Week of December 14

We have had a fun week, full of holiday excitement.

This week we finished our alphabet study and set a new goal for independent reading.  We have been writing about Christmas and practiced writing O in our handwriting books.  We have had a really fun week in math too.  We have taken a break from Envision and been learning about odd and even numbers, counting by 5s, and reviewing drawing pictures to show what addition equations mean.  (Even Steven and Odd Todd was a big hit!)

Counting by 5s

Counting by 5s

Counting by 5s

We made presents for our parents.  The presents turned out very cute.  My advice to you, without telling you what exactly we made is:

• Open on Christmas or before, as you choose.  

• They are breakable.  My advice is to bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees.  

• They have been already baked, but will retain their colors with a little bit longer in the oven.  

• Also, hand-washing is best.  

We had our first rehearsal as a school today and you are in for a treat.  The kids know the song and sing loud enough to hear.  Hooray!  Speaking of the show, here is the link for costumes.

Remember:
Library is still on Monday next week.
There is NO SHOW AND TELL next week.
Tuesday is a 12:00 dismissal day.  No aftercare.  You are welcome to pick your child up from class directly after the show (11:15ish).
No folders are necessary on Tuesday.

Please let me know if you know that your child will not be here next week.  Also, please let me know if you are staying in town and would like to try your green thumb on our class flower boxes over Christmas break.  

Week of December 7

We have had a lot of special guests this week and done a lot of work too. 

Mrs. Tersoff came in to talk about Hanukkah.  She told us the story, shared traditions, and let us play dreidel.  The kids enjoyed spinning the dreidels and were a great audience.

Mrs. Tersoff

Dreidel practice

Mrs. Gray, Noe's mom, came in to talk to us about Haiti.  The class learned a ton and were very interested in life in Haiti.  

Thanks Mrs. Gray!

In reading we practiced retelling Jan Brett stories (The Mitten and The Trouble with Trolls) while paying attention to her specific illustration style.  We read a poem and tried to illustrate it in her style. We studied the letters, X, P, and K.  In writing we learned to write the letter T/t in our handwriting book and made a card for Mr. Hennessy's birthday.  We also continued to practice addition using manipulatives and pictures to solve the problems and figure out how to write addition equations and what each part means in math.   We have been talking about seasons and have started making a weather graph.     

We also decorated our classroom.  We cut snowflakes for our bulletin board and each colored a piece for our classroom nativity scene.  We have been reading an advent book and lighting our advent wreath for examen each day. 

Strengthening our cutting skills

Wise men to come on Epiphany.

Next week we have library on Monday so please make sure books are returned.  On Friday we have the Christmas show rehearsal in the morning. 

Show and tell topic next week is something that you use at your house to celebrate Christmas.  It can be an ornament, a family keepsake, a picture of a tradition, a plate for Santa's cookies, etc.  Please make sure your child can tell us at least 2 things about it.  For example, what it is, why it is used, where it came from, etc. 

Today is Max's birthday.  Please wish him a happy birthday if you see him!

Happy birthday Max!

Week of November 30

We had a fun week, full of learning.

In science we talked about the winter solstice and did a demonstration of the Earth and Sun during the winter solstice and summer solstice. We went to Discovery Theater to see the winter light show.  We learned about the many different cultural celebrations that happen around the shortest day of the year.

This is what summer looks like...

Both kindergartens on the Mall

On our way to Discovery Theater

Bruno and Saoirse volunteered to be shamen

In reading we studied the letters Q and U.  We also looked at beginning blends, particularly s-blends.  (St-, Sp-, Sk-, Sn-, etc.)  In writing we tried to make sure that all of our words had the first and last sounds we heard.

In math we started working on addition.  We have had a very good time playing the adding game Bump.  We will keep going with adding next week as well.

Next week we have mass on Tuesday at 11.  It is also an early dismissal Friday.  If your child is going to aftercare, please let me know.  Show and tell is a favorite Christmas book.  Please make sure that your child knows the title and can tell us his/her favorite part.   Library books are due on Monday as usual.