Wednesday December 22, 2010

We had a fun day today. Mr. Salmon read The Polar Express to all of the kindergarteners this morning. Back at our classroom, the students all received a small bell...the story says that you can only hear the bell ring if you believe. The students may be asking if you hear the bell...now you'll understand why!

The students worked at wintery stations, such as making snowflakes, doing an ABC train maze, punching snowflakes, making bookmarks to use over break, etc.

We watched a 20-minute movie called Merry Madagascar, which the kids thought was pretty funny! We also read two fun holiday books today: The Three Bears' Christmas and Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas.

After library time, we had our special snack. Thank you to all of the moms and dads who helped out by bringing plates, cups, napkins, donuts, chocolate milk, fresh fruit, and goody bags! What a wonderful snack!

The students had lots of energy today! After our special snack, the students had the opportunity to hang out and talk together, work at stations, and read books with each other.

Enjoy the next 11 days as a family!

We'll see everyone back on January 3, 2011!

Tuesday December 21, 2010

I am sorry about the mess on everyone's hands, some faces, and some clothes. We attempted to stamp our own wrapping paper today, which ended up being a big mess! I think the stamp pads I have need to be replaced, as the ink was still coming off from the paper onto our fingers hours after we had stamped it! Hopefully it will be dry tomorrow (or else I will send the gifts home in a plastic bag...be careful opening them!!!).

We acted out the story of the Gingerbread Man using stick puppets this morning. The students listened well to know when it was their turn to stand up or move around with their stick puppet. We also played Gingerbread Man Memory Game, which the students love!

In PE, the students played some holiday-themed games which the 4th graders helped them with! They had a great time playing with the big kids!

Tomorrow, your child can wear their pajamas to school, as it is our Polar Express Celebration Day! We will be having a special snack, listening to the Polar Express book, going to the library, and doing some other fun Polar Express activities! It will be a fun, fast morning!

Just a reminder...If your child wears their boots, please remember to send shoes for your child to change into at school! Thanks!

Monday December 20, 2010

The students had a great day today!

We read another gingerbread man book called, The Cajun Gingerbread Boy. This story was different than the others, as it takes place in Louisiana and has many French words and phrases in it! Tomorrow is our final day to read about the gingerbread man.

We worked on fine motor coordination by punching a snowman picture to hang up in the window at home. When the sun shines, you will be able to see a snowman through the black paper. If your child did not bring theirs home today, it is not quite finished, and will be coming home tomorrow!

In music class, the students had a little Christmas sing-along (since they will be missing the school-wide sing-along on Wednesday afternoon). They had lots of fun!

Tomorrow is PE...please send tennis shoes!

Wednesday, our special schedule is changed...we will be going to library instead of guidance. So, if your child would like to check out new library books before break, please send theirs back on Wednesday.

Coming up...Wednesday is our Polar Express Day. Please have your child wear their pajamas to school! We will also have a special snack on Wednesday!

Winter break starts Thursday Dec. 23 (Just in time for the snow, I hear!).

Thank you to all the parents who are donating items for our party on Wednesday! It's going to be a fun time!

Friday December 17, 2010

Wow! What a difference between yesterday and today! The students did a wonderful job of listening and following the rules!

Mrs. Abbey read a fun, new book called Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett. Ask your child to tell you what happened at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story. Also, see if your child can tell you how the gingerbread baby was feeling at the beginning of the story, and how he felt at the end of the story.

Mrs. Hetherton, the ELP teacher at our school, came to our class to do a patterning activity with the students.

Thank you to Elijah's mom for helping the students make snowflakes!

The students went to the library today. If their library book was not overdue, they were allowed to check out a 2nd book, since it is right before winter break! If your child brought home an overdue slip, please return the book on Monday so that they can check out 2 books for break. Thank you!

Coming home in your child's folder is an activity log from Mrs. Roquet, the PE teacher. Record the activities you do over break and send it back on Jan. 4 to earn a prize from Mrs. Roquet!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday December 16, 2010

The students probably all came home looking horrified that I didn't give out any tickets today. Well, it's true. We had a rough morning filled with behaviors that Mrs. Abbey thought should not be rewarded with tickets. Talking instead of listening is the main thing I am working on with the students right now. If a teacher is talking or giving directions, the students should be listening and not talking to their friends or tablemates. I know this time of year is very exciting for the students, and once we return from Winter Break, things usually settle down. I'm just hoping that over the next couple of days the students try their personal best to be good listeners.

During our literacy time, Mrs. Abbey read the book, Gingerbread Baby. The fox doesn't eat the gingerbread boy in this book either! We talked about how to make a gingerbread man, including what ingredients they would put in the dough.

Thank you to Ella's mom for helping the students with a sound blending activity!

In handwriting, the students reviewed letters Cc, Ee, and Ff. Over winter break, I will be sending sheets home for your child to practice writing the letters. The sheets your child receives will depend on their writing performance at school--I will only send home the letters which your child has difficulty writing.

The students had their last art class of the 2010 year. Jan. 6 2011 will be the next time students go to art!

The students have been busy making a few gifts here at school--hopefully they have kept it a secret!

New books in the book bags went home with your child today. Please keep these through Winter Break and return them on Jan. 5. Thank you! Also, keep track of your reading on the gingerbread man reading log--return them the first week in January for a prize!

Wednesday December 15, 2010

There must be snow coming! The students were a little out of sorts today, behaving goofy and not listening to the teachers. I hope tomorrow is a much better day!

We read a fun gingerbread story called The Gingerbread Girl. I enjoyed reading this book, because none of the students had heard it before and it kept them in suspense! The kids compared this book with the other gingerbread stories we have read this week. Ask your child what happened at the end of The Gingerbread Girl (Did she get eaten by the fox?)

The students worked on a writing sheet--where they listed 4 candies (or other decorations) that they would use to decorate a gingerbread man and made a picture illustration.

In computer lab, the students explored Milly's Math House for the last time. We won't have another computer lab until after Winter Break.

In guidance, the students were introduced to "I Care Cat" and his 5 rules. Today, they talked about how to make a new friend, read some stories, and did some role playing.

Thank you for returning the book bags. I will exchange the books and send new ones home tomorrow! Keep this new set of books until the Wednesday after Winter Break (Jan. 5).

The students' "I am thankful for..." turkeys went home today! They are super cute!

Tomorrow we will be painting. Please have your child wear clothes that you don't mind getting messy. Thanks!

Tuesday December 14, 2010

The students did a fun graphing activity this morning where they ripped off the part of the gingerbread boy that they would eat first and we graphed each one on a chart. Even though the students did it secretly so no one else could see them, we still had a large percentage of the class choose to eat the gingerbread man's head first!

Mrs. Abbey read The Gingerbread Boy and the students pointed out many differences between this story and The Gingerbread Man story we read yesterday. Tomorrow there will be even more differences, as we read The Gingerbread Girl!

We made a giant-sized class book called, "The Gingerbread Man Ran Away From..." The students were the illustrators of this book.

We celebrated Anita's birthday today! Thank you for the special treats and the fun stencils!

In PE, the students were very tired. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep at night and is eating a nourishing breakfast! They need the energy for school!

Tomorrow is "Team Abbey" kindergarten shirt day! It may be a good idea to wear a long-sleeve shirt under your t-shirt, as it's chilly in parts of our school.

Monday December 13, 2010

Pajama day was a success! The students had fun working and walking in the hall in their pjs!

We are focusing on the gingerbread man this week. Since we read the regular version of the gingerbread man earlier this fall, Mrs. Abbey has collected a few other versions that will be fun to read and compare! Today we read an older version (a book that Mrs. Abbey had when she was little!). We talked about why the little old woman baked a gingerbread cookie, what the gingerbread man ran away from, and what he said as he ran. At the end of the story, we made a list of all the people and animals he ran away from, and will continue adding to this list as we read other versions of the story.

In handwriting, the students practiced writing the lowercase "f".

We worked with math buckets...the students worked in pairs practicing simple addition facts, then we worked as a whole group to practice some subtraction problems.

Wednesday Dec. 15 is kindergarten t-shirt day!

Tomorrow is PE! If your child wears boots to school, please make sure they have a pair of tennis shoes in their backpack to change into. Thanks!

Friday December 10, 2010

The students were very good listeners today!

We talked about soup this morning, discussing our favorite kinds of soup, and reading a folk tale called The Soup Stone. At the beginning of the story, the people in the village didn't want to share their food with the soldier, but when he showed them his "soup stone", they were tricked into thinking that the stone was magical and they made a big pot of soup for everyone to share.

Since we were unable to go to the computer lab on Wednesday, we went to use the computers today. The students explored the Millie's Math House program. They are getting very good at navigating on the computer and are understanding the math concepts presented! Most of the students are also able to log on and off the computers without any assistance. Way to go!

There was a substitute in library today, but the students still listened to a story and got the chance to look at and check out a new library book (if they returned their old one).

The students are really enjoying our new literacy stations! They are working very hard and carefully at the stations, and often have a difficult time choosing one because, as one child puts it..."They're all so good!"

Next week, we will continue learning about food, and will review the 5 senses and focus on gingerbread men and gingerbread houses.

Just a reminder that Monday Dec. 13 is pajama day at Horizon. (I forgot to mention this to the students, so they may be surprised when you tell them.)

Enjoy the nice afternoon, and have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday December 9, 2010

Thank you to all of the wonderful recipes that came in today! We will begin sharing and working on our project next week!

This morning we reviewed fiction and nonfiction before Mrs. Abbey read a non-fiction magazine article called Ripe and Ready to Eat. In this article, the students learned where some of the food we eat comes from (before you buy it at the store). The students were especially interested in learning about the cranberry bogs!

We reviewed the 10 sight words we have learned so far: "I, can, we, the, a, like, see, go, to, have". The students are getting to know these words very quickly which is what we want them to do. Way to go! We also practiced blending sounds to make words with Happy the Dog. Thank you for helping your child with this at home! I can definitely tell a difference when we practice here at school!

Thank you to Kaylee C.'s mom for helping us with a word family slider game!

We started introducing subtraction today. The students enjoyed the story problems that we practiced together as a whole class and are excited to do some more tomorrow!

The students were excellent listeners in art. They worked hard on their projects...you will probably see evidence of it on their hands!

Tomorrow is library day...please help your child remember to return their library book if they would like to check out a new one during library time.

Please let me know if your family does not celebrate Christmas, as I was thinking we'd do a few fun Christmas activities over the next couple of weeks. I want to make sure all families are comfortable with this before I begin planning. Thank you!

Upcoming:
•Horizon is going to have a school-wide pajama day on Monday Dec. 13. Your child may wear their pjs, slippers, robe, etc. to school that day!
•Wednesday Dec. 15 is "Team Kdgn" t-shirt day!
•Wed. Dec. 15--return your child's reading bags for new books! ( I will include 4-5 books in the bag this week so that you do not need to return it until after Winter break on Wed. Jan. 5.)
•Dec. 22 the kindergarten classes are having a "Polar Express" day where the students will once again dress in their pjs (just like in the Polar Express movie), Mr. Salmon will read The Polar Express story to the classes, we will celebrate with donut holes and chocolate milk, and do a few fun Polar Express stations.
•Dec. 23-Jan. 2 there is no school due to Winter Break.

Wednesday December 8, 2010

Today we talked about fruits and vegetables that the students have to eat, even though they don't like them. It was good for the students to see that they are not the only ones who have parents or grandparents that "make" them eat their veggies!

Mrs. Abbey read a silly story called The Three Wishes, where a man was granted 3 wishes for helping out an old woman, but then wasted the wishes on silly things. We learned a few new vocabulary words, one of which was "devour"...to eat something quickly and hungrily.

In handwriting, the students practiced the lowercase "e".

The students read individually with Mrs. Abbey, and we worked on the skill of blending sounds to make words.

Half of the class returned their reading bags today. I will send new books home with those students tomorrow. It is very important that these books are returned/exchanged every Wednesday so that the students have a chance to read a variety of books and gain confidence in their reading ability. Please help your child remember to return their book bag! Thanks!

Also, I am still waiting for a few families' recipes. Please send them in as soon as you can!

Tuesday December 7, 2010

Today we focused on a lesson from our "Being a Writer" curriculum. Mrs. Abbey read, Round is a Mooncake. The story focused on shapes, and helped the students think of things that they could write about. Before writing, we practiced "think, pair, share" with partners. (That is when Mrs. Abbey asks a question and everybody thinks about it quietly before turning to their partner and sharing their answer.) The students enjoy it because it gives them all a chance to talk and share their ideas! Also, thank you to Roger for offering us some insight and facts from when he lived in China!

The students chose a shape and wrote about 4 things that are that shape. Some students had difficulty thinking of things that were different shapes, and couldn't see things in the classroom that were different shapes (ex. the table is a circle, the book is a rectangle). Quiz your child at home to see if they can recognize different shapes in your home!

Thank you to Ryan's mom for coming and doing a blending activity with the students!

Thank you also to all of the families who have sent in their recipes. The students will be sharing those with the class and we will be creating something fun as a culmination of our food unit!

Other things we did today: PE, cutting a beginning sounds game (see the baggie in your child's folder), reading with Mrs. Abbey, and literacy stations.

The book order will be submitted tomorrow morning, so if you plan to order books online, please do so this evening. Thank you!

If you have not returned your child's portfolio, please do so tomorrow. Thanks!

Just a reminder...book bags are due back tomorrow. If your child did not have a chance to read their books 3 times during the past week, please jot me a note and I will have them keep the same books another week. Thanks!

Monday December 6, 2010

The students were very excited for our new stations. Unfortunately we ran out of time, so the students who did not get a chance to try a new station today, will have first pick tomorrow.

Mrs. Abbey read Yoko, which is a fictional story about eating some different foods. We learned what sushi is. The students also decided that it is important to try new foods, even if they think they won't like them. The students said they would each try something new this week and report back to the class!

We practiced making a list--today our list was about foods we would like to bring in our lunchbox for lunch. After creating our list, we voted on the foods that were our favorites...ham sandwich and macaroni and cheese got the top votes.

In handwriting, the students practiced writing a capital "E".

Reminders:
•Tomorrow is the last day to order books from the book order (in order to receive them before the holidays)...please order online or send your check and order slip to school tomorrow.
•Recipes are also due tomorrow. Please write down 2-3 of your family's favorite recipes and send to school!
•I am still looking for a few portfolios/3-ring binders from conferences. Please send them back to me as soon as you can, so that we can continue adding work samples throughout the trimester. Thanks!
•Tomorrow is PE...please remind your child to wear their PE shoes.
•Library books can be returned any day of the week!
•The book bags are due back at school on Wednesday...please make sure that your child is reading the books to you at least 3 times throughout the week, and record this on the yellow reading log found inside the book bag. Thank you for your help!

Friday December 3, 2010

Mrs. Abbey read Grandfather Bear is Hungry, which is a Russian folk tale that explains how chipmunks got their black stripes. We practiced our phonics songs, and reviewed the sight words we have learned so far: I, can, we, the, a, like, see, go, to, & have.

Keep practicing number recognition 0-30 at home with your child.

The students are very excited to start working at new literacy stations next week! We got a sneak peek at them this morning: sight word building activities, sound blending activities, and writing practice activities. The students will even be learning how to do "book reports" for the books they "read" at school!

Information:
•Please send 2-3 family recipes in to school by Tuesday Dec. 7.
•Book orders are due Tuesday Dec. 7 if you would like to order books.
•Please send your child's reading bags back on Wednesday, so that they can get new books.
•Many students did not bring back their library books today--please send them back any day next week so that they can check out a new one!
•A note regarding gloves...if your child is unable to put their gloves on without help, please send mittens instead. Also, keep working on helping your child learn to zip their own coat. Practice, practice, practice!

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday December 2, 2010

We read a few poems today, and talked about how poems can rhyme and have a beat/rhythm. We practiced clapping and stomping the rhythm of the poems: Crusty Corn Bread and Crunch! Crunch! Thanks a Bunch! We also talked about what we like to eat when we are hungry, and got some good snack ideas from our friends!

The students worked with math buckets, practicing making sets and solving basic addition problems.

In handwriting, the students practiced making the capitol and lowercase letter "C,c".

The students finally had art class...with the early out and Thanksgiving break, they had not been to art since Nov. 11!

Thank you to those families who have already sent in 2-3 their family's favorite recipes! Please take the time to do this before Tuesday Dec. 7.

Today your child brought their book bag home for the first time! Please listen to your child read each book 3 times throughout the week, record the books read, and return the bags to me each Wednesday. I will refill the bags with 2-3 books and send them home each Thursday. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about the book bags and this new "homework assignment".

Tomorrow is library day! Please help your child remember to bring back their library book, so that they can check out a new one!

Thank you to Ella's mom for coming and listening to the students read!

Wednesday December 1, 2010

Happy 1st day of December!

Today, Mrs. Abbey read Little Juan and the Cooking Pot. This was a fiction story about a little boy who needed to go to Grandma's house to borrow her giant cooking pot so that his mother could cook his favorite food--arroz con pollo. The students helped make a word web of vegetables we like to eat for dinner. We also practiced blending sounds to make words. This skill is still challenging for some students...continue practicing this at home! (ex. Say the sounds /t/, /i/, /p/ with a little pause between each sound, and see if your child can put the sounds together to make the word, "tip". Try with additional words that have between 2-4 sounds.)

In computer lab, I let the students explore a new program called Millie's Math House. They enjoyed activities, such as counting, making sets, creating patterns, learning about sizes, and matching numbers to sets.

Mrs. Canada talked with the kids about helping others. The holidays are a great time of year to reinforce this skill at home...help your child see the importance of giving food to a food bank, donating a toy to Toys For Tots, or passing on new or gently used clothing for others to use that may not have the money to purchase it.

Things going home in your child's folder:
•a birthday invitation
•book order forms
•recipe assignment