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!  

Week of October 3rd

This Week's Focus:

sight words:  
see, a, I, the, like,  to, can, and
color:  black
shape:  triangle
letter identification:  Mm and Ss
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)
                        
Comprehension Skills: retelling and story elements (characters, setting, problem and solution)
Theme: Owls
Math: Oder by size, length or weight
Student of the Week:  Marlee

Important Dates:

October 7: deadline for parent volunteer paperwork
October 17: Field trip to pumpkin patch

October 21: Box Tops due

October 28:  minimum day

October 31:  Scarecrow Day

Phonemic Awareness:

We will be working on segmenting words this week.  You can help at home by playing a "Secret Word" game with your child.  Tell them you have a secret word.  Take a simple word such as bat and segment the sounds for them.  /b/ /a/ /t/.  Have your child blend your secret word sounds together to form the word bat.  If your child is mastering simple words, go onto more difficult words that incorporate blends and digraphs (flag, spot, smash, cash, flash, etc).  This is a great game to play in the car.  The next step of difficulty is to have your child come up with a secret word and segment it for you.  Have fun helping your child learn!

Jog a Thon

Thank you so much for your support!  The kids had a great time and I am so grateful for your donations!  

Apple Pie Day

We made apple pies on Friday and they turned out great!  We had so much fun learning about apples this month and now we will learn about nocturnal animals in October.

Week of September 26th

This Week's Focus:
sight words:  
see, a, I, the, like,  to, can, and
color:  brown
shape:  circle
letter identification:  Xx, Yy, Zz
Phonemic Awareness:  beginning 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)
Comprehension Skills: retelling and story elements (characters, setting, problem and solution)
Theme: Apples
Math: Comparing Sizes 
Student of the Week:  Hayden

Important Dates:
September 27th:  Jog-a-Thon
September 30:  Minimum Day/Crazy Hair Day/Apple Pie Day
October 7: deadline for parent volunteer paperwork
October 17: Field trip to pumpkin patch

October 21: Box Tops due

October 28:  minimum day

October 31:  Scarecrow Day

Phonics:
We have almost completed the first phase of our phonics program.  We will briefly learn about letter Xx, Yy and Zz this week and then we move onto our second phase.  After briefly introducing each letter of the alphabet in phase one,  our second phase our phonics program will focus on two letters per week.  There will be more emphasis on letter formation and letter sounds.  We will work on phonemic awareness skills such as rhyming, beginning sounds, onset and rime, blending phonemes.  

Jog-a-Thon:

Our jog-a-thon will be Tuesday!!  We will be jogging at 10 am.  Remember, I appreciate any donation given!  Your child can ask family and friends for support in this.  Please turn in your jog-a-thon donations that day.  Only cash can be accepted.  These donations go directly to our classroom for this year's costs.  Again, any amount is appreciated.

Field Trip:

Thank you for turning in permission slips and donations for the field trip!  It is going to be a great time!  Remember, if you are planning to join us, you must pay at the door and you must let me know.  There are very strict rules from the state and the school that we must follow in regards to chaperones.  I appreciate your understanding.  

Parent Volunteers and TB Tests:  
   Please remember, no paperwork will be accepted after the October 7 cutoff.  

Apple Pie Day:
Thank you to those who have offered to donate items for our apple pie day.  Please send in your items no later than September 28th.  

Week of September 19th

This Week's Focus:
sight words:  and
see, a, I, the, like,  can, 
color:  purple
shape:  rectangle
letter identification:  Ss-Ww
Phonemic Awareness:  beginning 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)
                                 
Comprehension Skills: Inferring and retelling
Theme: Little Red Hen
Math: Numbers to 10
Student of the Week:  Aubree

Important Dates:!
September 27th:  Jog-a-Thon
September 30:  Minimum Day/Crazy Hair Day/Apple Pie Day
October 7: deadline for parent volunteer paperwork
October 17: Field trip to pumpkin patch

Jog-a-Thon:

Jog-a-Thon is next week!  If you would like to come help tally laps and are board approved to volunteer, I need a few more helpers.  Also, we would love to have some water bottles donated and some popsicles to enjoy after our run.  Let me know if you can provide either of those.  I appreciate any donations that are collected.  Again, I use the donations to buy things we need for our classroom such as paint, construction paper, crayons, glue, playdoh, craft items, class party items, and we are in need of a new cd player that I will order.  All money can be turned in on or before the jog a thon.  Thank you for your support!!!

Field Trip:

Please turn in permission slips and $12 donation for our field trip.  All parent volunteers must have all paperwork turned in and fill out a parent volunteer slip.  Please let me know if you will be attending.  All parents drive themselves and pay at the door.  Remember, no siblings please.  

Number Writing:

It is a good idea to practice number writing with your child if he or she can not write their numbers 0-9.  Print out the number practice sheet from the homework tab to assess your child's number writing ability.  This can be incorporated into your weekly routine to be sure your child is mastering their number writing to 30.

Apples:

We have been learning about apples and seasons in our classroom.  Thursday we made our own applesauce and we enjoyed it on Friday!  Ask your child how we made our applesauce!  

Apple Pie Day:

We will be making apple pies on September 30th.  I will have a sign-up sheet on the classroom door if you'd like to donate an item.  If you can't make it to the classroom door, let me know and I can sign you up for something.  Please send items before September 28th.

Parent Volunteers:
Thanks for contacting me and letting me know what day is best for you!  I will contact you this week.  

Week of September 12th

This Week's Focus:
sight words:  can
                    see, a, I, the, like, 
color:  blue
shape:  diamond
letter identification:  Nn-Rr 
Phonemic Awareness:  Single sounds
Writing: Writing sentences using our sight 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)
                           
Comprehension Skills: making connections and visualizing
Theme: Seasons
Math: Numbers to 10
Student of the Week:  

Important Dates:
September 12- 16:  Book Fair
September 14:  Applebee's Eat out Night
September 15: Ice Cream Social 6-8 pm Come shop the Book Fair!
September 27th:  Jog-a-Thon
September 30:  Minimum Day
October 7: deadline for parent volunteer paperwork
October 17: Field trip to pumpkin patch

Assessment Results:

I assessed all students on letter names, sounds, colors, numbers to 30, shapes and sight words.  Your child's results are in their take home folders.  Please take note of your child's results.  If they do not know their letter names, please make it part of your nightly routine to go over letter name flashcards.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child's assessment results.  I'm happy to go over them with you!

Jog-a-Thon:

I am looking forward to a successful jog-a-thon this year!  Remember, the money we raise as a class goes directly to our class this year.  I will use this money to buy construction paper, paint, class store items, etc.  Students can ask family members, neighbors and friends for flat donations and donation papers along with more information is in your child's take home folder.  Thanks for your support in this fundraiser!

Field Trip:

Check the Take Home folder for information on our first field trip!!  We will be heading to the pumpkin patch on October 17th!  If you have not turned in your paperwork but would like to go on the field trip, you must turn in your paperwork now in order to be board approved before the field trip. The district will NOT allow you to meet us there if you are not board approved.  Thanks for your understanding.  

Book Fair:

If you would like to send money in an envelope marked "BOOK FAIR", I will be taking the students on Tuesday at 10:30.  I can be sure their money is safe.  If you'd like to shop with them, you can do so before or after school or at our Cram Family Night on Thursday Sept. 17.  

Sight Words
Don't forget to practice your child's flashcards nightly and send them in when your child knows them.  These are the kindergarten sight words and students will be assessed on them throughout the year to see their progress.  Students should be moving on to the green list if they haven't done so already.  

Book Orders:

If you placed a scholastic book order on line, our order should arrive in about a week.  I'll let you know when I am sending those orders home.

Homework:

Click on the "Homework" tab above to find the share topic.  Many students did not do their share homework last week.  Please help your child set up a homework schedule at home that will help them be successful in future grades.