Newletter 8/28/15

In case you didn't catch the hard copy of the first newsletter here it is on the blog.

8/28/15

Dear Room 35 Families,

It’s been an amazing first week in Kindergarten!   We are enjoying getting to know each other through name games, structured activities and open ended play times.  As you know, the first six weeks of school are largely about establishing routines, learning to use materials and getting comfortable with the group. To those ends we spent some time at the end of the week collaboratively creating our “Rainbow Rule”. That’s what we are calling our overarching rule that covers all expectations for classroom behavior.  Rather than saying specifics such as “no grabbing” or “no yelling”, we decided to say “in Kindergarten we have calm bodies, treat each other with kindness and take care of our school”. (This is not-so-coincidentally a reflection of Orchard School’s core values: respect yourself, others and the environment).  The children worked on a rainbow mural that with display our rule all year long.  Surrounding the rainbow are individual clouds on which each child stated his or her hope for the year.  Deep thoughts for the first few days of school!

 

Literacy Learning

One item to come home in the folder today is a paper version of Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr.’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?.  It is the first of many “made books” to make it’s way home from the classroom and I cannot stress enough how valuable these predictable texts with high frequency words are in the life of a beginning reader. I strongly encourage you to save them in a shoebox or other accessible container for your child’s frequent re-reading.  Other literacy ideas we focused on this week include rhyming, the concept of uppercase/lowercase and of course what it looks like to be a good listener!  You can try asking your child what it means to “give me five” in the classroom.  (1. Eyes on the speaker 2. Ears listening 3. Voice off 4. Sitting flat 5. Hands in lap).

Math Matters

This week I introduced the children to the basics of Number Corner which is what we call our daily practice that incorporates calendar skills, pattern predicting, counting, and computation into a predictable routine.  You can try asking your child how many links are in the “days in school chain”.  The class has explored open ended math materials such as pattern blocks, unifix cubes, polydrons and geoboards.  It’s been exciting to see the different ways in which the children design and create.  We have discussed what makes a pattern (a discussion that will continue) and done several whole group activities that focus on sorting according to a particular attribute.

Important Info and Reminders

1. If you haven’t returned beginning of the year paperwork, please do so!
2. Reminder to please send a LABELED change of clothes to keep in your child’s cubby- just in case!
3. A word about recycling...often you will find a drawing that your child has made come home on the back of a recycled paper.  This is just one small way we can demonstrate the importance of reusing while at the same time allowing children access to LOTS of paper for drawing, writing and more!
4. If you have any old children’s magazines at home that you can donate to our class for various activities, I’d be grateful!

Homework

Most weeks I do assign homework- usually in the form of activities for you to do with your child.  I have found that this is one way for you to see the progress your child is making, stay informed about our themes, and model great homework habits such as reading the directions, making sure to make time, and handing things in on time.  The homework will always come home on Fridays and you can feel free to send it in ANY day the following week (Monday-Friday).  This week, the blank piece of cardstock stapled to this letter is for the homework!   Please work with your child to create a collage all about themselves. It can include family photos, magazine clippings, drawings, stickers that show your child’s unique interests, words, and anything else that may help the class get to know your child and their life outside of school.  These pages will be laminated and turned into a classroom book so please be sure any photos you include are okay to remain in the classroom all year.

Thank you so much for all you’ve done to welcome me to Orchard School and to insure that your child had a smooth start to Kindergarten!  

Have a great weekend,