Alabama Cold and "Snow"

In our January calendar notebook, we record the daily temperature.  To do this we go to the Weather Channel website and check out the current temperature.  While at the website, we like to look at the map of the United States.  Looking at the national map makes us think of our grandparents or places where we used to live.  A favorite activity is to to check out the temperatures of these much loved states.  We do a little of comparing and contrasting.  One of our classmates has connections to Alaska.  On Thursday, we got so excited to learn that Montgomery was colder than Alaska.  Wait until our January calendar pages come home and then you can listen to your child share the daily temperatures of Alabama weather.

This Thursday and Friday is Mornings with Mom.  The PTA is sponsoring a free early morning treat with Mom/Grandma/Or a Mom "stand in" beginning at 7:30.  Thursday is for Moms with last names starting with A-M.  Friday is for Moms with the last names starting with N-Z.   If your assigned day does not work with your schedule then please come on the other day.

The kickoff for Accelerated Reader went smoothly.  Thank you for following directions.  I expect your child to take at least one AR test a week.   Hopefully, you signed up for the email notification so that you can know how your child did on the test.  By the enthusiasm of Room 114 last week, it will not take some members too much longer to make it to the five point club.  AR is not used for grading purposes in Kindergarten.  The objective is motivate children to read more.  As we say in Room 114 all the time, "The more you practice the better you get!"

We will have Italian Ice for $1.00 on Monday.

A book order came home in Friday's binder.  The deadline to order is Tuesday, January 13.  If you order on-line use our class code of GL88R.  Or you may send in  order forms and payment by Tuesday.  Book orders are optional and have a turn around time of 5-7 days. 

I collect juice/snack money on Mondays.  If your child is tardy(late) for school, he/she cannot purchase juice/snack for that week.  It breaks my heart to see the sad faces when I tell them that they cannot have juice/snack but I am unable to count money all day long.  To prevent any disappointment,  do your best to get your child to school on time.

We will be working with the letter Rr this week in reading.  Our high frequency words are:  yellow, blue, green.  We are focusing on comparing and contrasting in reading. Comparing means how things are the same and contrasting means how they are different.  Reinforce this at home by asking your child to compare and contrast items around your house.  We are also working hard at knowing the difference between nouns, adjectives and verbs.  Whew!  There is a lot of learning that takes place daily.

In math, we are working with subtraction.  We are learning the symbols of subtraction.  We are also learning the vocabulary words of take away, minus, subtract, and difference. 

The biggest math news is that Friday was the 90th day of school. Every day we count and record how many days we have been in school. Ten days left until we celebrate the number 100.  The 100th day of school will be Monday, January 26.  We will do things the 100 way all day long.  The children will come to school dressed up as 100 year old men and women on Monday, January 26.  Click on the  links from the last few years of the 100 days of school if you need some inspiration  click here or click here  or click here. It is a fun day.

Classroom need:  Each child needs to bring in an adult sized shoebox for a Valentine's Day project.  The best shoebox for this project is one with a detached lid but I realize they are becoming difficult to find.  The  deadline will be Thursday, February 5 to turn in a shoe box.  If you already have a shoebox then please send it now.    If you have an extra shoe box then please donate it for a child that may not have a shoebox. 

Our next Crafternoon will be Friday, January 30.  The theme this time is a western round-up to get us in the mood for the February 10 field trip to see Stephen Fite's Giddy Up and Learn concert.  More information will be coming home soon.  Thank you in advance for supporting these memorable afternoons. The children enjoy them and ask for them.  Don't forget that for the Feb. 10 field trip, the children may come to school dressed up as cowboys and cowgirls.  However, please make sure the yellow field trip t-shirt is visible. So create the costume around the yellow t-shirt.

The children really wanted snow last week.  Since snow didn't appear, we made our own snow with a bunch of coffee filters.  This activity results in quiet, focused children so it is a great activity at home if you need a few minutes of peace.  However, it can be messy if you don't have a trash container right by your snow maker.  Click here to see Room 114's blizzard.

Make note of the upcoming events.  Winter is a busy place in Room 114.  Thank you for loving Room 114.  It is a special place to work and play all because you share your child with it.  Contact me with any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Events:
1,12:  Book orders due
1.15:  Mornings with Mom at 7:30 AM for  last names A-M
1.16:  Mornings with Mom at 7:30 AM for  last names N-Z
1.19:  No school in observance of Martin Luther King's birthday
1.26:  100th day of school:  Dress your child as a 100 year old lady or gentlman
1:30:  Room 114's Western Round Up Crafternoon
2:5:  Deadline for an empty adult sized shoebox
2.10:  Stephen Fite's  "Giddy Up and Learn" concert - Kindergarten Field Trip
2:10: PTA meeting at 6:00 PM
2.13:  Valentine's Day Party 1:30-2:15
2.16:  No school in observance of President's Day
3.12:  Donuts with Dad
3.13:  Donuts with Dad
3.23-3.27:  Spring Break:  no school