Insects week 1

MANY, MANY IMPORTANT DATES, FORMS, AND REQUESTS IN THE IMPORTANT INFO SECTION.  PLEASE BE SURE TO READ!

We started the week with making up the X's from before break. Students did their  X page, X is for X-ray.  

Students worked on patterning on their pattern-pillars.  Patterns are going well for students, but they need to be encouraged to go back and look at their work.  I think it is very important that they learn this self-check skill as it will help them in their schooling for the rest of their life.  Keep encouraging them with "Does that look right?" "Is that your best?" "What were the directions? Did you follow them?"

AM got to label the parts of an insect.  Students used the song they have been learning (we are going to keep practicing it this week and then I will post a video next week!) of the parts of an insect.  They sang the song to complete it as well as looked at the initial sound of the word to put the correct word in the correct spot.

Sensory Table chanced to Moon sand and insect stamps.

Towards the end of the week, students were introduced to our new dramatic play center: flower shop.  Their are carts, bags, flowers, order forms, birthday/mothers' day cards, and even a cash register.  So far they have been very respectful to the center, hopefully they continue to do so so we can keep it for a while!

Art center students have been able to make buds for our spring tree (glue and tissue paper) or the new insect rubbings.  Students tape the rubbing stencil on the table, lay a piece of paper on top, and use the melted crayons to make an insect.  They can also add details to the photos by coloring.  Students have been introduced to the pencil sharpener and have been asking to sharpen colored pencils more often. Since they are not abusing it yet, they have that opportunity.  

The letter of the week was Yy. 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 Y with yellow yarn. 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 Monday (today) due to the snow day, our letter of the week project was to read a page from our alphabet book, Y is for Yak.

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:
Now that we are in April, it feels like the school year flies!  We have a lot of events/dates, forms, announcements, trips, etc. coming up.  Please read these important notes weekly and/or check the calendar in the tab at the top to stay up to date..

• Spring Field Trip will be April 19.  PLEASE TURN IN BLUE PERMISSION SLIP WITH MONEY BY THURSDAY.  We will be going to Bubolz nature Preserve and we will be doing a 5 senses hike.  Cost is $3.50 a  student, no cost for chaperones.  Permission slip came home today (blue). THE BUS NEEDS TO LEAVE ON TIME IN ORDER TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION ON TIME, HAVE LONG ENOUGH ON THE TRIP, AND GET BACK IN TIME.  IF YOUR STUDENTS IS NOT AT SCHOOL ON TIME, THE BUS WILL LEAVE WITHOUT THEM.
• 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. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE ENVELOPE REGARDLESS OF PURCHASE, WE NEED YOUR PERMISSION TO TAKE YOUR CHILD'S PHOTO TO USE FOR THE GRADUATION POWER POINT.
• Bloomin' Bonanza is our school spring fundraiser. We sell annuals, perennials, and crafts.  There is also a table at which the students make things to sell as well.  It is a fun event to support the school and get those gardens looking great! (It is also Mother's day weekend so it makes for some great mothers day gifts as well!). We will all be making contributions to the school table for sale as well.  PLEASE SEND AN EMPTY SINGLE SERVING WATER BOTTLE with your child to use for this project. 
• 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.
• 4k Safety Fair Trip is a free trip offered by the district. The trip will be held on Tuesday May 24, 2016 during school hours.  The Hortonville High School students enrolled in an early childhood class plan the day for us.  We visit Hillside preschool and use their building.  The trip includes firefighters, police officers, pharmacists, pet specialists/trainers, Emotional health specialists, and then the high schoolers host a bike rodeo for bike safety training.  It is a lot of fun and a good message to send students with before the summer break. More details to come. THE BUS NEEDS TO LEAVE ON TIME IN ORDER TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION ON TIME, HAVE LONG ENOUGH ON THE TRIP, AND GET BACK IN TIME.  IF YOUR STUDENTS IS NOT AT SCHOOL ON TIME, THE BUS WILL LEAVE WITHOUT THEM. (permission slip is orange).
• 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. 
• 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: Insects (wk 2)
Letter of the Week: Zz
AM Snack: Bonnet

PM Snack: Springstroh