This week in kindergarten

Today was our last visit from Mr. Duffy, our fall artist in residence.  It was a treat to have him in the classroom over the past month telling stories, playing games, and imparting life lessons about friendship, problem-solving, and respecting everyone.  Mr. Duffy's visit was made possible by the support of families for our annual Run for the Arts.

Thank you to everyone who has returned their paperwork for our field trip to next week.  We have several volunteers, but there is always room for a few more.  This is a fun trip and a highlight of the year.

This has been a great year so far for having children arrive at school on time, and for having parents pick up their children promptly after school.  This makes a big difference in how the day flows -- Thank you!

We are running a little low on snacks -- we are still in good shape for Goldfish and fruit snacks.  We would love some other healthy, nut-free options.

We are beginning our "letter of the week" study this week with the letter M.  Our focus on individual letters is a small (but integral) part of our "big-picture" approach to literacy.  As we move in to phonics work, we will use this pool of letters as building blocks as we decode words.

Dates to note:
October 6: field trip
October 9: No School - Statewide inservice day
October 14: Late start
October 21 and 22nd - conferences

Here are a few themes for the week:
Theme book: Julius
Comprehension skill: Character
New letter: Mm
New words: a, to
Words we know: I, am, the, little
Math: sorting and patterns
Art: mixing colors

Volunteers

We have had many great volunteers in the classroom thus far including, today, my daughter Sarah.

Mr. Duffy's last visit

Library time

Texture Animals

Check out our wonderful "Texture Animals" on the bulletin board outside the classroom.

This Week in Kindergarten

Here are a few highlights for this week:

Bernie Duffy, our artist in residence, visits on Monday and Thursday.  Wednesday is picture day, and Friday we hop on a bus to learn all about bus safety.

Please be sure to return your photo form (or order online) by Wednesday.  On Wednesday be sure to dress your children in their best.  On the subject of forms, don't forget to return your child's field trip permission form for our Kruger's Farm trip.

I plan to start using photos of students on the blog this week.  Be sure to let me know if this is a problem for you.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have come in thus far.  It is wonderful to have this support.  As our centers continue to evolve, volunteers will be more and more important.

In math, we have been focusing on learning our four basic shapes.  This week we will be focusing more on numbers and number-sense.

Here are a few themes for the week:
Theme book: Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten
Other books: Three Little Pigs
Literacy skill: Classify and Categorize
Letter study: T-Z review
Words we know: the, little, I, am
Math: Shapes and numbers
Weekly song: Home on the Range

A visit from Mr. Duffy

Check your child's backpack and more

Be sure to look in your child's notebook this afternoon.  Aside from miscellaneous papers you should find 1) leveled readers and 2  field trip permission forms.

We are going to Kruger's Farms on October 6th.  There is lots of good info on our handout.  Please be sure to sign and return BOTH forms to us as soon as possible.

Be sure to have your child read the leveled readers that they brought home.  We have read each book more than once.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Art!

This week in kindergarten

Thank you to everyone who made it to Back to School night last Thursday.  If you were not there (or forgot to sign in) I am sending home a packet with your child today.  I also have a few extra packets for parents who may live in different houses.  Please let me know if you need an extra packet.

It is wonderful to see many names up on the volunteer calendar.  The first visit or two is a great time to get a feel for the classroom, the students and the routines.  As the year progresses, we rely more and more on that expertise to allow Shari and I to focus on individual students.

I am going to try to start sharing day this Thursday.  Your child may bring in an item of their choice to talk about with the rest of the class.  It should stay in their backpack until the end of the day.  This will be a regular Thursday feature.

Speaking of Thursdays, I believe we will be taking library books home beginning this Thursday.  Library books are due on Thursday, but I encourage students to bring them back on Mondays.  Students who do not get their books back by Thursday cannot check out a new book that week.

Mr. Duffy, our artist in residence will be in the classroom Wednesday morning.

Look for information about our field trip to Kruger's Farm coming soon to the blog. 

Here are a few themes for the week.

Theme Book: Plaidypus Lost (sic)

Literacy skill focus: sequence

New sight words this week: the, little

Letter review Oo-Ss

Writing: Making sense of the writing process

Math: Counting, sorting shapes

Song: The Sunny Side of the Street

Shape village

Check out our fine"Shape Villages" made using our four basic shapes,  Most villages are centered around a pond.

If anyone happens to have fabric scissors and a little time, I could use a bit of home volunteer work for this Friday's art project.  

Art

Working on "Shape Villages" using our four basic shapes.

The "Empire State Building"

Ask your child

Here are a few  conversation starters:

What are the names of other students at your table?
What is a character in a book?
What song are you learning?
What is your favorite thing to do at math centers?
Did you have a job today?
What did you write about?
What do you like to do at choice time?

This week in kindergarten

Here are a few highlights for the week of September 8th...

Back to school night is this Thursday from 6:30 - 8:00.  This is the time to understand what goes on in the classroom and why.  There should be childcare for your Chapman kindergartner and first grader, but not for older or younger siblings.  My hope is that all parents can make it for this very important evening!

Our artist in residence, Mr. Duffy, will begin visiting the classroom today.  Mr. Duffy is a storyteller and acting coach who helps kids understand one another and understand how to make sense of the world. Over the next month, he should be in the classroom for six one-hour sessions.  This is made possible by our Run For the Arts fundraiser in the spring.

This week we will begin learning about centers; these serve as the cornerstone of our literacy program.  We will also continue working on our math curriculum and continue exploring the idea of writing.  Do be sure to check out our wonderful "1st day of using writing paper" samples on the bulletin board in the classroom.  While you are here, also admire the "Line Caterpillars" on the wires in the classroom.

We have had a great time last week with our "specials" -- library, P.E., music and guidance (time with our counselor).  This morning we should be starting Mandarin.

Thank you to everyone who has been getting their child to school on time.  This class has been doing a great job!

Please feel free to start volunteering.  Our heaviest need for volunteers is from 9:30 to 11:00 every day except Thursday.

General Themes...

Book: Fix It Duck
Literacy Skill: Setting
Letters: Review F-N
Words: I, am
Math: shapes, counting
Song: This Little Light of Mine

A great first week!

It has been a wonderful and busy first week of school.  We have an amazing group of students who work hard and get along well together.  This looks to be a great year!

We are ready for volunteers.  We would love folks to help out from 9:30 - 11:00 most days (Thursday being the exception).  Please feel free to add your name to the volunteer calendar.

Thank you to everyone who packed a lunch this week.  The lunch lines are still very slow.

Many children seemed tired today -- the first week is exhausting for everyone.  When my son came home from kindergarten feeling cranky and behaving badly, the teacher told us that he had used all his energy learning and "working hard to be good at school".

Have a wonderful three day weekend.

Line caterpillars

Check out the cool "line caterpillars" on the wires in the classroom.

Writing away

We are off to a great start!