I am sure that many of you have read the letter that the PTO sent out about Brookline teachers working without a contract.  I want you to know that these changes will be difficult for me but are a necessary step.  I also want you to know that I will continue to meet the needs of your child in the classroom: they are my priority.  I hope that there will be a quick resolution and things will go back to normal.  Unfortunately, this will be the last blog I will be able to send out until there is a fair contract put in place.  
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Please note that until we have a new contract, teachers will respond to emails only on school days, and only between ‪7:30 am – 3:00 pm.  In addition, teachers will not write or send newsletters, nor will teachers be posting blogs.  If you are concerned by our limits on parent contact, please email the school committee members and urge them to settle a fair contract with the Brookline Educators Union :
 
susan_ditkoff@brookline.k12.ma.us
barbara_scotto@brookline.k12.ma.us
ben_chang@brookline.k12.ma.us
helen_charlupski@brookline.k12.ma.us
michael_glove@brookline.k12.ma.us
lisa_jackson@brookline.k12.ma.us
david_pollak@brookline.k12.ma.us
rebecca_stone@brookline.k12.ma.us
beth_stram@brookline.k12.ma.us

What a busy week!  The first graders celebrated our 100th Day of School and Valentine's Day.  We were also lucky enough to see a Chinese Ribbon Dancing Presentation (sponsored by the PTO Art Council)!  Check out all the pictures of our great week!

What a fun recess! So much snow!

1-D was so lucky to travel around to all our other first grade classrooms today and do different activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year! We ribbon danced in 1-R, made monkey hats for the year of the monkey in 1-B, painted Chinese calligraphy in 1-L, learned about pandas in 1-P, and finally created our own dragon puppets for good luck in 1-D!

The Lunar New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!!!

Throughout our Author Study on Ezra Jack Keats, 1-D paid close attention to his ability to use details and warm water colors to make his illustrations come to life. Our first graders did the same as they recreated one of Ezra Jack Keats' most popular paintings from The Snowy Day. We love the way 1-D mixed their colors, incorporated salt for that glittery snowy look, and even used a popsicle stick to create snow tracks going "this way and that way."

1-D is learning all about fractions! We started our conversation by reading a great book which talked about sharing a pizza and other items to make it fair. We are now working on our own book about fractions and showing a fraction by coloring in part of a shape. We are impressed with the way 1-D is thinking about fractions!