October 14, 2012

We had a wonderful Pumpkin Picking Field Trip on Monday.  After the wagon ride, each child chose a pumpkin that was just the right size for carrying.  We enjoyed apple cider and cider donuts and then had fun on the playground.  Thanks to the parents who helped by chaperoning and driving the bus.  On Tuesday and Thursday, Mrs. Lee helped us retell the story of our field trip using the words 'first', 'next', 'then' and 'last'.  We then wrote a class story and added pictures to go along with the words to our own student copies of the story.  These books are currently in our book baskets but will be coming home soon.

As next week will be a short week and I will be out for two days, I will not post a blog entry next weekend.  If there is any important information, I will be sure to send an email.

Literacy:  We completed our quick look at the alphabet on Thursday when Ms. Rapke introduced the letter Z.  We also began learning some of the strategies that good readers use when they are stuck on a word.  The first strategies we used are:  "Check the pictures" and "Think of words that might make sense".  Next we will add the strategy of:  "Think about the sounds in the word.  Look at the letter, think of the sound."

Next week, we will begin more formal reading instruction by focusing on the letter 'C' and the sight word 'can'.  We will begin learning about the paper we use for handwriting and how to use the lines on it.  We will be reading fiction and non-fiction books that support the theme "Look at Us".  This theme will help us apply our science theme of "Change over Time" to ourselves and how we have grown and changed over time.

Science:  We are finishing our study of the life cycle of the pumpkin.  We spent some time observing some unusual pumpkins this week.  Be sure to ask your child about "Mr. Bumpy", the "Ghost Pumpkin" and the unique pumpkin that Mrs. Maurer found when we went pumpkin picking.  We had to do some research to learn how my pumpkin grew the way it did.  The farmer at Paul Mazza's explained it to me this weekend and I will share the information with the children on Monday.

Math:  We continue counting, numeral writing and sequencing numbers.  This week we will finish up some activities from last week and will begin looking at shapes.

Brrrrrrrr, it's getting cold!  The weather is changing and the children are getting chilly on the playground.  We go outside even if there is a little drizzle in the air.  Please make sure your child has a warm jacket, a hood or a hat and some mittens or gloves at all time.  Please practice zipping, snapping, buttoning and putting on gloves at home.  It takes a lot of time for Mrs. Harding and me to zip, button, snap and glove twenty children a few times a day.  Children are quite proud when they can take care of these tasks themselves.

Progress Reports:  Progress reports will be coming home in your child's folder on Monday.  The information is based on the baseline assessments we did at the start of the school year and will give you an idea of skills you and your child can practice together at home.  Our conferences will focus on your child's adjustment to kindergarten and social skills.

Conferences:  If you would like to make an appointment for a parent-teacher conference, please click on the link below.  I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday or Thursday.

Link to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences


Scholastic Book Orders:  Below is a link to order books through the Scholastic Book Clubs.  I would like to try online ordering instead of sending home paper forms.  This way you will be able to order at your convenience and pay electronically.  The books will be sent to school and will be sent home with your child.  Books orders can be placed until October 30.   It does take a couple of minutes to set up your parent account.  However, once you do it, the ordering process is very easy.

Scholastic Book Ordering Link

Guest Teacher:  Due to a last minute change our guest teacher on Friday was Melinda Young.  The children had a great day with Mrs. Young.  She will also be in our classroom on Tuesday and Wednesday while I attend a writing conference.

Coming Events:

Monday, October 14:  Library today.  Please return your book so you can sign out a new one.
Tuesday, October 15:  Art today.  Mrs. Maurer will be at a workshop and Mrs. Young will be our guest teacher.
Wednesday, October 16:  PE today.  Please wear sneakers.  Mrs. Maurer will be at a workshop (but will return in time for parent conferences).  Mrs. Young will be our guest teacher.
Thursday, October 17:  No School for students.  Parent conferences in the morning.
Friday, October 18:  No School.

Monday, October 21:  Library today.  Please return your book so you can sign out a new one.
Tuesday, October 22:  Art today.  Ms. Rapke will begin teaching us about the Pledge of Allegiance.
Wednesday, October 23:  PE today.  Please wear sneakers.
Thursday, October 24:  Miss Patty will join us for Guidance.  Ms. Rapke will complete her lesson on the Pledge of Allegiance.  Music today.
Friday, October 25:  PE today.

Tuesday, October 30:  Scholastic Book Orders Due (Online)

October 7, 2012

Happy October!
We had a very busy week working with pumpkins, learning about more letters and sounds and playing a new math game.

What is Co-Teaching?  I frequently write about different professionals co-teaching with me.  What does that mean in our classroom?  It means that different staff members apply their areas of expertise to a content we are teaching in kindergarten.  This week, we had a great example.  One of the science themes for kindergarten is "Change over Time".  On Wednesday, we looked at three trees here at Milton Elementary School.  (Due to rain, we looked at photos I took instead of going outdoors.)  Ms. C., our art teacher, came into our classroom and taught us some art techniques we could use to make scientist drawings of our trees.  She gave us hints on how to best use our color sticks for drawing and coloring, discussed different lines and spoke about relative height between the trees.  The drawings came out beautifully.

 


On Thursday, Mrs. Lee, one of our speech-language pathologists, came in to co-teach.  She and I continued teaching the children about describing words and we led conversations with small groups to brainstorm words we could use to describe our trees.  (Describing words are another kindergarten concept.)  We then modeled how to sound out words so that the children could write a different describing word next to each tree.  Mrs. Lee's expertise with language development adds a great deal to our lessons.

FYI...these trees will be re-visited during the winter, spring and summer.  We will be able to observe the change that the trees experience over time.  We will also be able to see how the kindergarten students' drawing and writing skills change over time.

Math:  Ms. Kittell read us the book "Ten Black Dots".  We will be working on some activities this coming week based on that book.  We learned how to play the card game "Garbage".  It's a great way for the children to practice counting, numeral recognition and sequencing numbers.  We use different types of cards in our classroom and we also deal out ten cards (for the numbers one to ten).  However, here is a link to some directions that will teach you how to play with a standard deck of cards.  Have fun!

Directions for Playing Garbage

Using a "whisper phone" during Quiet Reading Time.

 



Parent Teacher Conferences:  Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 17 between 4:30pm and 6:30pm AND Thursday, October 18 between 8:00am and 1:00pm.  These conferences will be to discuss your child's adjustment to kindergarten and to share observations on your child's school behavior and social skills.  If you would like to schedule a conference time, please click on the link below.  You will be brought to an electronic sign up sheet associated with the website "Please Bring It".  Click "sign up" next to the date and time you prefer.  When you sign up, please put your child's name for the "assigned name".  Add your email address if you would like an automatic electronic reminder sent to you.  Then, click on "save" so that your time is reserved.

October Conference Sign Up Link

Upcoming Absences:  I will not be teaching on Friday, October 12 due to a kindergarten curriculum meeting.  I will also be the kindergarten representative at a writing conference on Tuesday, October 16 and Wednesday, October 17 and will not be in the building on those days.  In order to maintain as much consistency as possible,  Guest Teacher Extraordinaire Melissa Lauzon will be in our classroom for all three days.  She is familiar with the kindergarten curriculum and routine and is a familiar face around our building.  Please remind your children to follow all school expectations when we have a guest teacher.  Mrs. Harding should be in on those days also.

Coming Events:

Monday, October 8:  Pumpkin Picking Field Trip at Sam Mazza's Pumpkin Patch 9:30 - 11:30.  Please dress for a chilly morning!  Library today.  Please return your book.  Letter of the Day:  Ww
Tuesday, October 9:  Art today.  Letter of the Day:  Xx
Wednesday, October 10:  School Picture Day.  Our class will have pictures taken at 10:30.  PE today.  Please wear sneakers. (Shoes will not be visible in the school pictures.)  Letter of the Day:  Yy
Thursday, October 11:  Music Today.  Letter of the Day:  Zz
Friday, October 12:  Mrs. Maurer will be in a day-long meeting.  Fire Safety Assembly and PE today.

Monday, October 15:  Library Today.  Please return your book.
Tuesday, October 16:  Mrs. Maurer will be at a conference.  Art today.
Wednesday, October 17:  Mrs. Maurer will be at a conference.  PE today.  Parent-Teacher conferences scheduled 4:30 - 6:00pm.
Thursday, October 18:  NO SCHOOL TODAY!  Parent-Teacher conferences scheduled 8:00am - 1:00pm.
Friday, October 19:  NO SCHOOL TODAY!