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!
 

The Happiest Place on Earth

I believe that Room 115 is one of the happiest places on earth.  After a weekend of watching devastating news, I am looking forward to getting back to Room 115.  Thank you for your emails and kind words you have shared with me this weekend.   I spend more time with your child than I do with my own during a weekday.  I am eager to shut our door and have a normal day working with my 19 students where I can see their joyful faces and focus on instruction.  I do not plan to talk to about the Connecticut event with the students.  If a conversation comes up in the next few days, I will  send out a mass email to let you know how I addressed it.  At this age, conversations need to come from parents where there can be reassurances that only a parent can give.  Here is a guide on how to talk to your child (or older children) about the event.   I found this article on a website for American School Counselors.

Tragedy Talking Points by Dr. Brad Schwall

The following guidelines may help you in addressing the school-shooting incident with your children based on the information currently known about the tragedy to this point.

• Avoid exposing children to too much media coverage.
• Avoid fostering rumors and speculation about the tragedy.  

Age and Stage Responses

Preschool-2^nd grade – discuss the incident only if the child has heard any of the news. There is no need to inform the child of the tragedy if the child does not know about it.

3^rd- 5^th graders are more likely to have heard the news.  Decide whether to bring the issue up with 3^rd and 4^th graders based on their temperaments.

Check for what your child knows – Ask, “What have you heard today?"

You may choose to approach the subject with children in 6^th grade and older.

No matter your child’s age, consider the following responses based on how you believe you need to address the tragedy with your child.

• The tragedy is isolated and tragedies like this happen rarely.
• The fact that this tragedy happened does not mean there is an immediate danger where you live.
• Emphasize that safety precautions are in place in schools.
• Reflect what your child may be feeling – “I know this is scary news. It is very sad.”
• Emphasize empathy for the victims – “It is very sad that this happened to those families and children.”
• Teenagers may reflect on the fragile nature of life and the unpredictability of life.

The conversation may focus on:

• Validating your child's feelings - it is OK to feel scared or sad
• Emphasizing that your child is safe
• Empathizing with the victims

Regular news for Room 115

Check book bags on Monday for a special Christmas secret that can be opened immediately.  We thought of every member of our family as we made the secret!


Also on Monday will be your child's DIBELS scores from last week.  There is a note attached detailing each of the tests that were administered.  Let me know if you have any questions about the scores.  Please sign and return.   

This is a review week for reading.  I will send home a list for the word wall words for the 3rd nine weeks on Wednesday.  I will be testing for report cards this week so reading groups will be abbreviated and no reading homework sheets.

In math, we will work on addition and continue to learn about subtraction.  

We will have Nancy's Italian Ice on Monday for $1.00.  New library books should come home tomorrow.  Look for our poetry journals to come home Wednesday.  

Classroom needs:  cap erasers

Wednesday is Polar Express Day.  We  get to wear our pajamas to school and watch the Polar Express.  No need to send a change of clothes...we will work in our pajamas all day.

If you asked the students the most important thing about this week the answer would be Thursday, December 20.  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 20 from 1:30-2:15.  Parents are invited to help get the room ready beginning at 1:10.  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 a regular school day.  

Have a wonderful break.  Remember to return on Thursday, January 3.  We are not off for the full two weeks this year.  I hope your Christmas is filled with sweet memories,  uninterrupted time with your child and peace.  Be safe, read a few good books and be thankful for healthy, growing children!  See you in 2013!  Thank you for loving Room 115.  I appreciate your support!

A Busy, Busy Week

What a busy week this is going to be.  If you  have older children in the system, you know all about DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills).  Well MPS decided to do away with DIBELS  this year but then they changed their minds.  Soooo...our class will be tested tomorrow.  Nothing to worry about or prepare for...it just interrupts our schedule.  (If you are new to the word DIBELS,  I will explain later when we send home the scores.)  On Tuesday, we will have extra students in our classroom while another K teacher is on the DIBELS testing team.  Nothing to worry about...it just interrupts our schedule.  On Friday, the children will rotate to each of the other four Kindergarten classroom for fun holiday crafts.  A lot of FUN.... but it interrupts our schedule.  So the key word this week is flexibility.   Check binders nightly for reading homework but don't be surprised if it doesn't come home nightly.

In reading we will be investigating the letter Jj as in "jellybean in the jar."  The word wall words are:  with, for, then,some.  I will begin assessing word wall words this Wednesday.  My assessment covers ALL the word wall words since school began.

In math, we have moved into subtraction.  The big concept for the children to get across is that you start out with a group and it gets smaller as you take things away.  We have started to have addition worksheets during the day.  Those will come home in binders for you to monitor your child's progress.

Send library books but the library will probably be closed due to DIBELS testing.  I will try to squeeze two children down at a time if the library opens before the end of the day.

Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.  Please return poetry journals on Monday too.

We have enough toilet tissue rolls for a special craft this week.  Thanks for your help.

Heads up:  In LATE January, I will start collecting empty shoe boxes for Valentine mail boxes.  The kids get so much Valentine mail that adult shoes boxes are needed.  I prefer shoe boxes that have a detachable lid but those are very hard to find.  Most adult shoe boxes come with the lid attached now days.  So if new shoes/boots are under your Christmas tree this year, please save the box.  Do not send the box until I ask for it due to a lack of storage in our classroom.

The room parents have sent out an email about the class Christmas party on Thursday, December 20.  It is from 1:30-2:15 pm.  I hope you can attend. Thanks for supporting the room parents in making sure Room 115 celebrates in style. 

Change of date: The Kindergarten children will be having a Polar Express Day on Wednesday, December 19.  Pajamas are in order for that day.  We will be watching the movie Polar Express.  Please contact me if you  would rather not allow your child to watch the movie.

Either my camera, my computer or blogger is not cooperating but I cannot load pictures today onto the blog. Thanks for understanding.  I'll make sure to post extra next week.

Thanks for supporting our classroom.  I am a very blessed teacher.  Contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Events:
Wednesday , December 19:  Kindergarten watches the Polar Express (wear pajamas)
Thursday, December 20:  Room 115 Christmas Party,  1:30-2:15 pm
Monday, December 24-Wednesday, January 2:  NO SCHOOL
Thursday, January 3:  School is in session

Hello December

It was so nice to see everyone back together.  It had been over one month since we have had perfect attendance.  Our song "The More We Get Together" was very appropriate for our poetry journals.  We sang that song all week long and even pulled out the musical instruments in the classroom to accompany the singing.  Joyful singing in a very happy classroom!


This week we will be investigating the letter Ii as in "insect in the ink."  The word wall words are:  when, want, soon, get.   Note:  Stay on top of word wall word practice at home.  The difficulty of words tends to pick up this week for the remainder of the school year.  Remember these are words that need to be recognized and read instantly upon sight. 

We should  test on addition later this week and begin subtraction.  November calendar pages never made it into notebooks on Friday so we will try again on Monday.

Look for this alphabet chart in the take home folder on Wednesday.  There will be a note attached as to how to use this at home.  Your child will know what to do but still read the handout.  This does not need to be returned.

Remember that Monday is Italian Ice, library and a new poem for our poetry journals. 

Last week we had a visit from Harvey the dog and the Montgomery Humane Society.  We learned about the safest way to approach and pet a dog.  Room 115 has had several conversations since the beginning of school of how cool it would be if a dog could live in our classroom and spend the day with us. 


The school is collecting new 12" bears to give to the Family Sunshine Guidance Center .  The collection will last through Friday.

The big news from last week was the installation of our Smart board.  I don't believe that technology makes a great classroom but I do believe that if you give an effective teacher technology then instruction can be enhanced.  Our Smart board is pretty cool and we've just had it turned on two days.  I'm sure you will hear a lot about our Smart board all year long.  The room had to be rearranged to accommodate the Smart board so be prepared for change the next time you visit. 


I will be out of the classroom all day on Friday.  I've secured an excellent substitute so the children won't even know that I'm not there.

Upcoming Dates:
Thursday, December 20:  Room 115 Christmas Party,  1:30-2:15 pm
Friday, Decemb3er 21:  Kindergarten watches the Polar Express (wear pajamas) 
Monday, December 24-Wednesday, January 2:  NO SCHOOL
Thursday, January 3:  School is in session


Contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  I hope you can make plans to attend our Christmas Party on December 20!  We are a fun group to hang out with.  Thanks so much for supporting our classroom!