Please enjoy the time with your child! I sure do!! Once again, I am thankful for all of you! You and your child make my job look easy and are such a special part of my life! Thank you!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
the BIG feast!
Today was the BIG day!! No, we didn't go on a trip. No, we didn't have a test! No, we didn't met a new alphafriend. We just had a feast! Well, not "just" a feast. A feast with little Pilgrims and Native Americans and LOTS of food! What could be better in a 5 year old's life than to end a unit on the First Thanksgiving with a feast!!! And feast we did! Thanks to all the wonderful parent support and all of the items that were donated to make our feast a success! We spent the first part of the day doing "special" centers like making a sweet turkey made out of our own little hands, (Enjoy them! They will only stay that small for a little while!) we made bracelets with beads to help us remember the story, (Just ask us, we would be more than glad to share!) we finished up our Thanksgiving math games (Yea, Mrs. Ryan is so proud of us!) and we even wrote a little in our journals! We were busy!!! A great way to end the week and get ready for our own family feasts at home!
Please enjoy the time with your child! I sure do!! Once again, I am thankful for all of you! You and your child make my job look easy and are such a special part of my life! Thank you!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Please enjoy the time with your child! I sure do!! Once again, I am thankful for all of you! You and your child make my job look easy and are such a special part of my life! Thank you!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
TiMe To GiVe ThAnKs!!!
This past couple of weeks, we have been learning about the first Thanksgiving and how the feast was a time to give thanks for friends, family and the harvest! We have learned fun turkey songs, some songs about giving thanks and created a book to help us remember what this American tradition is for! I have enjoyed the stories being told about how each of you spend your thanksgiving! Kindergarten stories are the best!!!! However, I thought you would like to know what your child would say if given the question, "What are you really thankful for!" Enjoy! I sure did! 
I am thankful for a job where I get to work with wonderful kids and their families! THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
I am thankful for a job where I get to work with wonderful kids and their families! THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Happy Monthly Birthday?!?!?!??!!
NOT!!! So we tried! Our school is making a very BIG effort to make sure that we are healthy and using every valuable moment of our day. I agree with this and want to follow the rules. So, out went the letter explaining having a party at the end of each month the students that had or were having a birthday. Well, first of all, let's face it! We are turning six! Birthday's in Kindergarten are one of the most important days of the year! How can we just NOT do anything on OUR special day!?!?!?!? The answer is that we can't! (Maybe it just isn't the kids, maybe it is the teacher!)
Some things just don't work out and this is one of them. Birthday's will be celebrated in a traditional manner. On the day (or close to the day) of your child's birthday, I will put their name as the "snack packer". You can send in whatever treats you would like for their birthday. (Keep in mind the healthy part of the previous statement. How about if you send cupcakes, send the tiny ones instead of the HUGE ones! See, I can compromise! Oh yea, I am sure white cake is every one's favorite-hint, hint!) We will sing our Kindergarten song and make a birthday card! It is a lot of fun and so much easier! What about summer birthday's you might ask!??! Good question. If you would like to choose a special day to celebrate for your child, please let me know. (For example, the 1/2 way mark, on a convenient day for you, etc.)
It just makes sense!
Some things just don't work out and this is one of them. Birthday's will be celebrated in a traditional manner. On the day (or close to the day) of your child's birthday, I will put their name as the "snack packer". You can send in whatever treats you would like for their birthday. (Keep in mind the healthy part of the previous statement. How about if you send cupcakes, send the tiny ones instead of the HUGE ones! See, I can compromise! Oh yea, I am sure white cake is every one's favorite-hint, hint!) We will sing our Kindergarten song and make a birthday card! It is a lot of fun and so much easier! What about summer birthday's you might ask!??! Good question. If you would like to choose a special day to celebrate for your child, please let me know. (For example, the 1/2 way mark, on a convenient day for you, etc.)
It just makes sense!
Conferences!
October 29th and 30th
I enjoyed meeting with each and everyone of you during parent/teacher conferences! You are all truly amazing people and your children bless me each and every day! Thank you for taking time out of busy schedules and lives to meet!! I understand how hard it is to fit one more thing into an already packed day but I also value your support and input! Please praise your child on their accomplishments! Everyone of them has worked very hard! We are learning and that is the most important focus!
On a personal note, thank you to the parents that offered suggestions and feedback on the evaluation! I do value you and are so glad that we are working together as a team! My strongest desire is that your child leaves Kindergarten (sniff, sniff...) with a lifelong love of learning and the attitude that they can do anything if given the opportunity! Please stay in touch! I truly appreciate you allowing me to work with your child and alongside of you!
I enjoyed meeting with each and everyone of you during parent/teacher conferences! You are all truly amazing people and your children bless me each and every day! Thank you for taking time out of busy schedules and lives to meet!! I understand how hard it is to fit one more thing into an already packed day but I also value your support and input! Please praise your child on their accomplishments! Everyone of them has worked very hard! We are learning and that is the most important focus!
On a personal note, thank you to the parents that offered suggestions and feedback on the evaluation! I do value you and are so glad that we are working together as a team! My strongest desire is that your child leaves Kindergarten (sniff, sniff...) with a lifelong love of learning and the attitude that they can do anything if given the opportunity! Please stay in touch! I truly appreciate you allowing me to work with your child and alongside of you!
A Day At The Pumpkin Patch!
October 2008
Thank you to all of you that came and shared our special day at the pumpkin patch!! The weather turned out wonderful and the kids had a great time!It was so hard to not be able to have a Halloween party with the kids this year! However, the pumpkin patch was awesome and we did have fun! There will be time enough for us to party later in the year!! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!!! You are wonderful!!
Thank you to all of you that came and shared our special day at the pumpkin patch!! The weather turned out wonderful and the kids had a great time!It was so hard to not be able to have a Halloween party with the kids this year! However, the pumpkin patch was awesome and we did have fun! There will be time enough for us to party later in the year!! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!!! You are wonderful!!
/b/ as in Benny Bear
October 2008
The next letter in our line of learning is Bb and along with this letter is Benny Bear! We didn't have a chance to bring our bear to school but no worries, I think I have a plan to do that at another time! Benny has a very strange song....none of us can figure that one out! I won't write it, you will just have to ask your child and see if you can understand....Good luck! I have been singing this for 4 years now and I am still lost at the end!
The next letter in our line of learning is Bb and along with this letter is Benny Bear! We didn't have a chance to bring our bear to school but no worries, I think I have a plan to do that at another time! Benny has a very strange song....none of us can figure that one out! I won't write it, you will just have to ask your child and see if you can understand....Good luck! I have been singing this for 4 years now and I am still lost at the end!
BiTs AnD pIeCeS aBoUt FrIdAy'S!
October 2008
Some of you have been asking about Friday's, so I thought I would take a minute to fill you in. The schedule is different on Friday for several reasons. The first is that Kindergarten gets to attend "specials". This is Library, PE and Music. The exciting part is that our class is divided up into 3 different groups and are going to the 3 different specials with the other Kindergarten classes. Clear as mud?!?!!? We have definitely had to practice this and it is getting easier each Friday!
For the remainder of our day, we do what we like to call "special" centers. Each color team stays together and moves through the 4 centers that are set up that day each 15 minutes. The four centers are focused on various math, phonics, art and theme/science/technology skills.
This being said, I wanted to brag on a very special parent teacher. Well, before I do that, I need to say thank you to all of the parents that have came in to help each week, colored things at home, worked with your child, given me special feedback and the list goes on and on! I am truly blessed by all of you and all the time, suggestions, comments and help you have given to our classroom! You are all amazing! This next paragraph is not to down play all you have done by any means at all!
However, I wanted to share about one particular parent that has helped me see things in a different way. (I told you this was a year of changes!!) We have a mom that is an art major and is truly teaching me how to incorporate art (Not just crafts, I can create a theme friendly craft project at the first sound in the word go) and teach art to Kindergarten. Your children are already color mixing (yellow and blue make green!) know about the art technique of printing and that warm colors can be used for Fall. AMAZING! The art our kids are creating is wonderful and the kids have enjoyed it so very much! Our Friday art is a mixture of creativity, true art and wonderful kid exploration. So...Thank you Amy!
Friday's have become a favorite day of mine! If you have a free morning or afternoon off, come on in! You won't be disappointed!!!
And Letter Tt Comes Next.........
October 2008
Here is Tiggy!! Just in case you have become a follower of these little alphafriends, I will include the lyrics for you to sing! Isn't Kindergarten fun? I find myself doing dishes and singing these songs, as well as other various places! My husband LOVES them! In fact, I highly recommend them for road trips! (However, Tiggy Tiger is a stand up song, so save this one for at home!)
Tiggy Tiger can tickle his nose! (Tap your nose!)
Tiggy Tiger can touch his toes! (Reach down and touch your toes two times!)
Tiggy Tiger can turn around! (Turn around once slowly and then really, really fast!)
Tiggy Tiger can touch the ground! (Touch the ground, counting one then two!)
Tiggy Tiger can tie his shoes! (Pretend to tie shoes, don't forget the bow!!!)
Tiggy Tiger can count by two's! (Shout..2,4,6,8, 10!!!)
Here is Tiggy!! Just in case you have become a follower of these little alphafriends, I will include the lyrics for you to sing! Isn't Kindergarten fun? I find myself doing dishes and singing these songs, as well as other various places! My husband LOVES them! In fact, I highly recommend them for road trips! (However, Tiggy Tiger is a stand up song, so save this one for at home!)
Tiggy Tiger can tickle his nose! (Tap your nose!)
Tiggy Tiger can touch his toes! (Reach down and touch your toes two times!)
Tiggy Tiger can turn around! (Turn around once slowly and then really, really fast!)
Tiggy Tiger can touch the ground! (Touch the ground, counting one then two!)
Tiggy Tiger can tie his shoes! (Pretend to tie shoes, don't forget the bow!!!)
Tiggy Tiger can count by two's! (Shout..2,4,6,8, 10!!!)
Our Daily Schedule!
September 2008
Here is a special look into our day! Well, Monday thru Thursday at least! Hopefully this provides a springboard for you to talk about your childs day and helps you get a general idea of all we are doing! Isn't Kindergarten a lot of work!?!??!!
8:15-8:30/11:55-12:10 Brain Work
(Time for us to do journals, special theme related activities. It helps kick start our brain and get us ready for school! We also think about school rules and put our frog in the "I'm Ready" spot and sign in to show we are here to work!)
8:30-9:30/12:10-1:15 Direct Instruction
(This is an amazing time. We blend words, do letter sorts, do letter/sound chants, learn high frequency words, read special stories and learn strategies like summarize, (Yes, your child is learning this word!)predict and evaluate! The time flies by! (Shhh....we do some wiggle songs as needed!! This makes it even better!!!)
9:30-10:00/1:30-2:00 Differentiated Instruction
(Every student has Must Do's, Next Do's and choices during this time! This is also the time that allows me and Mrs. Dines to work with special groups on skills that they need and continue to guide them in their own learning!)
10:00-10:15/1:15-1:30 Recess
(We try to go outside as much as possible! It is great for our brains to get fresh air and move around. Please take note of the weather and dress your child appropraitly!)
10:15-10:30/2:00-2:15 Calendar Math
(Typical calendar skills...days of the week, counting, patterns, calendar, counting by 1's, 5's and 10's, story problems, tally's and more! We also graph the weather!)
10:30-10:45/2:15-2:30 Math Games
(See previous post!)
10:45-10:55/2:30-2:35 Snack/Clean Up/Dismissal
As you can see, our day is packed! The only exception is Friday! More to come about this special day! We didn't want to overwhelm you!!!
And here is Reggie Rooster!!!!
September 2008
Reggie has a rocket that is red!
Reggie keeps it right beside his bed!
Reggie likes to listen to Rock n Roll!
Reggie plays it on his radio!!!
We absolutely LOVE to sing Reggie's song! Not only do we get to "jam" like Rock-n-Roll stars, we learn how to sign the color red! Amazing! Yes, we can do all of that!!! Believe it or not, we are through with our first 3 alphafriends and we are doing perfect! We have learned the shape of the letter, the letter sound and how to write each of them! Way to go Kindergarteners!! You Rock!!!
Reggie has a rocket that is red!
Reggie keeps it right beside his bed!
Reggie likes to listen to Rock n Roll!
Reggie plays it on his radio!!!
We absolutely LOVE to sing Reggie's song! Not only do we get to "jam" like Rock-n-Roll stars, we learn how to sign the color red! Amazing! Yes, we can do all of that!!! Believe it or not, we are through with our first 3 alphafriends and we are doing perfect! We have learned the shape of the letter, the letter sound and how to write each of them! Way to go Kindergarteners!! You Rock!!!
MaTh GaMeS!!!!
September 2008
We have some very special math games that we play every day in school! The math games reinforce counting, number recognition, one to one correspondence and any other skill that we need to learn in Kindergarten. The best part of math games is that the kids don't even realize that they are learning as they play them! Each game is in a numbered bucket and after the game has been played, checked and put away, your child gets to color in the corresponding numbered item on their recording sheet! This year, each child gets to play with a partner! Watch for monthly recording sheets to come home to see what your child has been working on for that month! You will be surprised at the end of the year at how much we have learned!!!
We have some very special math games that we play every day in school! The math games reinforce counting, number recognition, one to one correspondence and any other skill that we need to learn in Kindergarten. The best part of math games is that the kids don't even realize that they are learning as they play them! Each game is in a numbered bucket and after the game has been played, checked and put away, your child gets to color in the corresponding numbered item on their recording sheet! This year, each child gets to play with a partner! Watch for monthly recording sheets to come home to see what your child has been working on for that month! You will be surprised at the end of the year at how much we have learned!!!
Playin' In The Mud!
September 2008
Our new alphafriend this week has been Mimi Mouse! Hopefully you have had the opportunity to listen/sing this great little song about a special mouse that never makes a mess, minds her manners, sips milk and never lets mud pies stain her dress! You guessed it, we have been learning the letter Mm! Please don't think we have forgotten the letter Ss though! We still practice it daily as well!!
I have to admit, this is a favorite of mine, so if you haven't heard it...make sure you ask your little M expert to sing it for you!
Learning the letter M, just wouldn't be right without playing in a little mud ourselves! So that is just what we did! On Friday, Mrs. Ryan surprised us with a little mud!! What fun!!!
Our new alphafriend this week has been Mimi Mouse! Hopefully you have had the opportunity to listen/sing this great little song about a special mouse that never makes a mess, minds her manners, sips milk and never lets mud pies stain her dress! You guessed it, we have been learning the letter Mm! Please don't think we have forgotten the letter Ss though! We still practice it daily as well!!
I have to admit, this is a favorite of mine, so if you haven't heard it...make sure you ask your little M expert to sing it for you!
Learning the letter M, just wouldn't be right without playing in a little mud ourselves! So that is just what we did! On Friday, Mrs. Ryan surprised us with a little mud!! What fun!!!
A Little Parent Chalk Talk
September 2008
A little note about my absence! Just in case you were wondering why I haven't been in school lately..... I have been asked to attend a class to learn how to use our reading series with fidelity and confidence. Even though I have hated being out of the classroom and not spending the day with your kids, I have learned so much and really have enjoyed each and every minute of it! All I have been learning is amazing and I realize some things are going to have to change, especially our daily routine. The most noticeble will be the "daily four" centers will be no longer the bulk of our day! I hate to say goodbye to something that I am used to but I can and appreciate the need for the change. As a district, we are now required to spend 60 minutes in Kinder. (Yes, I said 60 minutes (1 hour!) with whole group instruction based on phonics, reading strategies and other various reading activities. The guided instruction is a missing component of the "daily four" and will be a great place for me to assure each child is getting specific instruction to help them become successful readers. So for those of you that have worked with me before, hang on! We are going to change things up a bit!!!
A little note about my absence! Just in case you were wondering why I haven't been in school lately..... I have been asked to attend a class to learn how to use our reading series with fidelity and confidence. Even though I have hated being out of the classroom and not spending the day with your kids, I have learned so much and really have enjoyed each and every minute of it! All I have been learning is amazing and I realize some things are going to have to change, especially our daily routine. The most noticeble will be the "daily four" centers will be no longer the bulk of our day! I hate to say goodbye to something that I am used to but I can and appreciate the need for the change. As a district, we are now required to spend 60 minutes in Kinder. (Yes, I said 60 minutes (1 hour!) with whole group instruction based on phonics, reading strategies and other various reading activities. The guided instruction is a missing component of the "daily four" and will be a great place for me to assure each child is getting specific instruction to help them become successful readers. So for those of you that have worked with me before, hang on! We are going to change things up a bit!!!
Introducing Sammy Seal
September 2008 
The kids met our very first alphafriend this week!! The best part of learning to read is meeting our alphafriends throughout the year and the songs that go along with them! As silly as these songs are, the kids LOVE them!!! These catchy little tunes get stuck in your head and will never leave and that is the goal! If you can remember Sammy, you can remember the sound that the letter S makes!! Let's get ready to read Kindergarten! Yipee!!!
Sammy Seal will sail the sea
When summer is the season.
Sammy Seal will sail the sea
And never need a reason!
Sammy Seal will sail the sea
In very sunny weather.
Sammy Seal salutes a seagull
As they sail together!!!
The kids met our very first alphafriend this week!! The best part of learning to read is meeting our alphafriends throughout the year and the songs that go along with them! As silly as these songs are, the kids LOVE them!!! These catchy little tunes get stuck in your head and will never leave and that is the goal! If you can remember Sammy, you can remember the sound that the letter S makes!! Let's get ready to read Kindergarten! Yipee!!!
Sammy Seal will sail the sea
When summer is the season.
Sammy Seal will sail the sea
And never need a reason!
Sammy Seal will sail the sea
In very sunny weather.
Sammy Seal salutes a seagull
As they sail together!!!
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