I would first like to apologize for not getting the blog out during the weekend. I unfortunately had water damage from a leaky upstairs bathroom to a downstairs living room followed by my son having a 101 fever Sunday. I think its all under control, but then I am quickly writing this on lunch because it is conferences and I am at school all day today. Sorry!
We started the week with talking about presidents because it was presidents' day. We talked about who our president is (Barack Obama), our first president (George Washington), and the president that said slaves isnt fair and everyone needs to be paid to work (Abe Lincoln). We introduced that some of the presidents are on money. We talked about Abe Lincoln being on the penny and did 2 activities with pennies.
Students counted groups of pennies and then worked on writing the numbers on their own. Students also flipped a penny 10 times (ish) and counted how many heads and tails. 
We read the book Bennie's Pennies at circle time. In the book, Benny has 5 pennies and they went through buying things with the pennies. We did the math along with the book. Students are pretty good at this!
Pocket Chart is matching number of hearts, the number, and the number word together. PM class was so proud of their completed chart!
Wednesday, students began to copy print writing God Bless America on their papers with their hand print eagles (National bird/Mascot). Students did SO well on this project!
We read another book about flags at circle time. We talked about the colors red, white, and blue and the fact there are 50 stars! We also talked about the flag having a pattern (red white red white). Students then created a flag by patterning the red and white, gluing on the blue square, and then counting to 10 5 times to make 50 dot stars on their flag!
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 K is for K'nex. 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, K is for kite.
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:
- Emails for conferences came out this week. Pleas sign up for a time if you have not done so yet. DUE TO THE SHORT TURN AROUND FOR THE PALS WINDOW THEY GIVE US, REPORT CARDS WILL NOT BE READY WHEN THE QUARTER ENDS. YOU WILL GET ALL REPORTS AT CONFERENCES.
- 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.
- As a part of our room decorations and to make every one feel at home, we have a "family and friends" board in our room. Students will feel more at home and have a school family if they have their home family with them. (The same as you putting a family picture on your desk). Please feel free to send in a family photo that will be stapled up on our wall for the duration of the school year. Send in those family photos!
- 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.
- Homework Homework would be the only blank stuff sent home. We have a homework stamp page in the back of you child's every day folder. When you do homework with your child and send it back, we stamp the homework, stamp the homework page, and then send it back. Anything with a stamp on it or a project that is already done is yours to keep. The homework page in the back of the folder explains more about homework. Homework TYPICALLY comes home on Thursdays and it is some reinforcing of letters at home (same sheet different letters so they also become independent).
- 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 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!
Theme: Dental Health
Letter of the Week: Ff
AM Snack: Ashauer
PM Snack: Taube
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