Schumacher Kindergarten

January 23, 2012

It is hard tobelieve that this is the last full week of January. The 100^th day of school is uponus. Friday, January 27, is the big day. We are so looking forward to seeing all the wonderful 100 day projects this week. Please be sure your child brings his/her project to school any day this week.

We are continuingour Winter theme this week as well as including 100^th day activities. We are not featuring a letter this week asoriginally planned. There is just too much to do with all the 100 day activities we have scheduled.

As we continue with our guided reading groups, I am amazed at how well so many of our children are reading. Thank you for all your reinforcement at home.

In math we continue to work on many sets of five by using manipulatives to create combinations that all equal five. We are also reviewing coins and their values. Periodic review of these pesky coins at home is always positive.

In February I will begin checking to see who knows their personal address and telephone number. Keep practicing this information at home.

Be sure to document both Pizza Hut and Six Flags reading logs regularly.

Keep collecting Box Tops. Every dime helps and there is no sense in throwing money into the trash. Cut it out and send it to school!

Thanks for checking the blog. The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is “Eskimo.”

January 17, 2012

Our Language Arts theme for January is variations on “Winter.”  This week we will read “The Snowy Day” and other snow related books.  We continue to review and practice identifying single letters, one word, and a whole sentence when we read.  We are also focusing on reading comprehension, relating to the content and remembering what has been read.

Our poem is by Shel Silverstein and it is funny.  The children will enjoy it.

The letter of the week is “L.”  The pictures for the alphabet dictionary are due by Thursday.

While we are continuing to investigate numbers to 30, we are also beginning to do manipulative addition, simple addition using math counters.  We will get to paper and pencil addition shortly.

The children brought home their report cards on Friday.  I am happy to meet with anyone who has burning questions or comments.  Simply send me an e-mail or a written note and we can set up a time.  Please be sure to sign the signature card and return it in the envelope which we will use again in March.  Keep the report card for your baby books.

I hope you are taking advantage of the long weekend to get together the 100^th day projects.  Keep it simple.  The children love to present their projects.  I will take advantage of the photo opportunity to document their presentations.  The projects are due any day they are ready during the week of January 23^rd.  The actual 100^th day is Friday, January 27^th.

Thank you so much to the folks who sent in the disinfecting wipes.  We appreciate your prompt response to our request.

Another simple request: the children seem to love to write notes and put them in envelopes to give to recipients.  Mrs. Saeger and I have depleted our personal resources of spare envelopes.  If anyone has extra envelopes they could donate, they will be used up in a short time!!  They are a great incentive to practice phonetic, independent writing.

Thanks for checking the blog.  I hope you had a delightful and peaceful extra day off.  The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is “MLKing.”

January 10, 2012

Welcome back to school.  We are beginning the second half of the school year and it is going to be great.  Remember that school resumes on Tuesday, January 10th.

Our Language Arts theme for January will be variations of “Winter.”  Snowmen, snowballs, Eskimos, polar bears will pop up throughout the month.  Hopefully, these sightings will only be in the classroom and with the imagination.  Well, one snow day would be acceptable.

The featured letter of the week is “F.”  Pictures for the alphabet dictionaries are due by Thursday.  I do appreciate the effort that it takes to remember to do this homework every week.  The notebooks are getting really fat.

In math we will continue to dwell on money, specifically coins and their associated values.  We will also start exploring number combinations (addition and subtraction) as well as word problems. 

One of our Social Studies objectives during the 3^rd quarter is personal information.  Children will be required to memorize their street addresses and telephone numbers.  We will persistently assess throughout the quarter.  It is homework to learn their personal information.  I will deal with county, country, and continent in the classroom.

In addition to the Pizza Hut reading logs, we will also be participating in the 6 Flags Read to Succeed program.  When you fill out the Pizza Hut reading log, also fill out the 6 Flags reading log.  It’s two for one.  Children who meet the 6 hours of reading requirement will receive a ticket to 6 Flags.  These reading logs will come home this week as well as the January Pizza Hut reading logs.  It pays to read.

The 100^th day of school is January 27^th, barring any weather events.  Please read the 100^th day project information on the blog.  This information will also come home via backpack.  These projects can be fun to do.  Make it a family affair.

Report cards will be distributed on Friday, January 13^th.  Please review the report card, sign the signature card and return it in the envelope provided.  You keep the report card. If you have questions, concerns, comments, I am happy to schedule a meeting with you.

We are in desperate need of Clorox wipes.  We use these everyday on our tables to try to reduce the spread of germs.  With the cold season upon us, we really need your help to keep everyone healthy.  It would be really nice if each child could bring in one large can of wipes.  That would probably be enough to last the rest of the school year.  Thanks so much.

Thanks for checking the blog.  The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is "snowflake."

100th Day Projects 2012

The 100th day of school currently will fall on January 27, 2012.  In recognition of this milestone, the children have a math project.  This project is due any day the week of 19th.  Children should bring their finished projects to school any day the week of January 23rd.  Each child will present his/her project.  It helps if you review what the project is, where the pieces were obtained, and who participated in the production of the project.  The projects will be displayed in the hallway outside our room.

Each child should brainstorm with parents and family something they can use to make a collection of 100.  The selection should be something simple and inexpensive and easily displayed.  The display can be on a poster board or display board or on strings or in a box.  Typical collections have included pennies, paper clips, or candy.  A child last year made a collection of 100 origami paper cranes.  Another year, a child glued 100 sea shells into the shape of a turtle shell (turtle on a half shell).  One self-motivated little girl who received no assistance from her family drew 100 stars on a piece of writing paper. Use your imagination.  Have some good family fun.

We look forward to being amazed at your creativity.

December 19, 2011

We have four days of school until the Winter Break.  Everyday will be so busy.

We are not having a featured letter of the week.  We will review and practice letters introduced so far and we will be involved in assessments for the end of the quarter.  If you want a head start on the 2012 year, the letter for the week of January 10^th is “F.” 

Tuesday is our class holiday party.  Thanks to all who volunteered to donate items needed for the party.  Be sure to send in those items with your child no later than Tuesday morning.  We appreciate your generosity toward making your child’s party a success.

Before our Holiday Party we have the privilege of attending an author visit.  The children will get to listen to a published author read her stories and talk about how she creates her stories.  I know it will be an interesting event.

We will be going to the library this Wednesday so be sure your child brings his/her book back so another book can be selected to enjoy over the Winter Break.

Be sure to fill out the Pizza Hut Reading Logs over the vacation.  If yours is lost, simply use a piece of paper to record the information. 

Our Winter Break starts at 2:45 on Thursday, December 22^nd.  The children return to school on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

That’s all the news for this week and this year.  Have a safe and pleasant Winter Break. The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is "holiday."

December 12, 2011

These days heading into the Christmas holidays are flying by so quickly. The children are having a grand time with the Language Arts theme of seasonal holidays. Our guided reading and writing generrally are focused on various aspects of holiday traditions.

The letter of the week is "R." Pictures for the alphabet dictionaries are due by Thursday.

In math we are looking at numbers to 30. We are using ten-frames to help the children visualize the quantities represented by the numbers.

On another note, please be aware that the second quarter ends on December 22nd. We are busily assessing skills for the report card that will be issued on January 13th. It would be helpful if you could find a time to review coin recognition and value. Most of the children recognize at least 20 sight words. I will let you know if there is a problem in this area.

Monday, December 12th, is Baker Night at Stevie B's Pizza in Woodstock.

Our class holiday party is scheduled for Tuesday, December 20th. Thanks for all offers of donations. I know our room moms appreciate it and the children are really looking forward to having a good time.

Thanks for checking the blog. The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is "rudolph."

December 5, 2011

Our language arts integrated theme for this month is “Holidays and Celebrations.”   We will be visiting various celebrations through our guided reading, shared reading, math activities, and social studies content.

The phonics letter of the week is “E.”  Pictures for the alphabet dictionaries are due by Thursday.  Do feel free to send them in early.  Children who do their homework do get a B.U.G.S. ticket.  Children who do not bring in their pictures get to do their homework during center time.

Thanks for your response to the PTSA giving tree.  Helping others is a good experience for the children.

This Tuesday, December 6^th, is Baker Night at Sparkles.

Our Spirit Night at Stevie B’s in Woodstock is scheduled for Monday, December 12^th.

It is Holiday McTeacher Night at McDonalds on Wednesday, December 21^st.

Please be sure to review coin recognition with your children from time to time.  Those pesky nickels and quarters look very similar.

This is a cute sight word practice site.  http://www.fun4thebrain.com/English/popcornWords.html 

Thanks for checking the blog.  The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is “elf.”

November 28, 2011

Welcome back from our nice one week vacation.  We are beginning our countdown to the next break using the curriculum goals as our benchmarks.

As we have been out for a week here is a gentle reminder:  be sure to send in communication folders, snacks, poetry notebooks, rest towels, and, if applicable, lunch money, transportation changes.  The daily details never go away!

The letter for this week is “G.”  Pictures for the alphabet dictionaries are due by Thursday.  It seems I have been doing the homework for about six children on a regular basis.  Please take advantage of the opportunity to show your child that you take their school work seriously.  It only takes a few minutes to find a picture to represent the letter of the week.  Most of you are doing a grand job your efforts are reflected in your child’s achievement.

Pizza Hut reading logs are due on December first.  Children who bring in the filled out reading logs will receive a sticker on the chart as well as a coupon for a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.

In Language Arts we are beginning our holiday theme.  We are also reviewing the five senses in a little foray into the health curriculum.

In math we will be exploring capacity and weight in our comparison unit.  The children will have opportunities to use real materials to experiment and experience volume and weight.  

Remember to send in library books so children can check out new ones on Wednesday.

Thanks for checking the blog.  We are looking forward to a grand week.  The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is “gingerbread.”

November 14, 2011

It was good to see so many of you at Friends and Family lunch last week.  I know your child enjoyed sharing lunchtime with you.  However, we did emphasize that sometimes it is simply not possible to take time off work. 

The Book Fair continues until Tuesday afternoon.  It will be open until 6:00 pm on Monday.  It will end on Tuesday at 2:45.

Baker Spirit Night at SteviB’s is November 14^th, Monday evening.  It is at the Woodstock store, 10020 Highway 92, in the Ingles Shopping Center just past the Chick-fil-A Dwarf House.  

Please let me know if your child is not allowed to purchase ice cream/extra items off his/her account.  I am not permitted to deny them the privilege unless you have instructed me to do so.

The letter this week is “B.”  Pictures for the alphabet dictionaries are due by Thursday. 

We are continuing our Thanksgiving theme.  We will look at cornucopias and turkeys this week. 

We are scheduled for a visit to the library on Thursday.

Thanksgiving break begins Friday afternoon at 2:45!!  We come back to school on Monday, November 28th, bright and early.

Remember to sign up for Baker Date Night by November 30.  The date night is December 9th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  Let us know if you need another registration form.

That’s all the news for this week.  The bonus B.U.G.S. ticket word is “turkey.”

 

November 7, 2011

Thank you for all your kind words and thoughts during the past week.  We really do appreciate the effort it takes to raise a family and follow through with homework and so forth.  So thank you for all your hard work.

There are a few things to remember about this week.   Monday and Friday are the only two normal days.

There is NO SCHOOL for children on Tuesday, November 8^th.

Wednesday, November 9^th, is our annual Friends and Family lunch in the cafeteria for kindergarten , second, and fourth grades.  Our lunch time that day is at 12:04.  Do not be shocked if there is a delay.  We will meet you at the cafeteria or somewhere along the 500 hallway.

Our lunch time is also adjusted for Thursday’s first, third, and fifth grade Friends and Family lunch.  We will eat at 10:43 that day.

The letter for this week is “S.”  Please send in pictures for the alphabet dictionaries by Thursday. 

We are going to take a quick visit to the Scholastic Book Fair before our Friends and Family lunch.  Be on the look-out for a wish list.  You also will have the option of taking your child to the book fair after lunch.  Please note that purchases are totally optional.

The Thanksgiving theme focuses on Native Americans and how they helped the Pilgrims.  Thank you for sending in the Native American names.  You were quite creative and the children loved making their headbands.

We are taking a closer look at geometry in math.  Recently the children have constructed both a sphere and a cube.  I hope you recognized these shapes when they came out of the backpacks.  They may have required a little reconstruction.

Our Relay for Life team is sponsoring a Date Night fund raiser.  Date Night is Friday December 9th 6-9 PM.  The cost is $10 for 1st child and $5 for any others.  You can take advantage of trustworthy child-sitting for a real date night or for some holiday shopping.  The children do have to be Baker students.

That’s all the news I can think of on this delightful Saturday afternoon.  Thanks for checking the blog. 

The bonus B.U.G.S ticket word is “Squanto.”