Friday, May 15, 2015

Zoo. PALS


This has been a crazy busy week!  It was zoo themed and I think  it would be safe to say it was a zoo in our room too!

I want to start off by saying: 
PARENTS, I saw such drastic improvements in all of your children this year that it actually brought me to tears.  Thank you so much for your support at home, working with concepts sent home in the blog, and just reading with and helping your child learn.  Your parental support is key to their continued success in school. Thank you and please give all of your children a high five for me!

Click here for ABC COUNTDOWN--
This past 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
Next Week
Monday = M Meet on the bus to go to see Charlotte’s Web (St. Edward 4K through 5th grade).     Hortonville 4k will Move like crazy with extra gym/outside time
Tuesday= N No tests or homework day! No Morning Work!
Wednesday = O  Orange Day.  Wear orange.
Thursday = P Pick friends to sit by today in class.

***** 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


For our zoo themed week, we started with making a list of all the animals we know that live in the zoo.  We had to stretch it to make it a petting zoo too because some were INSISTENT there were bunnies there! 


We then did a brainstorm (close their eyes and think of ideas) of an animal at the zoo that is their favorite.  They then illustrated this that will be put together with a book page.


Students got some zoo animals (Cheetah or a Toucan) and they cut out the animals on their cage lines, and then put them together like a puzzle with going in number order.  Some worked with 1-10 and some worked with 11-20.  We are trying to emphasize precision, attention to detail, and doing our best.  Some of us had to do it a couple times because we were not doing the above mentioned, but once we were able to follow the directions better, they turned out pretty cool on our zoo walls.

Students also got to pattern with zoo animals.  As seen in the assessments, students are pretty good at patterning with colored scribbles, but getting them to pattern with objects was a little trickier.  Once they got a hang of it, they turned out pretty cool.  Based on what the student was ready for, some did AB patterns, Some ABC, and some AAB or ABB.  They are looking good in our hallway!

All through out the week, I pulled students one by one and did the assessments.  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 7, 8
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:
  • OUR FINAL LIBRARY CHECK OUT WAS MONDAY MAY 11. We will no longer be going to library to check out books as the library needs time to get all the books in, do inventory, etc.  If you have any books or the book bags please send them in.
  • OUR FINAL LITERACY BAGS WERE SENT HOME.  Please send in any literacy bags you have left at home. These were the bags that had the themed folders, activities, and books in them.  
  •  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
  • 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! There is no cost, and we will not need chaperones.  All slips are now in, I apologize for the confusion with that one!
  • 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.  RSVPs are coming home on Monday.  PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN INVITE WHOMEVER YOU WOULD LIKE BUT PLEASE INDICATE ON THE RSVP AND ONLY TAKE ONE PROGRAM FOR EACH FAMILY COMING (EACH SET OF GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, GODPARENTS, AUNTS/UNCLES, ETC)
  • 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. 
Next Week:
Theme: Zoo & Trips
Number of the week: 9, 10
Snack: Hoff Family

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