Native American Names

 Thunder Cloud

 Running Deer

 Two Moons

 Running Beaver

 Striped Wolf

 Friendship Arrow

 Two Arrow

 Mountain Star

 Little Butterfly

 Running Wolf

 Snow Owl

 Medicine Man

Little Mouse

Morning Bird

November 18, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The children have been having a lot of fun learning about Native Americans and Thanksgiving. We have talked about how some things they hear are real and some are pretend. I taught on the Navajo Reservation at the beginning of my career and I enjoy sharing stories about the culture. We learned that a tipi is not the only kind of Native American home, but it depended on  the area people lived in as it does now. They are making longhouses and adobe houses and we have looked at other types of houses. We have done a lot of turkey math involving counting, shapes and addition and they have made some beautiful turkeys. 

I hope that you will be able to join us on November 22 for our program, we will sing a few songs and the children can show you their projects. It's at 12:30, families are invited. (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins siblings) The children are very proud of the bread they baked and are excited about sharing it with you.

Donation Requests

large paper bags (best kind has handles like Trader Joes) 

Ziploc baggies-all sizes 

soft tissues, tis the season

We will be doing a gingerbread math and literacy unit in December, more requests for decorating will follow.

His name is Albuquerque Turkey, you will hear about him on Tuesday.

I am thankful for my family and getting to spend time with all your wonderful children! 

Gardening

Our wonderful PTO worked with the children today planting spring bulbs. It was a lot of fun and very exciting! It's going to be a long wait for spring.

October 6, 2016

October is safety month and we will be practicing several drills. The children have already practiced fire drills with the whole school and they did a fantastic job. Today we learned about lock downs from Mr. Goldsmith, then we came back to the classroom and practiced it. The bus drivers practiced a bus evacuation with all the children and it went great. 

Mr. Fosher will talk to all the children again about bus safety. Mrs. Griffith, our school guidance counselor, will speak to the children and show them a video about personal safety. To help celebrate, could you please help your child learn their address and telephone numbers?

Tomorrow kindergarten and first grade will meet Sparky, the fire dog and get to go on a firetruck as they learn about fire safety from the fire fighters.  

 

September 24

Frog Class News

Readers' Workshop: We continue to practice good habits while we read. If something doesn't make sense we reread and use the picture to help us. We are also learning about partner reading.

Writers' Workshop: The children are writing lots of stories through pictures. We have begun to label pictures. They are starting to write the sounds they hear. 

Math Workshop: We continue to work in our calendar binders and the children are becoming more confident. We have practiced dice games and are learning to recognize the number arrangements without counting. Sparkle is a favorite math game, it requires paying attention as well as counting.

Literacy: Our second sight word was, he. We read it in a big book, searched for it on a paper, stamped it into play dough and onto paper. It was fun. Our phonics sounds were (d) and (t). The children got their handwriting books and we wrote uppercase F&E. They also practiced these letters on the iPad and with wood pieces.

Some of your children are familiar with GoNoodle.com. We use it a lot for our movement breaks, they love it, and it's free!

Up-Coming Events

• Early Release-9/28
• Music Hall Field Trip-9/28
• Word of the Week-no
• Phonics f & v
• Handwriting D & P
• No School-10/10
• Early Release-10/26
• 
  

*Thank you to all of you who have already signed up for conferences. I look forward to talking to each of you.

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the weather!

September 15, 2016

Great Beginning

The children and I have had a  great time getting to know each other. They are learning the routine and why rules are important. Next week, you will receive a copy of our class rules. We have to finish discussing them and why rules are important. I told them the most important reason is safety, I have to keep them all safe.

They are also exploring the room and doing some really fun art projects. Thank you to all of you who came to curriculum night, I hope you enjoyed all the art work.We are learning about the structure of Readers' Workshop, Writers' Workshop, and Math Workshop, and having fun going to Encore Classes. 

Look at Flickr to see the pictures!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone has a Happy Mother's Day. The children are really excited about the beautiful gifts and cards they made. Our class poem shows how hard you all work.

We have been busy with math assessment and math games. We wrote about our favorite vacation experience and we have been reading lots of challenging books.

Our latest science adventure is hatching baby chicks, we are on day 3. Twenty one days is the expected time, but babies will be born when they are ready. We have talked about which animals have hatched from an egg and it has been an interesting discussion. Oviparous is our new science word.

Upcoming Events

Wellness Walk - 5/11

Early Release - 5/18

Makers' Fest - 5/19

May Celebration - 5/24

No School - Memorial Day - 5/30

Grandparent Luncheon - 6/6

Field Day - 6/9 - looking for volunteers

Last Day of Kindergarten - 6/14 (there was a  misprint on the note that went home, there will be a celebration with parents at 9:30, not 9:00. Dismissal will be at 11:00, please let me know if that presents a problem for your family.)