Tuesday August 31, 2010

It's hard to believe that today is the last day of August! The students practiced their literacy stations upon arrival to school today. They did a great job making a choice and working at the station until it was complete.

Mrs. Abbey shared 6 new literacy stations to add to the ones we already know. We are now fishing for letters, practicing writing letters, matching pictures to letters, and matching uppercase and lowercase letters using baseballs and mitts in the pocket chart! The students are catching on to the stations very quickly and are enjoying doing them with partners.

We also talked about math buckets today. The students practiced working with a buddy and a bucket of manipulatives. The students have the choice to make patterns, sort objects, make sets, or count the manipulatives during math station time. It was nice to see some of the students helping each other!

The special today was PE. Mrs. Roquet was very proud of the student's behavior today, earning them a star sticker on their PE chart! After 10 stickers are earned, the class gets their choice of a PE game/activity!

During literacy worktime today, the students practiced (1) reading books by looking at the pictures, (2) writing/drawing, and (3) literacy stations. The students rotate between each of the 3 stations. During this worktime, Mrs. Abbey calls individuals or small groups of students over for instruction at the reading table. The class is learning to work quietly and to help each other solve "problems" that arise during this time.

Reminders:
•Book orders are due tomorrow! If you would like to order books, please return your order form and money Wednesday! Thank you!

Monday August 30, 2010

The students were introduced to literacy stations today! At this time of the year, the focus is on the alphabet and alphabetical order. The activities are games that can be done individually or with a partner. As the students learn the skills, new stations will be added that challenge your children and reinforce new skills learned.

Mrs. Abbey read a fable called You Are Beautiful As You Are, which reinforced the idea that we should be happy with who we are and not try to change to be something different. We talked about how people are different (hair color, skin color, eye color, height, abilities, etc.). The students shared with a partner something that makes themselves special. We started sharing our "I Am Special" posters. Elijah, Kaylee I., and Kassidy shared today!

We introduced the letters "E" and "F" today, learning the sounds that each letter makes, and practicing the phonics songs we have learned so far for A-F. We are practicing our alphabet chart, singing the ABC song as we point to the letters we sing. It is important for students to be able to slow down their singing and point to each letter, especially during the "L, M, N, O, P" part of the song. Practice this with your child!

Today was music class! It sounds like they played some fun music games, and since our class is so small, all students got to have a turn!


Information:

•Your child's painted t-shirt went home today. Please heat-set it before washing or wearing. Directions on how to heat-set are in your child's folder. Also, a list of dates we will be wearing the shirts to school is in your folder!

•A note regarding Highlights magazine is going home with your child today. Our class can earn free materials from Highlights if the entire class returns their signed slips. You do not need to purchase the magazine (unless you'd like to).

•The parent volunteer sign-up sheet went home today. Please return the questionnaire on Wednesday if you would like volunteer. I will look at all the forms and create a volunteer cycle based on interest. This schedule will then be sent home some time next week. I'm looking forward to having parents participate in our classroom activities!

•Tomorrow is PE...please have your child wear tennis shoes!

Friday Aug. 27, 2010

We had an amazing first week of kindergarten!

A big thank you to Blake's & Jasmine's mom for helping us paint our t-shirts today. They look awesome! Over the weekend, the shirts should dry completely. Next week I will send them home with instructions on how to wash them and set the paint. A list of all the dates we will wear the shirts will also go home next week. (Wednesday Sept. 15 is the first day that everyone will wear their shirts to school!)

We practiced using scissors and glue sticks today by cutting shapes and gluing them on a bus. This project is going home in their folders today. If you notice that cutting is a challenging skill for your child, encourage them to practice cutting at home. (Some ideas include: drawing shapes on colored paper for your child to cut out, or having your child cut out coupons from the newspaper.)

We compiled all of our names into one name chart, which we will be hanging up in our classroom. It was good practice to not only learn each others names, but to reinforce our alphabet skills and introduce the topic of alphabetical order!

We focused on 2 additional letters of the alphabet ("C" & "D") and the sounds that they make. We practiced the sounds with a few phonics songs--about castanets & drums.

Today's Pillar of Character was Caring. We read a book, called I Care About Others! and talked about ways that we can show others that we care.

Today we worked on making AB (2 color) patterns. The students practiced with a partner using colorful manipulatives. Ask your child to make a pattern for you at home using something they can find around the house (legos, blocks, silverware, crackers, etc.).

We were able to do 3 rotations during our station time today! The students worked real hard and did a good job of working quietly so that I could work with students individually.

Next week, we will be talking about how we are all special. The students will be sharing their "I Am Special" posters, and we will hang them up in the classroom! Please return your child's poster on Monday (if you have not done so already). There is a note in your child's folder if I have not received their poster.

Also included in your child's folder is a reminder note of forms that I have not received for your child. Attached to the note are the forms that I need returned on Monday. If you do not have a reminder sheet in your child's folder it is because you have returned everything that I need. Thank you!

Coming Up:
•Thursday Sept. 2 there will be a substitute in the class. That morning, I will be pulling students out of the classroom to assess their phonological awareness skills (letter sounds, rhyming, blending, etc.).
•October 28 is our first early dismissal day of the year. Remember, on those days, our class stays an hour late and goes home at the same time as the rest of the school! The half-day kindergarten students are also invited to bring a lunch and eat in the cafeteria with the rest of the kindergarteners. There is no afternoon shuttle bus home, so please make arrangements to pick up your child. Thanks!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday Aug. 26, 2010

We had a great day today! We finalized our list of classroom rules. A copy of those will go home tomorrow. We talked about making good choices and following our classroom rules. Mrs. Abbey explained how the students can earn a ticket each day they make good choices. Those tickets can be saved and exchanged for a small prize (pencil, bracelet, McDonalds toys, little notebook, stickers, etc.) We are always in need of extra prizes for the prize boxes. If you come across any trinkets while cleaning house, please send them our way! Thank you!

Mrs. Abbey read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Many of the students already knew this book, so they helped me by reading parts along with me. We listened to some Chicka Chicka Boom Boom songs while the students each worked on a page for our first class book entitled, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: Who Is In Mrs. Abbey's Room. After it is bound, the students will take turns bringing it home to read to their families! This first book is a great way for students and families to learn the name of their classmates!

While the students worked at stations, Mrs. Abbey pulled students individually to do some pre-reading assessments. This type of assessment will continue over the next couple of weeks in order to help me understand what each child already knows, and also to show me what skills and concepts each child would benefit from working on next.

Today's special was art with Mr. Spellman. They learned about different types of lines, and some students even got to paint!

Reminders:
•Tomorrow we paint t-shirts. Please have your child wear older clothes.
•If you have not filled out and returned the purple emergency card and the student information sheet, please do so. If I do not receive your child's papers this Friday, I will send an extra copy home for you.
•Next week (Aug. 30 & 31) is Parent Night at the Johnston elementary schools. Horizon kindergarten classes will not be having a parent night, as we held parent conversations prior to the start of the school year.
•There is no school on Monday Sept. 6 (Labor Day).

Wednesday August 25, 2010

What a bunch of hard workers we have in kindergarten this year!

The students are bringing home their first paper book that they can read! It's called "I". We practiced reading it in class and the kids were all proud that they were reading! Have them read it to you!

The first few weeks of school, we are reviewing the names of the letters. We work with an alphabet chart every day. Today Mrs. Abbey read a book, Animals in the Park: An ABC Book, where we reviewed the letters of the alphabet, started learning the sounds that each letter make, and found pictures of words that start with each letter. We found the letters that each of our names started with, and matched it up with our alphabet chart on the wall.

We went to the computer lab today. The students learned how to log in with a password, how to use the mouse to click on the program's picture, and had a little time to explore the program, Bailey's Book House. Every Wednesday, our class will go to the computer lab to practice computer basics, such as logging in, using the mouse, and logging out, all while using fun, educational programs!

Mrs. Canada came to our room for guidance today. The students played a get-to-know-you game, had some time for sharing, and learned what it means to be a good listener.

We practiced working at small group stations again today. We got through 2 stations this morning--eventually, we will get up to a 4-station rotation while I work with small groups of students.

We started making a list of classroom rules. These are rules that are created by the students--it is a list of ideas they came up with on how we can be a class that is full of good workers who make good choices. We will send the final list of rules home with all the students on Friday, so that you have a chance to talk with them and reinforce the rules at home.

Today I sent home our first book order forms. If you would like to purchase books, please return the order form(s) and one check (made out to Scholastic) by Wednesday Sept. 1.

Upcoming Events:
•Thursday is art class with Mr. Spellman.
•Friday we will be painting our white t-shirts. Please have your child wear old clothes!

Tuesday August 24, 2010

Another wonderful day in kindergarten! We finished our self-portraits and hung outside of our classroom door. Stop by and check them out some morning before school!

Today, the school learned about RESPECT. In class, we read a story called I Show Respect which helped the students understand ways that they can be respectful. Some of the ideas were to use your manners, take turns, raise your hand, and have a good attitude. One way in which our class is working to show respect is by listening to the teacher or person who is talking. The students all have important things to say, so we need to make sure that they understand when it's a time that they need to listen and when it's a good time to talk.

Roger's mom came in to talk with the class about cerebral palsy. Roger enjoyed talking with the class about the brain, and how his body sends & receives messages a little bit differently than theirs. They played a game about individual differences, where they each earned 4 lollipops (they are in your child's backpack). We also read a story called Don't Cry, Big Bird, which talked about how we can find creative ways to play together despite our differences.

Another thing the students learned about today was classroom jobs. We have 6 jobs (line leader, caboose, mail carrier, door holder, weather person, and scrap collector). If your child is sad because they do not have a job this week, don't worry...they will have their turn next week!

Today we learned our first sight word in preparation for reading! "I" We practiced sentences using the word I, and talked about our favorite food using the prompt, "I like ____." The students drew a picture of their favorite food and did their best to label it with the initial sound. The skill of hearing what a word starts with is a challenging skill for many young children to learn. You can help your child understand this concept by playing "beginning sound games" throughout your day (eg. at the grocery store--"What does bread start with? buh, buh, bread. Yes, bread starts with B!") These games can also be played while driving in the car, while playing outside, when cooking supper, etc. It's an easy way to give your child a head start in both reading and writing!

The students practiced working at stations while Mrs. Abbey started working with students individually. We are working at staying at our assigned station, cooperating with the other students at our station, and working quietly. Learning this routine will take some time!

The students will be excited to tell you about all the fun they had in PE with Mrs. Roquet!

Announcements:
•Today I sent home a list of all the sight words your child will be learning this year. Many parents have found it helpful to make flashcards of the words, and review them every once in a while. We introduce the words slowly, and I will always write about the words we have learned. That way, you know which words your child is expected to know throughout the year.

•Many parents are excited to volunteer. A parent volunteer sign-up questionnaire will go home with your child on Monday Aug. 30. Please return it by Sept. 2. I am excited for a great group of volunteers!

•We will be painting t-shirts this Friday. Please let me know if you would be interested in helping the students sponge paint a stencil on the back of their shirts. We will be painting from 9:00-10:00 on Friday Aug. 27. Thanks!

•Thank you to all parents who sent tennis shoes with their children for PE today! Tomorrow is guidance with Mrs. Canada and computer lab!

•If you ever have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email, phone, or a note in your child's folder. Thank you!

Our First Day of Kindergarten!

Wow! What a great group of kids! We had a wonderful first day of kindergarten.

The entire school gathered in the gymnasium for a welcome assembly this morning. At the assembly, we were introduced to all of the staff, said the Pledge of Allegiance, learned the Horizon promise, and sang On the Horizon (our school song). The students practiced being good listeners and seemed to enjoy being with the whole school!

Our special today was music class! The kids were all smiles when I picked them up from the music room. Ask them what they did in music today!

Back in our classroom, we read the story, Miss. Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten. We played a name game, where we learned a little bit about each other by talking about our favorite animals. We enjoyed a new alphabet song, called Lettercise. Finally, each of the students drew a picture of themselves, which we will be hanging outside of our classroom. It was a very busy first day of school!

REMINDERS:
•Tomorrow is a PE day. Please have your child wear socks and tennis shoes to school. Thank you!

•We will be painting t-shirts this Friday. If you have not sent in a white t-shirt for your child to paint, please do so! Please let me know if you are unable to provide a t-shirt.

•Please send in your child's All About Me poster sometime this week. We will be sharing them during the week of Aug. 30.

•Also, don't forget to return the purple emergency card and the completed information sheet about your child. Thank you!

Thanks for sharing your children with me! Each of them are so special!