The End of the First Semester of Kindergarten!

It is hard to believe that Kindergarten is almost half over.  Time needs to slow down.  We are having too much fun for it to be half over.  Look at the smile that bursts forth from a simple pair of silly bug eye sunglasses.  Life is simple...enjoy the humor of your child this second semester.

If you asked the students the most important thing about this week the answer would be Thursday, December 18.  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 18 from 1:30-2:15.   Our Room Parent sent out an email on Sunday updating the status of your party.  Check your email.   

Please come at 1:10 to help prepare the classroom for the party.  Or come at 1:30 when the fun begins.  

Please carefully read the following information if you plan to 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.  Your child can wear pajamas on Friday.  He/she can also bring a small blanket or stuffed animal to watch the movie with.  Don't send anything of sentimental value because accidents do happen.

Monday is Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.  

Mister Matt from the Pike Road Public Library came and read a few stories to our class last Tuesday. I encourage you to take advantage of the public library system in our city.  Even if you have a large home library, there is something magical about a library book.  

The Blount library was closed several days last week due to testing.  We were unable to find a convenient time to check out new books.  Be sure to return the library book on Monday so that you can have a new title this week.  

Our poem last week was all about peppermint sticks.  Fortunately, we make time for a peppermint break during the day.  (Research says that peppermint can wake you up if you start to feel sleepy.  A little trivial information in case you are traveling this holiday break.)  We continue to "rhyme all the time" in Room 114.  Poetry journals will come home on Thursday of this week.  Keep them at home for the entire holiday break. Click here for more peppermint photos.  

I will continue to report card test this week.  We will continue to work on the letter "Nn" and the high frequency words from last week of:  here, go, from.   Another segmenting sounds homework sheet will come home on Monday.

Still adding in math this week.  Look for December calendar pages to come home on Friday.  We added several concepts this month so check out our hard work.

We added another ornament to our tree this week.  It is getting full.  It is funny to watch 21 children try to find the perfect spot for an ornament. Click here for more ornament photos.

This week will zoom by. I hope you can join us on Thursday.  Have  a wonderful break.  Big, fancy presents are nice but the best gift your child wants is just to spend time with you.  Trust me on this!  Let the housework slide, don't worry about the dinner menu and clean clothes are over rated.  Just enjoy this time with your child:  read books, play board games, go outside and take a walk and just giggle.

Thank you for trusting me with your child.  I will cherish my family but I will also miss your child.  I'm kind of attached to Room 114!  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  

Upcoming events:
12.17:  Cookie dough scheduled to be distributed
12.18:  December Classroom Party (schoolwide) at 1:30-2:15.  Come at 1:10 to help set up Room 114 for party mode
12.19:  Polar Express Day:  wear pajamas to school
12.22-1.5:  Winter Break:  no school
1.6.2015:  Children return to school
1.19:  No school in observance of Martin Luther King's birthday
2.10:  Stephen Fite's  "Giddy Up and Learn" concert - Kindergarten Field Trip 

Christmas Secrets! Hard to Keep!

We have so many Christmas secrets that it is hard to keep them a secret.  I allowed the children to open up one of the secrets I had for them on Thursday afternoon.  I hope the joyful sound of children singing has flooded your house.  If not check your child's backpack.Click here for a few more photos.

Check book bags this Thursday for another Christmas Secret we have for you!  This Christmas Secret is meant to be opened and used immediately.  To make this Christmas Secret, we need you to fill out the piece of paper in Monday's binder and return it on Tuesday.  

Our poetry journal last week was about Christmas secrets.  Be sure to send it back on Monday.  We will have two poems this week. So look for it in Friday's back pack.Click here for more poetry journal photos.

Monday is library day and Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.

We are working hard on adding.  This week, we will begin to use the word addend to our math vocabulary.  Addends are the numbers being added in a number sentence.  The sum is another word for answer.  In the problem:  3+2=5, three and two are the addends and five is the sum.  We will begin to work with missing addends this week. For example:  three plus what missing addend makes four.  The missing addend is one.  This is a hard concept and takes practice.

In reading we will discuss the letter Nn.  The high frequency words are: here, go, from. We have been working hard on segmenting sounds during reading instruction.  Being able to segment sounds in a word helps with spelling and reading.  There will be a special homework in Monday's binder.  There is a note explaining how to use the homework.  Do not have your child SPELL the homework words.  The homework words are solely for your child to tell you the SOUNDS he/she hears when you say a word. 

I will begin report card testing this week.  Reading groups will be abbreviated this week and next week to accomplish the assessments.

Our December classroom party will be Thurday, December 18.  Information will come home soon about how you can help make our party great.  You are invited to join us as we celebrate the end of the first semester of Kindergarten.

 We have a tree in our room that started out bare. We will be adding decorations to make it exquisitely decorated. Check out the tree's progress by clicking here.

Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Upcoming events:
12.10:  Chaperone and student money due for the Stephen Fite concert.
12.17:  Cookie dough scheduled to be distributed
12.18:  December Classroom Party (schoolwide) at 1:45
12.19:  Polar Express Day:  wear pajamas to school
12.22-1.5:  Winter Break:  no school
1.6.2015:  Children return to school
2.10:  Stephen Fite's  "Giddy Up and Learn" concert - Kindergarten Field Trip

Hello December!

The next three weeks of school will go by fast!  Hold on!

I hope your Thanksgiving break was restful, filled with delicious food and cherished memories with family and friends.  Scroll back to earlier posts of pictures when Room 114 dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians.  The children worked hard to get everything ready for their transformation to Indians and Pilgrims.   Click on this link to see the concentration and hard work involved.

The children will rotate to Coach Grant for PE for the next three weeks.  I will not be taking the children outside.  Coach Grant will be responsible for their outside play and instruction.

If you have not done so, please pay for the December secret.  The cost for the secret is $9.00.  Your secret will come home on December 18. 

There will be a book order in Monday's binder.  Book order money is due Thursday, December 4.  If you choose to order on-line use the code GL88R.  I will be placing the order on Friday morning.  Turn around time is 5-7 days.  Let me know if your order is a Christmas Secret and I will find a way to get the books to you without anyone knowing.  Bookorders are optional.

Monday is library day for our class so please return library books.

Monday is Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00. 

Please return poetry journals on Monday. We had two poems the last week of school.  One was an excellent song to practice reading the high frequency word "are."

This week is a review week for the high frequency words.  I will start assessing high frequency words the week of December 8 for report cards.  Your child will be responsible for reading upon sight all of the high frequency words from the beginning of school up to the words introduced in November.  


 Information for our February 10 field trip to see children's recording artist Stephen Fite will be in Tuesday's binder.   Money is due by Wednesday, December 10.  Chaperone tickets must be ordered at this time.

Room 114 will begin to learn how to use Accelerated Reader this month. Accelerated Reader is where students read their library book and take a 5 question test on the computer to assess comprehension.  I will send home more information about Accelerated Reader (AR)  the week of December 8.  To prepare for AR, all you need to do right now is make sure your child knows his/her lunch number without assistance.  I will send home a slip of paper in the money pouch if you need to work on it with your child.

In reading this week, we are still working on the letter "Ii." We learned that when the letter "Ii" is tall, long and strong, he is a super hero and makes the sound of his name.  However, when Super Hero "Ii" is in disguise, he is short and lazy.  To help your child make short "i" sound, tell them to put his/her index fingers on each end of his/her lips.  Then tilt their head sideways so that mouth and fingers are making the capital letter "I." Tell them to make the short "i" sound.  By putting their fingers on the ends of their mouth, it prevents them from making the short e sound.  It is a common mistake for children to mistake the short e sound for short i. The more they practice, the less mistakes they will make.

In math,we have learned the basic foundations of adding.  We are going to work on this skill for the remainder of the year until we can add fluently (that means without counters and fingers) up to five. Don't panic that is the end goal for May....and some of Room 114 will go past 5.    This week, we are going to be given a number and the children have to come up with different number combinations to make that number.  We are thinking very hard about numbers in Room 114. 

We did a modified version of the Thanksgiving tradition of the wishbone in class.   Maybe you did too at your house.  A December holiday tradition is the singing of songs.  Don't give anything away but check book bags on Thursday for a catalyst to sing holiday songs at home.  Helpful hint: songs that have been made into books are an excellent way to help beginning readers become stronger!

No need to save toilet tissue rolls.  We have enough for our secret project.  Thanks for helping me out!

I will be absent on Friday.  The children will have a great day with a substitute.

Be sure to check the dates below.  One of the dates is our classroom December party!  Information will be coming home soon about ways to help make our party great!

Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!  I'm thankful for your support and love of Room 114!

Upcoming Events:
12.3: Cookie orders due
12.4:   Book order money due
12.10:  Chaperone and student money due for the Stephen Fite concert.
12.17:  Cookie dough scheduled to be distributed
12.18:  December Classroom Party (schoolwide) at 1:45
12.19:  Polar Express Day:  wear pajamas to school
12.22-1.5:  Winter Break:  no school
1.6.2015:  Children return to school
2.10:  Stephen Fite's  "Giddy Up and Learn" concert - Kindergarten Field Trip

A Second Day of Thanks

Thankful that my days are spent with these Pilgrims and Indians.  Click here for photos from Day 2 of Thanksgiving.

We are missing a few members of Room 114.  Get well soon and hurry back!  You are missed. 

Have a fun break from school.  Be safe!  Can't wait to see everyone on Monday, December 1!

A Day of Thanks - part one

Just the beginning of a two day celebration of giving thanks!  click here from today's photos

Thanks for Sharing Your Child With Me

The book fair starts on Monday and runs through Thursday.  We visited the book fair on Friday.  The children saw lots of books they would like to own.  You may send money to school for the book fair or you may come to the school and shop with your child.  You may come at any time during the book fair hours and take your child shopping.  My editorial of the book fair:  The book fair has a table full of "trinkets and treasures" commonly found at a dollar style store.   The items on this table are very popular with the children but may not be  made of the highest quality of material.  If you are not coming to the book fair to shop with your child, I suggest setting boundaries as to what your child can purchase.  At the McDevitt house, only books can be purchased at a book fair.

Due to the book fair, we will not be going to the library this week.

Nancy's Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.

There will be a PTA meeting this Tuesday at 6:00.  Mugshots will be selling a box dinner for $6.00 to make dinner plans easier.

Information went home last week about the Cookie Dough Fundraiser.  Orders need to be placed by December 3.  Delivery of cookie dough is planned for December 17.  Thanks for supporting our school.

I'm a firm believer in the benefits of fresh air.  Even though the temperatures are dropping, I will take the children outside unless it is raining.  So bundle up!

Please label all sweaters, jackets, hats and gloves that are sent to school.  I try my best to keep track of everyone's belongings but sometimes things get left behind.  There is a lost and found box located in the lunchroom.  After a few days the articles in the lost and found box are moved to huge bags located in the lunchroom closet.  If you are missing an item, then please check those large bags.  Parents must check those bags.  They are too huge for a child to do the checking.  It is overwhelming the amount of stuff in those lost and found bags.

Poetry Journals did not come home on Friday.  They will come this Wednesday.  Keep them at home for the duration of the Thanksgiving break.  Pull them out at night and use with your 20 minutes of reading or share the poems with visiting family members.  Stay in your daily reading habits even during the holiday break.

In reading this week, we will be focusing on the letter "Ii."   This is a difficult sound for the children to distinguish from the sound the letter "e" can make.  Having southern accents and pronunciations doesn't help either.  Help your child distinguish the two sounds by the letter Ii makes the "itchy, itchy insect bite" while Ee makes the "elephant and egg" sound.  We will also be talking about the long sound the Ii makes when it says its own name.  We will be spending two weeks on the letter Ii so help out by reinforcing the different sounds at home.  High frequency words are:  one, two, three, four, five. 

In reading, we are learning how to use our schemas to understand stories.  Our schemas are everything in our brains that we know to be true.    Before you read a story, tell your child that good readers try to figure out what  book will be about.  Ask your child to look at the cover/title and use his/her schema to guess what will happen in the story.   As you read the story, have your child guess what will happen next.  Your child will know that good readers can change their thinking in the middle of the story.  Don't ask your child these questions on every page because that would ruin the enjoyment of it all.  Rather, ask them every once in a while.    Praise the connections your child makes as he/she reads/listens to a story.

We've been working with nouns and adjectives.  We know a noun is a person, place, thing or animal. An adjective gives us more information about a nouns such as size, number, or color.

In math, we are working with the beginning stages of addition.   We use the word "plus" and this week add the word "the sum."  The sum is another word for the answer when you are adding.   November calendar pages will come home on Friday.   Check out the learning from this month by going over each calendar page with your child.

We will be dressing up as Pilgrims and Indians for lunch on Wednesday and Thursday.  Our lunch time is 10:45-11:10.  Half the class will be pilgrims on Wednesday and the other half will be Indians.  We will flip flop roles on Thursday so that everyone has a chance to be a Pilgrim or Indian.

Please send in the $9.00 for December's Family Secret by Monday.

  A great way to end a week is to have a Crafternoon.   Room 114 has so much to be thankful for and you can see the biggest blessings celebrating fall by clicking on this link.  Thank you to the families that supported the Crafternoon from home by sending in supplies and those that volunteered in the classroom.  Our next Crafternoon will be at the end of January with a Cowboy and Cowgirl Western theme.

 I am blessed beyond measure to work with these sweet fingers everyday.  I know how lucky I am to teach at Blount and have the parental support that is found in Room 114.  Please know that when I give daily thanks for my blessings that your child and your family is included in my thoughts.  Enjoy your week off from school.  Spend time talking and listening to your child.  Get outside and become a Nature Spy.  Don't worry about the laundry or the housecleaning.  All that can wait!  Just cherish your family.

I appreciate you.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Upcoming Events:
11.17-11.20:  Book Fair in the library
11.18  PTA program at 6:00 pm
11:19:  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.20  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school
12.18:  December Classroom Party (schoolwide) at 1:45
12.19:  Polar Express Day:  wear pajamas to school
12.22-1.5:  Winter Break:  no school
1.6.2015:  Children return to school
2.10:  Stephen Fite's  "Giddy Up and Learn" concert - Kindergarten Field Trip

The Entry With No Pictures of Students

Last week, this book was donated to our classroom library.  It literally has no pictures.  It forced the children to listen to comprehend.  They comprehended with big belly laughs and a request for "Read it again!"  Well this blog entry will have no pictures of students because I left the camera at school.  I know the photos of the children are the real reason you come to the blog but today will be a change of pace and comprehension will be the goal!

The big news will be Friday's Thanksgiving Crafternoon.  I will let the children in on the big event Friday morning.  (In the last couple of weeks, I have had several requests from Room  114 to have another Crafternoon so they are going to be thrilled with Friday's announcement.)  Preparing the classroom will begin at 1:15.  If you can't join us in the classroom, then please support our Crafternoon by sending in supplies to make the afternoon great. Contact Room 114's room parent if you need more information.    If you are coming for the Crafternoon, park in the carpool lane so that you can be one of the first Blount families to begin the weekend. If you don't park in the carpool lane, you may be one of the last Blount families to begin the weekend.

Monday is Italian Ice for $1.00.  Please return library books and poetry journals on Monday.

Our December secret money is due this Friday for $9.00.  Please send exact change if your are sending cash.  You have the option to pay for our May 2015 secret by sending $18.  Eighteen dollars will cover both secrets for this school year.

In math, we are continuing to work with the number ten.  We are also getting serious about addition.  The vocabulary words for upcoming math lessons will be:  add (to join two sets), plus (add to, a symbol that shows addition), is equal to (a number or amount that is the same as).  

In reading there was an error last week, we learned the word "they" and not "then" so make the change in your high frequency word practice.    They is a difficult word to learn so please add the change.

Reading this week will be the initial and final sound of Cc.  High frequency words for the week will be:  are, that, do,  Due to no school on Tuesday, the decodable reader will come home on Monday.

Reading enrichment from last week.  We learned the "ay" is a very cool combination of letters.   When we found words that had the "ay" combination, we would put our thumbs up, tilt our head and say "aaaaaa" (Fonzie style for those of you that know about Happy Days.)  There is a special person in our class that starts with the letter C that has this combination in his name.  Plus one of our favorite words "play" has it. As does every day of the week.  So as you are reading with your child look for words that have the cool combination of "ay." 

On November 19 and 20 the children will be dressing up as Pilgrims and Indians for lunch.  You are invited to join us from 10:45-11:10.  I will send home a RSVP in Monday's binder.  If you are just joining us and not eating lunch, then you do not need to return the form.  But if you plan to eat from the lunchroom, then please return the form by Thursday.  This allows the lunchroom to prepare food for the large amount of visitors that come for this day to eat with Kindergarten.

Our poem last week focused on multiple meanings.  Hopefully, your child can tell you two different meanings for the word gobble.  Be sure to check this week's poem because it focuses on a Thanksgiving tradition for many families.

 I will be out of the classroom all day on Wednesday.  The children will have a great day with our substitute.  I will return Thursday.

MPS worked on their email service this weekend, especially their SPAM filter.  In case you email me and don't hear a reply within twelve hours, there may be a chance it went to SPAM.  So resend it.  I'm going to carefully monitor my SPAM folder this week but help me out if you don't get a reply in a reasonable manner.  

Remember no school on Tuesday in observance of Veteran's Day.  Big, big thanks to the military families in Room 114.  What a special, special bunch you are!

Upcoming events:
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.14  Payment due for Room 114's December Secret
11.14:  Room 114's Thanksgiving Crafternoon  (classroom set up begins at 1:15)
11.18  PTA program at 6:00 pm
11:19:  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.20  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

Hello November!

One of the most popular books in our classroom for the past several weeks has been a homemade book of our Halloween costumes, plus the repeated use of the word "see."  In case all of Room 114 showed up at your door on Halloween night click here to see who we would be. 

Monday is Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.  Please return library books and poetry journals.

  Our poem last week used our high frequency word "see" and another kind of "sea."  We learned the rule of when two vowels are right next to each other, the first one does the talking and the second one does the walking.  Look for a handout in Monday's binder about how we are learning more than just one letter a week in reading and how to help us at home.

In math, we are still working with the number 10.  Our October calendar pages came home last Friday.  In the month of November we will be working with the beginning stages of addition in our calendar notebook. 


We have a lot of birthdays in the next few months.  I wanted to remind that birthday invitations cannot be distributed at school.  A class directory was distributed and emailed  earlier in the fall.  Contact me if you need another copy.

Last week in reading we read a book called Nature Spy.  We took our learning outside one day and became nature spies ourselves.  Check out the photos of spying experiences by clicking here.  A magnifying glass is an excellent tool to have at home.  In the past, Kazoo Toys sold a solid magnifying lens and use your Blount spirit card for a discounted price!

This week in reading we will be working with the letter Pp.  High frequency words will be:  then, you, of.  For Halloween, I took the teacher route and passed out literature when Room 114 came knocking on the classroom door looking for treats!  It is a classic and fun to read and act out.  Check out the school Halloween treat photos by clicking here.

There will only be fifteen school days in November.  Time is going to go by quickly.  We are going to spend each day in November talking about Thanksgiving and the importance of gratitude.   I hope you spend the month of November counting  your blessings and keeping Christmas until December. 

We are planning for a fun filled and thankful Thanksgiving Crafternoon on Friday, November 14.  Thank you for supporting our Crafternoons from at home or volunteering in the classroom.  Contact me or the room parent for more information on how to help out.

What a wonderful day at the Pumpkin Patch.  The weather was perfect, the patch was organized, the parents were wonderful and the children were well behaved.  Thank you for making sure our morning started out smooth!  You guys make my job easier.  Enjoy these photos from our field trip to the pumpkin patch by clicking here.

Upcoming events:
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.14:  Room 114's Thanksgiving Crafternoon  (classroom set up begins at 1:15 and the Crafternoon with the children will begin at 1:45)
11:19:  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.20  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

The End of October!

Our field trip to the pumpkin patch is this Thursday.  The school buses are leaving the parking lot at 8:30 which means we will start boarding at 8:20.  Please make every effort for your child to be at school by 8:00 on Thursday so that I can get everyone situated, bathroom visits and field trip expectations conveyed to the children.  Your child must be dressed in the yellow field trip t-shirt.  The pumpkin patch will be crowded and those yellow shirts allow me to keep track of the children quickly.  The office will call you to bring the yellow t-shirt to school if your child comes dressed without it.  I will send an email out to chaperones on Tuesday with detailed information about the day. Lunch was included in the price of the field trip so do not send lunchboxes.  Do send a snack for your child to eat once we return to school.

 The children will wear the pumpkin t-shirts (pictured above) on Friday.  I will keep them at school and help the children change into them on Friday morning.  Friday is a regular day with quiet learning because I know there will be loud, crazy fun for the families on Friday night.

Monday is Italian Ice for $1.00.  Snack/juice for $5.00.  Also Monday is library day and the return of library books. While you are packing the back pack for Monday make sure the poetry journal is inside.

Our system does not set aside a day for parent/teacher conferences.  However, I am always willing to sit down with your and discuss your child.  Just contact me and we can find a time that is convenient for both of us.

 Our poetry journal last week allowed us to use our growing writing skills by practicing labeling a picture.  We know that good writers can label pictures.  Plus the poem entry is just a lot of fun to do and results in big, big giggles when we get to super sonic speed.  I hope your member of Room 114 shared it with you and made mom and dad participate.  Return poetry journals on Monday.

Book orders will be in binders on Monday for the month of November.  You may send one check (made payable to Scholastic) if you choose to order from more than one flyer.  Or you may order on line using our class code of GL88R . Book orders are due Friday.  I will place the order on Saturday with a turn around time of 5 school days.  Let me know if any of the books you purchase are Christmas Secrets.  I can arrange for the books to be delivered to you without your child knowing.  Book orders are optional and come home once a month. 

The children are working very hard with their reading.  We know that  practice makes better so don't skip your twenty minutes a night of reading, reading the decode-able paper book in Tuesday's binder, reading Monday's Family Times, plus high frequency word practice.  In reading this week  we will be working with the letter Ss.  Our high frequency words are:  see, look.   

In Friday's book bag there will be a special literary treat for your child.  Please read the note found in Friday's binder that will give you more information about the treat.  The information in the note will include how to use it at home with your reading practice.

 The Queen of Ten made a visit to celebrate the fiftieth day of Kindergarten. She brought a sweet treat that she called Zeros but some of the students called doughnuts. She even left us with an assignment to find different ways to make the number ten.  How did she know that was the next math concept that we will working on in math.  We will be spending a lot of time with the number ten because of its importance with our number system.  You can help out at home by helping us learn to read the number words zero through ten,

Last week we celebrated Red Ribbon/Drug Free Week.  We discussed keeping our bodies healthy.  We had a week of cowboys/cowgirls,  favorite hats, future occupations and team spirit  wear.  Check out these sweet, sweet friends by  clicking here! 

The highlight from last week was our first Crafternoon of the school year. We celebrated being a good friend in the same style that Miss Spider was in the book Miss Spider's Tea Party.   Thank you to those that supported our Crafternoon from home by sending in supplies and those that helped out in the classroom.  The children have no idea how well loved they are and how much their parents love every member of Room 114.  These pictures (click right here to view the fun) will make you smile and warm your heart.  Our next Crafternoon will be Friday, November 14.   Be on the lookout for information on how you can help us celebrate.

Thanks for supporting our classroom.  Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Upcoming Events:
10.30:  Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch (wear yellow field trip t-shirt)
10.31  Book orders are due (optional)
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.14:  Room 114's Thanksgiving Crafternoon  (classroom set up begins at 1:15 and the Crafternoon with the children will begin at 1:45)
11:19:  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.20  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

Middle of October

The middle of October is a busy place.  This week the school is participating in Red Ribbon Week to celebrate a drug free lifestyle.  This week we will discuss keeping our bodies healthy.  A handout went home Thursday about the events for each day.  If you choose not to participate then please wear regular uniform attire.

Monday is our library day so please return library books.  In Monday's binder, you will find a special reading log that is to be completed and turned in by October 31.  The prize:  a chance to win tickets to the Auburn/Alabama game!  This contest is optional.

Monday is Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.  Snack/juice can be purchased for $5.00.  If your child is tardy on Mondays, snack/money/Italian Ice cannot be purchased for the week.  I'm sorry for any sad hearts that result as of this school wide rule but instructional time must be protected.

I will place a new reading information sheet  in the plastic sleeve located behind the reading log.  Don't forget to keep the high frequency words from the first nine weeks in your evening practice rotation of reading those words quickly and accurately.

This week our sight words will be:  he, for, me, with, she.  We will focus on the initial and medial (middle) sound for the letter Aa.  We will learn the short and long sound for the letter Aa. 

 A couple of weeks ago in our poetry journal, we illustrated the steps from a pumpkin seed to a pumpkin.  Sequencing steps is an important skill for being a comprehending reader.  As you read story books with your child, ask your child what happened at the beginning, middle and end of the story.  This is a hard skill and one that takes practice over and over so don't become concerned if what your child shares is not necessarily the most important events at the beginning, middle and end.  It is hard for young children to identify the most important events so just keep practicing and talking with your child.

On Friday morning, I will tell the children that today will be a fun day to celebrate friendship.  A fantastic way to celebrate friendship is to have a Miss Spider's Tea Party Crafternoon.  Our room parent has been corresponding with you about helping out with the Crafternoon, either by sending items from home or helping out in the classroom.  Thank you for supporting this special event for Room 114.  There is still time to help...check binders from Friday and you will find a letter from our room parent.  If you are able to help set up, please join us at 1:15.  The Crafternoon with the children will begin at 1:45.  Note:  If you are coming for the Crafternoon, go ahead and park your car in the carpool lane.  We will finish shortly before 3:10 so you can scoot to your car and be one of the first to start your weekend.  If you choose to park in a parking space, you will probably have a difficult time joining the carpool line. 

Last week, we had a Fuzzy Wuzzy tongue twister in our poetry journal.  Being able to manipulate sounds is an important beginning reading skill. Be sure to return poetry journals on Monday and look for it to return in Friday's back pack.  

In math, we are working with numbers to nine.  The data we keep up with daily says that the Queen of Ten should be making an appearance this week.

You are invited to join us for lunch any day of the week.  Our lunch time is 10:45-11:10. You do not need to make reservations.   Just sign in at the office and wait for us to pass by and join our line.  It will probably be one of the more lively lunches you have all week.  Look below at upcoming events and make note of two very special lunches in November where the children will be dressed up as Pilgrims/Native Americans. Click here for more lunchroom photos. 

Thank you for your support of the Fall Festival.  It was a successful evening with outstanding weather.  The parents of Room 114 made a large presence of volunteering at the event.  Thank you for supporting our school!

Hope to see you at Friday's Crafternoon.  Thank you for loving all the children in Room 114!  Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Upcoming events:
10:24  Room 114's Miss Spider's Tea Party Crafternoon  @ 1:15 (set up)
10.30:  Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch (wear yellow field trip t-shirt)
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.14:  Room 114's Thanksgiving Crafternoon (date change)
11:19:  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.20  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Lots to Celebrate!

There is a fresh box of crayons waiting for everyone on Tuesday.  A new box of crayons has endless possibilities.

Due to the short week, Nancy's Italian Ice will be Tuesday.  A short week means $4.00 for snack/juice.  Send library books on Thursday so that we can exchange for a new book.

Please make sure poetry journals return on Tuesday.  The poem this week is a tongue twister.  Be warned:  tongue twisters are very addictive to Kindergarten age children.  Just enjoy it and know the manipulation of sounds is a great way to become a reader.  Feel free to teach your child some tongue twisters from your childhood. Look for the poetry journal in Friday's book bag.

The first quarter of Kindergarten ended last Friday.  Forty-three days go by quickly when you work with such special people.  We keep track of the number of days in school.  We think in groups of ten.  We are noticing a pattern on our days in school display.  The numbers in the vertical columns contain some of the same numerals.  We are laying the foundation for place value.  In math this week, we are working on the numbers eight and nine. 

 Report cards will be issued at 3:10 on Thursday.  You will receive two copies of the report card.  Sign and return one copy and keep the other copy at home.  Please return the copy on Friday.  I will include an assessment sheet with notes on how your child performed with the report card. 

A change for the second nine weeks is the students will  be expected to write their names with a capital letter at the beginning and lowercase letters for the remaining letters.  Help us with this at home. 

We work on handwriting, number formation,and letter formation with many different tools. We use paper/pencil, playdoh, wipe erase boards and the favorite chalkboards.  Have a variety of writing tools at your house to keep things fresh and exciting.  Check  here for more chalboard photos.

The big news this week is the Fall Festival on Thursday night.  The weather report looks perfect.  The children that purchased a Fall  Festival t-shirt can wear it on Thursday with blue jeans.  Thank you for supporting our school.

Classroom needs:  empty toilet tissue rolls and empty baby food jars.

This is a review week in reading.  We will be working on rhyming words, high frequency words, blending sounds together to make words and learning sounds.  We are learning about the importance role vowels have in words.  Vowels are the glue that keeps the word together.  We can sort vowels and consonants.  We are also learning the sounds that vowels can make.  Look for a new reading log in Tuesday's binder.


We are getting closer to Room 114's first Crafternoon of the school year.   Refer to the room parent's email about signing up for items to send or ways to help out.  We invite parents to join us on Friday, October 24 at 1:15 to prepare the classroom.  The children will begin the Crafternoon at 1:45. We will be learning lots of spider facts in the next few weeks so listen to us as we share our new knowledge. 

Upcoming events:
10.16:  Report cards are issued at 3:10 pm
10.16:  Blount Fall Festival   4:30-7:30  (ball park across the school)
10:24  Room 114's Miss Spider's Tea Party Crafternoon  (set up begins at 1:15...the Crafternoon starts at 1:45)
10.30:  Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch (wear yellow field trip t-shirt)
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.14:  Room 114's Thanksgiving Crafternoon (date change)
11:19:  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.20  Pilgrim/ Native American lunch (10:45-11:10)
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

Contact me with any questions or concerns.

October Is a Busy Place for Room 114

Every week for the remainder of October, we have something big happening.  Make sure to keep track of upcoming events.

Thursday is picture day.  The children may dress out of uniform.  No tank tops, spaghetti straps, sandals...etc.   In the ideal world, we would take pictures as soon as school starts so that everyone is neat and tidy.  However, nothing is ever ideal, especially when we leave at 8:30 for  Coach Grant.  You may send a comb/hairbrush to school if you want me to straighten up hair.  Please label any brushes or combs sent to school. There will be no sharing of  hair grooming items. 

Friday is the final day to purchase Fall Festival tickets at the early bird price.  If your flyer about purchasing tickets at the early bird price did not make it home last week, please let me know and I will resend it.  Prices will be higher the night of the fall festival so save a little money and buy your tickets by Friday.

Friday is also the deadline for paying for the pumpkin patch field trip.  Let me know if you need an extension.

 Our poem last week consisted of only two words yet it taught all three punctuation marks. We learned that a period means stop for just a second to take a breath and then keep on reading. A question mark means your voice goes up at the end of the sentence. An exclamation mark means to use emotion in your voice (happy,scared, nervous, shy...) when reading aloud.    Make sure poetry journals are returned every Monday and look in backpacks for them on Friday afternoons. Check out photos of poetry notebook practice by clicking here.

Monday is library day and Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00. 

In reading we will working with the letter Tt.  We will be looking for initial, middle and ending Tt sounds.  Sight words are:  we, my , like, he, for, a, to, have, is the, little, I, am.  Our story this week is about big trucks so I know there will be a few students in our class very excited about the literature this week.

In math, we are working on numbers 6, 7, 8, 9.  This week we will begin to understand different combinations we can to make these numbers.  For examle:   4 and 2 make 6 but so does 3 and 3.  This is not a mastery concept at this point in Kindergarten, rather noticing how numbers can be created.

I will be assessing phone numbers and birth dates on Tuesday.  I will be assessing report cards all week so reading groups and math groups will be abbreviated.  Report cards are issued on Thursday, October 16.

Class need:  Please send in empty toilet tissue rolls.  Keep sending them until I say we have enough. 

Last week was full of learning to celebrate the letter Mm.  We use a lot of different math manipulatives  in math but the children would probably say the day we used M&Ms was the best math tool yet.   We began the lesson by sorting and recording the data.  Then we worked with ten frames to make sets.  Then the children had free exploration where anything was acceptable.  We worked so hard that we threw our handled M&Ms away and treated ourselves to M&Ms that were meant to be eaten.  Check out the M&M math time by clicking here.

Do you want to watch your child's creativity in action?  Grab a bag of marshmallows and a box of toothpicks.  We did marshmallow exploration focusing on making letters of the alphabet.  That was morphed into making words.  Then the creation of three dimensional shapes made an appearance.   Then of course once everything was cleaned up and thrown away, it was time to eat a few marshmallows.  The children could have explored and created all morning.  Check out the marshmallow learning by clicking right here.

 

Mickey and Minnie Mouse items came to school on Friday.  We shared, sorted, graphed and had time to play with our items.  Check out the mouse learning fun by clicking here.

There is no school on October 13 due to a teacher in-service day. Have extra fun for me because I will be in meetings all day.   Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Upcoming Events:
10.9  Picture day
10.10  Last day to purchase Fall  Festival wristbands at an Early Bird price
10.10 Final day to pay for pumpkin patch field trip
10.13:  No school for students.  It is a teacher in-service day.
10.16:  Report cards are issued at 3:10 pm
10.16:  Blount Fall Festival   4:30-7:30  (ball park across the school)
10:24  Room 114's Miss Spider's Tea Party Crafternoon 
10.30:  Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch (wear yellow field trip t-shirt)
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

Can It Really Be the Eighth Week of School?

We are starting the eighth week of school.  Time is moving quickly.  I will begin to assess for report cards this week.  I will be checking phone numbers and birthdays on Tuesday, October 7.

 In only four lines, our poem last week taught the names of the four seasons, practiced reading the word "is" and had rhyming words.  Can't beat that for instruction.  Our poem this week will help us learn the three different kinds of punctuation that readers/writers use.  Be sure to check book bags every Friday to see the new poem.  Poetry journals need to be returned on Mondays.

We also had a second poem last weekend that gave us a reminder of how the letters should be written.  That poetry journal has a lot of learning inside it.  Please don't let it sit in back packs during the weekend.

In reading this week we begin to really focus on the letter Mm.  We will be working on the initial, middle and ending sound of Mm. There is a blue half sheet of paper in Monday's binder that gives you some ideas on how to incorporate the letter Mm  with your family (optional...nothing to be returned to school.)   The high frequency words for the week are:  have, is, we, my, like.

To  celebrate the letter Mm,we will have a Mickey/Minnie Mouse day on Friday.  Your child can bring ONE Mickey/Minnie Mouse item to school on Friday.  Contact me if you do not have an item.  Please do not go out and purchase anything.  

In math, we are moving into the the numbers and quantities of 6-9.  You can help out at home by making sure we can read the words:  zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,  and nine.
Don't forget to be playing this computer game at home;  either the five frame game or the ten frame game. September calendar pages will be sent home this week.  As you look at the calendar pages, ask your child to tell you what we do with each page.

Nancy's Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.  Please return the library book on Monday.

Blount is collecting money for the United Way this week.  Children may participate by purchasing paper footballs for $1.00 each.  We will culminate the  United Way week on Friday by wearing our favorite team jersey/t-shirt.

Last chance to purchase the Fall Festival t-shirt is Wednesday.The fall festival t-shirt is considered spirit wear and can be worn on any Friday.  The PTA does not order extra fall festival t-shirts so get one now.  The Fall Festival is Thursday, October 16 at the ball fields across the street from the school.  It is an evening of inflatables, pony rides, games, baked goods and concession food.  It is a favorite night for the children.  More information will be coming home soon about the fall festival.

Book order flyers were sent home on Thursday.  I will place the book order Wednesday night.  Book orders are optional and come home once a month.

Information was sent home on Thursday about the Pumpkin Patch field trip. Payment is due October 10 for the pumpkin patch.  Lunch is included.  Please mark on the permission slip form if you are able to chaperone.  We painted pumpkins last week.  Check out our preparations for welcoming October by clicking right here.
 
Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.  Thank you for supporting the learning style of Room 114.

Upcoming events:
10.1:  Book orders are due
10.1:  Fall Festival t-shirt order due
10.3:  Mickey/Minnie Mouse Day in Room 114 (bring one item)
10.13:  No school for students.  It is a teacher in-service day.
10.16:  Report cards are issued at 3:10 pm
10.16:  Blount Fall Festival
10.30:  Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch (wear yellow field trip t-shirt)
11.11:  No school in observance of Veteran's Day  
11.24 - 11:28:  Thanksgiving Break - no school

Goodbye Summer....Hello Autumn!

The best part of last week was the field trip to the nature center.  When you look at the slide show by clicking here, you can see the curiosity and concentration in the faces of Room 114.  The outdoor classroom is quite powerful.  Thanks to all the parents that came and made sure the children were well taken care of.  The behavior of Room 114 was exemplary so that means we can go on more field trips!  Our next field trip is Thursday, October 30 to the pumpkin patch.  There is no limit on chaperones for that field trip.  Information will come home in October for the pumpkin patch.

Monday is library day so please return the library book for a new one.  Monday is also the day for Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00 and to purchase juice and snack. There is something special about a cool treat in the middle of a Monday.  Check out the big smiles when we take our Italian Ice outside by clicking here.

To celebrate the letter Mm on Friday, October 3 (not this Friday...but next Friday), we will have a Mickey/Minnie Mouse day.  The children can bring one item to school that has Mickey Mouse OR Minnie Mouse on it.  Don't send it in this week but next week.  I just wanted to give you plenty of notice. Please do not go out and purchase anything new for this.  If you need an item just let me know.

Last week in our language arts block, we introduced adjectives to describe nouns.  We are working to remember that a noun is a person, animal, place or thing.  We are also working hard on hearing the initial sounds (not be able to tell the alphabet letter but the SOUND at the beginning of a word.)  Emphasis is also spent on rhyming words.  Learning to read is hard work but they children are doing a fantastic job.  This week we will be recognizing the letters:  Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz.  The high frequency words are : a, to, have, is (and don't forget:  I, am, the, little.)  Since last week was a short week and a field trip, I did not do the best job of teaching a and to but I will make up for it this week!  There is something to be said for quiet, unexciting weeks. 

In math, we are working on the beginning stages of addition.  We are working hard at creating different ways to make the number five.  Soon we will be adding the numbers 6-10  into our daily workings and discovering all the different combinations to make 10.  Every day we build on the knowledge from the day before!   This week we will be playing games that help us learn one more and one fewer.  Heads up:  it is always easier for children to count upwards than backwards so don't be concerned if your child has a difficult time of telling a number that is one less than a certain number.   Be sure to use the vocabulary:  the same, greater than, less than, more, fewer.  

Our poetry journal included a song last week about our five senses.  We learned that good writers can label pictures.  So open up your child's poetry journal and check out his/her labeling skills.  We have fun going back and reading poems from earlier in the year.  There will be two poems this week so don't let the poetry journal sit in back packs next weekend!

On Thursday, I will  send home book orders for the month of October.  You can order online with the class code of GL88R or return payment and form to school.  The deadline for the book order is Wednesday, October 1.  Book orders are optional and come home once a month.

Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.  It is hard to believe that according to our calendar knowledge that the Queen of Ten is scheduled to come this week.  Thank you for trusting me with your greatest treasure.

 Upcoming Events:
9.25:  Teacher Treat Day (K and 5th grades - host)
10.1:  Book orders are due
10.13:  No school for students.  It is a teacher in-service day.
10.16:  Blount Fall Festival 
10.30  Kindergarten field trip to the Pumpkin Patch