Winter Weather School Expectation

There may be times throughout the winter when it is 0 degrees - this is our cut off for outdoor recess time. There may be times, however, that I take them outside for a few minutes to release energy and get our bodies moving. If you'd prefer your child not to go out when it is below 0, please let me know. The time we would be outside would be minimal. 

Jackets, hats, and mittens are to be worn out for temps less than 32 degrees. When there is snow on the ground or the ground is very wet, snowpants or rainpants and boots are REQUIRED.

Students who are not wearing the proper protection will have the natural and safe
consequence of remaining inside in the Excel Classroom.

Please help to review this with your child and help them be prepared with the proper clothing each day. If there are pieces of clothing you need help with to equip your child, please let me know how I can be of help! 

This week Kinders have been challenged to take on this huge task of being prepared for school each day and also to keep their belongings organized throughout the many transitions over the course of the school day.  All children in our class need to remember separate indoor shoes (we often sit on the carpet and if you are wearing shoes from outside, our bottoms will be wet and cold...).  Most days until spring we will now need to have on hand  - hats, gloves, boots, jackets, snowpants, etc.  Thanks for all your help teach encouraging your child to show independence and responsibility in the winter  gear challenge! 

Library

The first trimester rotation of Library/Guidance/Technology is coming to an end soon.  Following Thanksgiving break, students will no longer have Library as a "special" in the mornings with Mrs. Frye.  Instead, Suzanne Francke will be coming into our classroom to teach guidance lessons.  (More on this in the coming weeks).  Our class will still be able to visit the library, check out books, and visit with Mrs. Frye, however, I will be bringing them in the afternoons for just book check-out.  Please continue to remember your library books on Tuesdays.  It is devastating to a child when they realize they forgot their books and can't check out a new one. Any reminders to pack this in their backpacks on Monday nights is helpful!

No More Rest Blankets

After Thanksgiving break, our class will be ending rest time with blankets.  Please help your child remember not to bring their blanket in to school.  We will be slowing taking away this rest time, by first taking away blankets.  We will still have "rest time" when we come back from recess, just without blankets.  Students may be listening to a story, looking at books, drawing quietly, etc to help them get ready for a busy afternoon!

Reading Powers

During reader's workshop over the last week or so, readers have been learning about how they can be just like super heroes as they read.  Our Super - Readers have been activating many special powers as they get stuck on tricky parts of their books.  INQUIRE with your child what special reading powers they use when they read.  Perhaps they want to show you how they use these reading powers to help them read books.  

Writing celebration

Last week, Kindergarten friends spent time learning about the editing stage of writing. At this stage in their writing, the most important editing component for Kinders is to make their writing make sense - through pictures and or the words.  Students fixed up their writing, added some color and a snazzy title page and published their first piece.  Students then shared their writing during a writing celebration and enjoyed a range of stories from their classmates. All writing ideas came from events from their own lives.  Children used speech bubbles, illustrations and best guess spelling to produce their first books.  Stop by and read these books, which are hung up in the classroom!  All children are very proud of their hard work.  

Pottery

Students are learning how to make pottery in Art class with Mrs. Kane.  Check out the pinch pots that the kids created this week.  INQUIRE with your child what the process was they followed to make these beautiful pots!

Word Bird Collection

Each week, word bird continues to introduce new words to the students.  On Monday, students begin practicing to read and write his word of the week.  These high frequency words range from decodable to non-decodable.  All of the words appear frequently in student's independent reading books.  Your child is expected to know how to read and spell ALL of these words (and more to come) by the end of the year.  INQUIRE with your child what each of these words are - you'll be surprised - most know them ALL!  YAAAY !  You can help your child be word detectives while they read at home - have them point out these words in the little paper books that come home in the ziplock bag.  

Pennies for the Playground

Fourth graders visited us this morning to teach us about a fundraising idea they developed to help raise money for renovations to our playgrounds. Please check out the note that was sent home yesterday with your child and help your child think about how they can help support this fundraiser. We will hold a jar in our classroom to collect pennies (and other coins, dollars, etc) and count the change along the way during math time.

Veterans Day Parade

On Tuesday, we joined our buddies and walked downtown to watch the veterans day parade.  That morning, we learned about how the day is observed to thank those who have served our country in the armed forces. Review the Scholastic News Article with your child.  Does your child know any veterans? 

Scholastic Book Fair

We are visiting the Scholastic book fair on Friday, November 14th. Your child may browse or shop at this time. If you would like your child to buy an item, it helps to have a labeled envelope with planned purchases listed on the outside or a note saying that the choice is theirs. If your child is free to choose at the fair, please let me know. I generally encourage students to buy only books when shopping at school. If you would like them to purchase trinkets, please indicate this on the envelope as well. Families can visit on Friday afternoon after school and evening as well to purchase books. Our classroom will have a wish list available at the book fair of books that could enrich our curriculum. Please consider helping out our classroom library and donating a book.  

**IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME AND ACCOMPANY SMALL GROUPS OF CHILDREN TO THE BOOK FAIR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'D PREFER TO DO THIS IN SMALL GROUPS, NOT WHOLE CLASS. OUR TIME IS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. EMAIL ME IF YOU CAN HELP!

The Rain Held Out.....

We care about ourselves....we care about others....we care about the earth. We continued to review our three cares while participating in our outdoor education program on Wednesday. INQUIRE with your child how they show the three cares in the forest. Students are continuing to learn and practice routines and behaviors while learning and exploring in Harrison Field. This week, after reading the book, Once There was a Tree, we pondered over the idea of who actually owns trees, especially those in Harrison Field. In this particular story, a beetle, ants, a bear, a titmouse, a frog, a woodsman, and an earwig make the stump their habitat. As we explored Harrison Field, we looked for creatures homes throughout the forest using a bingo game as a guide. INQUIRE with your child what kind of homes they found and what game they played in the field.  Can they sing you the song, "The Earth is My Mother."  

Choice Time

Towards the end of the day, students have an opportunity to choice their own center.  During this time, students may be playing 'house' in the dramatic play center playing doctor, or pretending to have a restaurant, building with legos or blocks, using animals to reenact  a story, use the sensory table to explore with water, create art projects using their imagination, practice literacy and math skills on the computer, use magnetic letters to make words, and and so much more.  INQUIRE with your child what they like to do at this time.   

Another P.E. Dance

P.E.

Students have been involved in a dance unit during P.E.  Check out one of their dances!  INQUIRE with your child what other dances they have learned.

Another dance video from Planting Hope

Todd Parr

We have kicked off our first author study of the year- that of Todd Parr.  We engrossed ourselves in the books on Monday using our eyes to notice similarities across his books. We will continue to learn about this famous author/illustrator as we read his books throughout November.  

Planting Hope

Planting Hope visited UES this morning to share their dance and improv performance with our students.  This was a very exciting show that had students up and dancing.  Throughout the performance, students watched them perform a few dances, and learned many words in spanish.  INQUIRE with your child what, "Como estas?" means? How do they respond when someone asks them that question (hint: "muy bien")  Enjoy the video of some of our dancers! 

Playground Survey

Parents from the parents group came in to survey kinders this week. They are working on expanding, changing, and making our playground a better place.  INQUIRE with your child what they would like to see change on our playground.  If you'd like to get involved in the parents group, be sure to fill out the survey they sent out and return to school. There aree so many different things you can do to help the school community!

KinderArt

We kicked off our first KinderArt study last week, learning about Paul Cezanne's Apples and Oranges impressionist painting. The purpose of our year-long KinderArt program is to engage children in looking closely - taking their time to notice details such as shapes, colors, design, perspective, texture and ideas through art created by some of the world's most famous artists. These skills are critical in all areas of lifelong learning, including the main focus of our curriculum science, math and literacy. So far, we have re-created Cezanne's Apples and Oranges still life in our classroom, looked closely at the painting, and learned a little bit about Cezanne's life. Later in the week, we will be working on our own "Apples and Oranges" creations. Like Cezanne, we are learning how to "look closely". INQUIRE with your child what they know about Paul Cezanne and what they have noticed in his painting.

Pumpkin Day

Pupmkin day was a big hit in our classroom.  Thank you to all the parents who were able to donate extra pumpkins so all kids could participate in the many activities throughout the day.  I'm sure you heard all about what each student did with their pumpkin.  Math activities included measuring and weighing, literacy activities involved naming their pumpkin, singing along to pumpkin songs, reading books, such as "Pumpkin Jack" science activities related to sinking and floating, and many more.  Students acted as a community of learners as they shared laughs, encouragement and support to each other throughout the day.

Friday Sing-A-Long

Friday morning all kindergarteners, dressed in orange joined together for a monthly sing-a-long. Each month, students learn a song in their classrooms that connects to science and social studies learning and then get together with other classes to sing together.  This month, students sang, "Tall Tall Tree" that connected their learning about the life cycle of the apple and the connection between this and the four seasons.