Plants!

Thursday kicked off our  ABC COUNTDOWN--Students brought in an extra apple snack to enjoy while they were playing.  They liked the change in routine!  Our snack family also brought applesauce on Thursday, which made all the kids excited they got the letter A!!  IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT MONDAY WAS MISSING FROM THE PRINT OUT AND ORIGINAL BLOG POST.  Monday is C -- CRAZY HAIR DAY.

We have been discussing plants this week.  We started the week talking about what we thing plants need.  We then set up an experiment: What do you think will happen if some of those needs are missing?  We set up plants that had no sun, no water, or no soil and then one that had everything it needs. 

They are sitting on our window sill and we are waiting to see what happens!

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

We not only did science with this non-fiction book we are writing, but students also helped me write the words they used to describe our experiment by telling me the letters.  We are really working on saying the words slow and writing the sound we here.  They also think OI says oi is hilarious.

Students enjoyed this video explaining what a plant needs.

We also discussed the preservation of plants by watching The Lorax.  Some students watched the movie in its entirety while playing while others (St. Edward students) sang in their spring program.

We will continue to talk about plants next week and check on our experiments. 

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 3, 4

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 (6 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.
•  4k Promotional Video Hortonville was selected to be taped to make a promotional video about 4k.  They will be coming in and taping children planing and I (and other 4k teachers and principals) will be voicing over all the highlights of our program.  There is no need to prepare or do anything different, but wanted you to feel informed as kids may come home with quite the story otherwise!
  

• Bloomin' Bonanza Plate Purchase If you would like to purchase the plate your child makes, please send me a note by MAY 6 indicating and PAYMENT $15.  Checks can be written to St. Edward.  You can send this anytime.  ***ANY PLATES NOT PAID FOR BY THE TIME OF THE SALE WILL NEED TO GO INTO THE GENERAL SALE***
• Bloomin' Bonanza May 8-9 is our school wide plant and craft sale. It has a large variety of annuals, perennials, student made projects and local vendors.  Our class will be making decorative plates/plant stands to donate to the sale.  Please consider coming out and supporting the school!
• 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).
• PALS assessments will run for 2 weeks (10 school days) in May.  This may modify lesson plans/have a few less projects.
• 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: Plants & PALS Assessment
Number of the week: 5, 6
Snack: Manteufel Family