March 18-March 21

Our letter of the week was Xx.  We talked about the sound Xx makes (like in X-ray and inside: exclamation and excited).  We practiced our hand symbol IT LOOKS LIKE A PIRATE HAND!, practiced the hand writing sheet, and made our hand print book page (X-ray), and we decorated the letter Xx to look like an X-ray.  The students are doing really well with our alphabet letters even though the Xx is so tricky.  I am so proud of their progress with the sign language symbol, the sound symbol, the letter and even our handwriting sheets are improving!  

We some students watched this ABC video and really liked it. They asked that I put it on the website to show you and watch at home!

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.***

I wanted to try something new.  I am working on more technology integration and I found this app in which you can record your voice and your writing.  Let me know what you think either via comments on this blog, email, or in their folders!  I am interested to see!

Our theme this week was Easter/Spring.  We talked about what it means to be spring, what we see in the spring, and that even though it is spring, it doesn't feel like it, yet.

We continue to write in our  journals.  We are getting better and the concept of picture on the top, pencil words on the bottom and trying to sound out the initial sound.  They are getting better at "reading me" their writing as well.

Monday, students filled out information on what they see, hear, play, and like about spring.  They drew a picture and helped us spell it by telling us the initial sound we needed to write.

Students illustrated an egg book.  They read the color words by looking at the initial sound and comparing it to what they know and/or the color word posters on the wall.  They did really well with this. They are doing great with this concept.  Have them read you their book!

Students also  made an egg book with positional words.  The put the egg on some grass, over a carrot, in a basket, next to a bunny, and under a cloud.  They did great with these books as well!  Have them read you this one as well!  Make sure they are using that reading finger!

Students worked on their shape names, concepts, and shape recognition.  They made garden rabbits completely from shapes.  They had oval bodies, circle heads, oval ears, oval feet, half circle pants, rectangle straps to their pants, a triangle nose, and circle eyes.  They turned out cute! They can be seen hanging in our hallways!

Students continue to practice staying quiet when a teacher is talking, in the hallway, and when we are in line.  We are also working on keeping our hands to our selves and making sure the classroom is a safe place. As we continue to practice this, please reinforce at home. These are critical elementary/kindergarten skills I truly hope to send them to school with next year!

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:

• Field Trip information forms came out 2 weeks ago. Please be sure to send the payment with the slips as CASH. If you have donations, you can send those to school as well and I will bring them all together with us to the trip.  A list of needed items came home with the permission slip.  If you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to contact me!
• Chaperones are still needed for the trip, especially for our AM trip.  Many noted they could volunteer depending on the date.  Again, the date is April 24.  Bus: 8:45-10:45 and 12:05-2:15.
• 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.  We will have school on Monday April 1, 2013.  St. Edward school will not be in session, but our class will run like normal.  
• Reading with the Stars Monday April 15, 2012!
• 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!
• Even as Spring approaches, if there is snow we need your child to come in snowpants and winter gear for playing on the playground.  If they do not have the proper clothes, they will need to stand on the blacktop with the teachers.
• 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: SPRING BREAK! Pets when we return

Letter: Yy (when we return)

AM Snack: Frenkel Family

PM Snack: Nobody signed up at this time, but we do have extras donated by a family if nobody signs up.