It was GREAT to see so many of you yesterday at the walk-a-thon! Our ENTIRE class participated, and it looked like much fun was had by all. Thanks for coming out and supporting the school, and hopefully, it was the beginning of many walk-a-thons to come for all of you! Tomorrow, send your children with their walk-a-thon necklaces & t-shirts, if possible, so that we can all celebrate the laps that we walked!
If you didn't have a chance to check out the Book Fair yesterday, it runs through Thursday of this week, before school (for the big kids), at noon, and after school (for the big kids). Check it out!
If you didn't have a chance to check out the Book Fair yesterday, it runs through Thursday of this week, before school (for the big kids), at noon, and after school (for the big kids). Check it out!
Here's what's going on in the classroom this week:
Language Arts:
Our letter this week is Bb, and our Alphafriend is Benny Bear. Our sight words this week will be like and can.
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 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.
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!
Language Arts:
Our letter this week is Bb, and our Alphafriend is Benny Bear. Our sight words this week will be like and can.
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 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.
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!
Halloween
On Thursday, all Kindergarten children should arrive dressed up in their costumes. The morning class/school-wide parade is at 8:30, between the primary playground and rooms 7, 8, and 9. The afternoon class parade is at 1:00 on the kindergarten playground. Remember that if the costume has a weapon with it (pirate sword, Star Wars lightsaber, etc.) to please leave those at home. No gory costumes/fake blood allowed either, although that's not usually a problem in kindergarten :) Parties will immediately follow the parades. Parents are welcome to attend.
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 21st, 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 Native Americans, and the children in K1 will be dressed as Pilgrims. 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!
Conferences
I am looking forward to meeting with each of you beginning November 13th for your child's conference. Conferences will be held in the library (a.m. class conferences) or the office conference room (p.m. class conferences) since the kindergarten classes will be in session during most conference times. The conference room is located in the main office, 2nd door to the right after you walk through the swinging half-door. The library is the building directly behind the kindergarten building. If you are unsure of your conference time, please e-mail me. Thanks!
Reminder: Afternoon class has a Wacky Wednesday this week. Class runs from 10:00 to 1:20. No school Friday the 31st due to a staff development day.
Remember your blue bags tomorrow, homework folder inside.
Upcoming Events:
10/29: October's Wacky Wednesday
10/30: Halloween Parade & Celebration
10/31: Staff Development Day: No School
11/10-11/11: No School, Veteran's Day
11/13-11/21: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/19: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/21: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
11/24-11/28: Thanksgiving Week Vacation
12/17: November's Wacky Wednesday/Nutcracker "Hat Party" (parents come in to help make costume pieces)
12/19: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
On Thursday, all Kindergarten children should arrive dressed up in their costumes. The morning class/school-wide parade is at 8:30, between the primary playground and rooms 7, 8, and 9. The afternoon class parade is at 1:00 on the kindergarten playground. Remember that if the costume has a weapon with it (pirate sword, Star Wars lightsaber, etc.) to please leave those at home. No gory costumes/fake blood allowed either, although that's not usually a problem in kindergarten :) Parties will immediately follow the parades. Parents are welcome to attend.
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 21st, 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 Native Americans, and the children in K1 will be dressed as Pilgrims. 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!
Conferences
I am looking forward to meeting with each of you beginning November 13th for your child's conference. Conferences will be held in the library (a.m. class conferences) or the office conference room (p.m. class conferences) since the kindergarten classes will be in session during most conference times. The conference room is located in the main office, 2nd door to the right after you walk through the swinging half-door. The library is the building directly behind the kindergarten building. If you are unsure of your conference time, please e-mail me. Thanks!
Reminder: Afternoon class has a Wacky Wednesday this week. Class runs from 10:00 to 1:20. No school Friday the 31st due to a staff development day.
Remember your blue bags tomorrow, homework folder inside.
Upcoming Events:
10/29: October's Wacky Wednesday
10/30: Halloween Parade & Celebration
10/31: Staff Development Day: No School
11/10-11/11: No School, Veteran's Day
11/13-11/21: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/19: November's Wacky Wednesday
11/21: Kindergarten Friendship Feast @ 10:15 (a.m. class) and 1:30 (p.m. class)
11/24-11/28: Thanksgiving Week Vacation
12/17: November's Wacky Wednesday/Nutcracker "Hat Party" (parents come in to help make costume pieces)
12/19: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 10:00 (a.m. class) & 1:30 (p.m. class)
