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!!!

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!!

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!

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!

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!!

/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!

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!!!