I am pleased to be able to catch you up on what has been happening in our classroom. I would also like to share some coming events.
Progress Reports:
Progress Reports were sent home on Friday. These are brief snapshots of what I am currently seeing at school. Math and Literacy skills were briefly assessed over the last two weeks to provide you with this update. The progress report is based on skills that the children are expected to demonstrate by the end of the second trimester (February).
At the end of the next trimester, we expect that the children will be able to do the following:
-Identify 40 or more letters (Upper and lower case including a and g)
-Say the sounds of 15 or more letters
-Recognize 15 or more sight words
-Attempt to spell words in a student created story by independently by writing the first sound, a middle sound and the last sound. Spelling is NOT expected to be dictionary perfect.
-Count from 1 - 50 by ones and tens
-Recognize the numbers from 1 - 40
-Count 20 objects
-Recognize the following 2D shapes: square, circle, rectangle, triangle, hexagon
-Recognize the following 3D shapes: cube, cylinder, cone, sphere
Any support you can provide at home in helping your child practice these skills is appreciated.
Behavior has been another concern in all kindergarten classes. We work daily on taking turns, using kind words, having safe bodies, controlling our tempers, following directions and listening. A packet was sent home from our guidance counselor that has many helpful hints for supporting these skills at home.
Field Trip: We will be going to the Flynn Theater on Wednesday, January 30 to see a live performance of "Skippyjon Jones". ALL children should bring a lunch from home on Wednesday. Milk can be purchased at school, but it would be MUCH easier if each child could bring a drink from home. We will be eating an early lunch in the classroom before we depart at 11:00 sharp. Please send an afternoon snack for your child to enjoy after we return. As this is a special occasion, we invite the children to "dress up" a bit for our trip to the theater. This is not a requirement and no one should feel the need to purchase new clothes for the trip. Parent chaperones who wish to ride on the bus with us should be at school at 10:30 to help with lunches and turns at the bathroom. If you are a chaperone and wish to meet us at the Flynn, please be at the entrance to the Flynn Theater for 11:30. The staff hustles us right in and we are unable to wait outside.
Skippyjon Jones: So, you may be wondering who Skippyjon Jones is. Well, he is a Siamese cat who likes to pretend that he is a Chihuahua! He is the main character in a series of books by author and illustrator Judy Schachner. If you are interested, check out his website. Click on the keyhole in the middle of the home page and you will find some author interviews and children's activities.
Skippyjon Jones Link
New Staff Member: A new (permanent) Instructional Assistant has been hired for our classroom. On Monday, Mr. Will Sedlack will join us. He will be "shadowing" Mrs. Lamphere on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in order to get to know our students and the classroom routine. Mr. Sedlack graduated from college in Maine in December and is a licensed teacher. We look forward to welcoming him to Milton.
Lip Balm: Many of our students have chapped lips at this time of year. If you would like your child to keep lip balm in his or her backpack, that is fine. Children may apply it before entering the classroom in the morning, before/after morning snack, before/after lunch and before/after recess. Please remind your children that they may not bring it into the classroom and that they may not share it with classmates. Thanks.
My Schedule: I have been trying to work half days since our return from the winter vacation break. After a lengthy appointment with my doctor on Wednesday, my schedule has been revised. I will be working until noon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. This schedule will be maintained until April school vacation and will then be re-evaluated. Our principal is working to ensure that consistent staffing is maintained. For example, this week our good friend Mrs. Harding taught in the afternoon. Thank you for your support and understanding as I continue to recover.
"Homework" for Parents: If you are interested in performing any classroom tasks at home, please let me know. I will keep a list and periodically send home some jobs. These are things which can be done while watching TV. For example, stapling together the little books we use for writing, tracing and cutting craft items, etc. I will send home paper and supplies. None of these jobs would need to be returned the very next day, so please don't stress about them. Thanks!
Figure Skating: Several of the children in class have mentioned that they would like to learn to figure skate. I recognize that Essex is not necessarily a convenient spot for after school activities, but here is some contact information for the Vermont Skating Academy. Their third and final session of the winter starts this Wednesday. Group lessons take place on Wednesdays and Fridays. An ice show takes place in April. (In the interest of full disclosure, this is how my daughter began skating. She is now a junior instructor for the program.)
Renee Deeghan, Skating Director
Vermont Skating Academy
878-1394
872-3366 (fax)
Classroom Wish List: plastic spoons, used "Matchbox-type" cars, brown paper lunch bags, little stickers for putting on completed work or rewards.
Our Upcoming Schedule:
Monday, January 28: Library today. Please return library books so that a new one can be signed out. Welcome Mr. Sedlack.
Tuesday, January 29: Art today. Mrs. Savery (our principal) will be observing our class during math time this morning.
Wednesday, January 30: Flynn Theater Field Trip. Bring a lunch from home. Our bus will leave promptly at 11:00. We will return in time for PE so PLEASE WEAR OR BRING SNEAKERS. Please bring an afternoon snack.
Thursday, January 31: Music today. The children will write their second trimester "writing prompt" this morning. This is an informal district assessment to check how every student's writing skills are progressing.
Friday, February 1: PE today. Please wear or bring sneakers.
