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.