If your child reads 8 books this summer, Barnes and Noble will give them a FREE book! This is a great way to motivate kids to read over the summer, which is usually a time when kids let their reading skills backslide. The free book list is filled with great authors covering many genres and appropriate for grades 1 – 6.

For more information, or to grab your child’s passport to start a summer reading adventure, go to:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/

Happy Reading!
Rebecca

We have been working diligently as always here at the Sibley Learning Center. Last week, we went on a flower hunt and a bug hunt as we walked around the neighborhood looking for signs of spring. The children were delighted to find a slug and what looked like wood lice and millipedes under various rocks. We have also noticed the solitary ground bees in the backyard who quietly go about their own business and then fly back to individual holes in the ground.

We are learning the nomenclature for the egg and parts of the flower. We are also brushing up on our letter formation, letter sounds and creating sentences in our journals. For art, we made pictures out of crushed and dyed eggshells as well as watercolor painting. I haven’t been able to sing the past two weeks from a nasty cold but should be back to normal for the last music class this Thursday.

I can’t believe there are only 7 weeks left of the spring semester. Many new friends have joined us in the past two weeks and the classroom culture is thriving from the new energy and friendships forming. I even have a teaching assistant who is able to join us on Thursdays — welcome Lisa! Overall, I am very happy with the level of student work, engagement and cooperation we have here. I will be providing you with more detailed feedback before the end of the semester, but wanted to provide you with a quick update now.

Best,
Rebecca

Just a reminder that Multi-age Music Class begins this Thursday. Click on the Music page for more details. Please add a comment below or call to register. This class is popular and fills up fast!

Hope to see you there!
Rebecca

I just found a page that listed quite a few free websites and resources for homeschoolers on a wide range of topics. You can check it out here: http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/free-curriculum/

My friend, Josefina Calzada, is offering Spanish classes for toddlers on Wednesday afternoons from 1 – 1:30. The classes use art, books and games to help the children learn basic Spanish vocabulary and phrases. Josefina loves children and puts a lot of time and effort into creating classes that kids rave about. This is our third year working together. She has classes for other ages, but the toddler class is currently the only one that has openings.

If you are interested in joining us, please email me or leave a comment below. We pay by the month and it is only $25 per month for the toddler class.

We have a great group and would love a few more students!
Rebecca Wolf

Just an FYI, there’ll be a Homeschooling Conference February 8-12 at an indoor water park in Sandusky, Ohio, with John Taylor Gatto and no registration fees! It doesn’t get much better than this folks!

http://www.ugo.unschoolgathering.com/

It’s not too late to sign up!

Enjoy,
Rebecca

We studied M this week and the Mr. M song from the Letter People was a big favorite. We also learned some new nursery rhymes like Little Miss Muffet, the Muffin Man, and Mary Had a Little Lamb. We made magic marker watercolors and cut paper mosaics.

Next week, we won’t have any preschool classes because of Thanksgiving. Preschool classes will resume December 1st.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Rebecca

I recently found out that Barnes & Nobles offers free e-books. Many of them are classics, but they also have a nice selection of modern fiction from authors like James Patterson and titles from Harlequin Romance. Of course you’ll find some that are great for kids, like David Copperfield, and much more. Besides, you can’t beat the price tag!

The only caveat is, you have to use their e-Reader. Luckily, it works on the iPhone/iPod Touch, Blackberry, Windows and Mac. Check out the titles for yourself and your family.

Enjoy,
Rebecca

A new Readers’ Circle is starting on Mondays from 9 – 9:45 a.m. here at the Sibley Learning Center. Our first group of beginning readers that began in February is now reading at a second grade level!

This group will meet once a week and is perfect for the child who is just starting to read simple sentences like, “I see the red balloon,” with strong picture support. Cost is $10 per session. Please see the Financial Aid page if you have questions about costs.

Classes start next week, but we do have a rolling admissions if room is available.

Thank you!

Rebecca Wolf

For all you animal lover’s, here is a webcast that’s sure to please:

Winter’s Tail Live Webcast
October 7, 2009 1:00 – 1:45 P.M. (ET)
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Florida
www.scholastic.com/winterstail

AGENDA:

Welcome to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
David Yates, CEO, Clearwater Marine Aquarium

All About Dolphins
Joe Malo, Director of Education at Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Winter’s Story!
Hear all about Winter’s amazing story and see her in action with her trainers, Ashley & Diane

Meet the Authors
Craig, Juliana, and Isabella Hatkoff, authors of Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again

Q&A

Meet Brandon & McKenna
Two kids who’s own personal stories were inspired by Winter

A Surprise for Winter!

Enjoy,

Rebecca