MeMoves

It has been exciting to begin using MeMoves in our classroom!  MeMoves is a DVD tool that focuses and relaxes the students at key transition times during the afternoon.  We use it each day for 5 minutes as we transition from math to reading.  It involves slow and focused body movements.  Click here to see a video that looks just like what the kids see in class.  Watch it with your child and he/she can show you how to do MeMoves!

The book swap for Afternoon Kindergarten will take place ONE DAY EARLIER than the rest of the school.  We get to participate in the book swap on Thursday afternoon.  We will get a great selection of books since we get to go first!  Your child can send in any books that are in good shape and that he/she no longer wants - and pick out new ones!  

Friday is our first dress-up day for I Love to Read Month.  Our theme is Paws for Reading, so we will wear clothes with dogs (or another animal if you don't have any dog shirts), or your child can actually dress like a dog!

January Update

What have we been up to?

We have been so very busy!  The students returned from Winter Break and dove right back into school.  It's hard to believe, but we have passed the halfway point of the school year!  

Thank you to those of you who attended Parent Teacher conferences last week.  I look forward to meeting with the rest of you Monday night!

Many students are reading books now, and they are proud of what they can do.  I am sure you have noticed your child bringing home his/her book bag to read to you about once per week.  It is great for your child to read the book many times.  After the words become familiar, it is good to practice "fluency" - reading like we talk.

In January, we have studied patterns.  Students practiced making patterns and then finding the part that repeats over and over.

We continue to practice counting.  Counting to 100 is the goal we want students to achieve by the end of Kindergarten.

We used craft sticks to try some measuring.  Students measured lengths of tape on the floor and recorded their measurements.

Look for updates coming about the exciting month of February - I Love to Read Month!

December

                        

Enjoy watching the fun we had in December.  Then click here to leave a picture or a message about what you and your child did over the holiday break!  See you very soon!

Reminders

Just a few reminders - 

Please bring in a WRAPPED $3.00 or less book to school

by Wednesday, December 18th for our book exchange.

  Please have your child write his/her name on the inside 

cover.  Please try to have the book be gender neutral.

Polar Express Day is Friday, December 20th.  Please have

 your child wear their pajamas.  We will be watching the 

book being read on the Smart Board as we drink hot 

chocolate and eat popcorn.

Your child will be getting a Holiday Homework packet sent 

home.  If they return this when we resume classes after 

break, they will receive a special surprise.

Merry Christmas!

Reindeer Games

http://reindeercam.com/

Celebrate our School!

          Today we had a wonderful School of Excellence Celebration.  Thank you to those who could make it!!  Here is the video featuring our Kindergarteners!  

                 
                    Kindergarten School of Excellence Video from Patchwork Pals on Vimeo.

Little Readers!

Q: What should I do when I see one of these come home?

A: Be excited!  Your child is becoming a reader!  If you are visibly excited to practice these words with your child at home, he/she will feel excited about it, too.  

Have your child cut out the larger version of the words.  These can be used as practice cards.  Make this fun in any way you can.  A suggestion is to set aside the words your child already knows well, then focus on the more difficult words.  Bring them out for short practice sessions, and often.  An example would be - "before we eat a snack, let's see how many of your words you can get!"

Be sure to bring back the "easier" words at times for review - and to allow your child to feel the success of being able to read some words easily.

When there are words that are difficult, begin by holding up the word and saying it to your child.  A few seconds later, hold it up again and see if your child can say the word.  If there are "tricks" such as sounding it out, offer those as help.  

When your child knows all the words quickly, sign the first (smaller) page and send it back to school.  If he/she is able to read them to me, we add a sticker to a chart in the classroom.  They beam with pride!  If the student attempts to read the words but is not able, I will star the difficult words and send it back home for more practice.  

I suggest practicing your child's current list with him/her every day.  Please let me know if you have misplaced a list and need a replacement.

Thank you for your support in helping your child become a reader!