Holidays week 2

We are talking about winter and the holidays...even though the weather outside is not looking like it!

We started the week off with a measuring unit.  We measured how tall the students were with big snowflakes, and then how many small snowflakes various things around the room were.  This helped the concept of measuring, counting, number writing, and direction following.  Students had a good time with this! Photos of your child by the measuring snowflakes can be found in the Thanksgiving/Holidays album on the blog album page (class photos tab, then blue link)

Students got to put the snowflakes on our Season Tree in our room.  They got to put glue stick on the snowflakes, and then dip that into the glitter.  Our tree is beautiful!  When they ran out of snowflakes, they got to use the glitter and method learned to make decorations for our dramatic play center.

We made name snowmen as well this week. Students had to count how many letters were in their name, then count out that many snowballs.  they had to write one letter on each snowball and then build the snowman in order.  Finally, the put on a head and arms.  This project worked on counting, name writing, one to one correspondence, letter writing, fine motor skills, and direction following!  We also discussed how none of the snowmen will look the same and each one is still special and that is just like them!

As the holiday season gets busier and busier, we are finding that some students forget the rules a little bit.  I think that is why Santa the Elf was sitting in our drop bucket on Thursday, to remind us all that we have to be bucket fillers and try our best to make sure all our friends are safe and happy at school!

We are busy preparing for our winter concerts!

 The AM class will be participating in the school wide program as they are all St. Edward families and can be a part of the religious program.  They will be singing 3 songs at the concert.  Please send them in Sunday Dress on Tuesday Dec 22.  They can change if you send a change and a note telling us they need to change.  The first concert is at 9:30, the second at 6 (students report at 5:30 to Mrs. Zajicek's room).  Words for the "tricky song" were sent home Thursday.  There will be a small social afterwards.

Sorry the image is sideways!

The PM class gets to do a Gingerbread Reader's Theater.  They will be performing on Thursday December 17 at 5:30 pm,  Students can show up at 5:15 in their classroom and we will get them ready to show up on stage (and meet you downstairs).  It will be held in our school gym on the stage.  We will have a small social afterwards as well as star decorating for the next month's reading calendar.  PLEASE send the lime green RSVP back on Monday if you haven't already so I can be sure to have the right amount of seats and programs.

The letter of the week was Rr. 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 R with Ribbons.  On Thursday, our letter of the week project was to read a page from our alphabet book, R is for Rabbit.

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!

Important Notes:

• PM Students Program Thursday December 17 5:30-6:30 students report at 5:15.  Dress nice.
• AM Students Program Tuesday December 22 9:30AM & 6 pm students report at 5:30.  Dress in Sunday Dress.

• ****PM STUDENTS***** There is no school on Wednesday  December 23 because that is the start of the Christmas break at 12:30.  Those are the only half days that there will be no PM 4k.  All other district half days 4k will be in session.
• ****AM STUDENTS**** Wed Dec 23, because it is the start of the holiday breaks, there will be no after care offered.  All students must be picked up by 11 (normal pick up time) or 12:30 if they stay all day.
• There is a half day on the district calendar for Wednesday December 9.  AM and PM will have class.  After school care is an option.  If you usually stay all day, please reply to the email or write a note in their folders indicating if they are leaving at 11 (& with who), 12:30 (& with who), staying for aftercare and being picked up at 3 (1 fee) staying for aftercare and being picked up 3-5:30 (additional fee).  

• 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 Some parents have asked about homework and keep home stuff.  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 MONDAY.
• 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 November 25th.  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. 
• 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: Christmas.Winter
Letter of the Week: Nn
AM Snack: Backes
PM Snack: Greisbach