The End of the 1st Semester

It is so hard to believe that this week is the end of the first semester of Kindergarten.  Time is moving so quickly.  We were fortunate to have 100% percent attendance on Wednesday.  We haven't had perfect attendance in over three weeks so this was a very happy day to have the complete class learning, working and playing together!   The students will report back on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.

Reading is a review week of introduced letter sounds and word wall words.  I will assess the students on word wall words on Wednesday.  The entire first semester of word wall words will be required to be read instantly and accurately.  I will try to notify you by Thursday evening the words your child missed, if any.  I will be doing report card assessments this week so reading groups will be abbreviated.  Homework may not come home each night.  Please check the white binder nightly to see if your child has reading homework.

Our December calendar pages will come home on Friday.  You will find a December calendar, a tally page, a write the date, adding the date, odd/even and a weather graph.  The calendar notebook is a favorite time of the day.  Ask us to tell you what we know about the December pages brought home on Friday.

Tuesday is library day so please return library books. 

Our class party is Thursday from 1:30-2:15.  An email was sent on Thursday and a hard copy of the email was in Friday's binder.  Please return the letter or email our room parent as to how you can assist in the planning of the party.  Parents are invited to attend.

NOTE:  You may check your child out after the party.  Please follow the instructions to quickly and smoothly check your child out.  When you enter the building before the party begins, there will be a table set up in front of the office.  Upon completing the necessary paperwork, you will be given a slip of paper notifying me that your child has already been signed out.  When you enter our classroom, please hand me the slip of paper.  I CANNOT release your child at the end of the party unless I have that slip of paper from the office.

This is our last week to rest in Kindergarten.  Nap mats will be sent home on Friday.  To celebrate the ending of naps, we will watch the movie The Polar Express on Friday while laying on our nap mats.  The children are allowed to wear their pajamas!  If you would like for your child NOT to watch the movie, please notify me in writing by Thursday so that I can make arrangements for your child.

We will be bringing home some Christmas secrets on Thursday.  They are meant to be opened early. We will be taking down our Christmas tree on Friday so please look in backpacks for our ornaments from the tree.  Friday's back pack will have our poetry journal with a special poem to celebrate the new year and a special song book that we've been working for the month of December.


DIBELS reports  will go home on Tuesday.  Please sign the paper and return on Wednesday.

Thank you for saving the toilet tissue rolls.  Our Christmas secret is completed so no need to save them anymore.  Heads up that your child will need one adult sized shoe box in January.  So if you have Christmas shoes under your tree, do not throw away the box.  Please do not send the shoe boxes to school until I ask for them.

If you are still in need of a Christmas present for your child, I highly recommend the book Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett.  I usually refuse to read books by actors but this is a wonderful family book.  It is requested every night at my house.  It is the perfect way to end the day.  Go ahead and splurge on the mitts because they add to the fun!  It is hard to find locally so I've included a link to amazon.com.  The price can't be beat and you may want to order two to give away as a gift to a beloved child in your life outside your family.    Click on the link to find out more information. Tickle Monster (the perfect book to end the day or anytime during the day!)

Thank you so much for sharing your child with me.  Our days go by quickly  and are filled with fun!  Email me with any questions or concerns you may have!  Have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Not only is this the most wonderful time of the year but it is also the busiest time in Room 115.  We are working hard to get the room decorated for our party on Thursday, December 16.  Look for more information to come home this week about our class party.  Parents are invited to attend the party.


Originally this week was to be a review week but I'm changing things up a bit.  This week we will be studying the letter Jj as in "jellybean in the jar."  The word wall words are:  with, for, then, some.  I will be assessing the students on word wall words for the first semester next Wednesday, December 15.  The words from this week will NOT be assessed until the third nine weeks.  Next week will be a review week.


Our class is scheduled for DIBELS testing this Tuesday.  There is nothing you need to do to prepare your child for this test other than make sure he/she is in attendance.  There will be no reading homework on Tuesday.


In math, we are beginning to learn about money!  We will begin with naming the coins and knowing their values.  We continue to work on number concepts up to ten.  

We had plenty of questions this week when a student brought in a wishbone from his Thanksgiving feast.  It was just like our poem.  We were so excited to hear who got the bigger half!  Our poem last week was easily to put to music and was the perfect opportunity to pull out the musical instruments.  We are quite the performers!  This week's poem involves candy so it is sure to be hit with this crowd.  Please make sure poetry notebooks are returned to school every Monday.


There will be no organized library class on Tuesday due to DIBELS testing.  I will allow your child to check out a new book when his/her library book is returned to school any day this week. 

Thank you for saving toilet tissue rolls. I have enough for our Christmas Secret.  This Friday, the children will rotate to all the Kindergarten classrooms to enjoy a day of activities in preparation of Christmas.  

I do take the children outside every day unless it is raining so please make sure coats/jackets are sent to school.  All coats and sweaters should be labeled with your child's name so we can quickly locate owners!  


I will be placing a book order on Monday.  Books will arrive before our holiday break.  Let me know if your order is a Christmas Secret and I will get it to you without your child knowing.


The Santa Store is this week.  The children may bring money and do some of their Christmas shopping.  Look for the items your child purchases in book bags the same day you send money to school.  

Email me with any questions or concerns you may have.  Have a great week!!!   I hope to see you at our party next week.  Put it on your calendar!  We are preparing for your visit!