was super fun!

 

 

Geology in Challenge

 

Currently in Challenge, we are studying geological forces. You might be wondering what that means. “Geo” stands for Earth, and we are studying how it moves under Earth’s surface. For example, landforms are created by the shift in the Earth’s crust causing mountains and volcanoes to form. We used jello to represent the shaking of the Earth as an earthquake. Learning about earthquakes and volcanoes can help us understand why our planet has changed over time and what might happen in the future. 

Music Mistro!!!!

 

 

 

At TWE students come to music class to sing, learn how to listen musically, play music games, learn to read notes on the staff and play instruments. Playing on the barred instruments are an exercise in listening and fine motor skills. Mrs. Lund’s 2^nd graders are playing a steady beat bordun with the song “Rain, Rain” directed by their conductor, Sophia. 5^th Graders have learned to accompany their class with a shifting bordun while singing a West African folk song, “Funga Alafia.”

Wolfpack Chorale 2015-2016

 

 

The Wolfpack Chorale is our 5th grade choir. This year we are bursting at the seams - almost 100 students strong!  Students CHOOSE to get up early twice a week to come and sing together.  They will prepare for one concert each semester as well as a community choir tour and an appearance at an Astros game to sing the National Anthem.

Kissing Fish??????

Our annual 5^th grade fishing field trip was a lot of fun!  The students caught 26 fish total!  The largest fish was caught by Mary Haseltine weighing 6lbs 10oz.  The students also got to learn about the environment through bug picking, made nature bling out of real wood, learned the process of making ice cream, how to make fish prints, and proper boater safety.  The students are always so hesitant to “kiss and release” UNTIL they actually catch a fish!

Watching Children Bloom by Norma White (Academic Support Teacher)

 

 

I have had the pleasure of being on morning and afternoon duty in car rider line (ok, no pleasure on rainy days J) and for walkers since TWE has opened. These duties are a bright spot in my day because I have the privilege of getting to know hundreds of students I might not otherwise get to meet.  I love getting to see who their friends are and hearing about what they did over the weekend.  I also enjoying seeing how much the students have grown, not just physically, but socially and emotionally.  It is a blessing to see a child with whom I worked in kindergarten growing into a confident second or third grader.  I love the transformation that happens when families and schools work together to grow amazing children. 

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month JENNIFER LUFTOP, DYSLEXIA INTERVENTION TEACHER

 

                There are many misconceptions about dyslexia, what it means to have it and how it affects reading. I have put together a few myths and facts to help everyone understand it a bit better.

Myth: Dyslexics see words or letters backwards or read in reverse.

Fact: Dyslexia is a neurological in origin and affects phonological awareness (the ability to manipulate sounds). It is not a visual issue. People with dyslexia struggle to put sound to letters or combinations of letters and to apply letters to sound. This affects their ability to pronounce and spell words correctly. Many children, as they are learning to read and write, have different reversals. This is NOT a sign of dyslexia.

Myth: If you do well in school, you cannot have dyslexia.

Fact: Many students who struggle with dyslexia are highly motivated individuals who work extremely hard to achieve the same amount of success as other students. When students are given the necessary accommodations, they are best able to demonstrate their knowledge in any given area. Many dyslexic students have completed rigorous programs at highly selective colleges, graduate and professional schools. Some famous people with dyslexia have chosen this and different routes: Charles Schwab, Richard Branson, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo Di Vinci, Muhammad Ali, Tim Tebow, Pete Rose, Magic Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, and the list goes on.

What do students with dyslexia want others to know?

“I am not lazy. I work harder than most.”

 “Dyslexia makes me look like I’m not trying, but I am.”

“It may not seem like I’m paying attention, it’s just because I go and learn in a different way.”

“Sometimes school work and testing can be overwhelming for me.”

 “When you read it’s hard for you to read and all the other kids think it’s easy and the teacher thinks it’s so easy.”

As a dyslexia intervention teacher, I have seen first-hand the struggles these students have in their everyday lives. However, with the right supports, encouragement from other students and adults, as well as the appropriate accommodations, they gain the confidence they need to be successful at whatever they put their minds to!

 

Wilson Wolfpack on the Prowl! by Mrs. Schmidt (Librarian)

Now that we have been using the library for several weeks, students are starting to navigate with ease. To test their abilities, students in the library have been sent on a digital scavenger hunt!

Armed with only an iPad and their list of things to find, students are on the hunt! Some things are easier to find than others. For example, most students can easily show you where we turn our books in, but how many can use the catalog to find a book written by C. S. Lewis? By the end of this safari, they will all be able to point you in the right direction! Students have been seen working in packs, attempting to take down the hunt. If you come by this week, don’t expect to hear a silent library. Learning is loud! With skills like theirs, what will they find next? 

 

Our Diverse TWE Community by ESOL teachers

Would you be surprised to know that there are 91 different languages spoken and 148 countries represented throughout Katy ISD? Here at Tom Wilson Elementary, we are proud to have 23 different languages represented at our school! It is exciting to be a part of such a diverse community. The children love sharing their culture and learning from one another. One way we like to celebrate our diversity is through our Worldfest. This is a night that we host every other year specially designed to feature countries from around the world. This year our Worldfest will be held on April 14^th, 2016. Lookout for more information to come in the spring.  We hope to see you there!

My Life as a Cancer Survivor by Corrine M.

Editor's Note: This year we will continue to feature students who have made contributions to our community or have something they would like to share about themselves or TWE. Contact Mrs. Henderson if you are interested in being featured.

 

 

Hello everyone, my name is Corinne Miller and I am a Leukemia survivor! I was diagnosed with cancer 3 days before my 2nd birthday.  I was the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society’s Girl Of The YEAR in 2013. When I was the Girl Of The Year, I already was done with cancer, but I wanted to help raise money for kids who still were being treated for cancer.  Together with the LLS Society, we raised over $850,000!  I loved being able to help other children who were fighting cancer!  Please help raise money for any kind of cancer and other kinds of diseases. Together we can help children everywhere!

 

TWE Career Day by Charlotte Gilder

 

TWE was able to offer our fourth and fifth graders an awesome Career Day. Students had opportunities to learn about finance, law, broadcasting, health and nutrition, piloting, Chick-Fil-A, nursing, and police work. The day would not be possible without the parent and community volunteers who took time out of the schedule to be with us. We cannot express our gratitude enough to those professionals. Thank You for making it a great day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did You Say HUDDLES? by Charlotte Gilder

 



At TWE we have such a diverse student population, and what I’ve learned is the word ‘huddle’ has a common meaning amongst many in this area.  In Texas, the word huddle is most commonly known as a football term—Friday night football is a big deal in Texas.  Within the walls of TWE, I have witnessed huddles that are not related to football.  In 3^rd grade math, students are actively participating in Math Huddles!  Just like in the sport of football, groups of students are encouraged to work together.  During their time together,

 

they solve math problems in a variety of ways.  They are challenged to converse with teammates to explain, justify and defend the strategies used for problem solving.  I wish each of you could witness our students showing what they know by explaining it to others.    

 

Thanks to Mrs. Reid’s class for allowing me to capture their Math Huddles!