September 30, 2005

September 30, 2005

Dear Families,

We began learning about the alphabet and enjoyed reading the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. The children learned that there are 26 letters in the alphabet, that letters make words, and that letters have sounds. We made a chart using the first letter of our names, to see what letters had the most first names and which letters had the fewest. We read a lot of alphabet books, too. We played an alphabet freeze game. The kindergartners danced and moved around around until the music stopped. Then they found a letter on the floor close to where they were frozen, picked it up, and told everyone the name of the letter. Mrs. Owens opened a real coconut, and the boys and girls were able to taste it.

This week we worked with counting coconuts. Each child was given a bag with one coconut tree and ten coconuts. The students learned to add more coconuts when they needed a larger number and take a way coconuts when they needed a smaller number. They can use these to practice counting at home.

This week we also began practicing writing names the kindergarten way. Next week we will continue practicing. We will expect them to write their name the kindergarten way on all their papers. Reinforcement at home is greatly appreciated. Remember, if your kindergartner practices writing at home, and they bring the paperwork in, they can earn a sticker.

Next week we will be studying the letter Ll. We will learn to write the lowercase and capital letter, learn the sound, and talk about things that start with the letter Ll. Sharing next week should be one item that begins with the letter Ll.

Next week will be a bit wacky for kindergartners. On Wednesday, October 5th we go to the play in Waterloo. We will not be back in time for the cooks’ lunch so KINDERGARTNERS NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN LUNCHES! WE WILL EAT THESE LUNCHES IN OUR ROOM WHEN WE RETURN. Moms and Dads get to decide what to pack in the lunches. Milk can be purchased from the cooks. Remember that we do not have enough refrigerator space for 37 lunches so please use ice packs in the lunch boxes to keep food cool if necessary. On Friday, October 7th the students do not have school. The teachers get to attend important meetings. The Friday sharing kids may bring their sharing items any day next week.

Halloween is fast approaching, and many families are beginning to think about their child’s costume. The elementary has a policy about costumes. We do not allow any blood or weapons with the costumes. Right now the Halloween parties are scheduled for Friday, October 28th.

Our kindergarten bake sale is Thursday, October 13th. Please send AT LEAST 6 individually wrapped items. (Examples: 6 individual cookies in baggies, 6 fruit roll ups, 6 Little Debbies, etc.) Kindergartners will be able to purchase items also that day. Each item will cost 25¢.

Don’t forget about October 11th! We will be having our pictures taken on this day. You will receive the order forms soon. Please try to have these forms returned before picture day. On Tuesday, October 11th, the kindergartners need to be here by 8:20. We are usually the first class to have pictures taken, and they come for us at 8:20. If you want your child to change out of the picture clothing, please send another outfit. If you have special instructions concerning hair, jewelry, or outfits, please write us a note with the directions.

One last important date to note is the Christmas program. It will be on December 14th at 1:30 p.m.

Have a great fall weekend!

Mrs. Howard
Mrs. Owens
Mrs. Herink

September 23, 2005

September 23, 2005

Dear Families,

Seasons and weather were discussed this week. We made lists of summer words, fall words, winter words, and spring words. These lists were written on seasonal symbols and hung in the hallway. We took an “end of summer” walk to look at the trees, flowers, grass, etc. We talked about how the trees are still full of green leaves. We noticed that some of the leaves are already turning colors, and some have even fallen off the trees. The kindergartners talked about how the trees change for each season. They made trees to show the four different seasons. The kindergartners enjoyed painting the trunks brown. Have them tell you about how the trees change for each season.

Last week the kindergarten students participated in the DIBELS Benchmark Assessment. We had several different people working with our students on this evaluation including Mr. Foster. (So if your student tells you that he/she had to work with Mr. Foster, that probably wasn’t a bad thing!) We will share these evaluations with you at your fall conference.

If your child practices writing numbers, their name, or the letters as we learn them at home, send that paper to school. We will give them a sticker for their work.

Next week we will be talking about the letters of the alphabet. We will learn how many letters there are, why we need letters, letters make different sounds, and what letters our names begin with. We will begin learning to write our first name the “kindergarten way.” We will also be reading and doing activities with the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. We will read other alphabet books and learn some alphabet songs. Next week’s sharing needs to be something that deals with the alphabet. This item can be a book, a puzzle, a game, an educational toy, etc.

An important date coming up is Tuesday, October 11th. This is school picture day. Watch for more information to be sent home soon! Another important date to remember is Wednesday, October 5th. The kindergartners get to go to Waterloo to see the play Junie B Jones and a Little Monkey Business. We ride a bus to the Blackhawk Children’s Theater. Since we return too late to eat the cooks’ lunch, kindergartners need to bring their own lunch that day. We will eat this sack lunch in the kindergarten room. Milk can be purchased from the cooks. We do not have a big enough refrigerator for 37 lunches so please use icepacks to keep foods cold.

The kindergartners are hosting their annual bake sale on Thursday, October 13th. We are raising money to buy a new listening center box for the headphones and some new easels. Each kindergartner is asked to provide AT LEAST 6 items to sell. Families could send more! The bake sale will take place in our room starting at 11:30. Kindergartners are able to buy bake sale items also. If you do not enjoy baking, prepackaged items are also wonderful sellers.

Please remember that each Monday the kindergartners get a new library book. If your child forgets to return the book that day, the teachers will try to get them to the library for a new book as soon as they can. It may NOT be the very day theirs is returned due to our busy schedule.

We hope your child is enjoying kindergarten. Things are going well! Have a great weekend!


Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Owens, and Mrs. Herink

September 16, 2005

September 16, 2005

Dear Families,

Senses were discussed this week. Monday the five senses were introduced, and the students listened to a tape of different sounds and had to guess what each sound was. On Tuesday the sense of touch was discussed, and each child was able feel a mystery object in a special box and guess what the object was. On Wednesday the students learned about the sense of sight. They played a game that required them to look at a group of objects, remember what the objects are, and guess the object the teacher took away when their eyes were closed. Thursday was a “smelly” day, and the boys and girls guessed mystery smells. On Friday, the students finished the week, by learning about the sense of taste. They tasted something sweet (m and m’s), sour (dill pickles), salty (pretzels), and bitter (unsweetened baking chocolate). Also this week the kindergartners worked on sequencing, remembering the details of a story, and above/below. The kindergartners talked about ways to be safe at school, at home, on the farm, and in our community.

This week we began reading books about Curious George. The children really enjoy these books. We have discussed the meaning of the word curious, and the children have thought of a few things they are each curious about. You can read your child’s ideas on the windows outside our room.

Next week we will be learning about the 4 seasons. On Friday morning we hope to take an end of summer walk. Please dress your child appropriately.

Sharing for next week is an item in a “secret sack” from your child’s favorite season. Your kindergartner needs to be able to give clues about the mystery item. You are welcome to help your child with the clues. Families may also write the clues down on a piece of paper so that if your student forgets them, we can help him/her. For example, if your child’s favorite season is summer, the sharing item could be a swimming suit. The child puts the swimming suit into a sack (or the backpack). Clues could include: I wear this when it is hot. I like to get it wet. It is purple and green. The other students will then get to try and guess what is in the sack.

The K-1 Family Math Night will be Tuesday, September 20th. Information was sent home last week on a yellow paper! This night is a great opportunity to work with your kindergartner on math skills. We hope that many are able to attend!

Again this year we are collecting Box Tops for Education box tops. Send in the box top that has that special logo on it. Each box top is worth 10¢. The school is also collecting Campbell's soup labels. Send any that you have to school with your child. The elementary school is also collecting Hy Vee slips. If you know anyone that shops at Hy Vee, ask them for their receipts. We think that the school gets $1 for every $200 turned in.

The weather will start getting cooler in the mornings. We recommend that families send jackets or sweatshirts on these chilly mornings. It would be very helpful if the coats had names written in them. Many times they fall on the floor, and the teachers do not know who they belong to, and occasionally 2 children have identical coats. Having names written on the coats helps the children identify theirs.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Owens, and Mrs. Herink

September 9, 2005

September 9, 2005

Dear Families,

This week we continued to review the school and classroom rules and procedures. We also continued to read books about the beginning of school. We worked on colors with the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear. We hope your child will share their similar book with you. We read a big book called All About You, and we learned more about each other. We talked about families and body graphed how many people were in our families. Patterning with our bodies was a fun activity we tried this week. An example was standing, sitting, standing, sitting. The students were getting really good at figuring out the patterns.

It was nice seeing so many families at the Open House on Thursday. We now have faces to put with names as children tell us about their families. The first day of school pictures that were hanging in the hallway will be coming home in the near future.

Breakfast begins at 8:00. Children eating breakfast should not come into the school until 8:00. Other students may come in at 8:10. If your child arrives too early, we will send him/her out to the playground.

We will begin sharing next week with the topic “My favorite _____________.” This item can be a book, food, animal, toy, etc. Each week we will have a specific topic. A list of September topics will be at the end of the newsletter. (Please keep the sharing portion of the newsletter so that you can refer to the sharing list each week.) Your child needs to be able to tell about the sharing item in front of the class. Your child is assigned a sharing day. The kindergartners need to remember to bring their sharing on their assigned day. If a child forgets the sharing item, he/she may not bring it another day. If your kindergartner is gone on their sharing day, then he/she needs to bring their sharing item on the day they come back to school.

The K-1 Family Math Night has been scheduled for Thursday, September 20th. Mark your calendars now! More information was sent home earlier this week. Please sign up and send your slip in soon so that we can make plans!

During the month of September the entire elementary is working on the characteristics self control and service. We will be demonstrating self control in different situations and praising those that show self control during the day. Perhaps you would like to work on self control at home!

We hope that your child is enjoying school! Have a super weekend!!

Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Howard, and Mrs. Herink




__________________________’s sharing day is __________________.

September Sharing
September 12 - 16: “My favorite _____________.” This could be a favorite book, food, animal, toy, etc.

September 19 - 23: Something in a “secret sack” from your favorite season that we have to guess using the child’s clues.

September 26 - 30: Something that deals with the alphabet such as a book, puzzle, game, educational toy, video.

October 3 - 7: An item that begins with the letter Ll