January 19, 2016

January has been a busy month assessing for those progress reports that will come home in February...but we still have a lot of learning going on.

Readers' Workshop

I hope you have enjoyed the books coming home for your child to read to you. Please know that this is not necessarily their instructional level. We are sending books home that they have really practiced so they can show off. I know that they are very excited about bringing them home, they will have one each Tuesday. Thank you for sending them back. Could you please (not the child) fill out and return the log in their book bag each week?
We have been focusing on putting the first sound in their mouth as well as use the pictures. Our readers are using all their super powers to help them read.Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Writers' Workshop

We have been  finishing up our opinion pieces. They are really starting to understand the structure of a sentence.

Math Workshop

We have played lots of games and practiced skip counting while assessing continues.

Language Arts

Our handwriting letters this week are g and u .The children will start to use the lowercase letters in their names as we  learn them. We are up to the sight word, like. We are calling these words "snap words" because they should know them in a snap. Please continue to practice these words because they are so helpful to them when they are doing independent reading. If you have lost the list it is posted under homework on the blog.

Art

We have made some pretty cool snow people, they are hanging in the hall.

**I will be sending valentine information home this week. We have a post office and it is a lot of fun for the children. Please send in any stickers or foam shapes that go along with the holiday. The children have a lot of fun with our valentine factory.

Keep warm!!!!

December 23, 2015

A Happy New Year to all of you!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and stay nice and warm.

I want to take this time to thank all of you for all your support.  I wouldn't be able to do half the things I do with the children without it.   All your contributions, time and materials, are greatly appreciated.  It's wonderful for me to be part of a team that cares so much for their children.

After the holidays we will study about winter and hibernation.

We will do some experiments with snow...if it comes.

We will also continue Readers' Workshop.  This becomes one of the children's favorite parts of the day.

Again, thank you for all your generosity and help-I hope the season brings you and your family everything you wish for.

Donna

FRIENDLY REMINDER

TOMORROW we are gathering at 1:30 to decorate cookies. Parents, grandparents and younger siblings are invited.

Wednesday is Pajama Day , frogs hibernate! - No snack Wednesday, we're going to have hot chocolate and animal crackers.

December 1, 2015

This Friday is a school wide pajama day, so your children really can wear their pajamas to school. They may also bring a stuffed animal in.

We will have another pajama day on the 23rd because frogs hibernate and we will settle down for our long winter's nap.

We are starting our gingerbread unit. We will be doing all sorts of fun activities in math and literacy.

Our unit will end with a cookie decorating party. Parents are invited to help and join in the fun. It will be on December 22 at 1:30.

December Needs 

buttons

foam shapes

 stickers

 sequins 

ribbon...anything that would be fun to use to decorate a gingerbread man

Cookie Decorating Gathering

frosting and candies

It would be helpful if you sent in these things early. (no nuts or processed in a nut factory please)

 

Newsletter_November 20_2015

We learned the song, Albuquerque Turkey, and it ends with a suggestion to eat something else for Thanksgiving dinner. The children love the song, and are amused by the ending. They have painted some beautiful turkeys and gave each of them a sign with suggestions for alternative meals.

I hope that you are able to attend our program on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00. We will sing a few songs and do a fun dance. I schedule it for this time in case grandparents or other family members are visiting. The children will bake bread and we will enjoy that afterwards.

Literacy: During Writers' Workshop we have experimented using speech and thought bubbles. It helps bring the character to life. Our word work, in the morning is really helping the children with writing their stories.

We have been looking at familiar story books at school during Readers' Workshop. The children are using the pictures to retell the story. They are trying to use some of the exact language from the story and are speaking the way they think the character might. Try this at home, it is fun! 

Math: We have practiced representing numbers many different ways such as writing the numeral, using a ten frame, tally marks, dots, and pictures. They are also using their math vocabulary during math games...positional words and measurement words. You should see the unit 3 assessment coming home today.

Art: The children have made some Native American costumes complete with a turkey hat. We have also made some Native American homes. The children are learning how the weather might affect what type of home they might have. We decided longhouses were practical for winters in the North East.

***PROGRESS REPORTS ARE COMING HOME. THEY ARE FOR REPORTING ATTENDANCE ONLY. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE ENVELOPE. WE DO NOT NEED THE PROGRESS REPORT BACK. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Handwriting Letters: C,O,&Q

Phonics Sounds: l & r

Word of the Week: the

Book Fair: 11/30-12/4

Thanksgiving Break:11/25-11/27

Thanksgiving Program: 11/24@1:00 (frog classroom)

Gingerbread Decorating:12/22@1:45

Winter Vacation: 12/24-1/4

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. Wishing you happiness and good health.

Frog News October 25

Frog Class News

Safety Month

The children have been learning a lot about safety. We have practiced fire drills with the whole school and a lockdown with Mr. Goldsmith. They have been really attentive during these and have done a great job. The children also practiced a bus evacuation with the bus drivers and Mr. Fosher spoke to all of the kindergarten children about bus safety. Mrs. Griffith, our school guidance counselor spoke to the children and showed them a video about personal safety. Some key points made were:

You own your body.

If someone tries to touch you in a spot that would be covered by your bathing suit you should yell no, get away, and tell an adult right away.

Literacy:

 We read the book, Yuck Soup, by Joy Cowley and then made our own versions, Yuck Soup and Yum Soup. The children had a lot of fun doing that.We have been reading up a storm during Readers' Workshop. The children have been sharing with their partners and making thoughtful connections to themselves and other books. During Writers' Workshop they have been asking lots of questions to add more details to their writing. They have also been working on stretching out the words to write all the sounds they hear.

Math:
I am in the middle of assessing the children. We have completed Unit 2. They have been having fun playing lots of math games and practicing number stories.

Upcoming Events

• 10/29 - Picture Retakes
• Halloween Celebration - 10/30

• Early Releases - 11/5 & 11/18 for Parent Teacher Conferences
• No School - 11/6 Teacher Workshop
• No School - 11/11 Veterans' Day (Welcome home, Mr. Poteet!)
• Thanksgiving Break - 11/25-11/27
• Word of the Week - see
• Phonics - a
• Handwriting L & U

Enjoy the Foliage!

Newsletter October 3

Frog Class News

The children are doing a great job entering the building and they do not need their bus tags any more. 

Language Arts:

We have practiced the sight word, he, this week. The children found it in the book, Little Brother by Joy Cowley. They also did a search paper, stamped it in play dough, and did a "magic" painting to reveal the word. We have practiced the letters, D & P, in our handwriting books, on the iPads, and with wiki sticks.

Readers" Workshop has officially started and the children got their own book bins. They have been really enjoying Writers' Workshop and are keeping their wonderful stories in their own folders. 

Math:

We have enjoyed playing dice games. The children are learning how to recognize how many dots there are without counting. We have also tried some counting on. The class continues to explore shapes. 

Science:

Our temperature graph provides us with some good information about temperature changes as the season changes. The weather graph, in their calendar binders, kept track of sunny and cloudy days for our days in school during the month of September.

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting letters: B & R

Phonics: k & g

Sight word: no

Book: No David by David Shannon

Song: Apples & Bananas

Cider Hill Field Trip -10/7

No School - 10/12

Music Hall Field Trip - 10/14

October is Safety Month, please help your child practice your telephone number and address.