Feb 11-Feb 14

Our letter of the week was Kk.  We talked about the sound Kk makes (like in kangaroo, kazoo, kite and K'nex).  We practiced our hand symbol, practiced the hand writing sheet, and made our hand print book page (Kite), and we decorated the letter Kk with K'nex toys.  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!  

**** Found the correct wording on how to write the letters. Please click HERE It should bring you to a google document.  When you get in the document, you can save it (download) as a PDF.  You can then view, rotate counter clockwise to get a better view.****

On Monday, we had a 2 hour delay, which means no AM 4K.  Though we got a later start than the PM they had just as much fun!

Students worked on sorting hearts. Our goal was to have then sort by 2 categories, first by size, then by color.  Some students did both at once (a pile of small red, a pile of big red, and so on), while others first did it one way and we asked if they could do it another.  We are just introducing this concept, but many students did very well with it.  We are going to continue to work on it with those who need more practice.  Some may even go for a three way sort!

I introduced listening center this week.  I first taught the red "story reader" set with book cartridges and books that read by magnets.  Students did well with that so then I introduced an actual book on tape with a valentine's book, the one in.  Student are doing well with this and I hope it will help them work on reading skills and start to even begin recognizing some words.  

We also decorated our milk jug valentine buckets.  Students got to choose from four stations: a marker station, a crayon station, a glue and glitter station, and a gluestick and heart station.  I allowed students to go where they choose, even more than once if they wanted to add.  I played some music and gave them so free choice time when they were done.  Students really enjoyed it and they look great!

We took technology up a notch this week.  Students not only typed their names to sign in, but found their last names on their check-in cards and then typed their last name as well!  It is interesting to see their little minds at work looking at a lower case letter, finding it as a capital on the keyboard and then seeing it appear in lower case again.  Everyone is doing very great with it!  We even have 1 student who uses home row and correct fingers when typing!  You can actually see the wheels turning; it is so cool!

In the shower Thursday morning I had the thought, "I am wearing pink/red today because it is Valentine's day.  I should have told all the students to wear red/pink as well, it would have made a cute picture."  Low and behold, when I got to school: spontaneous everyone dress in red and pink and look adorable for valentines day! 

Thursday was our Valentine's day party.  At the party we: played Valentine's Bingo.  This worked on listening skills, following directions, and working on listening to describing words.  Student did well with this and enjoyed playing!

Students took turns passing out Valentine's to their friends.  Reading names, matching them to the buckets, and putting them in worked their reading skills, following directions, problem solving, and fine motor skills.  

Valentines People (brought as a valentine from a student and a gracious project for us to do with them).  The student had written all of the AM student's names on the center heart.  The student also brought in all of the heads already painted and the arm and leg pieces already cut. Students found their name, picked the head they liked, and then assembled 2 hearts for each arm and leg.  They worked on their counting, direction following, and fine motor skills.






Students also made valentines for the parents.  They worked on copying print (the "Love," on the back) writing their name, and the fine motor skills of writing, ripping, and gluing.  Hope you love them!

For some gross motor work, we had a valentine heart relay.  Students started in two equal lines.  The first person ran with the valentine, touched the wall, and handed it to the next person in line. As soon as they had it in their hand they had to run.  This worked on team work, fine motor skills of pinching, gross motor skills of running, and following directions.  Students seemed to really enjoy it!  AM class ran 3 times, and PM class ran once on Wed and once on Thursday!

(as always, photos available by email at your request.  Additional photos are available for viewing on the website: http://mrsgloudemans.wix.com/stedward4k)

Important Notes:

• Book Orders are due Feb 15th (MIDNIGHT).  There are some great new collections. Also, if you order online you get a coupon for free books.  It also earns points and free books for our classroom as well!  Find the link the scholastic section of the website: http://mrsgloudemans.wix.com/stedward4k
• Orientation  4K registration for NEXT YEAR'S 4k students is March 5 (Greenville) and March 6 (Hortonville).  If you plan on attending Hortonville or Greenville next year, you will automatically be registered due to your 4k enrollment (if you registered through Hortonville, not if you are registered through St. Edward.)  If you are planning on attending St. Edward next year (and were previously Hortonville), please let me know and we can get you a registration packet.  If you were already registered through St. Edward, your packet came in the Blue Folders last week.  Please get them in asap as they help us figure out staffing for next year and that process begins this early already.
• Milk Jugs.  We do NOT need any more milk jugs!  The igloo is done, the valentine's buckets are made, and we are still busting at the seams with milk jugs!  Thank you for all your donations and helping make the students a great learning experience and fun!
• Dress for the Weather.  We go outside Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Students need coats, hats, and mittens.  If there is snow or even if it is in the 30s I would suggest snowpants and boots for warmth and dryness.  St. Edward Extended day families, these students go outside for "long recess" after lunch daily and need to be dressed for it daily.  Please come with everything they need to stay warm and have fun!



• With weather below zero, students cannot go outside. This does include windchill. 
• Lost and Found.  Our lost and found is growing.  If you are missing something please feel free to check out the box on top of the lockers by our door, or email me and I will take a look for you!  
• As always, any questions or concerns please feel free to email me!  Have a great weekend!

Next week:

Theme: President's Day/Patriotic

Letter: Ff

AM Snack: Janda Family

PM Snack: Cole Family