It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of week number two of school! The children did a stupendous job with our first few days of full-day Kindergarten! As each day passes, they look more confident as they enter school, and they are becoming accustomed to our daily routines. Our time here has been jam packed with fun, engaging activities related to Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Room #7 is also working on creating a community by learning each other’s names and making new friends. Here are just a few of the highlights from the week!
On Friday, we read I Like Myself! This book is a fabulous portrayal of all the reasons to like oneself, no matter what! The pictures add humor that the Kindergarteners relished! After we finished reading, the boys and girls of Room #7 talked about how everyone is unique! Then, they colored their very first self-portraits of the year using multicultural crayons. The illustrations came out so well; everyone paid very close attention to all the details of their faces and really took their time! Way to go boys and girls!
We created our first class book! We used the familiar repetitive language from Brown Bear, Brown Bear to produce a book featuring each child in our class. This is sure to become a class favorite! The students also participated in their first survey! I asked each student what his/her favorite animal is from the book and then, as a class, we graphed the responses. Everyone was able to see which animal was the most popular by counting how many votes each one received! We chatted about which animal had the least number of votes too. It was fun to compare and contrast our results.
The students made their very own September calendars. This is an activity our class will do every month to practice writing our numerals. This month, the pictures the students created were palm trees from Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! The students then affixed letters to the ground and tree. Next, they counted how many letters on each and recorded that number! It was a fun way to delve into both literacy and math!
We also reviewed the locations we go to at the end of the day for dismissal and met all of the kindergarten teachers who help us at that time! Dismissal is a very busy time! Every day:
Walkers are going to Ms. Syed’s room
Car Riders are going to my room
Bus Riders go to Mrs. Sheerin’s room
Lextended Day students also come to my room where the Lextended Day teachers will pick them up
As you can see – it is a VERY hectic time of day. Please remember to send a note (or email!) ANYTIME your child has a change in dismissal plans :) !
On Friday, Room #7 had its first experience with All School Meeting (ASM). Every other Friday (about), we begin the day with All School Meeting. Between 8:55 and 9:25, the entire school gathers in the gym for ASM. This is a wonderful community experience where classes have the chance to discuss activities they are doing; individual children have opportunities to demonstrate special talents or explain projects they are conducting, and school news is communicated. At some point(s) during the year, our class will share at ASM! I will be sure to let you know in advance so you can attend!
Our class is full of singers and dancers too! The Kindergarteners in Room #7 have really enjoyed singing the many songs they have learned throughout the day. Ask them about the songs we sing before dismissal! Additionally, one of our much-loved class times is Morning Meeting. Every day, the class participates in some sort of movement activity. The favorite of the week is A Tooty Ta. Ask your kiddos to perform the moves :) !
On Wednesday, the class brainstormed a list of rules that we should follow for Room #7. After listening to the story of Ridley, a place without any rules, we agreed that rules are very important to communities because they keep people safe and happy. Next, we will make a huge poster of all the rules, and the students will sign their names to show that they agree to follow them!
Important Notes:
- Curriculum Night: Back to School Night is quickly approaching! It will take place on Thursday, September 26th. Stay tuned for the times.
- School Picture Day: Friday, September 27th.
- Dismissal: This can be a very confusing time. Please remember to send a note any time your child’s regular dismissal plans change.
- P.E.: Please remember to send your child with sneakers on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Please also separate your child’s snack from his/her lunch to avoid any confusion as to what he/she should eat at which time. Additionally, if you can review with your child which bag is which (snack or lunch), this will help avoid any misunderstandings! Thank you!
- We survived the humidity this week with lots of drinks of water and a couple of fans! If it continues to be hot, feel free to keep sending in water bottles!
- Please continue to remember to check your child’s folder each day.
- Again… Please send a note whenever your child has a change in dismissal plans.
- PLEASE send in a picture of you family ASAP if you have not done so. Next week we will continue learning about each other and I would like each child to be able to share a picture of his/her family. If you do not have a recent picture, you can take one and email it to me and I will be happy to print it out!
- Last, but certainly not least, if you pick up your child(ren) at the car lane, it is most helpful to have car seats on the driver’s side. In this manner, the kiddos can get into the car and buckled up quickly! Thank you for considering this request!
Have a wonderful weekend!