Dear Parents,
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I'd like to thank all of you for making the Feast such a success! We had a wonderful spread of food, and the children all looked darling! Thanks to the MANY parents who helped with that event.
Now...onto a very busy but exciting time in kindergarten as we prepare for our Nutcracker presentation on the 20th, as well as continue with all the academics & seasonal artwork!
Academics
We will have a new letter this week, Vv, and the Alphafriend is Vinnie Volcano. We will also have a new high frequency word, to. We will begin a math topic on addition this week. Any reinforcement you can provide at home on this would be great, as this is obviously a core concept.
At the side of this webpage, there is a link for kindergarten websites. There is one website, http://www.spellingcity.com/k2grist that I'd like you all to check out with your children. This is a fun way to reinforce both the sight words and short-vowel words that they will be expected to recognize and spell in kindergarten. I have pre-loaded the list of sight words onto Spelling City, but if you want to make your own list of short-vowel words, you can do that, too. In addition to Spelling City, you may also want to check out: http://www.xtramath.org to reinforce math facts. These sites are just extra tools to reinforce learning.
We will return to centers for the next two weeks, then we take a break from centers again the week of December 15th. Please check the helper schedule.
This week's sharing is Homemade Item. Please have your child bring in something s/he has created, whether at preschool, a crafting class, or at home. Have children be prepared to tell a bit about how they made the item (glazed clay, colored it with markers, etc.)
Upcoming
If you are in need of some new books or holiday books-- I have activated a new book order on the Scholastic website. There is a quick turnaround on this one so that we can hopefully get them in time for the holidays. They are due next Friday the 6th. Take a look by following the link on the right-hand side of the website.
Thank you for returning your blue bags last week. If you still have a white envelope, please send it in on Monday. Blue Bags will go home for the next two weeks. They will not go home on December 18th.
On December 18th, we will be having our annual "Nutcracker Hat Party." We need parents to come in straight after the p.m. class's Wacky Wednesday (1:20) to help make all the paper parts of the Nutcracker costumes. Children are invited to play in the classroom while parents create from provided patterns. If all goes well, this will last about an hour: 1:20 to 2:20 or so. Please let us know if you can join!
Looking forward to seeing everyone Monday!
Upcoming Events:
12/18: December's Wacky Wednesday & Nutcracker Costume-Making Event (parent help needed @ 1:20!)
12/20: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
12/21-1/5: Winter Break
1/17: No School: Staff Development Day
1/20: No School: MLK B'day
1/29: January's Wacky Wednesday
2/15-2/23: President's Week Vacation
2/26: February's Wacky Wednesday
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Week of 11/17
Dear Parents,
Upcoming Events
Looking ahead on your calendars at this busy time of year, I wanted to make sure that you are all marking your calendars for Friday, December 20th-- our annual performance of The Nutcracker. This is something that you will not want to miss. To help you clear your calendar, the kindergarten teachers have decided that we will do our class holiday party and the Nutcracker performance all on the same day. We will have a big "cast party" after the performance this year so that we can send the kids off on a great holiday break!
Please remember your child's blue bag tomorrow. We will have no homework this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week, but we will send home a white envelope. Please try & return it on Thursday so that it doesn't get lost over the week break.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Upcoming Events:
11/18-11/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences continue
11/20: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/22: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
12/18: December's Wacky Wednesday & Nutcracker Costume-Making Event (parent help needed @ 1:20!)
12/20: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
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 children's educations. I look forward to meeting with the rest of you this week.
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 Thanksgiving. Then we will start back up with centers for two weeks before winter break (there are no centers again the week before the holidays).
The p.m. class has a Wacky Wednesday this week on the 20th. Class runs from 10:00 to 1:20.
Curriculum
Our new letter this week is Hh. The Alphafriend is Hattie Horse. We will also be introducing our first vowel, Aa, Andy Apple! This means that we will begin blending and spelling short-vowel words now. Our new sight word is a. We continue reviewing numbers to 10 in math.
This week's sharing is Book Share. Please send your child with a favorite book. They should be prepared to state the title, tell a little about what it's about, and show a favorite page that is bookmarked.
We will also continue with our Social Studies unit on "Times Past." This week, we will also continue taking a closer look at the Pilgrims & Native Americans as we talk about the first Thanksgiving & prepare for our reenactment of this event, our Friendship Feast on the 22nd. We have a great simple book that we will be putting together about the first Thanksgiving, and we have some great books that we will be reading to the children. It would be great if you can all join us for the Feast on Friday, even if you can only come briefly. The children look so cute in their costumes & love sharing the meal with family members. Thank you to everyone for sending in food for the event!
The p.m. class has a Wacky Wednesday this week on the 20th. Class runs from 10:00 to 1:20.
Curriculum
Our new letter this week is Hh. The Alphafriend is Hattie Horse. We will also be introducing our first vowel, Aa, Andy Apple! This means that we will begin blending and spelling short-vowel words now. Our new sight word is a. We continue reviewing numbers to 10 in math.
This week's sharing is Book Share. Please send your child with a favorite book. They should be prepared to state the title, tell a little about what it's about, and show a favorite page that is bookmarked.
We will also continue with our Social Studies unit on "Times Past." This week, we will also continue taking a closer look at the Pilgrims & Native Americans as we talk about the first Thanksgiving & prepare for our reenactment of this event, our Friendship Feast on the 22nd. We have a great simple book that we will be putting together about the first Thanksgiving, and we have some great books that we will be reading to the children. It would be great if you can all join us for the Feast on Friday, even if you can only come briefly. The children look so cute in their costumes & love sharing the meal with family members. Thank you to everyone for sending in food for the event!
Upcoming Events
Looking ahead on your calendars at this busy time of year, I wanted to make sure that you are all marking your calendars for Friday, December 20th-- our annual performance of The Nutcracker. This is something that you will not want to miss. To help you clear your calendar, the kindergarten teachers have decided that we will do our class holiday party and the Nutcracker performance all on the same day. We will have a big "cast party" after the performance this year so that we can send the kids off on a great holiday break!
Please remember your child's blue bag tomorrow. We will have no homework this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week, but we will send home a white envelope. Please try & return it on Thursday so that it doesn't get lost over the week break.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Upcoming Events:
11/18-11/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences continue
11/20: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/22: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
12/18: December's Wacky Wednesday & Nutcracker Costume-Making Event (parent help needed @ 1:20!)
12/20: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Week of 11/10
Dear Parents,
We hope you are enjoying a nice long weekend as we head into a busy two weeks before Thanksgiving! We will see your children on Tuesday the 12th.
We look forward to meeting with many of you this week in the office conference room (Mrs. Grist) or the library (Mrs. Sheikh). Before school conferences for Mrs. Sheikh and after school conferences for Mrs. Grist will be held in the classroom. If you need to confirm your time, please email your child's teacher.
We will be taking a break from centers for the next two weeks while we continue with parent-teacher conferences, and they won't resume until after Thanksgiving. Then we will start back up with centers for two weeks and take another break the week before winter break.
This week's letter is Nn, and the Alphafriend is Nyle Noodle. We will introduce two new sight words, with and be. Our share this week is Toy in a Bag. Please send your child in with any toy hidden in a bag, with three clues written to help us guess what's inside. Monday children can share any other day this week.
Our math topic on reviewing numbers to 10 continues this week. Common Core really focuses on delving deeper into number sense. We are understanding that each number can be made up of two other numbers, and visualizing how numbers appear using 10 frames, dot cards, and dice, as well as writing and practicing number formation. There is a great free app for iPads and iPhones called Ten Frame Fill that focuses on Kindergarten Common Core concepts of understanding numbers to 10. Check it out if you have these devices.
We will begin our Social Studies Unit on Times Past this week. We will be comparing and contrasting modern times to times past.
This week, we will also be taking a closer look at the Pilgrims & Native Americans as we talk about the first Thanksgiving. We will be preparing for our upcoming feast on Friday the 22nd. If you haven't had a chance to send back the paper regarding the feast (how you can help/what dish you can send) please do so ASAP. It would be great if each child has a parent in attendance. This is a fun time for the kids, as they love to show off their costumes and enjoy the meal with their families. Even if you are unable to attend, please send a food item with your child-- no need for anything complicated! Thanks to those who have already signed up.
Please be sure to send in your child's Blue Bag on Tuesday since we have only one day to turn them around. The Blue Bags will go home again this Wednesday, and then the following week, there will be no homework due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Upcoming Events:
We hope you are enjoying a nice long weekend as we head into a busy two weeks before Thanksgiving! We will see your children on Tuesday the 12th.
We look forward to meeting with many of you this week in the office conference room (Mrs. Grist) or the library (Mrs. Sheikh). Before school conferences for Mrs. Sheikh and after school conferences for Mrs. Grist will be held in the classroom. If you need to confirm your time, please email your child's teacher.
We will be taking a break from centers for the next two weeks while we continue with parent-teacher conferences, and they won't resume until after Thanksgiving. Then we will start back up with centers for two weeks and take another break the week before winter break.
This week's letter is Nn, and the Alphafriend is Nyle Noodle. We will introduce two new sight words, with and be. Our share this week is Toy in a Bag. Please send your child in with any toy hidden in a bag, with three clues written to help us guess what's inside. Monday children can share any other day this week.
Our math topic on reviewing numbers to 10 continues this week. Common Core really focuses on delving deeper into number sense. We are understanding that each number can be made up of two other numbers, and visualizing how numbers appear using 10 frames, dot cards, and dice, as well as writing and practicing number formation. There is a great free app for iPads and iPhones called Ten Frame Fill that focuses on Kindergarten Common Core concepts of understanding numbers to 10. Check it out if you have these devices.
We will begin our Social Studies Unit on Times Past this week. We will be comparing and contrasting modern times to times past.
This week, we will also be taking a closer look at the Pilgrims & Native Americans as we talk about the first Thanksgiving. We will be preparing for our upcoming feast on Friday the 22nd. If you haven't had a chance to send back the paper regarding the feast (how you can help/what dish you can send) please do so ASAP. It would be great if each child has a parent in attendance. This is a fun time for the kids, as they love to show off their costumes and enjoy the meal with their families. Even if you are unable to attend, please send a food item with your child-- no need for anything complicated! Thanks to those who have already signed up.
Please be sure to send in your child's Blue Bag on Tuesday since we have only one day to turn them around. The Blue Bags will go home again this Wednesday, and then the following week, there will be no homework due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Upcoming Events:
11/11: No School, Veteran's Day
11/14-11/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/20: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/22: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
12/20: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
11/14-11/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/20: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/22: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Week of 11/3
Dear Parents,
I hope you all enjoyed a fun Halloween with your children. What a great party we had in class! A huge thanks to the room parents and parent helpers who organized such wonderful Halloween centers & treats. The kids all enjoyed themselves very much.
Remember that Daylight Savings Time ends. Hopefully, you got to enjoy an extra hour of sleep on Sunday!
Curriculum
Our letter this week is Bb, and our Alphafriend is Benny Bear. Our sight words this week will be like and can. In math, we are reviewing and expanding the unit on Numbers: 0-10. Again we will be comparing numbers to identify which numbers are more than each other, less than each other, and equal. We will also be ordering numbers and deconstructing them to help children visualize addition problems. For example, we will break down 8 into 1 & 7 or 2 & 6 or 3 & 5, etc.
Sharing this week will be Letter of the Week share for Bb. Children should bring in an item that starts with Bb, hide it in a bag, and write three clues for that item.
We are also doing much 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. We will have a practice writing assessment this week that I will share with you at parent-teacher conferences.
Upcoming
We begin Parent-Teacher conferences next Thursday the 14th through Friday the 22nd. Although grades 1-5 have an altered schedule during conferences, the kindergarten schedule remains the same. The p.m. class will still dismiss at 2:50 during the duration of conferences, with the exception of Wednesday the 20th, which is a Wacky Wednesday.
We will have no centers for the two weeks due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. However, I will still need help on Wednesdays with Computer Lab, and we will also continue with SPARK P.E., weather permitting. Centers will resume the week after Thanksgiving. There are a few projects that I may need some help on in class in the upcoming weeks. I will try to send out an e-mail for those projects to see if anyone may be available.
Please remember to send in your child's Wednesday envelope, if you have not done so already, by tomorrow. In this week's Wednesday envelope, you will find a sign-up form for the food and help at the Friendship Feast on the 22nd. Please fill that out and turn it in as soon as you can. We need many helpers and plenty of food to make this a success. We are looking forward to a fun event!
Soon, I am going to start putting together the helper schedule on the website for 2014. Please e-mail me if any changes need to be made/you need to switch days/etc. If anyone new would like to be added to the schedule, please let me know. Thanks so much to everyone for your generosity with your time-- centers and all enrichment activities have run SO smoothly so far!
Upcoming Events:
I hope you all enjoyed a fun Halloween with your children. What a great party we had in class! A huge thanks to the room parents and parent helpers who organized such wonderful Halloween centers & treats. The kids all enjoyed themselves very much.
Remember that Daylight Savings Time ends. Hopefully, you got to enjoy an extra hour of sleep on Sunday!
Curriculum
Our letter this week is Bb, and our Alphafriend is Benny Bear. Our sight words this week will be like and can. In math, we are reviewing and expanding the unit on Numbers: 0-10. Again we will be comparing numbers to identify which numbers are more than each other, less than each other, and equal. We will also be ordering numbers and deconstructing them to help children visualize addition problems. For example, we will break down 8 into 1 & 7 or 2 & 6 or 3 & 5, etc.
Sharing this week will be Letter of the Week share for Bb. Children should bring in an item that starts with Bb, hide it in a bag, and write three clues for that item.
We are also doing much 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. We will have a practice writing assessment this week that I will share with you at parent-teacher conferences.
Upcoming
We will have no centers for the two weeks due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. However, I will still need help on Wednesdays with Computer Lab, and we will also continue with SPARK P.E., weather permitting. Centers will resume the week after Thanksgiving. There are a few projects that I may need some help on in class in the upcoming weeks. I will try to send out an e-mail for those projects to see if anyone may be available.
Please remember to send in your child's Wednesday envelope, if you have not done so already, by tomorrow. In this week's Wednesday envelope, you will find a sign-up form for the food and help at the Friendship Feast on the 22nd. Please fill that out and turn it in as soon as you can. We need many helpers and plenty of food to make this a success. We are looking forward to a fun event!
Soon, I am going to start putting together the helper schedule on the website for 2014. Please e-mail me if any changes need to be made/you need to switch days/etc. If anyone new would like to be added to the schedule, please let me know. Thanks so much to everyone for your generosity with your time-- centers and all enrichment activities have run SO smoothly so far!
Upcoming Events:
11/11: No School, Veteran's Day
11/14-11/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/20: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/22: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
12/20: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
11/14-11/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/20: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/22: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)