More Fun...More Learning...

This week we will be continuing to work hard on our learning, but also having lots of fun!  Last week we sent home math homework packets for Chapter 2.  These should be returned on October 10th or 11th (depending if you are an A or  B child).  In addition, fundraiser forms should be returned on October 2 or 3rd.  Please make sure you have these turned in and the money collected.  Checks are payable to "WT PTO."

This week we will be continuing our sight words "I, am, the, little."  Please make sure and practice these nightly and have them mixed up.  Also, we will be learning the rest of the alphabet this week.  Children should be able to identify all letters of the alphabet.  Please take 5-10 minutes and practice this nightly.  Mrs. Franz and I have assessed all the children on their alphabet identification and will be sending a sheet home for you to see how your child did on the assessment.  The best method for practicing letters is to only put the ones they know in a pile plus 2 they do not know.  Then go through pile until they can correctly identify all the letters.  Once they identify all the letters add two more they do not know and practice.  You would continue this method until they can identify all 52 letters (this means the uppercase letters and lowercase letters are not on the same card). 

We will be reading "Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip" this week and will be classifying.  We will also review characters, setting, and sequencing.  The children are doing a great job with identifying the characters of a story and the setting.  Sequencing can be tricky because the children are not remembering the beginning, middle, and end in the correct order; therefore, we will continue to work on this skill.

We will also be sending home Chapter 1's math test.  The children did a great job on learning how to take a test.  The one area which we need to continue to practice is number words (one, two, three, four, five).  I expected this to be difficult and we will continue to be working on this.  We will begin Chapter 2 by comparing numbers.  This means children will be able to identify numbers which are larger and smaller with sets less than 5.  We will play various math games to help with this concept and will be using various math tools to help us too.

I hope you have a great week!

5 Frame Practice...

Here is a great site your child can use at home to practice 5 frames.  This allows the children to practice building various numbers, identifying numbers, and figuring out how many more.  This reinforces skills we have been doing in the classroom!  Thank you for all of your help on your child's math homework.  Almost every single child brought it back.  Today and tomorrow your child will bring home the next chapter's homework.  This will be due on October 10 or 11th.  Enjoy...

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=74

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=74

The Fun Continues...

5 Frames used in Math

This week we will continue to work on letter identification of all letters up to Ss. Many children need to continue working on letter identification of upper/lowercase letters. In addition, we will begin to learn new sight words: the, little. We assessed the children on the sight words "I, am" last week.  Many struggled with the words I and am.  I showed them "am" first and "I" second and the children were unable to tell me the words in the correct order. Please continue to work on this at home as I continue to work on this at school.  My suggestion is to use write "I, am, the, little" on note cards and play memory with them.  Also, continual practice on the stories we send home on Monday/Tuesday will help.  We will also be working on listening to initial sounds. This means what you hear at the beginning of cat.../c/ (the children have to say the sound, not the letter).


In math, I will be assessing the children on their ability to read, write, count, and build to 5.  Many children are doing a great job with this skill.  Some may think this is an easy skill; however, this starts the foundation for children and success in mathematics.  A lot of research has been conducted around the world on how children learn mathematics and beginning here is key.  The children have had to build the number 5 and recognize a set of 5 without counting.  In addition, children have had to develop an understanding for what makes 5.  For example, children have had to know if I have 3, 2 more makes 5.  Finally, Chapter 1 math packets are due on September 24 and 25th!

Finally, we are almost complete with all the state and district mandated assessments. I will be sending home information on how your child did on the DIBELS assessment in the upcoming week. I will let everyone know when I will be sending these home for sure to make sure you know to check your child's folder.  I will also be contacting parents to discuss these scores further.

I hope everyone has a great week. The children are learning procedures extremely well. I will be letting you all know about some donation items which we may need in the classroom to continue our learning experience. Thanks for all of your support...I am loving everyday with your children!

Cookie Dough...

This past week we started our cookie dough fundraiser.  All children should have brought home information regarding the cookie dough on Tuesday and Wednesday.  All orders need to be brought back to school on October 2 and October 3!  This is just shy of two weeks.  You may have people write checks to "WT PTO."  In addition, cookie dough should be arriving for pick-up around November 15.  We are hoping to have them available for pick-up on conference night.  This fundraiser helps brings special programs to WT, field trips, and much more.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.

We Are Moving On...

This week we will continue to work on letter identification of letters Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, and Jj. The children are doing pretty well with identification, but some still need to continue to work on identification. We will also continue to work with the words "I" and "am". You may want to put these on flash cards and practice them with your child. Please remember to mix up the order or you can hide them throughout your house and have your child go on a hunt or if you have magnetic letters you can have your child practice building the word on the refridgerator (a cookie sheet works well too). In addition, please continue to work on name writing with your child. This is what we will be focusing on during our writing time.

In math, we will continue to work on showing, counting, and writing numbers 0-5.  Students should be able to model, count, and write to 5 by the end of this chapter.  The homework packet has many great worksheets that directly link to our lessons in the classroom and our workbook.  Please make sure you child is completing their homework at home. 

This past Friday, the B group had their first "Fantastic Fun Friday" and the A group will have their's this week. On Fridays, children will experience Phys. Education, Art, or Music class taught by Mrs. Franz or myself (luckily between the two of us we are pretty well off in these areas). While the children are experiencing this type of learning, the other teachers will be assessing children on various skills of the week. This allows for us to make better decisions about how to teach your child. This past week we worked on Art and Science (color mixing). We learned primary colors and explored how colors mix. The children posed a lot of great questions and had some great thinking about what would happen, which allows us to tie into our science curriculum.

I cannot wait to see the A group on Monday.  I have missed them!

Week Number 2...

I hope all the children had a wonderful first week at WT Elementary and I hope they have shared something they have done at school with you at home. It was a fun and hectic week. We are working on learning procedures of the classroom and the school. The children are learning these procedures at different rates; however, I am positive the children will have them down in the next week or so. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your children and have enjoyed working with them.

This coming week we will continue to practice procedures, but also dive into our literacy and math curriculum. We will be working on letter identification; specifically, the letters Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, and Ee. In addition, we will work on rhyming words and identifying the high-frequency words of "I" and "am". In math we will begin to work with numbers 1-5. We will also be working on writing our names with a capital letter at the beginning and then lowercase letters. Mrs. Franz and I will be sending home a homework letter on Monday/Tuesday explaining how homework will be completed this year. Please look for this in your child's folder. Please also check out our post on homework!

We do eat lunch late at school. Our lunch time is 12:30; therefore, the children have a long time between when they arrive at school to when they eat lunch. We do have a snack to help them make it to lunch. Mrs. Franz and I will be sending home a letter explaining more about snack time at school later this week. Please encourage your child to eat breakfast before coming to school or you may purchase breakfast at school.

I also want to take this moment to express my gratitude... your help and support with our new drop-off/pick-up procedures has been amazing. It is becoming smoother each day and this would not be possible without your help and your patience!! THANK YOU!!

Homework...

We would like to take a moment to explain how homework will work this year. You will receive a “Family Ties” sheet and a “keep at home” story on the first day your child attends during the week. These particular sheets directly correlate with our reading program for the week. The “Family Ties” sheet has various activities you may complete during the week with your child. We encourage you to complete all of the activities, as they will correspond with what we are doing in the classroom and will provide reinforcement for your child.

At the beginning of each math unit you will receive a chapter packet. The packet reinforces what your child will be learning during the particular unit. This packet is not intended for you to do all at once, it should take several days to complete. It should be completed by the date listed on the front of the packet.

Homework will begin this week!  Please check your child's blue folder, which they will bring home on Monday or Tuesday.  This folder should be returned every day!  This is your child's "Take-Home" folder and our "Communication Folder."  Please check your child's folder everyday to see what we are doing in class and for important papers!

We are looking forward to partnering with you this year in making a great educational team for your child. As always please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns.

A Great First Day...

We had a great first day with the A group yesterday and the B group today!  We got to read "The Kissing Hand" and the kids really enjoyed it.  We also made a puppet of Chester, who is the main character in the story.  The kids related to Chester because he had to go to school and was missing his mom.  We also got to learn in centers!  We had legos, blocks, puzzles, and working with the teacher.  The children did a great job being friendly to everyone!

We also practiced our school procedures and classroom rules and how to be a good bobcat (our WT mascot).  I would just remind your child to continue to work hard and follow the school rules!

It is going to be a great year!

Excited...

I loved meeting all the children on Thursday at open house.  It was a great success and I am lookin forward to the great year!  We have a lot planned for the first week.  It will be busy, but fun :)  I want to thank all the parents in advance for their cooperation and understanding during the first week of school.  It can become hectic and tiresome as you try and help your child get ready and out the door.  One of the best suggestions I had last year from a parent, which helped them, was to hang a calendar and put a sticker on the days your child goes to school.  This allows them to begin to develop an understanding of planning and helps them understand when they come to school.

You may drop off your child beginning at 8:45 in the morning.  You will be able to walk them up to the building; however, you will not be allowed to walk them to the classroom.  This is because every staff member has a duty and teachers will not be in their room.  Mrs. Calhoun, Kdg Assistant, will meet you at the front and escort your child to the Kindergarten spot.  Mrs. Franz will be arriving at 8:55 from her assigned duty.  I will be outside on arrival duty.  You can find me by the service entrance.  This is the side off of 125.  I know this seems kind of crazy, but I promise this does work and it runs smoothly.  In addition, please make sure you have your transportation form filled out!  This is imperative for the end of the day.  We need to make sure we get all children to their assigned spot for dismissal.

All I can say is thank you, thank you for your patience and understanding during arrival and dismisssal.  Please feel free to email, comment, or call with questions or concerns.  I am looking forward to partnering with you this year!