Nov 26-Nov 29

With the short week we didn't have four projects so things got a little squished into the week.

Our letter of the week was Ee.  We talked about the sound Ee makes.  Finding words that start with Ee is tricky and vowels often get mixed up.  It is a good start to try them, but mastery is tough at this age.  We practiced our hand symbol, our handwriting sheet, and read our Alphatales story, Elvin the Amazing Elephant.  Students put paint on their Elbows and painted their Ee with them!  I hope this will help them remember the Ee sound for days to come.  We also made an elephant for their hand print book page.  Students are doing well with getting "their reading finger out" and doing the one to one correspondence between the word on the page and the spoken word.      Some are already seeing is and for as sight words and knowing them right away.  They are also getting good at finding the letters of the week in print around our room.

 I am so proud of their progress with the sign language symbol, the sound symbol, the letter and even our handwriting sheets are improving.  

For the Ee we say: Down, across 1, 2, 3.  Little e: out the driveway, around the block and curve.  

*****I added all the previous letters of the week to a "Letters of the Week" tab on our website.  Please visit the website for this new tab as well as updated photos!*****

Click here for Mrs. Gloudeman's Website

We started the week with a definition of Transportation: Things that go and take you from one place to another.

We then made a list of types of transportation.

The next day, we read the book: The Big Book of Things that Go.  This gave us even more ideas to put on our list.  We then added to our list.  When students dictate what to add to a list, I emphasize the first letter sound and often ask a student to help me figure out the letter making that sound.  This helps students to begin to see the correspondence between the letter sound and reading/spelling.  

The next day we Sorted the list into Land (green marker with grass lines), Water (dark blue waves), and Air (light blue clouds).  

The students also did a sort as their morning table time.

Students also wrote their names with cars. I wrote their names in large yellow letters (to be the yellow lines on the road) and they had to drive their cars on the yellow lines.  When I was writing the letters I made sure to describe the ways in which I was making/forming the letters so they could work on correct letter formation.

Important Notes:  

• Vision Screening Hortonville School District came in and did a vision screening today.  All students did well and she will not need to retest anyone.  
• RSVP for Breakfast with Santa is due on Dec 6, which is Thursday.  Please try to get these in, even if it is a no.  That way we can send an accurate count.  Flyer can be found on the blog as well.
• Book Orders Due Friday November 30th.  Remember, if you order online you get a $5 coupon and our classroom gets a $3 coupon!  We also earn classroom points and can get more books/supplies for our classrooms. If you want them as a Holiday Gift, please let me not by note in their folder or email and I will find a way to get them to you secretly.
• Reading with the Stars for December will be December 18.  This will be the closest thing to a program we will be having. We will be doing a Gingerbread skit as well as having activities.  A note and RSVP will be coming home next week.  Please try to attend the event, but let us know if you cannot so we can plan parts accordingly.  
• Folders.  Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way.    Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving.  
• Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*  Even if there is no snow, snowpants are acceptable to keep students warm.  Students in the 4K program go out on TUESDAY and THURSDAY.  If students are in the extended day program, they go out DAILY.  A note was sent home in last Wednesday's folder about Cold Weather dress as well.  

Next Week:

Theme: Snow/Winter (a change for the original list, we will be doing polar animals after the winter break)

Letter of the Week: Rr

Snack this week: AM-We do not have anyone signed up, originally we had someone, but they can no longer do it.  If you could help out, even if it is just for 1 day please let me know. PM-Schultz Family

--Mrs. Gloudemans

Fun Family Day--Eat Breakfast with Santa!

Please return your RSVP by Dec 6!  This would be a wonderful event for all!

Classroom Igloo?

Hello Parents,

I have been doing some research to come with some cool units for our class.  I found a project in which the students can make an igloo IN the classroom.  (How to make a Gallon Igloo).

I think this would be a fun activity! To get it done in a timely manner, we should start it now!  If you have any gallon sized containers (from milk, oj, etc.) please clean them out and send them to school with your child.

Feel free to send the caps as well as these can also be used as instructional tools with patterning, sorting, etc.  If we get a good amount of jugs and this becomes a true possibility, I will keep you up to date with our progress with photos and excerpts on here.

Hope your Thanksgiving break is off to a wonderful start and all is well.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Nov 19-Nov 20 (21)

We did not have have a letter of the week this week due to the short week.  We brought in the alphabet and letter sounds in a variety of ways.  We have been practicing, practicing, practicing the letters we have learned so far and will continue to add more!

*****I am going to add all the previous letters of the week to a "Letters of the Week" tab on our website.  Please visit the website for this new tab as well as updated photos!*****

Click here for Mrs. Gloudeman's Website

 Monday we made turkeys that students matched the number on the feathers to the dots on the turkey.  They are doing well with this concept and continue to work on counting and number recognition.

Tuesday we made a Thankerchief--a game of passing around a "thankercheif" and taking turns saying what we are thankful for.  We practiced the game in school and I hope you were albe to enjoy it at home!  This activity taught us things we are thankful for, worked on our speaking skills, following multi-step directions, and fine motor skills when decorating our "thankerchief."

Wednesday, the morning class played Thanksgiving BINGO in our small group time.  We learned a variety of Thanksgiving vocabulary words as well as worked on our listening skills.  

Important Notes:  

• Book Orders Due Friday November 30th.  Remember, if you order online you get a $5 coupon and our classroom gets a $3 coupon!  We also earn classroom points and can get more books/supplies for our classrooms. If you want them as a Holiday Gift, please let me not by note in their folder or email and I will find a way to get them to you secretly.
• Conferences went well.  If you have any questions or concerns afterwards, please contact me and we can either discuss them via phone or email or set up a meeting time. 
• Folders.  Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way.    Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving.  
• Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*

Next Week:

Theme: Transportation

Letter of the Week:Ee

Snack this week: AM-Zaves Family PM- As of now nobody is signed, up.  We do have some extras at school, but if you are interested, please let me know.

--Mrs. Gloudemans

Thanksgiving Week-Short Week

• AM Class Mon-Wednesday.  On the half day Wednesday: If you ride the bus, it will run normally.  If you usually go to extended day (with Mrs. Zajicek) you have the option to stay with her until 12:30 or get picked up at 11 when AM is released and 
• PM Class on Mon-Tuesday.  No PM class at all on Wednesday. 

Nov 12-15

With the short week we didn't have four projects so things got a little squished into the week.

Our letter of the week was Ss.  We talked about the sound Ss makes.  We found A LOT of words that start with Ss.  We practiced our hand symbol, our handwriting sheet, and read our Alphatales story, Silly Seal's Sandwich.  they put smiley face and star stickers on their Ss, and made a handprint book page: S is for Spider.  The students are doing really well with our alphabet letters.  I am so proud of their progress with the sign language symbol, the sound symbol, the letter and even our handwriting sheets are improving--though Ss is a really tricky letter to write!

*****I am going to add all the previous letters of the week to a "Letters of the Week" tab on our website.  Please visit the website for this new tab as well as updated photos!*****

Click here for Mrs. Gloudeman's Website

 Monday we made a Know, want to know, learned sheet.  It was cool to see how much the students knew!  They had some really good questions as well.  

Tuesday was our trip to Mosquito Hill.  We had a lot of fun. Pictures are posted on the Website.  The link for the website is below.  We had a lot of fun!

Click here for Mrs. Gloudeman's Website

Wednesday, we finished filling out the KWL chart with the stuff we learned at the trip and looked to see if it answered our questions.  







We also made a goose that is going to fly in our class in V formation!  It was fun to stuff the paper bag and cut out the pieces and assemble it all.  

Thursday we did our usual handprint letter page (with our reading finger if we already knew the letter).  We also worked on our handwriting page and figuring out the tricky S.  

It was a good week!  Next week is also a short week with the Thanksgiving Break.

Important Notes:

• Short Week Next Week.  
• AM Class Mon-Wednesday.  On the half day Wednesday: If you ride the bus, it will run normally.  If you usually go to extended day (with Mrs. Zajicek) you have the option to stay with her until 12:30 or get picked up at 11 when AM is released and 
• PM Class on Mon-Tuesday.  No PM class at all on Wednesday.  
• Book Orders Due Friday November 30th.  Remember, if you order online you get a $5 coupon and our classroom gets a $3 coupon!  We also earn classroom points and can get more books/supplies for our classrooms. If you want them as a Holiday Gift, please let me not by note in their folder or email and I will find a way to get them to you secretly.
• Conferences went well.  If you have any questions or concerns afterwards, please contact me and we can either discuss them via phone or email or set up a meeting time. 
• Folders.  Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way.    Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving.  
• Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*

Next Week:

Theme: Where Animals go in the Winter

Letter of the Week:Ss

Snack this week: AM-Higgins Family PM- Brunn family

--Mrs. Gloudemans

Nov 5-Nov 8

 Dear Parents,

Our letter of the week was Gg.  We talked about the sound Gg makes (like in goose, gorilla, Green, gold, glue, and more!).  We practiced our hand symbol, our handwriting sheet, and read our Alphatales story, Be Good, Gorilla.  they put glue and green and gold glitter on their Gg, and made a handprint book page: G is for Ghost.  The students are doing really well with our alphabet letters.  I am so proud of their progress with the sign language symbol, the sound symbol, the letter and even our handwriting sheets are improving!  

                                                
 Sign Language G clipart
from Clker.com

*****I am going to add all the previous letters of the week to a "Letters of the Week" tab on our website.  Please visit the website for this new tab as well as updated photos!*****

Click here for Mrs. Gloudeman's Website

We started the first full week of November discovering the new pattern on our calendar (turkey, turkey, cornucopia).   We discussed what a cornucopia was, what is was used for, and why they used that instead of things we know about now.  It was a wonderful discussion with our class.

We started the week with making an Indian Corn Stalk.  Students cut out the small squares in the color's of their choice.  They then glued them on the corn stalk.  We then "got out our counting finger out" and counted the number of kernels of corn on our cob.  For now, we are simply working on our counting skills, one to one correspondance, and number identification so I wrote the number in yellow. I read the 'big number' and then told them the two numbers that made that up.  They then worked on writing those numbers and identified those individual numbers.  This also introduced some good vocabulary.

Tuesday was election day

We discussed that today is the day Mom's and Dad's vote for who they want to be the president.  **A little boy pipes up, "YEAH! You can vote for Bobama or what's that old guys name again?"***  We discussed what it means to vote: everyone picks their one favorite, put it on a ballot, puts that ballot in a box, a ballot box, and then they count those.  The one that got the most picks to be favorite wins to be president.  Finally, we discussed that we are not old enough to vote for real so we can do a pretend election.

We then got our turn to vote.  Students lined up at the polls, and waited their turn.  I had a "blind" set up so that their vote could be private.  They then took a marker and ballot from a pile, write "O" for Obama or "M" for Mitt Romney.  They then put that in the ballot box and we had the next voter come up.  We will tabulate the results the next day.  We developed many election vocabulary words today!

**I want to note***

We had no discussion on the candidates and what they stand for.  I just wanted them to work on the voting process, voting vocabulary, and some writing skills. **

At our circle time on Wednesday, we took the ballots out, read the vote, and tallied it on the board.  We then saw who our president we chose was and compared to who our projected president was.  Obama won in both elections.







We then made sensory acorns.  I found an acorn template and printed it out.  Students cut out the acorns.  Students painted the bottom with glue on a paint brush (I did water it down a bit).  They then sprinkled this area with coffee.    They then brushed the top of the acorn with the glue mixture and paintbrush and sprinkled it with oatmeal.  This project smelled good, looked good, and was fun to make!



We read a book, Thanksgiving Day, from Scholastic.  It discusses why we eat the food we do for Thanksgiving.  This opened up discussion again about the Cornucopia and the first Thanksgiving.

Important Notes:

• Book Orders Due Friday November 30th.  Remember, if you order online you get a $5 coupon and our classroom gets a $3 coupon!  We also earn classroom points and can get more books/supplies for our classrooms. If you want them as a Holiday Gift, please let me not by note in their folder or email and I will find a way to get them to you secretly.
• Conferences are going well.  If you have any questions or concerns afterwards, please contact me and we can either discuss them via phone or email or set up a meeting time.  
• Field Trip  is coming up!  November 13.  The trip will be to Mosquito Hill in New London.  We will be talking about "What animals do for the winter."  Slips went home.  No slip to trip  so get them in by Monday Nov 12!!
• Folders.  Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way.    Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving.  
• Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*

Next Week:
Theme: Where Animals go in the Winter
Letter of the Week:Ss
Snack this week: AM-Danoski Family PM-We currently don't have anyone signed up for snack--If you would be able (even for 1 day) it would be greatly appreciated.

--Mrs. Gloudemans

Oct 29-Nov 1

Hello Parents! 

Our letter of the week was Dd.  We talked about the sound Dd makes (like in dog, duck, door, and more!).  We practiced our hand symbol, our handwriting sheet, and read our Alphatales story, Detective Dog and the Case of the Disappearing Doughnuts.  they put dots on their Dd, and made a handprint book page: D is for Duck.  The students are doing really well with our alphabet letters.  I am so proud of their progress with the sign language symbol, the sound symbol, the letter and even our handwriting sheets are improving!  

Our theme was Pumpkins & Halloween.  We put ghosts with numbers on their tummies in the right haunted house window according to the number of dots on the window, decorated pumpkins with puffy paint, decorated cookies, made halloween safety books, watched a video on shapes and carving pumpkins, and some even did life cycle of a pumpkin yoga!  With Halloween, it made for a busy, busy week!  

I continue to encourage you to point out and question students on numbers, letters, and rhymes that happen in your daily life.  We want the students to continue to see the relevance in their learning as well as feel successful at school and learning in general.  Make this time fun and a special time for you together.  Have fun and keep learning!

Important Notes:

• Book Orders Due Friday November 30th.  Remember, if you order online you get a $5 coupon and our classroom gets a $3 coupon!  We also earn classroom points and can get more books/supplies for our classrooms.
• Conferences are coming up!   If you have not done so, please sign up for a 15 minute slot on either: Thursday Nov 8 (3:00-6:30), Friday Nov 9 (9:00am -12:00pm), or Thursday Nov 15 (3:00-6:30).  Can't wait to see you all then!
• Field Trip  is coming up!  November 13.  The trip will be to Mosquito Hill in New London.  We will be talking about "What animals do for the winter."  The trip will fit into your child's normally scheduled class time.  More info to come!  
• Folders.  Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way.    Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving.  
• Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*

Next Week:
Theme: Harvest/Farming
Letter of the Week:Gg
Snack this week: AM-Manteufel Family PM-Court Family

--Mrs. Gloudemans