Week of December 12th

This Week's Focus:

sight words: 
come, to, my, we, go, see, a, I, the, like, can, and
Phonics:  Oo and Xx

Phonemic Awareness:  phoneme segmentation, final sounds
Writing: Writing 1-2 sentences
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Polar Express
Math: Size and Position
Student of the Week: 

Important Dates:
December 1-13th: Toy Drive (donations go to children in this community)
December 12-16:  Penguin Patch store
December 12: parent/teacher conferences in cafeteria
December 16:  Minimum Day (kinder only) 
December 16:  Christmas Centers/Holiday Performance at 10:30

Parent Conferences:  

  I am holding several conferences that day, back to back.  Please plan to arrive a few minutes early.  I am sorry, but I will not be able to run over your time slot if you are running late.  I look forward to meeting with you!

Penguin Patch Store

  This is a PTSA fundraiser that will allow your child to shop and pick out some special gifts for family members.  I will take students to the shop on Tuesday.  I will not be able to take them at a later date in the week so please plan to have your child's money to me before Tuesday. 

Holiday Performance

The Kindergarten students will perform some special Christmas songs to celebrate the season for you!  All are invited!  Parents, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles etc.  No need to be board approved for this.  Our performance will start at 10:30 in the cafeteria.  Please allow plenty of time to park and get to the cafeteria on this day.  This day will be a minimum day for kindergarten students only.  If you have older students, they will be on regular schedule this day.  All kindergartens will attend school from 7:45 to 11:30.  Parents who attend the performance will be able to take their children home from the classroom door immediately following the performance.  This will be a treat you won't want to miss!  

Holiday Surprises

Please send these before Thursday

I am asking each student to send in 24 small trinkets to share with the class for the holidays.  These may be small toys, pencils, erasers, small candies.  We will be filling small stockings with these trinkets so please be mindful of their size.  These can be brought to school any time over the next few weeks.  

Holiday Centers

We will be having our holiday centers on December 16 before the performance.  I would love parent help on this day.  You can plan to stay from 7:45 until the performance.  You will have plenty of time to head over and find space to enjoy the performance.  All volunteers in the classroom must be board approved.  Please message me if you'd like to help on this day.    

Share Homework

No share homework this week 

Week of December 5th

This Week's Focus:

sight words:  come
to, my, we, go, see, a, I, the, like, can, and
Phonics:  Dd and Rr

Phonemic Awareness:  phoneme segmentation, final sounds
Writing: Writing 1-2 sentences
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Gingerbread Boy
Math: Size and Position
Student of the Week: Onaie

Important Dates:
December 1-13th: Toy Drive (donations go to children in this community)
December 6:  Fall fundraiser pick up
December 12-16:  Penguin Patch store
December 12: parent/teacher conferences in cafeteria
December 16:  Minimum Day (kinder only) 
December 16:  Christmas Centers/Holiday Performance at 10:30

Parent Conferences:  

Parent/teacher conference times came home Wednesday.  If you have not yet confirmed with me, please do so asap by returning the bottom portion of the notice.  I am holding 24 conferences that day, back to back.  Please plan to arrive a few minutes early.  I am sorry, but I will not be able to run over your time slot if you are running late.  I look forward to meeting with you!

Penguin Patch Store

  This is a PTSA fundraiser that will allow your child to shop and pick out some special gifts for family members.   I will be  sure the students make it over to the store.  

Holiday Performance

The Kindergarten students will perform some special Christmas songs to celebrate the season for you!  All are invited!  Parents, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles etc.  No need to be board approved for this.  Our performance will start at 10:30 in the cafeteria.  Please allow plenty of time to park and get to the cafeteria on this day.  This day will be a minimum day for kindergarten students only.  If you have older students, they will be on regular schedule this day.  All kindergartens will attend school from 7:45 to 11:30.  Parents who attend the performance will be able to take their children home from the classroom door immediately following the performance.  This will be a treat you won't want to miss!  

Holiday Surprises

I am asking each student to send in 24 small trinkets to share with the class for the holidays.  These may be small toys, pencils, erasers, small candies.  We will be filling small stockings with these trinkets so please be mindful of their size.  These can be brought to school any time over the next few weeks.  

Holiday Centers

We will be having our holiday centers on December 16 before the performance.  I would love parent help on this day.  You can plan to stay from 7:45 until the performance.  You will have plenty of time to head over and find space to enjoy the performance.  All volunteers in the classroom must be board approved.  Please message me if you'd like to help on this day.  

I will send out a message of some items I need for the holiday centers.  Thank you in advance for your willingness to donate items.  

Share Homework

Write one to two sentences about Christmas. 

Week of November 28-December 2

Hi everyone!  Hope you all enjoyed your holiday week together!  We have a busy three weeks ahead of us as we close out the first semester of kindergarten!
I will be setting a day aside to conference with you and I will have your child's report card at that time.  The day will be one day during the week of December 12-16. I will have more info on that soon. 
I am looking forward to getting back to my kinder babies.  I have missed them!  I am so grateful for your patience and understanding while I took some time off.  This has and will be a very difficult holiday season for me and my family.

This Week's Focus:

sight words:  to
come, my, we, go, see, a, I, the, like, can, and
Phonics:  Ii and Gg

Phonemic Awareness:  phoneme segmentation, final sounds
Writing: We will be writing informational text about reindeer this week.  We will follow the "can, have, are" model
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Reindeer
Math: Size and Position
Student of the Week: I will pick from the can on Monday

Important Dates:
November  0:  Family Feast Day
December 2:  Minimum Day
December 16:  Minimum Day (kinder only) 
December 16:  Christmas Centers/Holiday Performance at 10:30

Family Feast

The Family Feast will be this Wednesday.  If you are having lunch with your child, please pick them up from the classroom door.  

THIS IS A VERY BUSY DAY AT CRAM.  ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME TO PARK AND GET TO THE CLASSROOM DOOR BY 11:00.  

ANY STUDENTS NOT HAVING LUNCH WITH THEIR FAMILY WILL BE WALKED TO THE CAFETERIA AT 11:15.  IF YOU ARE RUNNING LATE TO HAVE LUNCH, YOU WILL NEED TO FIND YOUR CHILD IN THE CAFETERIA.  THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE ON THIS DAY.  

PTSA Holiday Store

The information about this event is coming home Monday.  This is a PTSA fundraiser that will allow your child to shop and pick out some special gifts for family members.   I will be sure the students make it over to the store.  

Holiday Performance

The Kindergarten students will perform some special Christmas songs to celebrate the season for you!  All are invited!  Parents, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles etc.  No need to be board approved for this.  Our performance will start at 10:30 in the cafeteria.  Please allow plenty of time to park and get to the cafeteria on this day.  This day will be a minimum day for kindergarten students only.  If you have older students, they will be on regular schedule this day.  All kindergartens will attend school from 7:45 to 11:30.  Parents who attend the performance will be able to take their children home from the classroom door immediately following the performance.  This will be a treat you won't want to miss!  

Holiday Surprises

I am asking each student to send in 24 small trinkets to share with the class for the holidays.  These may be small toys, pencils, erasers, small candies.  We will be filling small stockings with these trinkets so please be mindful of their size.  These can be brought to school any time over the next few weeks.  

Holiday Centers

We will be having our holiday centers on December 16 before the performance.  I would love parent help on this day.  You can plan to stay from 7:45 until the performance.  You will have plenty of time to head over and find space to enjoy the performance.  All volunteers in the classroom must be board approved.  Please message me if you'd like to help on this day.  

Share Homework

This week's share homework will be to decorate the holiday tree in their homework folder. 

Week of November 7th

My dad lost his short, vicious battle with cancer yesterday after being diagnosed 1 month and 1 day ago.  I was blessed to be by his side along with my mom and brother his last few days and I will forever cherish that moment.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to share something so precious to me with you and for respecting it so so much.  I thank you for all your kind words, support and hugs.
I will be taking the next 2 weeks to be with my family.  I will be postponing our parent conference to December.  I plan to take a kindergarten prep day and schedule your conferences back to back throughout that day.  Again, thank you for your support.
Mrs. Holke will be filling in for me next week (a 2 day week for students) and most likely the following week as well (all minimum days).
I would like to still have our Thanksgiving Tasting Feast for the kiddos and will be discussing that with some parents so that we can organize that.  I will be communicating with you throughout these next 2 weeks via Remind and our blog.  I will still be having regular scheduled parent helpers in the classroom as we work to complete "Christmas Art" (yes, I work like a retail store).  Feel free to message me any questions you may have, you will not be "bothering" me in the least.
Because I will not be seeing you before our Thanksgiving Break, I wish you and your family a blessed holiday for we all have much to be thankful for!

**There will be NO HOMEWORK this week or next week**

Week of October 31st

I want to thank you guys for your patience through this horrendously difficult time my family and I are going through.  For any who do not know, my dad was put on hospice last Monday.  His cancer is extremely aggressive and he has now lost 50 lbs since being diagnosed on October 4th. Hospice has been absolutely wonderful and my family and I are making every moment count.  He needs constant care at this point so I am helping my mom and I would appreciate any extra help in the classroom this week as I work to be able to head home quickly after school to be there.  If you are willing to work on something at home, check with me.  I also need help taking down all October art.  Again, I can't thank you enough for your support.  

This Week's Focus:

sight words:  my
we, see, a, I, the, like,  to, can, and
shape:  circle
Phonics:  Pp and Nn
Phonemic Awareness:  segmenting sounds
Writing: Writing sentences using our sight words and stretching out unknown words
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)
Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Spiders
Math: Numbers to 10
Student of the Week: Santiago

Important Dates:

October 31:  Scarecrow Day
November 9-11:  NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

November 14-18:  Minimum Days (conference week)
November 21-25:  Thanksgiving Break (No school)

Parent Conferences:

At this point, I'm not sure what parent conference week will have in store for me.  I am going to "tentatively" schedule conferences.  I may or may not need to reschedule all conferences to a later date. Thank you for your support.

Pumpkin Donation

We will be having some fun activities on Scarecrow Day!  One activity will involve each student decorating a small pumpkin.  I am asking for a 2$ or more donation from each family to cover the price of the pumpkins.   Please send it in an envelope or a baggie.  Thanks for your support!


Scarecrow Day

Scarecrow day will be on Monday, October 31th.  On this day, all kindergarten classes participate by dressing up like scarecrows.  This can be done by wearing an old pair of jeans or overalls, a flannel and whatever else a scarecrow might wear.  This does fall on Halloween this year.  Other costumes are not permitted at school.  Your child may choose to participate in scarecrow day or dress in orange and black.  No other costumes are allowed at Cram.  We will be having a scarecrow parade at 9:40 that day and everyone is welcome to come see it!  You do not need to be board approved to watch the parade!  I would love any and all parent help that day.  You do need to be board approved to help on this day.  I will plan according to my parent helper availability.  Please message me if you'd like to be a part of this fun day.  I would love parent help from 9:30 to 11:15 that day. Please let me know by October 16th if you'd like to join us for our Scarecrow day!  

Week of October 24th

This Week's Focus:

sight words:  my
we, see, a, I, the, like,  to, can, and
shape:  circle
Phonics:  Pp and Nn
Phonemic Awareness:  segmenting sounds
Writing: Writing sentences using our sight words and stretching out unknown words
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)
Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Spiders
Math: Numbers to 10
Student of the Week: Santiago

Important Dates:

October 27th:  Barnes and Noble Reading Night

October 28:  minimum day

October 31:  Scarecrow Day
November 9-11:  NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

November 14-18:  Minimum Days (conference week)
November 21-25:  Thanksgiving Break (No school)


Family Reading Night

Thursday October 27th is our annual Family Reading Night at Barnes and Noble.  This is a chance for your child to wear his/her costume down to Barnes and Noble for lots of fun activities.  Teachers will be reading aloud, there will be costume parades, cupcake decorating and prizes to win!  Cram receives a portion of the money spent that night and everyone has a lot of fun!  

Pumpkin Donation

We will be having some fun activities on Scarecrow Day!  One activity will involve each student decorating a small pumpkin.  I am asking for a 2$ or more donation from each family to cover the price of the pumpkins.   Please send it in an envelope or a baggie.  Thanks for your support!


Scarecrow Day

Scarecrow day will be on Monday, October 31th.  On this day, all kindergarten classes participate by dressing up like scarecrows.  This can be done by wearing an old pair of jeans or overalls, a flannel and whatever else a scarecrow might wear.  This does fall on Halloween this year.  Other costumes are not permitted at school.  Your child may choose to participate in scarecrow day or dress in orange and black.  No other costumes are allowed at Cram.  We will be having a scarecrow parade at 9:40 that day and everyone is welcome to come see it!  You do not need to be board approved to watch the parade!  I would love any and all parent help that day.  You do need to be board approved to help on this day.  I will plan according to my parent helper availability.  Please message me if you'd like to be a part of this fun day.  I would love parent help from 9:30 to 11:15 that day. Please let me know by October 16th if you'd like to join us for our Scarecrow day!  

Week of October 17th

This Week's Focus:

sight words:  we, 
see, a, I, the, like,  to, can, and
shape:  triangle
Phonics:  Cc and Tt
Phonemic Awareness:  segmenting sounds
Writing: Writing sentences using our sight words and stretching out unknown words
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)
Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Pumpkins
Math: Numbers to 10
Student of the Week: 

Important Dates:

October 17: Field trip to pumpkin patch (minimum day)

October 21: Box Tops due
October 27th:  Barnes and Noble Reading Night

October 28:  minimum day

October 31:  Scarecrow Day

Family Reading Night

Thursday October 27th is our annual Family Reading Night at Barnes and Noble.  This is a chance for your child to wear his/her costume down to Barnes and Noble for lots of fun activities.  Teachers will be reading aloud, there will be costume parades, cupcake decorating and prizes to win!  Cram receives a portion of the money spent that night and everyone has a lot of fun!  

Field Trip

 Our field trip is Monday!  This day is a minimum day for kindergarten only!  To attend, you must have given me notification already.   We can not allow parents to show up at the pumpkin patch and plan to join our group due to state and district regulations.  Also, there are no siblings allowed on this trip.  If you are chaperoning, please make child care arrangements for your other little ones and meet us at Greenspot Farm at 9:15.  Students should pack a sack lunch that day and leave lunch boxes at home.  Let me know if you have any questions about our field trip.  


Scarecrow Day

Scarecrow day will be on Monday, October 31th.  On this day, all kindergarten classes participate by dressing up like scarecrows.  This can be done by wearing an old pair of jeans or overalls, a flannel and whatever else a scarecrow might wear.  This does fall on Halloween this year.  Other costumes are not permitted at school.  Your child may choose to participate in scarecrow day or dress in orange and black.  No other costumes are allowed at Cram.  We will be having a scarecrow parade at 9:40 that day and everyone is welcome to come see it!  You do not need to be board approved to watch the parade!  I would love any and all parent help that day.  You do need to be board approved to help on this day.  I will plan according to my parent helper availability.  Please message me if you'd like to be a part of this fun day.  I would love parent help from 9:30 to 11:15 that day. Please let me know by October 16th if you'd like to join us for our Scarecrow day!  

Week of October 10

Thank you for your understanding and patience last week as I had to be out. I want to let you know that unfortunately my dad became very sick, very quickly, 2 weeks ago. He was diagnosed with cancer on Tuesday. This has been devastating. We never saw it coming.  The road ahead is very unclear at this time and I plan to remain as close to him as I can be as we travel down it.  I appreciate your thoughts, prayers and patience as my mom, brother and I help him fight.


This Week's Focus:

sight words:  we, 
see, a, I, the, like,  to, can, and
shape:  triangle
Phonics:  short a
Phonemic Awareness:  segmenting sounds
Writing: Writing sentences using our sight words and stretching out unknown words
Reading:
Reading Strategies:  make your finger match the word,
                                 look at the Pictures (Eagle Eye)
                                check the first letter of the word (lips the fish)
                           stretch out the sounds in the word (stretchy snake)
Comprehension Skills: inferring, problem/solution
Theme: Bats
Math: Numbers to 10
Student of the Week: 

Important Dates:

October 17: Field trip to pumpkin patch

October 21: Box Tops due
October 27th:  Barnes and Noble Reading Night

October 28:  minimum day

October 31:  Scarecrow Day

Family Reading Night

Thursday October 27th is our annual Family Reading Night at Barnes and Noble.  This is a chance for your child to wear his/her costume down to Barnes and Noble for lots of fun activities.  Teachers will be reading aloud, there will be costume parades, cupcake decorating and prizes to win!  Cram receives a portion of the money spent that night and everyone has a lot of fun!  

Field Trip

 Our field trip is approaching.  Just a reminder, all parents attending must notify me.  We can not allow parents to show up at the pumpkin patch and plan to join our group due to state and district regulations.  Also, there are no siblings allowed on this trip.  If you are chaperoning, please make child care arrangements for your other little ones.  Students should pack a sack lunch that day and leave lunch boxes at home.  Let me know if you have any questions about our field trip.  

Scarecrow Day

Scarecrow day will be on Monday, October 31th.  On this day, all kindergarten classes participate by dressing up like scarecrows.  This can be done by wearing an old pair of jeans or overalls, a flannel and whatever else a scarecrow might wear.  This does fall on halloween this year.  Other costumes are not permitted at school.  Your child may choose to participate in scarecrow day or dress in orange and black.  No other costumes are allowed at Cram.  We will be having a scarecrow parade at 9:40 that day and everyone is welcome to come see it!  You do not need to be board approved to watch the parade!  I would love any and all parent help that day.  You do need to be board approved to help on this day.  I will plan according to my parent helper availability.  Please message me if you'd like to be a part of this fun day.  I would love parent help from 9:30 to 11:15 that day. Please let me know by October 16th if you'd like to join us for our Scarecrow day!