We Are 100 Days Smarter!

What a busy fun week we had.  The children were precious as 100 year old ladies and gentlemen.  Thank you so much for your part at home in preparing for the 100 day of school.  Most of the children stayed in character all day, which made a fun day even more fun.  One hundred days of Kindergarten went by quickly.  The next 80 will move even quicker.  I'm sure the following slideshow will make you smile.


Group pictures will be this Thursday, January 31. The children must be in uniform clothing for this photograph.  An order form was sent home on Wednesday if you would like to purchase a class picture of Room 115.  Please return this order form before Thursday.

Please return library books (AR testing will be done in the morning in time to get a new library book), poetry journals on Monday. Also, Nancy's Italian Ice will be on sale for $1.00 on Monday.

Open House for children who will be in Kindergarten NEXT year will be Thursday evening beginning at 6:00 PM.  Please tell your neighbors, family and friends who will have a Kindergarten child next year to attend.

Please send in an empty shoe box by Wednesday for our upcoming Valentine's Day party on Thursday, February 14.   Thanks to the families that have sent in extra shoe boxes.  I will be sending home information about our party and a list of the children's names on Thursday if you wish to send in Valentines for the entire class. You are invited to attend our party which will be held from 1:30 - 2:15 PM on February 14. 

We will be talking about Ground Hog Day all week. Please help your child find out if he saw his shadow or not on Saturday morning.  I would like to do a special treat with the children on Friday in honor of the Ground Hog.  If you are available, please volunteer to send in one of the following items:
 one box of Vanilla Wafers
one package of Oreo cookies
one package of spoons
one 4 pack of individual chocolate pudding cups - need a total of 20 individual pudding cups-if five different parents could volunteer to send in one four pack that would alleviate the cost.  Thanks for supporting our classroom.
Contact me if you are able to send in any of the above items so that we do not have duplicates.

I will be out of the classroom on Monday.  I have secured an excellent substitute.  I will be testing all reading groups on Tuesday.   Check binders from Friday for a unit review sheet to help your child practice for Tuesday's test.

Reading this week will focus on the letter Yy as in "yak in the yard."  The word wall words are: is, his, an, into, and.

We will begin talking about our addresses this week.  Please assist me in helping your child learn their street and house number.  I will assess this for report cards in early March.  We will also begin writing our last names this week.

I am a big advocate for playing games.  Games teach sportsmanship, taking turns, sequencing, conversational skills and critical thinking. I encourage you to have a game night at your house on a regular basis.  Check out the fun and concentration from last week involving a simple math game.


There is two extra chaperone tickets for the February 6 Stephen Fite concert.  Let me know if you are interested in the $5.00 tickets.  I will be sending home information about chaperoning at the concert  to the nine parents that have already paid on Thursday.

We had a terrific time at Friday's Pirate Crafternoon. Thanks for all the support that you gave for making sure we had the necessary supplies.  We are a very fortunate class.  Put that eye patch in a safe place and wear it to the concert on February 6.  Please return the permission slip that was sent home last week on bright blue paper.


Upcoming dates to remember:
Thursday, January 31:  Class Picture Day (wear uniforms)
Monday,  February 4:  Blount Multicultural Night/ PTA Meeting at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, February 6:  Stephen Fite concert field trip
Thursday, February 14:  Valentine's Day Party from 1:30-2:15 PM
Friday, February 15:  early dismissal at 1:10 PM

Observing the children this past week reminded me how important dress up and dramatic play is in early childhood education.  The picture to the left is of a pirate checking himself out in the mirror. Look at his stance and body language.  He is a full fledged pirate.  I can't tell you how popular the mirror was on the 100th day of school. Not one member of Room 115 could walk past the mirror without taking a glance.  I would catch small groups of children hovering over the mirror talking to themselves and playing with one another.  I hope your house has items for "dress up" and imaginative play. Research shows children with big imaginations develop strong problem solving skills.  So limit screen time and encourage play.  Put down the I-pad and find an empty big box and see the imagination that flows from your child.


Contact me with any questions or concerns you may  have.  Thank you for loving Room 115. 

A Short Week, the 100th Day of School and a Crafternoon

We are going to have a very busy week.  Hang on and be prepared.


The slide show above shows our self portraits (complete with wrinkles) of what we imagine we will look like when we are 100 years old.  The 100th Day of School is Thursday.  We will be doing everything the 100 way all day long.  Refer to last week's handout about bringing to school a collection of 100 items and dressing up as 100 year old ladies and gentlemen.  Join us for lunch (10:35-11:05) if you are in the mood for dining with the geriatric crowd.  It is a very fun day!

Nancy's Italian Ice will be on sale Tuesday for $1.00 this week since there was no school on Monday.

Send in an adult shoe box this week as we prepare for Valentine's Day mailboxes.

Please pass along to family and friends that Kindergarten Open House for children who will be attending Kindergarten NEXT year will be Thursday, January 31 at 6:00 PM.
 
 In reading this week, we will investigate the letter "Vv" as in violin in the van. The word wall words are:  jump, did, where, there, not.

In math this week, we will be spending time working with numbers 11-19.  We will continue to practice  adding and subtracting up until the end of the year.

Poetry notebooks did not go home on Friday.  So look for TWO poems this Friday  Please make sure poetry journals are returned on Mondays.



Fun, fun, fun on our field trip to the bowling alley.  Thanks to all the family members that came out and assisted, gave tips and encouraged Room 115.  We are so lucky that so many people love and care for Room 115.  Our next field trip is the Stephen Fite concert on Wednesday, February 6.  You have already purchased your child's ticket.  I will send home the official permission slip this week  (no money is needed...just sign and return).  Don't forget that Stephen is asking the audience to dress in their best pirate gear  but don't cover up the yellow field trip t-shirt.

Our pirate themed Crafternoon is this Friday from 1:45-3:00.  An email was sent during the weekend with more information.  Please contact the room mothers if you can assist.

Save the date for the Kindergarten Year End Celebration:  Thursday, May 16 at 9:00 AM.  More information will be revealed closer to the date.  It will be held in the lunchroom and is for all five Kindergarten classes.  The children will put on a program and receive certificates.  You will not want to miss it.  

The weatherman said that last Thursday there was a slight chance of snow.  The children knew of the forecast and watched the windows eagerly.  No snow for us but we did take the time during the week to paint a few snowmen.

The best part of last week was a new member for Room 115.  We interviewed our new friend and discovered he likes the color orange,  his Leap Pad and Spaghetti-Os.  We are lucky to work and play with him. Come join us for lunch and meet our new friend.

Upcoming dates to remember:
Thursday, January 24:  100th Day of  School
Thursday, January 24:  Box Top collection
Friday, January 25:  Room 115's Pirate Crafternoon
Friday, January 25: Spirit Night at Flips
Thursday, January 31:  Class Picture Day (wear uniforms)
Monday,  February 4:  Blount Multicultural Night/ PTA Meeting
Wednesday, February 6:  Stephen Fite concert field trip
Thursday, February 14:  Valentine's Day Party from 1:30-2:15
Friday, February 15:  early dismissal at 1:10

Contact me with any questions or concerns. 

Alabama Snow

We've been talking about winter, reading books about snowballs and singing about sledding but all we have is warm, Alabama sun.  Being a class of problem solvers, we decided to make our own snow. Scissors and coffee filters were the ideal way to create a blizzard in our classroom.

Our bowling field trip is this Friday.  Lunch is provided for this field trip so no need to send lunchboxes on Friday.  Be sure to dress your child in the YELLOW field trip t-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.  If you are suffering from the middle of January blues, then please come hang out with Room 115 at the bowling alley.  Watching 20 kindergarten (well actually over 100 when you count all of the Blount K) students bowl is very entertaining and certainly will make you smile and laugh.  

This week we will be investigating the letter Tt as in "turtle on a tightrope".  The word wall words (sight words) are help, make, away, here, not.

Please send in an adult-sized shoe box anytime during the next two weeks.  We will be turning the shoe box into mailboxes for our Valentine's Day party.  (Extra shoe boxes are welcomed too!)

In math, we will finish subtraction.  Then our focus will turn to representing, counting and writing numbers 11 to 19. 

Book orders will come home on Monday.  If ordering on-line, our class code is GL88R.  Please turn in orders by Friday, January 18. Book orders are optional.

Green grade level t-shirts can be worn every Tuesday with blue jeans for the remainder of the school year. 

Accelerated Reader started off smoothly and with lots of smiles.  If you are in pinch and can't locate a ticket, you may write that your child is ready to test on a post-it note.  I will not allow a child to test without something in writing from you.  Last week I sent home letters about signing up for email notification through Renaissance Learning for your child's AR status.  I encourage you to participate in that option.

The best way to help your child become a stronger reader is to practice.  In the classroom, we sit EEKK!  EEKK stands for elbow to elbow, knee to knee.  By sitting this way, we can listen to our friend read and follow along and then give praises for a job well done!



Arrrrrrrrrr....you ready for our January Pirate themed Crafternoon on Friday, January 25?  Information will be coming home soon.  Our crafternoon will start at 1:45-3:00 with set up beginning at 1:10.  Thanks to the room parents for organizing this.  Don't forget to be thinking about how to dress for the Stephen Fite concert on February 6. 

Hip! Hip! Hooray!!!!! Can you believe the 100th day of school will be here on Thursday, January 24?  Look for a letter on Tuesday about bringing a collection of 100 items to school on the big day.  The 100 day of school is where we do everything the 100 way.  We even come to school dressed up as 100 year old ladies and gentlemen.  Check out these posts from previous  years to get some ideas on how to dress:
100 Day of School-2012 and 100 Day of School-2011. 


Upcoming dates to remember:
Friday, January 18:  Field trip to Ace Bowling
Monday, January 21:  No school
Thursday, January 24:  100th Day of  School
Thursday, January 24:  Box Top collection
Friday, January 25:  Room 115's Pirate Crafternoon
Friday, January 25: Spirit Night at Flips
Thursday, January 31:  Class Picture Day (wear uniforms)
Wednesday, February 6:  Stephen Fite concert field trip
Thursday, February 14:  Valentine's Day Party from 1:30-2:15
Friday, February 15:  early dismissal at 1:10

Thanks for  loving our classroom!  Contact me if you have any questions.

It's So Good To Be Back!

We returned to the new year a little bit taller,  with new shoes, new haircuts, less teeth and even a hot pink cast.  How nice it was to get back into a routine.  But the best news from our short week  was the addition of a new friend.  We are now back up to twenty:  ten girls and ten boys.  We know our new friend likes pasta, the color orange, the number six and bows and arrows and his favorite animal is an alligator.  He is going to fit right in with Room 115.  Join us for lunch one day and meet our new friend!

Field trip information came home in Friday's binder.  Please return the signed permission slip, the payment of $10.00 and your child's lunch selection of either cheese pizza or a hot dog.  Please have all paperwork and payment  turned in by Tuesday, January 15.  (Field trip money can be turned in any day of the week, unlike other money.  I know school life can be confusing but there really is a purpose/reason for the system.)

This week we will be working with the letter Pp as in "policeman in the park."  The word wall words will be find, had, play, come, have.


We continue to work on subtracting.  If you are at a restaurant waiting on the food, play some subtraction games with the crayons available for coloring sheets.  Lay out five crayons and take two away.  Ask your child for the answer.  I've introduced  the words subtract, take away and minus to the children but be aware our math curriculum uses the word minus the majority of the time.

Return library books, bring a $1.00 if desiring Italian Ice, and turn in poetry journals on Monday.

Tuesday is the day to wear our green grade level t-shirt and jeans!  Wear jeans and Blount spirit wear on Friday.

On Monday, I will send home information about a  voluntary vision screening that will be done on Thursday.  If you are interested, please return the form on Tuesday. 

Check out this slideshow.  This is the view I had on Friday while working in small groups. I am a blessed teacher! 


I'm going to send home information regarding Accelerated Reader (AR) and how it will work in Room 115 on Tuesday. I have a parent who can come in this Thursday  to help the children so I'm going to start AR testing this week instead of the 14th as I posted last week.  To protect instructional time and to  help me get the students accustomed to AR,  I need volunteers on Mondays and Thursdays for the next four weeks.  It would be from 9:30-10:30 am.  You do not have to agree to work every Monday or Thursday - just tell me the dates you are available.  Please read the handout that I send home about AR.  I want you to understand my view of AR and how to approach it with your child.  AR does not need to be stressful to your child or your family life.  My goal is for your child to love books and not how many AR tests they can take in a school year.

On Wednesday, February 6 we are going to hear children's recording artist Stephen Fite.   You have already paid for this field trip.  His concert is pirate themed.  Here is a message from Stephen:

Captain Stephen will be walking the decks in his best pirate wear and invites you and your band of scallywags to do the same.  What does a proper pirate wear you might ask?  Why, they wear their proper pirate gear, of course.  Items such as pirate hats or head bandanas, pirate coats or shirts, eye patches, beards, hooks, and all the other appropriate clothing that an honest-to-goodness buccaneer of the seas would wear.  Why, your pirate might even have a scar or a tattoo on their arm or face.  And what self-respecting pirate would leave the school without a parrot on their shoulder?  Arrrrrrr!  No swords or flintlocks, please.  So, put on your best gear so that ye be worthy of joining Captain Stephen’s crew.  But, if you can’t lay your hooks on some pirate clothing, make sure you wear your dancin’ shoes so that you can Rock and Learn with Stephen!

For safety reasons, our yellow field trip t-shirt must be worn.  Do not cover up the yellow field trip t-shirt.

Extra chaperone tickets  are available if you want to go to the Stephen Fite concert.  Adult tickets are $5.00.  Contact me if you are interested.  

In a couple of weeks, I'm going to ask for an adult sized shoe box so start looking or start buying.   We are going to use the shoe box for Valentine mailboxes.  Do not send in shoe boxes until I ask for them.

Thursday night is spirit night at Chappys.  Sounds like a great night to close the kitchen and support our school! 

Upcoming dates:
Thursday, January 10:  Report cards issued
Thursday, January 10:  spirit night at Chappys
Friday, January 18:  Room 115 goes bowling 
Wednesday, February 6:  Stephen Fite concert

Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!  It is hard to believe that we have completed the first half of Kindergarten.  Prepare yourself, the second half of Kindergarten goes by quicker.  I'm excited to see everyone on Thursday.  We are going to have a good day hearing about the exciting events of the past twelve days.  Twelve days is a long time to go without seeing  my very favorite people!  We may or may not get to reading homework on Thursday so check binders.

This entry is full of slideshows.  Enjoy the happy faces and the joy that is found in Kindergarten!

Report cards will be issued on Thursday, January 10 at 3:10 PM.

The big news for the second semester of Kindergarten is no naps.  Check out the slideshow below.  There is not one frown on any face after the announcement was made to take your nap mat home.  Heads up:  January is going to be a hard transition for ALL of us.  Your child may come home emotional, cranky, clingy or tired.  Just be patient and love him/her (and yourself) through this adjustment.  We will use the extra instructional time to dig deeper into math and writing. 


In reading this week, we will be finishing up "Nn" as in "nurse in the night."  Word wall words are:  is, him, have, out, then. 

In math, we are being introduced to subtraction and polishing our addition skills.

I'm going to introduce Accelerated Reader in the next week and a half.  Starting on Monday, January 14 the children will be able to take a test on their library book.  If you are new to Accelerated Reader, I will send home a handout NEXT week explaining it.  I need volunteers (Mondays and Thursdays only) who are able to help the children get used to testing.  No computer skills are necessary.  The only requirements are happy smiles and encouraging words to beginning readers.  The times would be 9:30-10:30 AM on Mondays and Thursdays for about four to six weeks beginning on January 14.  Let me know if you are interested. 

Look at the concentration and stamina displayed when paint boxes came out.  I know you can't tell by the pictures but there is even SILENCE when kids are painting. 


We are gong to be discussing what good readers look like and the habits they have.  Your child will have an assignment over the next few days to observe good readers in action.  So be prepared if someone is watching you read or asking questions about your reading habits. 

Are you confused about what day to wear what clothes?  Here is a quick rundown:
Monday:  uniforms
Tuesday:  green grade level t-shirts and jeans
Wednesday:  uniforms
Thursday:  uniforms
Friday:  Blount spirit wear and jeans
Fieldtrips:  yellow t-shirt and jeans

We had fun wearing our pajamas to school for Polar Express Day.  We didn't let our casual attire interrupt our learning.  We even found time for hot chocolate!


Our next field trip will be on Friday, January 18 to Ace Bowling.  We will be away from the school from 9-12 with lunch included.  You are invited to help encourage us to get those strikes.  Feel free to pop in at Ace if your schedule does not allow the full three hours. Field trip information will be sent home and money collected next week. 

Thank you for providing a wonderful classroom party for Room 115.  I appreciate your support.  The children have no idea how loved  they are as a community of learners from Room 115's families. 


Contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  Thanks for trusting me with your child!