Field Trip

Today a note went home about our first field trip!!!  

Please check your child's backpack & return the permission form and money as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend!

Reading

MUST READ!

The Benefits of reading to children:

https://www.earlymoments.com/Promoting-Literacy-and-a-Love-of-Reading/Why-Reading-to-Children-is-Important/

Learning Goals

This week we will be learning:

- the name & sound of the letter Dd

- words that start with Dd

- position & location in math

         - near & far

         - above & below

         - in, out & under

         - infront, behind & beside

         - top & bottom 

- words to add to our word wall: in, out, up, down

Friday

This week we conducted a class science experiment to see what would happen to snow when we brought it inside.bbwe used success criteria to guide the process & record out findings.

Remember!  Tomorrow is a PA Day so there is no school. 

We wish everyone a restful and fun day together! 

Learning Goals

This week the students have been learning:

- the name & sound of the letter Rr

- words that start with Rr

- the words: are, went, the 

- how to use imagination in visual arts (cloud paintings for white day)

- how to make predictions (guesses) & observations (watching) when conducting a class experiment with snow

Also, we are completing our assessments for the report cards being sent home shortly.  We are assessing the students on things like: recognizing letters & numbers, counting, number values (ex: group of 5 blocks), reading, writing, communication skills, social skills, fine motor skills etc.  The more you practice at home the more confiendent & stronger your child will be in these skills.

White Day

Tomorrow is white day!  Students can wear white and/or bring in something that is white.

Helping your child become a leader

This is a great article on helping children grow into leaders.  Please give it a read!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2014/01/16/7-crippling-parenting-behaviors-that-keep-children-from-growing-into-leaders/

Principals of Counting

This week we concluded our 5 week unit on early numbers and counting.  We focused on the numbers 1-10 through different activities, games and stories.  Number sense & counting is one of the most important foundations to further math success.  Take a look at the counting principals described on the picture below to teach & help your child with.

We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to spend a few minutes each day with your child strengthening the concepts learned in class.  Rote counting: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . ."; counting out groups of 4 or more Cheerios or crackers etc.; finding numbers in the world around; and counting different objects around the house or in books are all quick things you can do at home to help your child succeed.  

Read this great article on Kindergarten Math Readiness:

http://www.scilearn.com/blog/kindergarten-math-readiness-cardinal-principle.php

Here are some number activities you can do at home:

http://www.parentingscience.com/preschool-number-activities.html

Today

Here are some of the activities that we did today.  Ask your child which activities they participated in and encourage them to try new things in the classroom.

Counting out the right number of hibernating animals.

Making matching pictures with magnetic shapes.

Playing with play dough.

Playing twister.

Write the room (writing words we know around the room).

Learning Goals

This week the students will be learning:

- the name & sound of the letter Mm

- words that start with Mm

- to practice writing a sentence (SKs)

- the words: the, are, went

- the value of the number 5 (JKs)

- the value of the number 10 (SKs)

- retelling a story read to them many times

First term report cards are approaching fast (we will be writing them at the end of January).  Although most of the work the students complete is assessed for the report card, we are completing individual assessments with all the students on skills such as reading, writing, counting etc.

It is very important that you practice these skills and other skills we learn at school at home with your child.  It will greatly benefit them in a multitude of ways. 

Sight Words

In the classroom we have a word wall where we add small words that we are learning.  Knowing and remembering small words (without having to sound them out) is a key component in developing strong readers.  

To assist your child to be a strong reader write down each word on a card or small piece of paper and create a word wall in your child's bedroom or on the fridge so they can practice daily.  Reading these words and using them to read & write at home will strengthen the skills they are learning at school.

For students who don't yet know their letter names & sounds (some of the JKs) practice those first (on a daily basis) before you introduce small words.

Some of the words we have learned so far:

and     a      at        can      I            like

me      no    see     here     there     in

you     for    we       the      new

You can also add colours (red, blue, green . . .) and number words to this list (one, two, three . . .).

Reading

Reading is one of the most important skills that your child needs to be successful.  Practicing letter sounds, remembering small words, looking at the pictures for more information, answering questions about the book, and learning good reading strategies will help your child develop their reading & comprehension skills.

Reading to your child and/or having them read to you every day for a few minutes is the best thing you can do.  Reading books your child is interested in will go along way with encouraging them to read and practice at home.  Go to the public library this weekend and take our some books they are interested in as well as some easy readers.  You might be surprised by the number of words and/or sentences your child can read.  

Learning Goals

This week the students are learning:

- about New Years & how the year changes

- about the season of winter

- to recognize the number 4 & count out 4 objects (JKs)

- to recognize the number 9 & count out 9 objects (SKs)

- about hibernation

Weather Related Cancellations

To know about weather related cancellations follow TCDSB on twitter; look at their website: www.tcdsb.org or follow 680 news on the radio or online at: 680news.com

First Day Back

I always love coming back after Christmas break because it is always amazing to see how much the children have grown and matured since September!

Many of the children have grown taller, students who never would respond during discussion put up their hands for the first time today & contributed their ideas, and the atmosphere in the room was one of excitement to be back (not like the anxiety of September).

Today we spoke about what we did for our holidays & wrote about it in our journals.  SK's focused on the words for, the & we.

We talked about New Years Eve and pretended to have our own mini celebration in the classroom (we counted down & popped a can of streamers).

We also read stories and discussed the season of winter which is obviously upon us.  Take a look at the chart we drafted together with words or phrases that describe winter (every answer was given by a child in the class).  I hope everyone is looking forward to tomorrow as much as I am!