Flowers.Mothers Day.PALS

This has been a crazy busy week!

Click here for ABC COUNTDOWN--
This past week
Monday= C Crazy Hair
Tuesday = D Dress for Cinco De Mayo
Wednesday = E extra Exercise (we would have random exercise breaks where kids ran to their exercise dots, did some ABC yoga) and then resumed playing
Thursday = F Favorite Team Day
Next Week
Monday = H Healthy snack day.  Bring an extra snack to eat in your classroom today.
Tuesday = I Individual Day.  Bring a book to read by yourself outside today. (if weather permits)
Wednesday = J Job Day.  Do odd jobs around school today and make your teacher smile.
Thursday = K Kick up your heels and run the iRun today. (PM)  Hortonville 4k will kick up their heels and run with their teachers in the AM

***** Mrs. Bauer (pm class) would like to set up a little reception for after graduation.  She is able to get cupcakes at a great deal.  She would like some help getting some juice and cups, or any other “snacky” items.  If you would like/can to help in any way, please contact her at BAUERSARAH@aasd.k12.wi.us***

*Not pictured "no sun" it is hiding in a drawer.

We continued checking on the plants this week. We watered them each day, kept them in the sun and then we recorded our observations in our non-fiction book.  We put our non-fiction book in our reading center.  Together, we wrote our observations for all the plants, labeled the diagram of a plant, and the life cycle of the plant.  Students helped me write the book by telling me the letter as I said the word slow and stretched out the sound.

Tuesday was Cinco de Mayo.  We had spanish music playing all through out the play time, and then at circle time we learned the Mexican hat dance!

We worked on sequencing  the life cycle of a plant by cutting it out and putting it in order.

All through out the week, I pulled students one by one and did the PALS assessment.  PALS assessments are done, but I continue to work on the rest of their assessments (in other academic areas).  Report cards and PALS results come home on the last day of school.

Students start the week off with writing the number and coloring that number of farm animals.  The then practice writing it with every dismissal from the carpet.  On Tuesdays, they write the number of the week and their name in shaving cream for morning work.  On Thursday, students practice rainbow writing (writing the number 4 times in 5 colors) BUT EMPHASIZING WE ARE WRITING NOT COLORING THE NUMBERS IN.  They also get to choose an illustration and color that image.

This week we worked on numbers 5, 6

On Tuesday, students put the correct number of stickers on their number(s) for the week and color that correct number of pictures.  On Thursday they find that number in magazines and in advertisements and cut 3 out and glue them onto the corresponding number(s).  

A big part of kindergarten readiness is making sure the student can correctly and efficiently use their tools.  It is also that their letters are written (and identified) correctly so they can begin the reading and writing process.  PLEASE help your child hold pencils and scissors correctly, name the letters and numbers, and correctly write the letters and numbers.  

pencils need to be held in a "tri-pod/pincher grip.
Pointer and thumb should pinch the pencil and the
pencil should rest in the middle finger on the top
kuckle.  The thumb and the pointer should make
a round/circular shape

Scissors need to be held thumb up, cut
away from the body, and pushing foward
as the fingers and thumb open and close.

Writing the letters correctly will help them greatly in kindergarten as they will be more fluent in their writing if it is done correctly.  A good rule of thumb: START AT THE TOP AND CIRCLE BACK.  Circle back homework came home this week as well; it is essential students circle back rather than forwards for the correct formation of the letter.   I can send home the correct formation of the letters to help you work with them (this also came home in Holiday Homework).

Writing the numbers is equally as important as it is essential in communicating their math answers.  Please help your child name and write the numbers they best they can (ideally: count objects to 10, write up to 10, identify up to 12, count orally to 20, ).  Please note how the numbers look in the image.  This is how we write our numbers including the 2, 4, and 9 (not as they show up when typing).

 Please note that the year is very busy (4 weeks left). There are many events, forms, permission slips, and more that need to returned to school. Please refer back to this blog weekly and check your child's folder (both classroom and school issued) every night to ensure you see everything. 

Upcoming Events:

•  ABC Countdown to the end of the year. It is completely optional, but students are invited to do a specific activity that starts with that letter for each day they are in school.  Click HERE for days. This came home in weekly folders as well.

• FINAL BOOK ORDER WILL BE DUE MAY 15.  Please click on the link for scholastic at the top of this page.  When you buy books for your child, it helps buy books and supplies for our classrooms. You can use any of the variety of fliers that have been coming home (April, May, & June).
• Safety Fair Field Trip May 20. Students will be traveling by bus to Hillside preschool to learn about a variety of summer safety tips and even do a bike safety rodeo!  Permission slips came home this week.  There is no cost, and we will not need chaperones.
• Graduation is held WEDNESDAY MAY 27, 2015 5:30-6:30.  Students sing some songs, show off their technology skills with a power point they help type, you see first day of school photos with graduation photos, they receive their certificates and letter/number books, and then there is a short social afterwards.  
• Last day of 4k is Thursday June 4 at their regular times.
• St. Edward students, please see Mrs. Morrin's newsletter about end of the year mass (Held Friday June 5)

Important Notes:

•  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*(students are more than welcome to bring layers daily or to leave in their lockers)  It may also be time to change out the change of clothes to make sure they are weather appropriate.  If you send a new change of clothes, we will send the warm weather clothes in their backpacks.
• 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. As we start letter of the week, we will also start sending home homework to help reinforce the letter concept and identification.  Please work on this with you child to help the students make the connection between home and school. 
• 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. 
• Literacy Bags come home every three weeks.  Students will have a week to complete the project inside and can then return the bag with completed sheets in it on TUESDAYS.
• Library Books come every week.  We go to library on Monday and student have the opportunity to check out a book and keep it for a week. It can be kept in their back packs or at home, but please remember to bring it on Mondays.

Next Week:
Theme: Zoo & PALS Assessment
Number of the week: 7,8
Snack: Obermueller Family