Welcome Back!

I hope your spring break was restful and fun!  Room 115 knew how to kick off spring break by having a spring egg hunt.  Nobody was disappointed that the rain moved the egg hunt inside.  Thankful that we had a few extra classrooms in the building that allowed us to spread out the eggs.  Thanks for supporting the egg hunt from home by sending in the eggs and thanks to the family members that helped us on our scavenger hunt.    Enjoy the above slide show that is full of my favorite funny bunnies.

Field trip money for Click, Clack, Moo is due this Friday.

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

In reading we will be studying the letter "Oo" as in octopus in the office.   Word wall words are:  have, saw, must.

This week we will finish up our study of 2D shapes.  Our next chapter will be learning about 3D shapes.  For the remainder of the school year, we will be working very hard on writing our numerals correctly.  Be on the look out at home for numbers that are written backwards and direct your child's attention to correcting that number.



Check binders on Monday for a book (or two) written by your child.  You may need to ask "Read me this story"  or "Tell me about this page."  Remember not to worry about conventional spelling but praise the content of the story and the effort.  The above slide show is of students who wanted to read their stories to the class.   I encourage you to have a writing center set up at your home. Add a stapler and scotch tape for even more excitement.

The other day I was reading an article about how painting can make children clever, improve academic success and improve appropriate behavior.  Funny thing about research, kids don't know it.  They just do what comes naturally.  I do know for a fact that Room 115 had fun making shapes into spring bunnies.

Book orders will come home on Monday.  If you  choose to order online, use code GL88R.  Turn in forms and payment by Friday.  Book orders are optional.

Check out all those aviators outside our door.  Our class is achieving the AR point clubs at a fast pace.  The more your child practices at reading, the better the reader he will be.  I expect at least one AR test a week.  

Upcoming Events:
Monday, April 8:  PTA meeting @ 6:00
Tuesday, April16:  Doughnuts for Dads @ 7:30 am
Wednesday; April 17:  Doughnuts for Dads @ 7:30 am
Wednesday, April 17 :  Fieldtrip to Davis Theater
Thursday, May 16:  Kindergarten End of Year Program @ 9:00 am

 Contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  These next eight weeks are going to fly by.  I wish time would stand still because I'm not ready for what happens at the end of May.

Spring Break Is In the Air

Sorry for the delay in updating.  The McDevitt girls have March birthdays five days apart so this weekend had two birthday parties.  The McDevitt parents are a little tired.  Thanks for understanding.

Spring Break begins Friday at 3:10.  Enjoy a week without schedules.  I hope your days are full of adventures, imagination, creativity and lots of good books.  School will resume on Monday, April 1.

Information about our field trip to the theatrical production of Click, Clack Moo will come home on Wednesday.  Our chaperone tickets are filled but let me know if you are interested in case the other classes do not use all of their tickets.

We have a Spring Egg Hunt on Friday at 11:30.  A blue sheet went home last Thursday with details about sending in eggs for our class.  Please mark on each egg a number from 1-22.  For eggs 6 or 9, please underscore the numeral or write out the word six and nine to prevent any confusion for those egg searchers.  Let me know if you want to help beginning at 11:30.  Please send eggs by Thursday of this week.  Remember, no chocolate in the eggs.  I will provide the basket for hunting and collecting.

A new district policy no longer allows emails for absences.  A doctor's excuse or a note from a parent is required.  Please turn in excuses within two days of returning to school. 

In reading this week we will investigate the letter Ll as in "lobster in the lighthouse."  Word wall words for the week:  was, came, well, are, now.

In math, we are investigating,sorting,categorizing and problem solving shapes.  We certainly have fun as shape investigators.  Be sure to help your child use the correct vocabulary of vertex and vertices when speaking about shapes.



Monday is Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.  Please return library books and poetry journals. Monday night is Spirit Night at Chappy's in case you can't decide what is for dinner.  Picture day is Wednesday.  The children may dress out of uniform but within school dress code (no sandals, no spaghetti straps, etc. .)  Teacher Treat Day is Thursday.  (Thank you so much for contributing to this - it is really a treat for the teachers!)

What a fun March Crafternoon.  The classroom was bathed in green.  Thanks for the support from home and for the support within the classroom.  I believe Room 115 has the best parents in the school.  Thank you for loving every member of Room 115. 


Have a safe and happy Spring Break!

The Beginning of the End

The big, big news from last week is that Room 115 got a new friend.  We now have 10 boys and 12 girls.  Our new friend loves the color pink, puppies, and pizza.  She is going to fit right in with favorites like that.   Please join us for lunch and meet her.

The fourth quarter begins on Monday.  The third quarter of school flew by and I'm afraid the same will be said for the next ten weeks.  I'm sending home a word wall list for the remainder of the school year.  I'm also sending home a sheet for math vocabulary words for the next chapter.  Look for those in Monday's take home binder.



What does the last part of Kindergarten look like?  Lots of writing.  We will be putting our thoughts down on paper.  Remember how I shared at the small group meeting in September that writers demonstrate thinking and thinking demonstrates comprehension.  Reading and writing go together.  The better the reader you are, the better the writer.  Reading takes practice and writing takes practice. I encourage you  to have a designated spot at your house for writing tools and paper.  Encourage your child to write stories.  Don't worry about spelling.  Tell your child to write the sounds they hear.  If you get in the habit of spelling words for your child, he/she will be more concerned about the spelling as opposed to the content.  At this age, we want content.  I promise you that conventional spelling will come with time. The slide show above shows volunteers from Friday that wanted to share their recent writing.

Reading for this week will be the letter Gg as in goose in the grass.  The word wall words are:  said, would, ran, in, could, just. 

In math we are identifying and describing two-dimensional shapes.  Look for a math vocabulary sheet in Monday's binder to assist with learning at home.  This month we are going to be playing some different card games.  You may want to purchase a deck of cards to have on hand for family game night.  I'm sure your child is going to come home and want to teach you the games we are playing in class.

We have our March Crafteroon this Friday.  What a response the room parents have to work with.  I can't thank you enough for the support you give to Room 115!  Join us in the fun starting at 1:45 or 1:10 if you want to help decorate.

Our Spring Egg Hunt will be Friday, March 22 beginning at 11:30.  I need volunteers to help me.  Look for information about the Spring Egg Hunt in Thursday's take home binder.   

On Wednesday, April 17, the Kindergarten and First Grade students from Blount will attend a live performance of the popular children's book Click, Clack, Moo at the Davis Theater.  Our class has five chaperone tickets available for parents.  The cost  for a parent ticket is $9.00 and will be purchased when we send home student information. I am going to let the first five parents who contact me have the tickets.  I'm giving you notice to make work arrangements or child care for younger siblings.  If interested, you would need to be at the Davis Theater from 9:15 to about 11:15 on Wednesday, April 17.  Let me know if you are interested in one of the five chaperone tickets.  Do not send any money at this time.  All you need to do is tell me that you want one of the five tickets allotted to our class.

Nancy's Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.  Please return poetry journals on Monday.  The poem for this upcoming week is a loud one!

Even though the days are now longer and it looks like Spring is on its way, the learning in Room 115 is not slowing down.  The learning stops on the last day of school. Please support me in expecting appropriate behavior.  I will let you know of any concerns I observe.  

Upcoming dates:

Thursday, March 14:  report cards issued

Friday, March 15:  Room 115's March Crafternoon

Friday, March 22:  Spring Egg Hunt for  Room 115 @ 11:30 am  (volunteers needed)

Monday, March 25-Friday, March 29:  Spring Break -no school 

Wednesday,  April 17:  Kindergarten field trip to Davis Theater 

Thursday,  May 16:  Kindergarten end of the year celebration  @ 9:00 AM

 

Contact me with any concerns or questions you may have. Thank you for trusting me with your child.

Hello March and the end of the third nine weeks!

Thank you so much for making last week so much fun as we celebrated reading and the joy found in books.  I know how hard it is to keep track of everything going on at school but you guys are great!  The children had tremendous fun all week.  Thank you so much for supporting our school.  The children looked great for the parade.   We missed one special friend due to illness but her brother brought in her poster so we looked at it all day and missed sweet, sweet "A!"   I hope your child will always celebrate books!

Can you believe the third nine weeks grading period ends Friday?  It flew by.  I will be testing this week for report cards.  Reading groups will be abbreviated so homework may or may not come home nightly.  Check binders to see if your child has homework.

No new letters or sight words this week since I'm testing for report cards.  I will send home a new word wall word list on Thursday for the remainder of the school year.  Look for it in binders. 

In math, we are finishing up large number and will begin shapes.  There is specific vocabulary for the new math unit on shapes.  I will send home a list on Thursday of math vocabulary words to assist your child with at home.  



Stopping in the middle of day and dropping everything to read was a big hit.  Wouldn't it be nice if this was a way of life for everyone in the world!

Our poem this week will involve comprehension.  There is nothing more exciting to me than to see a child learn how to decode words and understand what those words mean.  Look for the new poem on Friday.

You can still turn in Mixed Bag orders on Monday if you forgot last week.  Nancy's Italian Ice day is Monday for $1.00.  Don't forget to send in $5.00 to cover the cost of supplies for a very special surprise Room 115 will have for you  on May 16.  I would like all May Surprise money to be turned in by  Wednesday.  Please let me know if this is a problem for you.

Save the date and volunteers needed:  Room 115 will have a spring egg hunt on Friday, March 22 at 11:30 am.  I need volunteers to hide eggs and more volunteers to lead a small group of students on a scavenger hunt.   The time frame is about one hour.  Please let me know if you can help with this event.

Thanks for the parents that came to read to Room 115 last week. We loved the books and listening to the voices the grown ups used.  Even though your child is beginning to read, it is still very important for him/her to be read aloud to by you.   If you were unable to come but would like to read to the class, please let me know and I'm sure we can find a day and time that is convenient for everyone.


I will be attending a math curriculum meeting on Monday morning.  I will return to Room 115 by 10:00 am. So thankful that I was able to secure an excellent sub, even for that short time away from the students.

Look at these big smiles and silly hats.  I'm very lucky that these are the people I spend my day with.  Thanks for trusting me with your child.  Contact me with any questions.

Upcoming dates:

Wednesday, March 6:  Room 115's assessment of Word Wall Words

Wednesday, March 14:  report cards issued

Friday, March 22:  Spring Egg Hunt for  Room 115 @ 11:30 am  (volunteers needed)

Monday, March 25-Friday, March 29:  Spring Break -no school 

Thursday,  May 16:  Kindergarten end of the year celebration  @ 9:00 AM

Let's Celebrate Reading!

Happy Read Across  America Week!  We will be celebrating books all week long and ending the week with our Character Book Parade on Friday morning.  There was a handout in Friday's binder detailing the week's events that needed assistance from home.  The sign for Friday's parade is simple.  Write it on a piece of paper/poster board and attach a ribbon  to be worn around the neck or attach it to a ruler/stick to carry it.  Hope to see you  in the audience on Friday morning or in our classroom reading a book to the children on Wednesday.  Please contact me if you want to read to the class so that we can find a convenient time. 

Just thinking ahead, on Thursday, May 16 there is a Kindergarten End of the Year celebration at 9:00 am.  After the grade level program, we will return to Room 115 and continue celebrating.  The children will have a special surprise for you.  Please send five dollars to cover the cost of supplies for this surprise by Monday, March 4.  Label the money or check (payable to Blount) as May Surprise.

Did you check your child's mental images in last week's poem? We talk that good readers change their thinking as they read deeper into a story.  I love to watch the students pull their journals out and find a quiet spot and reread their favorites poems.  Please make sure poetry journals are returned on Monday.


In reading, we will be investigating the letter Ff as in "flower in the field."  Word wall words are:  his, it, this, will, went. This week's word wall words will not be on the word wall word assessment next Wednesday, March 6.

In math we are working with counting large numbers.  We have fun songs that get us moving and dancing as we count to 100.  On Monday, I will put a 100's chart in the clear view window on the back of the take home binder to assist learning at home.  Pay extra close attention to those numbers that are difficult in thinking what comes next...19(20), 29(30), 39(40)...  up to 99(100).  February calendars  will come home on Thursday.

We are working hard in learning the coin names and the respective values. Give us a handful of coins and have us identify the names of each coin and the value.  You can give your child a handful pennies to practice counting by ones.  Or a handful of nickels to practice counting by fives.   Or a handful of dimes to practice counting by tens.  Do not mix the coins because until your child understands the concept of skip counting, you will just get frustrated.  I also encourage you to use real coins and bypass plastic coins. 


Monday is library day and Nancy's Italian Ice for $1.00.  Mixed Bag orders are due this Friday.

Mrs. Green skated around the school on Friday to thank the students for participating in the Just Give campaign.   She was a big hit. One of our classmates said when she saw Mrs. Green, "Awwww....look!  Mrs. Green turned into a princess."  We are blessed to have Mrs.Green leading our school.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, February 26: bring a blanket and a soft, furry friend for our thirty minute of Drop Everything and Read

Wednesday, February 27:  volunteers can read to Room 115 (contact me)

Thursday, February 28:  Silly Hat Day in honor of Dr. Suess

Friday, March 1:  Mixed Bag orders due

Friday, March 1:  Blount Character Book Parade at 9:30 am

Wednesday, March 6:  Room 115's assessment of Word Wall Words

Thursday,  May 16:  Kindergarten end of the year celebration  @ 9:00 AM followed by a celebration of Room 115.

How fun to have moms and grandmas come to school early in the morning and enjoy a sweet treat.  I apologize if I missed snapping a photo of you.  Dads will get their turns in April.





Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Upcoming Week...Nothing but Normal

After several busy weeks of the 100th Day of School, a pirate concert and Valentine's Day, it is nice to have a week of nothing but normal.  We will spend this week quietly working hard at our learning.  We pick up with American Educuation Week next week so I'm going to squeeze every bit of normal I can out of this week.

Don't forget that Moms (or substitutes for Moms) can come this Tuesday or Wednesday morning (7:30 AM-8:00 AM) for a yummy breakfast treat (free - compliments of the PTA).  

Last week, we took time to decorate our very important mailbox.  I think kids get more excited about the Valentine's Day party at school than our Christmas party.  It is all because of that mail.  All that mail just for them.  As the students were working so hard on their mailboxes, it looked like we had an explosion of hearts in Room 115.  Fun, fun times!

After counting down the days until Valentine's Day, our party finally arrived.  Thank you to all the families of Room 115 for providing for the party.  The children had a wonderful time. Special thanks goes out to our room mothers for organizing the event.  The children have no idea how loved they are.  Check out the fun for yourself.

This week is a review week for our alphabet letters.  The word wall words are:  on, sit, at, that, yes.  On Wednesday, March 6, I will assess all word wall words for the entire school year.  The word wall words for the weeks of February 25 and March 4 will be assessed in the fourth nine weeks.  

In math this week, we will finish up numbers to 19.  We will begin investigating, representing, counting and writing 20 and beyond.  We continue to work on addition and subtraction daily.

During calendar time and poetry journal  time, we have been talking about money.  Last week we introduced nickels and this week it will be dimes.  Nickels help us to count by fives and dimes by tens.  This week hand us a handful of pennies, nickels and dimes and ask us to tell you the name of the coin and the value.  

This Friday be sure to check out our poetry journal. You will find a  special poem that demonstrates how the thinking of good readers change as they read text.  You will enjoy observing the thinking of your child.  The students are doing an excellent job of learning how to decode words but being a life long reader means you comprehend the text you are decoding.  

We have three students who joined the five point AR club with several sure to join it this week.  The students can test any day of the week now.  Please make sure there is a ticket or a written note saying that your child is ready to test.  I expect at least one AR test to be taken each week.  

Book orders come home on Monday with a due date of Friday.  If you wish to order on-line, our class activation code is GL88R.  You may also pay by check.  Book orders are optional.

Nancy's Italian Ice is Monday for $1.00.  There is a spirit night at Mugshots this Tuesday.  

Since the PTA did not reach their "Just Give" Goal, there will be a Mixed Bag Fundraiser coming home this week. Check out their products Mixed Bag Fundraiser for classroom computers  .  I have purchased several of these bags in the past and find them useful, colorful and durable.  Look for information about this fundraiser to come home this week.  Thank you for supporting our school.

Upcoming dates:

Tuesday, February 19:  Spirit Night at Mugshots
Friday, February 22:  Book orders due (optional)

Wednesday, February 27:  volunteers can read to Room 115 (contact me)

Thursday, February 28:  Silly Hat Day in honor of Dr. Suess

Friday, March 1:  Blount Character Book Parade at 9:30 AM 
Wednesday, March 6:  Room 115's assessment of Word Wall Words

Thursday,  May 16:  Kindergarten end of the year celebration  @ 9:00 AM

Contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Fun...Fun...Fun!!

Last week was full of learning and fun!  There are so many things I want to expose the children to during the day but my hands are tied to the fast pacing of our curriculum.  I'm so thankful for the volunteers of Room 115 who come in regularly and work with the children on extra things.  I appreciate all of you more than you will ever know.  If your schedule allows, I would love for you to help. Just contact me.  Look at the learning taking place in the hall last week.  I love these photos and wish I could have heard their conversations.  But thankful for Mrs. D who encouraged the budding scientists and was patient with their investigating.  I know I'm the luckiest teacher in the building with the the parental support you give to Room 115.

The Valentine's Day party is the big news this week.  Join us on Thursday at 1:30 pm.  In case you want to help decorate, please come at 1:10.  We will follow the same checkout procedures that we had in December.

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!

You can send in Valentines any day this week. To protect little hearts, please double check to make sure there is a Valentine for every member of Room 115.

Don't forget that Friday is our final early release day.  Blount will dismiss at 1:10 pm on Friday, February 15.  Please make arrangements for your child.  There is school on Monday.  Monday is NOT a school holiday.

This week in reading we will be working with the letter "Bb" as in "bee on the beach."  The word wall words are:  big, run, what, my, by

We continue to work with the numbers in the teens.  You can reinforce at home by asking your child what 10+1, 10+2, 10+3, etc... equals.  Or you can flip flop it and ask  "What is 10+3?" 

This week we will be talking about nickels.  Nickels will be the poem in the poetry journal.  This month we are working on identifying the coins and naming the value.

February 25-March is American Education Week.  The theme this year is "Grab Your Hat and Read with the Cat."  We will celebrate education and literacy each day that week.  

On Wednesday, February 27, readers can come to the class and read a book.  Let me know what time works for you and I will try to work around your schedule.  

Thursday, February 28 is wear a silly hat to school in honor of Dr. Suess.

Friday, March 1 is the Blount Character Book Parade at 9:30 a.m.  Students will need to dress up as their favorite character from a book and carry a sign (small one with the name of the character and book.)  Parents are invited to attend the parade. My editorial:  Unless your child truly adores a Disney  Princess book or something of the sort, do not use this parade as a time to wear Halloween costumes.  Rather use your child's favorite book and create a costume that goes along with it.  The focus is on literature and not mass produced characters that come from movies or television shows. 

What a fine bunch of pirates invaded Room115 last week!  They had fun and thanks to the parents for making sure we stayed together.  These pirates make me smile.  

Upcoming dates:

Thursday, February 14:  Valentine's Day Party from 1:30-2:15 PM
Friday, February 15:  early dismissal at 1:10 PM

Wednesday, February 27:  volunteers can read to Room 115 (contact me)

Thursday, February 28:  Silly Hat Day in honor of Dr. Suess

Friday, March 1:  Blount Character Book Parade at 9:30 AM 

Thursday,  May 16:  Kindergarten end of the year celebration  @ 9:00 AM

Contact me with any questions or concerns you have.