Hi!! My name is Heather Trautner and I am excited to have your child in my classroom this year. I have recently graduated from Valparaiso University with my degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology. I 'm looking foward to all the fun and learning I will be having with your child. My classroom is created to be a learning environment where all students have the chance to excel and work together. I hope to be meeting you soon. If you ever have any additional questions and concerns, please e-mail or call and I will be happy to answer them.

Use the resource below to help include music in your lessons. It will allow the students to better retain the information and make learning fun!!


1. Famous Athletes, dancers, or other kinesthetically talented people

• McGovern, M. (2001). Encyclopedia of 20th-Century athletes. New York: Fact on File, Inc.

• Fehl, Fred. (1990). Stars of the ballet and dance in performance photographs. Unknown: Dover publications.

• Layden, James. (2005). Rising stars, NFL. New Jersey: Scholastic, Inc.

2. Books about moving one's body using fine- or gross-motor skills

• Tuminelly, Nancy. (2011). Super simple throw and catch: Healthy and fun activities to move your body. Minnesota: ABDO publishing company.

• Wiz, B., Lande, A. (2011). Songames for sensory processing : 25 therapist created musical activities for improving fine and gross motor skills, muscle strength, and rhythmicity. Texas: World future horizons.

• Learning Horizons Staff. (2000). Preschool and kindergarten skills: Fine motor skills, numbers, colors and shapes, letter, and object matching. Unknown: Learning horizons.

3. Composers/musicians

• Ziegler, R. (2008) Eyewitness: Great musicians. Unknown: DK Publishing, Inc.

• Kendall, A. (2006). The chronicle of classical music: An intimate diary of the lives and music of the great composers. Unknown: Thames and Hudson.

• Mooney, M.D., Mafia, P. (2010). The ABC’s of rock. New Jersey: Random house children’s books.

4. Instruments, singing and making music with found objects

• Dearling, Robert. (2000). String instruments. Pennsylvania: Chelsea house publishing.

• Dearling, Robert. (2000). Woodwind and brass instruments. Pennsylvania: Chelsea house publishing.

• D’Cruz, Anne-Marie. (2009). Make your own musical instruments. New York: Rosen publishing group.

5. Picture Books with songs as text to tell a story

• Frazee, Marla. 2007). Hush, little baby: A folk song with pictures. Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

• Yarrow, P., Widener, T. (2010). The Peter Yarrow songbook: Songs for little folks. New York: Sterling Publishing.

• Mallett, D., Eitan, O. (1997). Inch by inch: The garden song. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

6. Famous Artists

• Raczka, Bob. (2010). Before they were famous: How seven artists got their start. Minnesota: Lerner publishing group.

• Nichols, C., Van Gogh, V. (2006). Vincent Van Gogh. New York: Rosen publishing group.

• Nichols, C., Monet, C. (2006). Claude Monet. New York: Rosen publishing group.

7. Learning to Look at Art - art elements and viewing different types of art

• Henry, S., Cole, S. (2007). Making amazing art: 40 activities using the 7 elements of art design. Tennessee: Ideals publications.

• Blizzard, Gladys B. (1996). Come look with me: Exploring landscape art with children. Massachusetts: Charlesbridge publishing.

• Thomson, Ruth. (2004). Portraits. Pennsylvania: Chelsea house publications.

8. Drama for children - script writing, Reader's Theater links, tips for using the how to mobilize the class and create a production

• Burdett, L., Shakespeare, W. (1998). Shakespeare is fun: Romeo and Juliet. New York:
Firefly Books.

• Rice, D.H., Herweck, D. (2008). Reader’s theater folk and fairy tales. Unknown: Shell Education Publishing.

• Jacobs, P.D., Swender, J., Dixon, D. (2005). Putting on a play: Drama activities for kid.

9. Theater games and activities to build public speaking skills

• Bany-Winters, Lisa. (1997). On stage: Theater games and activities for kids. Illinois: Chicago Review Press.

• Jaffe, C., Doherty, B.T. (2006). Public speaking for kids. Unknown: Educational Impression.

• Rooyackers, P., Hurd, C. (1997). 101 drama games for children: Fun and learning with acting and make-believe. New York: Hunter House.

10. Books that would help you teach all types of arts

• Barbe-Gall, FranCoise. (2005). How to talk to children about art. Illinois: Chicago Review Press.

• Richardson, J., Voake, C. (2009). Looking at picture: An introduction to art for young people. New York: Abrams, Harry N., Inc.

• Dominguez, P., Lawrence, R. (2004). Wildlife: Learn to paint step by step. California: Foster, Walter Publishing, Incorporated.

Math will contain many games and cheers to help the students remember their facts. Students will also be participated in an activity every morning called Rocket Math in order ot help gain mastery of their math facts. Many lessons will use manipulatives for students to touch and feel in order to help make the abstract concepts more concrete. These games will help the students to be engaged and have fun while learning.

Students who are struggling in math can use an assitive technology called MathPad to help them improve their grades.

Reading time will incorporate many different genres, activities, and fun lessons. Some of these activities including reading aloud, silent reading time, reading games, and extensions to keep the students' interest. I have planned to do activities that have a natural progression to the students' learning. A shelfari is a program that I will be using in order to keep you informed of the books that are being read during classtime. It is a free internet site that any one can access. Your family can also make one in order to share with other students that books that are being read at home.

Some assitive technologies that are useful during literacy include Simon S.I.O and personal scanning pens. Simon S.I.O is a program to help students who are in the reading ranges Pre-k- 2nd grade. However, the scanning pens are for students that have some knowledge of technology.

Below you will find the grade book for the students in reading.

Students will have many opportunities to explore the concepts of science using engaging and fun activites. Students will participate in hands-on activities that will help them to learn from not only our lessons, but their own observations and from each other. This year we will be taking a class trip to the County Line Orchard in the fall to explore different aspects of the harvest season. One activity we will take from the apple orchard is observing how a pumpkin decomposes in a jar. This is one example of an activity that will take place.

This area is developed in order to provide you with additional resources for your child. These websites have games, suggestions, and extra practice in order to expand their thinking.

Create your own book allows you to make a book and use your imagination.

Math Games, Math Magician, and Clockwise will help your child extend and practice the math concepts taught in the classroom.

Classroom Ideas gives teachers decorating ideas and helpful hints.

Exploring Social Studies allows the students discover new facts and information on history and culture.

In this area, you will find many links for teaching arts in your classroom. Furthermore, you will find links that will help parents and committees understand the importance of using art to teach skills and concepts.

1. Virtual tours - museums

• Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2011). Virtual tour of African art. Retrieved from: http://www.randafricanart.com/Met_museum_virtual_tour.html

• Museum of Fine Art, Boston. (2011). Interactive tours. Retrieved from http://www.mfa.org/explore/interactive-tours

• National Gallery of Art. (2011). Van Gogh’s: Virtual Tour. Retrieved from: http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/vgwel.htm

• Smithsonian Institution. (2011). Virtual tour: panoramic images. Retrieved from: http://www.mnh.si.edu/panoramas/

• USGS. (2004). Geology of national parks. Retrieved from: http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/project/index.html

2. Lesson resources for teachers

• Chandler, Laura. (2010). Teaching Resources: Free printables and lesson ideas for teachers. Retrieved from: http://www.lauracandler.com/

• Discovery Education. (2011). Free teacher resources. Retrieved from: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/

• Library of Congress. (2011). Teaching using primary resources. Retrieved from: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/

• PBS. (2011). Resources for teachers. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/

• Scholastic Educators. (2011). Teaching resources. Retrieved from: www2.scholastic.com/browse/teach.jsp

3. Song lyrics and tunes

• Luminosity. (2010). The teacher’s guide children’s songs page. Retrieved from: http://www.theteachersguide.com/ChildrensSongs.htm

• Kiddles. (2011). Children’s songs with free lyrics, music, and printable song sheets. Retrieved from: http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/learning.html

• Miller, T., Hawkins, T. (1998). Mental note music. Retrieved from: http://www.mentalnotemusic.com/

• Senger, Nick. (2010). 85 positive songs for the classroom. Retrieved from: http://www.nicksenger.com/blog/85-positive-songs-for-teachers-to-use-in-the-classroom

• Songs for Teaching. (2011). Songs for teaching: The definitive source for educational music. Retrieved from: http://www.songsforteaching.com/index.html

4. Reader's Theater links

• Kid’s Wings. (2010). Reader’s theatre scripts. Retrieved from: http://suzyred.com/readertheater.html

• Shep, Aaron. (2010). Reader’s theater editions. Retrieved from: http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/RTE.html

• Swallow, Rick. (Unknown). Readers theater, language arts. Retrieved from: http://www.timelessteacherstuff.com/

• Teaching Heart. (2008). Reader’s theater scripts. Retrieved from: http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm

• Unknown. (2010). Readers theatre scripts. Retrieved from: http://www.proteacher.com/redirect.php?goto=3987

5. Links found from McDonald's Arts Education Partnership, the Consortium of National Arts Education, , and/or the American Alliance for Theater Education (AATE) to share with parents or school board members to assure that the understand the necessity of arts integration

• The College Board. (2006). Profile of college-bound seniors nation report for 2006. Retrieved from: www.collegeboard.org

• Gourgy, A., Bosseau, J., Delgado, J., (1985). The impact of an improvisational dramatics program on student attitudes and achievement. Children’s theatre review. 34, 9-14

• NASAA. (2011). National assembly of state art agencies. Retrieved from: http://nasaa-arts.org/

• NGA Center for Best Practices. (2002). The impact of arts education on workforce preparation. Retrieved from: http://www.menc.org/resources/view/why-music-education-2007

• U.S. Department of Education. (2004). the importance of art education. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/updates/040826.html

Valparaiso University
Heather Trautner