Week of 10/24

We had a fun-filled exploration of pumpkins last week, ending with our pumpkin STEAM day on Friday! Children measured the circumference and height of their pumpkins, checked if their pumpkin sank or floated, and dissected a pumpkin and examined the parts. Children also used an iPad app, Starfall, where they virtually carved a pumpkin and read an emergent reader that went along with that activity. Thank you for sending in the pumpkins-- we had a lot of fun.

Here's what's going on in the classroom this week:

Language Arts
Our letters this week are Ss and Tt. Our sight word is go. We will read a variety of both pumpkin-themed and Halloween-themed books this week.

The sharing this week is "Letter of the Week." Children can bring an item that starts with either Ss or Tt, hide it in a bag or backpack, and write three clues for us to guess what's inside.

Math
We will begin a new module in math this week on shapes. Children are expected to be able to identify triangles, rectangles, circles, squares, and hexagons.  Additionally, children should be able to tell the characteristics of those shapes.  For example, a triangle has three corners and three sides. The 3D shapes that they will be expected to know are cones, spheres, cubes, and cylinders. Again, they also need to be able to tell the characteristics of those shapes.

Science
We will continue reading non-fiction books about pumpkins. We will also read a few non-fiction spider books and make a fun book about a spider's walk, which reinforces prepositions.

Solo Week:
This is Miss Anna's solo week, which means that she will be doing the majority of the teaching on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I will still be in the classroom, but Miss Anna will welcome the children at the door and dismiss them, as well as be the one doing most of the instruction.

Upcoming
Homework:
Please send in your child's blue bag Monday, homework folder inside. Please note: Due to the upcoming Monday staff development day, as well as Halloween weekend, we will not be sending home the blue bags this Wednesday. Homework will resume on November 2nd. Have a fun-filled Halloween weekend!

Halloween:
The Halloween Party & parade is on Friday, October 28th. Children are encouraged to wear costumes to school. If your child goes to daycare afterward, s/he may want to bring a change of clothes for comfort. Just a reminder that Halloween costumes worn at school cannot have any weapons as accessories. Also, fake blood or masks that prevent children from being able to see are not allowed. The school-wide parade (which a.m. kindergarten will be a part of) is at 8:30, on the primary blacktop (near rooms 7, 8, and 9.) Come out and watch the fun! Our classroom party will follow at 9:00. It will be center-style, with four party stations.

Conferences:
I am looking forward to meeting with each of you beginning Tuesday, November 1st for your child's conference. All conferences will be held in the office conference room, except for the 7:30 am time slot, which will be held in the classroom. The conference room is located in the main office, 2nd door to the right after you walk through the swinging half-door.  To confirm your conference time, please click here. Please note that you can no longer edit this form. If you need to change your conference time, please email me.

Friendship Feast:

To give you an opportunity to plan ahead, this Friendship Feast will be on the 18th at 10:00. 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-- those are what parents in our class will be busy cutting in the next few weeks. This event is definitely a great photo-op!

This Week's Helpers & Activities:
Monday: Return Blue Bags (Ho-Sun), Centers (Annie & Anna R.), Sharing
Tuesday: Centers (Claire K. & Marylu), Sharing
Wednesday: Recess 101, Sharing, Wacky Wednesday for p.m. (Dismissal from the library)
Thursday: Centers (Susan & Anna G.), Sharing
Friday: Halloween Parade (8:30), Special Halloween Party Centers

Upcoming Events:
Friday 10/28: Halloween Parade & Party

Monday 10/31: No School: Staff Development Day

11/1-11/10: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Friday 11/11: No School: Veteran's Day

Friday 11/18: Friendship Feast

11/21-11/25: Thanksgiving Vacation

Friday 12/16: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performances
12/19-01/02: Winter Break