My Favorite Book

This week's sharing was a favorite book.  Take a look at what we love!

What is "Fine Motor"?

What is "Fine Motor"?  Many may have noticed this special time on our class schedule twice weekly.

Fine Motor refers to movements that require a high degree of control and precision.  This may include drawing shapes, writing, cutting with scissors, and eating using utensils.  During our scheduled fine motor time this year, students will work to strengthen their muscles essential to development in these key areas. 

Should fine motor strengthening be limited to utilizing pencils and paper, scissors, and utensils, however?

Of course not- there is so much more out there!  Click here for some engaging activities to try at home, or on the "Fine Motor Activities" link on the left-hand side of this blog.

Last week students used playdough during our formal fine motor time.  Playdough can be purchased at craft stores, or you can make homemade versions on-the-cheap. 

Each student was given a letter of the alphabet- in both upper and lowercase form, protected with a clear plastic sheet.  After a ball of playdough was distributed to each child, they used their fine motor muscles to break it down into smaller strips (or "snakes", as I like to call them) to form each letter.  This was a quick and fun way to promote awareness of the alphabet, proper letter formation, and build on their growing muscles.

Keep up the great work, 6D!

A Birthday For Bear

We celebrated our summer reading book on Friday!

We read the story together and completed a portfolio page during Reading, 

ate cupcakes at snack

graphed our birthdays in Math (each student wrote their birthdays on individual dry erase boards and graphed them on the colored rug in our classrooms),

and went home with red balloons at the end of the day- what fun!

Happy First Day of School!

Today was our first day of school! We had a terrific time together.  

We entered the classroom and signed in on a special sheet of paper.  Every morning we will follow this same routine.  I was impressed by students' fine motor skills and lovely print!

During Reading class 6E and 6D went on a special tour of Calvert in search of hidden "star" clues!

Afterwards, we played on the new playground!

Calvert celebrated "Day One" with an outdoor assembly.  The Calvert Bee even buzzed by for a visit!

By the end of the day, we were pooped!

I LOVED getting to know you, 6D friends, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for "Day Two".

Sweet Dreams!

xoxo, Mrs. Armstrong

Summer 2012!

Dear Calvert Friends,


Have you been enjoying your summer? Have you traveled anywhere fun?


This summer has been very relaxing and exciting! Many of you may know that I am pregnant- Mr. Armstrong and I will welcome baby Armstrong in the early fall- so we have been busy planning out the nursery and getting in some last minute traveling.

We rang in the beginning of summer with a trip to the Greenbriar Resort.

Then, my mom and I hosted a bridal shower for my best friend, Katie, in early June.  Here I am tying on the "ribbon hat"/bouquet to be used at her rehearsal dinner.  Doesn't she look silly?

This past month we went to San Francisco. We had a great time!

We began our trip with a visit to Chinatown.

Later we visited the Ferry Building and ate a picnic lunch in Nob Hill.  Look at all of those mushrooms!

The Ferry Building had great views of the Bay Bridge.

Ferry Building from the outside.

Nob Hill is next to Russian Hill, which is home to the "crookedest street".  Could you imagine driving your car here?

We then toured Muir Woods and saw the Redwood Forest.  Here I am posing in front of one of the redwood trees.

Here is Mr. Armstrong, hugging a redwood tree! (Hehe)

We even got to drive under the Golden Gate Bridge- quite an experience!  It is usually under a thick veil of fog, so we took pictures looking up.  Dreamy, huh?

On our final day we toured Angel Island (notice the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)

And I got "locked up" in Alcatraz, home to a famous old prison.

Our summer vacations came to a close with an annual family vacation to Block Island, Rhode Island.  One of my favorite places to eat breakfast is Bethany's Airport Diner- this is me posing in front of one of the planes that fly in and out.  It is a very entertaining meal!

We always end with dinner at the Spring House- they have a great view of Block Island sound and the Newport Bridge in the distance.

Now that summer is coming to a close, I am anxiously awaiting news of my new students' names.  I am so excited to meet all of you at the end of August.  Good bye for now- soak up the last few days of sunshine!

xoxo, Mrs. Armstrong