Dental health

We are talking about dental health this week.  We started the week off by counting the teeth in a kid's mouth and then putting a toothbrush that had that number on it by the correct mouth.  Counting is getting pretty good, but keep working on that number id!

We followed up the discussion by watching a youtube video about dental health.  I am sure many of your kids have been talking about it as they have been talking about it quite a bit at school. The video is below. 

We got a new dramatic play center, a Vet office.  Students are loving the x-rays (donated by a parent who works in a vet), medical supplies (donated by walgreens) and more!  They are doing some great role playing in there! We also have a sign in and a clip board for doctor notes as well.  We are encouraging kids to do the best writing they can.

The new sensory table has been making teeth, putting them in the mouth, and then being a dentist for a day.  Students are really enjoying this one as well!

On Wednesday, we cut things out of magazines that were good for our teeth and bad for our teeth.  We talked how if something is bad for our teeth this does not mean we cant have it, just that we need to have little bits of it and make sure to brush our teeth after.  I promise I am not teaching them all food besides fruit and veggies are bad!

PM Class, thank you with your patience with my in and out.  My son went to the doctor Tuesday evening and was diagnosed with an ear infection and RSV.  He is getting better, but since he couldn't go to the sitters with other kids my husband and I were trading off.  

The letter of the week was Ff . We learned the sign language for a letter, the literacy link sound symbols, the letter sound, and looking at and writing it in both capital letters and lower case letters.  Click here to view the many ways we learn the letter of the week!

Each week we watch letter videos from "Have Fun Teaching" and the students are really picking up the names of letters, formations, and the sounds of letters.  Check out these videos with you child!  Click HERE.

The Tuesday project of letter of the week is to decorate a letter with  something  that  starts with the letter. This week we decorated the letter F with feathers.  Students are getting good at making predictions of what they think they will be decorating with based on words that start with that sound.  On Thursday, our letter of the week project was to read a page from our alphabet book,F is for Flamingo.

Students also do a maze of the letter helping get from one object to another starting with that letter, find and color all of the letter, color a page of something that starts with that letter, and make a crown at the end of the week to be the Kings and Queens of the letter!

We also do a handwriting sheet.  This is important because writing the letters correctly helps with efficiency as well as learning cursive down the line.  We ALWAYS START AT THE TOP.  Please encourage students to write the letter correctly!  This came home on the blue sheets from break.


Important Notes:

• Dress for the weather Please send your child dressed for the weather.  We go outside 2 days a week (We really TRY).  AM goes out Wednesday and Thursday.  PM goes out Tuesday and Thursday.  Extended day (students who stay all day) go out every day.  Unless it is below 0* or raining we do go out.  Please send the clothes that will keep them warm.  Also, please attempt to send in clothes that your child can do themselves.  This may be sending a zip up sweatshirt over a pull over, zipper instead of buttons, mittens instead of gloves, etc.  Thought we will always help to get your child ready, we cannot help all at the same time.  Teaching the children self help and self dress skills is an important goal of the 4k program.  By sending easier clothes, it helps them be more successful.  
• Layers may be necessary in the school.  Heat does not turn on until later in the fall/early winter so the building can be a little chilly in the morning before the bodies warm it up.  Send your child in layers and maybe have an extra sweatshirt/sweater left in lockers in case they are cold.  It may also be time to switch out the clothes in the top of lockers to warmer options.
• Background checks. When it comes to these, we assume you are good unless we get a note otherwise, but we are counting on it not being processed (and will not make that assumption that it was run and you are good) until 2 WEEKS AFTER TURNING THE FORMS IN.
• 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 few weeks.  Students will have a week to complete the project inside and can then return the bag with completed sheets in it on TUESDAY.
• 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. 
• Book Order Books will be sent home with your child when they come in unless you send a note that you would like it done differently.  We do encourage books to be gifts so if this is the case, please send a note and we put them in brown paper bags and tell the student it is mom/dad's homework.  The next book order is due March 10.  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. 
• Reading with the Stars will be held on Monday March 14.  5:30-6:30pm.  Please do your best to reply regardless of yes or no so we can get an accurate count, make the right amount of materials, and pick a space that will fit everyone best.  This will be the final Reading with the Stars.  April we spend a lot of time prepping for graduation, and May has graduation.
• Graduation Photos are offered to all students (to get photo for slide show, please sign consent) and optional purchase.  They are adorable in their cap and gown photos.  We do not wear cap and gown at graduation, just this one photo.  Information will come out closer, but photos will be during the school day on April 21.
• Graduation usually is the end of the year, but with my being due so close, I wanted the best chance to be there as possible.  Graduation will be held on Thursday May 12 5:30-6:30pm.  We love to have all students there as they will be singing for you, a power point presentation (they write the slides and have 1st day/graduation photos) getting their diplomas, and little presents.  There will be a social afterwards.
• Snack reminder. Please remember healthy, nut free choices.   A list can be found on the blog at the bottom.  If you send an item that needs spoons/forks, please also send in those items. Thank You!

Next Week:
Theme: Dr. Seuss
Letter of the Week: Qq
AM Snack: Romnek

PM Snack: Woerpel