The End of the First Semester

Sorry for the delay in posting.   I overbooked my weekend with family time!

Can you believe this is the end of the first semester of Kindergarten?  Unfortunately, the second semester goes by just as quick.  We will just have to cherish each day!  We were busy last week working on a few art projects.  Thanks to all the moms who have helped out recently.


We are going to have as normal of a week as possible up until Thursday afternoon.  Be sure to check book bags on Friday afternoon for December artwork you may want to keep or display.

Nancy's Italian Ice is $1.00 on Monday.  Our library day is also Monday.  Please return poetry journals on Monday for a new poem to come home on Friday.  

I will continue to assess for report cards this week.

There will be an assessment on counting, representing and writing numbers 6-9.  Look for December calendar pages to come home in Friday's backpack.

In reading we will be investigating the letters Bb and Nn.  Our new sight words are:  me, with, she. 

The following are slide shows from our recent special people of the week.


And one more great kid!


A permission slip will be sent home this week for our January 9 field trip to Good Night Moon at ASF.  Everyone has paid for this field trip so all you need to do is sign and return the form.

If you asked the students the most important thing about this week the answer would be Thursday, December 19.  We've been counting down the days until we take a break from learning and have a party!  Our classroom party will be Thursday, December 19 from 1:45-2:30.   Contact the room moms for more details about assisting with preparations for the party.  You may check your child out after the party.  The following is the most efficient way to check your child out:
1.  Before the party begins, there will be a table set up for check outs in front of the office.  Once you fill out the necessary paperwork, you will be given a slip of paper to hand me.  This paper allows me to release your child at the end of the party.
2.  Be sure to hand me the slip of paper once you enter the classroom.  If I do not have the slip of paper then you must go to the office at the end of the party and check your child out.
3.  I will not release your child without the slip of paper from the office!

Friday is another fun day in Kindergarten.  We are going to watch the G-rated movie The Polar Express in our pajamas! Please let me know by Thursday if you prefer your child not to watch the movie.

Thank you for your quick response to our classroom need of liquid soap.  Our supply will get us through the flu season!

Have a wonderful winter break! Enjoy spending time with your child without the demands of a school schedule.  Read a lot of books,  do a lot of listening to all that your child has to say and cuddle!  Be safe and I'll see the members of Room 114 in 2014.  Thank you so much for loving and supporting our classroom!  Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Events
12.19  Room 114's Christmas Party at 1:45-2:30
12.20  Kindergarten Polar Express Movie Day - wear pajamas
12.23 - 1.3  Winter Break
1.6  Resume learning in Room 114
1.9  Goodnight Moon at ASF - wear yellow field trip t-shirts
1.20  No school in observance of  King/Lee birthdays
1.31  Room 114's Superpower Crafternoon
2.3  Stephen Fite concert:  dress up as a superhero (yellow t-shirt must be visible)
 

Thank You for Loving Room 114!

I know your lives are busy with December activities.  I hear daily about the elf adventures that are going on in your homes and the letters that are being written to Santa.  Don't forget to be thankful for the "busy"ness of the season and experiencing Christmas with young children.  Thinking of thankful thoughts is a great way to celebrate this slideshow from our Thanksgiving Crafternoon.  So much love, kindness, support and fun can be found in these photos.  Room 114 is a blessed classroom.


Monday is library day and Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.  Please return poetry journals on Monday and look for it in book bags on Friday.

Please pay chaperone and student (if applicable) field trip money by Wednesday for the Stephen Fite concert.

This is a review and benchmark week for reading instruction. No new letters or word wall words.   I will begin assessing the students for report cards this week. 

In math, we continue to work on investigating the numbers 6-9.  The focus is understanding all the different number combinations to make a certain amount.  We are laying the foundation for addition.

Here is our special person of the week before Thanksgiving.   Can't beat the sweetness when everyone focuses on one member of our class and enthusiastically writes a page for a very special book. 

This Friday, the children will rotate to all of the Kindergarten classrooms for a bit of December fun!  Be sure to check book bags on Friday for several fun mementos from the day. 

Thanks for saving toilet tissue rolls. We have our supply so no need to send them to school anymore.  You will see the results of your savings very soon.  The next thing to save is a shoe box.  An adult sized shoe box works best - especially one with a lid that lifts off instead of a flap style lid.  If new shoes are under the Christmas tree this year, please save the box.  I will ask for the shoebox to be brought  to school in late January.  Please wait to send the shoebox to school when I ask for it. 

 We are busy decorating our classroom for our Christmas party on Thursday, December 19.  The party will be from 1:45 - 2:30.  You are invited to attend.  Information will come home this week in take home binders on how you can help make our party special.

On Friday, December 20, the Kindergarten classes will be watching the movie The Polar Express.  The children may wear their pajamas to school on this day.


Classroom Need:  liquid soap.   We are down to two bottles from the beginning of the school year.  Please donate a bottle or two to help keep the germs away as we enter the flu season

Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.  I updated this blog while the Michigan State-Ohio State game was on in the background.  So I begin this week with a huge War Eagle!!!

Upcoming Events
12.19  Room 114's Christmas Party at 1:45-2:30
12.20  Kindergarten Polar Express Movie Day - wear pajamas
12.23 - 1.3  Winter Break
1.6  Resume learning in Room 114
1.9  Goodnight Moon at ASF - wear yellow field trip t-shirts
1.20  No school in observance of  King/Lee birthdays
1.31  Room 114's Superpower Crafternoon
2.3  Stephen Fite concert:  dress up as a superhero (yellow t-shirt must be visible)

Happy December!

Welcome back!  No slideshow this week...my home computer needs maintenance.  The photos from our wonderful Thanksgiving Crafternoon will be included in next week's  blog entry.  A big thanks to all the families who supported our Crafternoon, either from home or  volunteering in the classroom.  The students of Room 114 have no idea how much they are loved and supported!  Our next Crafternoon will be Friday, January 31 with a superpower theme! 

We should be allowed to go to the library Monday as a class.  Please make sure library books are in book bags. 

Nancy's Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.

Please return poetry journals on Monday.  Don't forget to check  for our new poem on Friday in book bags.

In the month of December, I will introduce Accelerated Reader to the students.   The students will begin to take comprehension tests on their library books beginning in January.  For the month of December, we will practice as a total class.  I will send home more information about my philosophy on AR the week of December 16.  I need a volunteer to assist me with the children on taking AR tests in January.  You will be responsible for helping students log-in into the computer program and read the questions and multiple choice answers for the test.  It is very easy and not intimidating.  The time frame would be 9:30-10:35 for the following dates:  Monday, January 13; Tuesday, January 21; Monday, January 27.  Let me know if you are interested in helping.

I am sending home an optional December book order  on Monday. If you choose to order on-line, our class code is GL88R.  The link to order on-line is on the right side of the blog.  Please return order forms by Thursday, December 5.  Let me know if your purchase is for Christmas Secrets and I can get your order to you in a way your child doesn't know.

I will assess address knowledge on Wednesday, December 11.  Thanks for helping your child learn his/her address.

In math, we are starting a new chapter.  We are going to be representing, counting and writing numbers 6 to 9.  We will be thinking of all different ways to make these numbers (example:  to make the number 6:  1 and five more, 2 and four more, 3 and three more, 4 and two more, 5 and 1 more, 6 and 0 more).  This chapter is where I usually see children begin to have difficulty.  Check binders for homework starting on Wednesday night.  Don't let homework be stressful, if you need an extra night to complete, no problem.

In reading, we will be investigating the letter Ii for an additional week.  The word wall words are:  he, for.   I will begin report card testing the week of December 9 so make sure you are practicing the entire list of sight words at home nightly.


I will be out of the classroom on Friday.  I have secured a substitute who is very excited to work in Room 114.  I'm sure it will be a great day for everyone.

Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Upcoming dates:
12.5  Book orders due
12.19  Room 114's Christmas Party at 1:45-2:30
12.20  Kindergarten Polar Express Movie Day - wear pajamas
12.23 - 1.3  Winter Break
1.6  Resume learning in Room 114
1.9  Goodnight Moon at ASF - wear yellow field trip t-shirts
1.20  No school in observance of  King/Lee birthdays
1.31  Room 114's Superpower Crafternoon