Feb 25-Feb 28

Our letter of the week was Qq.  We talked about the sound Qq makes (like in quilt, quiet, quack, and question).  We practiced our hand symbol, practiced the hand writing sheet, and made our hand print book page (quilt), and we decorated the letter Qq with quilt pieces.  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.***

Our theme this week was Dr. Seuss.  We did A LOT of rhyming!  We started off our week with making our Cat in the Hat Rhyming Hats.  

Students had to follow multi-step directions and pattern in an AB pattern for the first step.  Students then started with Cat.  We tried to find rhyming words and then they had to figure out and write the initial sound of the words.

AM Class wearing their Cat in the Hat
rhyming hats! So Cute!

PM Class (though tiny through sickness)
wearing their Cat in the Hat rhyming
hats!  So Cute

We rolled the number dice and the colored fish dice.  Students glued that many of that color in their fish bowl.  They did this a second time. We then filled out the number sentence First roll plus second roll equals all that are in the bowl.  Students did great with this concept!  Yay we are adding in 4k!

Students have been doing many rhyming activities and playing with words (just changing the initial sounds of words they want, such as their names).  We have been reading a variety of Dr. Seuss books and even watching some of them on video.  The cool think about Dr. Seuss books is when I read it once, they can do pretty well reading it on their own in the reading center!

We have been doing Yoga for the past few weeks to "wake up our bodies and get ready to learn."  Students find a "yoga dot" on the floor for their own space.  They do a seal stretch (cobra), dog stretch, walking on tip toes to spots in a tree, touch their toes (not bending their legs/tree trunks) and then bring their hands into namaste.  We do deep breathing to get oxygen to our brains to help us think and then get our brains ready to learn by kissing it good morning/afternoon and we want our heart to love our class and our friends so we kiss that good morning/afternoon as well.  Students are doing really great!

We are working on left and right as well.  A way I have found to help teach this is the pledge hand is the right hand.  This way there is no confusion on what hand the right with, we always do the pledge with our right hand.  Encourage left and right at home!

If your student is out sick/ on vacation, please let the school know AND the bus company (for each individual day).  The bus company appreciates this so they know if they can alter the route to shorten it.  With the slippery roads, the more than can shorten the better! The school needs records of the reason of absence to report to the district nurse to track what is going through schools.

Next week, I am going to be gone on Wednesday (March 6) and Thursday (March 7).  I have an educational conference in Steven's Point.  Mrs. Drummond will be teaching both the morning and afternoon class.  There will be an aide in with Mrs. Drummond in the morning class.  I will discuss this with the class so they know I will be gone, but I know they are in good hands and all will be well!  

(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 March 22nd (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
• Spring Break is the week of March 25th-29th.  
• 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: Dr. Seuss.Dental

Letter: Ww

AM Snack: Degeneffe Family

PM Snack: Howard Family