Here is some clarification of what to do with student papers that come home.
Students bring papers home that they do in centers. This work is not graded and is sometimes incomplete. Students should finish the work at home but the work SHOULD NOT be returned. When this work is brought home please ask your child about it. This will help with the school to home connection and conversation. Also, sometimes I will send home extra work that I planned on doing in school but didn't get to it. This work can be done if your child needs extra work or just wants to do it. Please DO NOT RETURN this work either. Friday or Monday I will be sending home two math packets. The packets are "enrichment" work that correspond with the math chapter we are in. These packets will help the students a lot and help you as parents/guardians know what we are studying in math. Please DO NOT RETURN these packets. The reason I am sending two home is because we have finished chapter one and are now on chapter two. From here on out, they will come home when we start a new chapter.
Thanks,
Mr. E
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Progress reports and more
So, the progress reports are done and will be sent home tomorrow. This marks the half way mark of quarter number one. Here is some stuff you should know about the progress reports.
1) They are pink! Can't miss it.
2) The letters/grades on the progress report are based on where your child should be AT THE END OF KINDERGARTEN not at the end of the quarter or currently. (Example: Students doing well and right on track in math will have a N (not yet developed) for a grade. This means they are not YET at a "end of kindergarten" level. However, if they keep learning with the curriculum, they should be a W by the end of the year.) Please comment if confused by this.
3) The letters are your students progress. We are only 25 days into school so please don't look so much into the letter/grade but instead focus on my comments.
4) An N/P or P/W means "somewhere in between".
5) You will see a P for a homework grade. I apologize for not asking for homework binders earlier so I could give a more accurate grade. Before next progress reports, I will ask for your student to bring in their homework binder so that I can check it. Keep up the good work on homework!
6) Return the progress report signed please.
As for other things...
Sight words should be MEMORIZED. This is why they are sight words, they can't be sounded out but they need to be known by memory. (flashcards are a great way to do it and can be used for fun games)
Your child's monthly reading log (on the back of binder) should be turned in at the end of each month with at least 20 books read or read to them) They will receive a prize!
We started a process in our classroom this week called "bucket filling". It is a fun way for students to learn/practice kindness towards others. They each have a "bucket" in the room and when they "fill someone's bucket" (do something kind that makes someone else feel good) they are rewarded with me filling their real bucket. When they get to ten they get a prize. Have them explain it, it will make more sense. Here is a website about it http://www.bucketfillers101.com/have-you-filled-a-bucket-today.php. Also, I have heard of a couple students that have taken this idea and started bucket filling in their home. Awesome idea! Anything you can do to help your child "make connections" is great. Learning is all about "making connections"!
Signing off for the night. Go be a bucket filler!
Mr. E
1) They are pink! Can't miss it.
2) The letters/grades on the progress report are based on where your child should be AT THE END OF KINDERGARTEN not at the end of the quarter or currently. (Example: Students doing well and right on track in math will have a N (not yet developed) for a grade. This means they are not YET at a "end of kindergarten" level. However, if they keep learning with the curriculum, they should be a W by the end of the year.) Please comment if confused by this.
3) The letters are your students progress. We are only 25 days into school so please don't look so much into the letter/grade but instead focus on my comments.
4) An N/P or P/W means "somewhere in between".
5) You will see a P for a homework grade. I apologize for not asking for homework binders earlier so I could give a more accurate grade. Before next progress reports, I will ask for your student to bring in their homework binder so that I can check it. Keep up the good work on homework!
6) Return the progress report signed please.
As for other things...
Sight words should be MEMORIZED. This is why they are sight words, they can't be sounded out but they need to be known by memory. (flashcards are a great way to do it and can be used for fun games)
Your child's monthly reading log (on the back of binder) should be turned in at the end of each month with at least 20 books read or read to them) They will receive a prize!
We started a process in our classroom this week called "bucket filling". It is a fun way for students to learn/practice kindness towards others. They each have a "bucket" in the room and when they "fill someone's bucket" (do something kind that makes someone else feel good) they are rewarded with me filling their real bucket. When they get to ten they get a prize. Have them explain it, it will make more sense. Here is a website about it http://www.bucketfillers101.com/have-you-filled-a-bucket-today.php. Also, I have heard of a couple students that have taken this idea and started bucket filling in their home. Awesome idea! Anything you can do to help your child "make connections" is great. Learning is all about "making connections"!
Signing off for the night. Go be a bucket filler!
Mr. E
Sunday, October 14, 2012
October 15th week
Here is what we are up to this week in room 110.
Reading: We are reading the book Plaidypus Lost. It is a story about a stuffed platypus that is sewed together with plaid fabric that keeps getting lost throughout the story. We will be focusing on reading with purpose (Why are we reading this book?) and understanding. The purpose is to get your child to start thinking about their thinking (meta cognition). I want them to not just know answers to things but know how and why. So please ask these questions at home when reading or doing homework.
Writing: This week we will focus on sharing with a partner. Students will be given writing partners that they will share with over the next few weeks. They will be asked to think of ideas with their new partners and share their writings/ideas with partners. Learning to share in partners is apart of our overall classroom community building. The students will also be receiving new journals that will be kept at school and be their free writing journals. They will be encouraged to be creative and write/draw whatever they want in these journals. This week I will also be introducing how students should correctly use lined writing paper. Just so you can be on board and know the vocabulary I use when teaching this, I use the idea of a man standing on the line. The top solid line is the man's "head", the middle dotted line is the man's "belly", and the bottom line is the man's "feet". Ask your child about it on Thursday for an explanation if confusing.
Math: In math we will continue to review numbers up to ten. We will also continue to play the "magic number game". Ask your child how to play. It is a big hit. We are going to have fun with patterns too!
Social Studies: We are continuing to work on being a classroom community and how to be "caring friends" to one another. I will be introducing a new "behavior system" and we will not be doing the kindness hearts anymore. The new "system" is not really a system but more of an idea. Students will learn about "Filling theirs and others buckets". The idea is that we all have a bucket and our bucket can be filled by others or ourselves through kind acts we do or or have done to us. They will also learn that you can take from others bucket when you are unkind to others. Also, we will still be talking about community helpers.
Science: We will be studying fabrics and talking about our senses. We will, hopefully, get to do a fun pumpkin activity too.
There is a look at the week.
Wish List:
-paper towels (I know the year just started, but when the students realized they could use the washroom whenever they needed to, we went through a roll a day. The amazement of using the washroom has slowly dwindled and so too should our paper towel use.)
-magnetic letter (the colorful fridge ones)
-books (listening books, TAG books, any good/fun books that students will like, non-fiction books)
Sorry so long, thanks for making it through.
Mr. E
Reading: We are reading the book Plaidypus Lost. It is a story about a stuffed platypus that is sewed together with plaid fabric that keeps getting lost throughout the story. We will be focusing on reading with purpose (Why are we reading this book?) and understanding. The purpose is to get your child to start thinking about their thinking (meta cognition). I want them to not just know answers to things but know how and why. So please ask these questions at home when reading or doing homework.
Writing: This week we will focus on sharing with a partner. Students will be given writing partners that they will share with over the next few weeks. They will be asked to think of ideas with their new partners and share their writings/ideas with partners. Learning to share in partners is apart of our overall classroom community building. The students will also be receiving new journals that will be kept at school and be their free writing journals. They will be encouraged to be creative and write/draw whatever they want in these journals. This week I will also be introducing how students should correctly use lined writing paper. Just so you can be on board and know the vocabulary I use when teaching this, I use the idea of a man standing on the line. The top solid line is the man's "head", the middle dotted line is the man's "belly", and the bottom line is the man's "feet". Ask your child about it on Thursday for an explanation if confusing.
Math: In math we will continue to review numbers up to ten. We will also continue to play the "magic number game". Ask your child how to play. It is a big hit. We are going to have fun with patterns too!
Social Studies: We are continuing to work on being a classroom community and how to be "caring friends" to one another. I will be introducing a new "behavior system" and we will not be doing the kindness hearts anymore. The new "system" is not really a system but more of an idea. Students will learn about "Filling theirs and others buckets". The idea is that we all have a bucket and our bucket can be filled by others or ourselves through kind acts we do or or have done to us. They will also learn that you can take from others bucket when you are unkind to others. Also, we will still be talking about community helpers.
Science: We will be studying fabrics and talking about our senses. We will, hopefully, get to do a fun pumpkin activity too.
There is a look at the week.
Wish List:
-paper towels (I know the year just started, but when the students realized they could use the washroom whenever they needed to, we went through a roll a day. The amazement of using the washroom has slowly dwindled and so too should our paper towel use.)
-magnetic letter (the colorful fridge ones)
-books (listening books, TAG books, any good/fun books that students will like, non-fiction books)
Sorry so long, thanks for making it through.
Mr. E
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Field trip week
Hello everyone,
Please excuse my tardiness on posting this week. I was out of the state for a few days. Anyways, this is what is up for this week.
We are reading Ms. Bindergarten goes on a Field Trip with Kindergarten. This story focuses a lot on community places and workers, so we will be talking about that a lot. We are learning about rhyming too.
For phonics we are focusing on Ss, Cc and still practicing our letter names and sounds.
For math we are reviewing numbers 1-5 and continuing to discuss 'same' and 'different'.
For writing we are working on adding more in our journal and also writing about our field trip coming up.
For social studies we are and will continue to focus on community helpers.
Announcements:
I sent home folders today should help with communication and getting papers where they need to be. The folders should stay in your child's backpack each day so they can get papers home safely and to me safely. Please go over the process with your child about taking papers out of their folder that are for me and putting them in my mailbox at school. Also, because we now have these folders, your child DOES NOT need to bring their homework BINDER to and from school anymore. (unless they do their homework at JCC after school) I WILL BE checking the folders quarterly before progress reports come out but I will communicate when that will be. CONTINUE TO DO THE HOMEWORK ON THE HOMEWORK SCHEDULE.
That brings me to my next point.
So far this year I have sent home handwriting workbooks (pink) and phonics workbooks (purple). Please continue to have your child work in these periodically or daily. These are theirs to keep when they finish. Soon I will be sending home math packets. These packets are enrichment for what we are doing in the classroom. They go over the same problems and use the same vocabulary. Please work with your child on these because they may need help reading/understanding and MORE IMPORTANTLY so you can be knowledgeable about what we are learning in kindergarten math. Please have your child reading on Raz-kids and spending time on IXL to supplement pencil and paper work.
Great job on the Family projects! they were great and make our room look awesome! Can't wait to see the family trees.
Field Trip Friday
We are going to the pumpkin farm on Friday! All parents are invited to come as chaperones. I have already informed the five chaperones that are paid for already. If you didn't hear from me about coming for free then bring money to pay when we get there. I will send out an email tomorrow morning about when we are leaving. Please have your child dress warm because the high is 55 with no rain.
Remember: HALF DAY TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY)! DISMISSAL IS AT 11:15. JCC aftercare is provided until 2:45. Students can eat in the classroom from 10:45-11:15 (school lunch provided for same price as always)
Alright, that is enough.
Mr. E
Please excuse my tardiness on posting this week. I was out of the state for a few days. Anyways, this is what is up for this week.
We are reading Ms. Bindergarten goes on a Field Trip with Kindergarten. This story focuses a lot on community places and workers, so we will be talking about that a lot. We are learning about rhyming too.
For phonics we are focusing on Ss, Cc and still practicing our letter names and sounds.
For math we are reviewing numbers 1-5 and continuing to discuss 'same' and 'different'.
For writing we are working on adding more in our journal and also writing about our field trip coming up.
For social studies we are and will continue to focus on community helpers.
Announcements:
I sent home folders today should help with communication and getting papers where they need to be. The folders should stay in your child's backpack each day so they can get papers home safely and to me safely. Please go over the process with your child about taking papers out of their folder that are for me and putting them in my mailbox at school. Also, because we now have these folders, your child DOES NOT need to bring their homework BINDER to and from school anymore. (unless they do their homework at JCC after school) I WILL BE checking the folders quarterly before progress reports come out but I will communicate when that will be. CONTINUE TO DO THE HOMEWORK ON THE HOMEWORK SCHEDULE.
That brings me to my next point.
So far this year I have sent home handwriting workbooks (pink) and phonics workbooks (purple). Please continue to have your child work in these periodically or daily. These are theirs to keep when they finish. Soon I will be sending home math packets. These packets are enrichment for what we are doing in the classroom. They go over the same problems and use the same vocabulary. Please work with your child on these because they may need help reading/understanding and MORE IMPORTANTLY so you can be knowledgeable about what we are learning in kindergarten math. Please have your child reading on Raz-kids and spending time on IXL to supplement pencil and paper work.
Great job on the Family projects! they were great and make our room look awesome! Can't wait to see the family trees.
Field Trip Friday
We are going to the pumpkin farm on Friday! All parents are invited to come as chaperones. I have already informed the five chaperones that are paid for already. If you didn't hear from me about coming for free then bring money to pay when we get there. I will send out an email tomorrow morning about when we are leaving. Please have your child dress warm because the high is 55 with no rain.
Remember: HALF DAY TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY)! DISMISSAL IS AT 11:15. JCC aftercare is provided until 2:45. Students can eat in the classroom from 10:45-11:15 (school lunch provided for same price as always)
Alright, that is enough.
Mr. E
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Week 4
So here is what our upcoming week looks like.
We will be reading an awesome book called This is the Way we go to School. It is about how kids get to school all over the world. With this story we will be learning about movement words, ways of transportation, and geography. We will continue to work on features of a book: front, back, author, illustrator and reading left to right. The kids have been hearing a lot of stories. They hear them from me, from each other, from our TAG pens, and from our listening center. (see wish list) I have some fun centers planned for this week: sorting A and P objects, drawing ways to move, etc.
For writing this week we will be writing things we like to do in kindergarten (students main writing topic during each week is kept and made into a classroom book) as well as continuing to write in our shiny new journals.
In math we will be learning/reviewing numbers 1-4 as well as adding same and different to our "AMAZING MATH WORDS" poster and doing fun math centers.
For phonics the students will do some letter play and review letter names and sounds as well as focus on the letters Aa and Pp. (do these pages in purple phonics book)
We are starting our social studies curriculum this week too. It focuses a lot on feelings at the beginning.
P.S. The students will have a substitute on Friday and Monday. Please review the rules with them before school these days and encourage them to be good listeners/rule followers. Thanks!
Announcements
-Please get me your field trip permission slip and $20 by Thursday to confirm your child will attend the field trip October 12th. Also, the five free chaperone spots are filled but any parent may attend the trip. You will pay the adult price upon arrival so bring cash.
-As stated above, the students are loving listening to the TAG books and listening center. Donations of new books would be great so the students can stay interested in listening to new books. Please inform me if you plan on buying any of these so I can let you know what we already have. Thanks!
Mr. Edwards
We will be reading an awesome book called This is the Way we go to School. It is about how kids get to school all over the world. With this story we will be learning about movement words, ways of transportation, and geography. We will continue to work on features of a book: front, back, author, illustrator and reading left to right. The kids have been hearing a lot of stories. They hear them from me, from each other, from our TAG pens, and from our listening center. (see wish list) I have some fun centers planned for this week: sorting A and P objects, drawing ways to move, etc.
For writing this week we will be writing things we like to do in kindergarten (students main writing topic during each week is kept and made into a classroom book) as well as continuing to write in our shiny new journals.
In math we will be learning/reviewing numbers 1-4 as well as adding same and different to our "AMAZING MATH WORDS" poster and doing fun math centers.
For phonics the students will do some letter play and review letter names and sounds as well as focus on the letters Aa and Pp. (do these pages in purple phonics book)
We are starting our social studies curriculum this week too. It focuses a lot on feelings at the beginning.
P.S. The students will have a substitute on Friday and Monday. Please review the rules with them before school these days and encourage them to be good listeners/rule followers. Thanks!
Announcements
-Please get me your field trip permission slip and $20 by Thursday to confirm your child will attend the field trip October 12th. Also, the five free chaperone spots are filled but any parent may attend the trip. You will pay the adult price upon arrival so bring cash.
-As stated above, the students are loving listening to the TAG books and listening center. Donations of new books would be great so the students can stay interested in listening to new books. Please inform me if you plan on buying any of these so I can let you know what we already have. Thanks!
Mr. Edwards
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Moving forward
The first seven days of school have been great! We did a bunch of stuff like learned names, learned rules and procedures (ask your child the five steps to using the washroom or have them name the five classroom rules!!!), read books, made books, played games, learned centers (ask your child what their favorite center is), laughed and had a blast.
Next Monday, September 24th will mark the start of our curriculum for this kindergarten year. We will dive into our weekly book The Little School Bus and do lots of fun activities with that. We will start our math series and review numbers. We will start our writing block and students will get journals! For phonics we will learn about the letters M and T and the sound they make as well as start rhyming.
I am looking forward to a great week!
Mr. Edwards
Next Monday, September 24th will mark the start of our curriculum for this kindergarten year. We will dive into our weekly book The Little School Bus and do lots of fun activities with that. We will start our math series and review numbers. We will start our writing block and students will get journals! For phonics we will learn about the letters M and T and the sound they make as well as start rhyming.
I am looking forward to a great week!
Mr. Edwards
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