I have enjoyed meeting with many of you so far during parent-teacher conferences, and have gained some great insights on your children from you. Thank you for meeting with me and being such active participants in your child's education. I look forward to meeting with the rest of you this week. If you need to confirm your conference time, please contact me.
We will still be taking a break from centers this week while we continue with parent-teacher conferences, and they won't resume until after Halloween. However, on Thursday, we do have special Halloween-themed centers that we'd love to have some help with. Please email me or Jill Brehmer if you can come on Thursday to help. There is also a sign-up next to the front door (redwood tree side) that has items we need for the party. Please check that out to see if there is something you could supply.
Language Arts
Due to the shortened week this week, we won't be introducing a new letter. We will continue to review the letters we've introduced so far: Ss, Mm, Rr, and Tt. There will also be no new sight words, and we will review I, see, in, it, and my.
Sharing this week will be Book Share. Please have your child bring a favorite book (perhaps a new book from the book fair!) Be prepared to tell: the title, a bit about what the book is about, and have a favorite page bookmarked. Friday children can share any other day of the week.
Language Arts
Due to the shortened week this week, we won't be introducing a new letter. We will continue to review the letters we've introduced so far: Ss, Mm, Rr, and Tt. There will also be no new sight words, and we will review I, see, in, it, and my.
Sharing this week will be Book Share. Please have your child bring a favorite book (perhaps a new book from the book fair!) Be prepared to tell: the title, a bit about what the book is about, and have a favorite page bookmarked. Friday children can share any other day of the week.
We are also beginning to do more writing using phonetic spelling. We went over this a bit at Back-to-School Night, but this is where children are encouraged to sound words out on their own and spell them phonetically. For example, they may spell hope as hop or monster as monsr. These spellings are totally acceptable at this time as a first tool to becoming an independent writer. Please try your best not to constantly spell words for your child. Encourage them to think for themselves and experiment with phonics so that they have a tool to fall back on when they need to spell on their own.
Math
In math, we are continuing our study of shapes by moving onto 3-Dimensional (solid) shapes. We are studying the cube, sphere, cone, and cylinder. Not only do children need to be able to name these shapes, but they need to be able to tell the characteristics of the shape. For example, a cube has six square surfaces and 8 corners/vertices. Ask your children what they know about these shapes-- I think you will be impressed with their use of math language!
Homework
Blue bags will not go home this week so that you can enjoy a homework-free long Halloween weekend. Have fun and stay safe!
Halloween
On Thursday, the Halloween parade will begin at 8:15. All Kindergarten children should arrive dressed up in their Halloween costumes. If the costume has a weapon with it (pirate sword, Star Wars lightsaber, etc.) please leave those at home. No gory costumes/fake blood allowed either, although that's not usually a problem in kindergarten :) The party will begin at about 9:00. Parents are welcome to attend. There is no need to pack any food for your child on Thursday-- pizza lunch will be provided due to our class having 100% participation in the Consolidated Classroom Payment. Thanks everyone!
November Events
While on the subject of classroom events, and to give you an opportunity to plan ahead, we have another big event coming up in November. On Friday the 20th, we have our Thanksgiving Feast. If you can take some time off work to join us, this is a pretty fun and special event. We ask each family to send in a dish for the event-- either a traditional Thanksgiving dish or a dish from your family's cultural background. We always enjoy the wonderful mix of foods that we get. Both K1 & K2 kindergartners come together for this event. The children from our class will be dressed as Pilgrims and the children in K1 will be dressed as Native Americans. No need to provide any costumes-- we have some special costumes made out of pillowcases that a few parents have offered to cut for us in the upcoming weeks. This event is definitely a great photo-op!
This Week's Helpers & Activities:
Monday: Return Blue Bags (Jillian), Sharing
Tuesday: Sharing
Wednesday: Computers (Lawrence), Sharing, Blue Bags go home
Thursday: Halloween Parade, Halloween Centers (whoever can come!), Sharing
Friday: NO SCHOOL: Staff Development Day
Upcoming Events
10/19-10/27: Parent-Teacher Conferences
10/29: Kindergarten Halloween Parade & Celebration
10/30: No School: Staff Development Day
11/11: No School: Veteran's Day
11/20: Friendship Feast @ 10:15
11/23-11/27: No School: Thanksgiving Break
12/18: Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00
On Thursday, the Halloween parade will begin at 8:15. All Kindergarten children should arrive dressed up in their Halloween costumes. If the costume has a weapon with it (pirate sword, Star Wars lightsaber, etc.) please leave those at home. No gory costumes/fake blood allowed either, although that's not usually a problem in kindergarten :) The party will begin at about 9:00. Parents are welcome to attend. There is no need to pack any food for your child on Thursday-- pizza lunch will be provided due to our class having 100% participation in the Consolidated Classroom Payment. Thanks everyone!
November Events
While on the subject of classroom events, and to give you an opportunity to plan ahead, we have another big event coming up in November. On Friday the 20th, we have our Thanksgiving Feast. If you can take some time off work to join us, this is a pretty fun and special event. We ask each family to send in a dish for the event-- either a traditional Thanksgiving dish or a dish from your family's cultural background. We always enjoy the wonderful mix of foods that we get. Both K1 & K2 kindergartners come together for this event. The children from our class will be dressed as Pilgrims and the children in K1 will be dressed as Native Americans. No need to provide any costumes-- we have some special costumes made out of pillowcases that a few parents have offered to cut for us in the upcoming weeks. This event is definitely a great photo-op!
This Week's Helpers & Activities:
Monday: Return Blue Bags (Jillian), Sharing
Tuesday: Sharing
Wednesday: Computers (Lawrence), Sharing, Blue Bags go home
Thursday: Halloween Parade, Halloween Centers (whoever can come!), Sharing
Friday: NO SCHOOL: Staff Development Day
Upcoming Events
10/19-10/27: Parent-Teacher Conferences
10/29: Kindergarten Halloween Parade & Celebration
10/30: No School: Staff Development Day
11/11: No School: Veteran's Day
11/20: Friendship Feast @ 10:15
11/23-11/27: No School: Thanksgiving Break
12/18: Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00
