Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween!!!

I hope the kiddos had a great time at their first school party!  We painted and decorated pumpkins from Peach Tree Farms (where we'd normally take Kindergarten for a field trip), ate yummy snacks, played some Halloween games and listened to Halloween music all day!  Here are a few pictures, but you can find many more on our class Facebook page, check it out!

A look at our learning...

Fundations: this week we learned the correct name, sound and letter formation for the lowercase letters a and g.

Please use the following verbal prompts with your child:

a-over, around, down

g-over, around, dow...n, curve up

Please make sure they are not drawing a circle, then picking up their pencil and drawing a stick to write the letter a.  Please also make sure they are not drawing a circle, picking up their pencil and drawing the line coming out of the g in the middle of the circle.  This is what we call drawing our letters, but we want to write our letters.  We want the movements to be one fluid motion.  

Check out these photos of your kiddos working on correct letter formation.

Writing: we continue to work on writing sentences using resources in the room to help us and word wall words. This week we learned the word wall word see. So far this year we have learned the following word wall words: I, like, see. We will learn one new word every week.  

In a few weeks, after we have learned a couple more words, we will begin having weekly spelling tests on Friday over these words.  We will begin once we have learned 5 words.  You can begin practicing the words above to get a jump start.  Your child should be able to independently read and write their word wall words.  Next week we will learn the word my.

We are using these words to help us write sentences such as "I see_______. I like______."  They have used color words, family members and friends names to fill in the blanks on these sentences.  We are learning how good writers put spaces between their words when they write and end their sentences with periods.  

Your child brought home their writing journals today.  Check them out to see some of the writing mentioned above.  These writing folders are for you to keep at home in case we ever have to do school on Zoom again.  While I hope it doesn't happen, it is best to be prepared.  Please put this writing journal with your other items for online learning (the Fundations whiteboard, letter board, baggie of tiles, etc.)  I will be giving them new writing folders and paper to use at school on Monday.  

Math: this week we talked more about shapes. We focused on shape attributes, such as how many points a shape has, how many sides, if there are curves, etc.  

By the end of Kindergarten your child should be able to identify the following basic shapes: circle, oval, rectangle, square, triangle, hexagon, rhombus (diamond), trapezoid. 

In the photos below, the children are talking about the basic shapes they see on their playing cards and describing the shapes to their partners. 

Library Check Out: we had our first library check out with Mrs. Fitch this week!  We will have library every other Tuesday.  Mrs. Fitch or Mrs. Canepa (our other media specialist) will Zoom with us during this time.  They will read a story to the class and teach basic library skills. This week the children learned how to fill out a Google Form Interest Survey on their iPads.  This will help Mrs. Fitch, Mrs. Canepa and Mrs. Groner (library clerk) pick out 3 books that match each child's interest.  They will deliver the books to our classroom by the end of the day.  OR If students want specific books, you can go to the destiny catalog service on your child's iPad to help them select three books before our library day (info on how to do this was sent out a few weeks ago.....let me know if you need it sent again). The media specialists will then pull those 3 books out for your child instead.  Students can keep these 3 books for two weeks, until our next library check out day.  We ask that you please keep the library books in a safe place when not looking at them (backpack, a high shelf that a pet or younger sibling can't reach, away from food/drinks, etc.). The children must return their 3 books on our library day in order to check out 3 new ones.  

Our next library day is Tuesday, November 10th.

In the photo below, we are Zooming with Mrs. Fitch during our library time.

Severe Weather and Fire Drills: this week we had our first severe weather (tornado) and fire drills.  We will practice these regularly throughout the year.  We learned that our class will go to the boys bathroom near the tech lab and gym in case of severe weather.  We learned how to cover our necks to keep us safe during this drill.  We learned to calmly walk outside to our safe spot during a fire (ask your child where this safe spot is.) We talked about why we don't take our backpacks, toys, etc. with us during drills.  Our number one goal is keeping the children safe.  We can buy new coats, backpacks and toys, but we can't buy new Kindergarteners.  

Many children knew where to go at home in case of a fire, but many did not know what to do at home in case of a tornado.  Please take some time to talk with your child and practice at home.  While we hope it never happens, it is always best to have a plan.  

Recess Fun: the kiddos were SO excited about the snow this week.  I was more excited for the sunshine and warmer days!  Since we can't play on all of the playground equipment like normal this year, I bought each child chalk and bubbles to take outside during recess.  We enjoyed trying it out this week!  

Many of you have asked what you can do to help or donate.  I will gladly take donations of chalk and bubbles throughout the year!  (I will also take Clorox Wipes lol).  

I will post a few recess pictures here, but will put many more on our class Facebook page.