Whack-A-Letter

Today we enjoyed using oversized fly swatters to play the game "Whack-A-Letter."  Not only did this game promote letter recognition, it also let us practice how to ask for a turn politely and how to use our tools safely (no high sticking the fly swatters).

 We also tried our first letter sort today.  Many of the students were quite successful putting b's on one side of their papers and r's on the other.  The best part of the day was when Camden's grampa came in to visit!  We love having company.  Let me know if you would like to come in as well.

Boothbay Railway Village Field Trip

HURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Trip to Boothbay Railway Village

Today we went to the Boothbay Railway Village.  We saw many antiques and learned that ice didn't always come from the door on the freezer.  We watched an antique gasoline engine start up by spinning really big wheels.  We went for a train ride and a Model T ride.  The class saw an old washing machine, cookstove and an antique toilet.  We found letters and numbers EVERYWHERE!  Wyatt was excited to see the letter W on a sign as we road on the train.  

 Getting ready for the train ride....

 The steam whistle was LOUD!

Emma learns how to drive a car with just a lever.

 Model T rides

 Camden checks out how a steam engine works.

Reacting to the steam whistle

 Luke and Tucker are ready to ride!

We learned there are all sorts of ways to tell time.  This sundial showed us Roman numerals.  Can you tell what time we took this picture?

Praying Mantis

Yesterday one of the students found a praying mantis on the playground and we scooped it up to study inside.  Today we read information about praying mantids (as they are also called).  We discovered that praying mantids are predators of butterflies, moths, aphids, and other insects.  We also learned that birds, bats and other praying mantids will eat a praying mantis.  The kids discovered that a praying mantis has jointed legs to help it bend, and then we looked at some of the joints on our own bodies.
After the kids drew what they had just learned we went outside to search for some insects to feed our praying mantis.  It was a fun learning experience dictated by the interests of the kids, my favorite kind of teaching.

Numbers and Rhymes

Today we worked with rhyming words and the number two.  The class enjoyed singing a silly song using different rhyming words.  Don't worry, it'll come home soon for you to enjoy alllll night long!  I noticed some kids had trouble understanding how to make a rhyming word.  You can help at home by reading books with rhymes, like Dr. Seuss books and pointing out the words that rhyme to your child.  Be sure to explain the words rhyme because they have the same ending sound.

We also made books with illustrations of two objects.  It was interesting to see what they chose to draw.  A few kiddos even attempted WRITING what they saw.

It was great to see almost all of you at the Open House, I loved seeing the grandparents and aunts and uncles as well.  Some of you asked about volunteering in the classroom.  Send me a note in the notebook about when you might be available and I will set it up.

Have a nice evening!

Going to the Farm!

Yesterday we walked over to Morris Farm to meet Miss Abi.  She talked with us about what lives on a farm and we met some chickens.  We also picked Sun Gold tomatoes and tasted them.  Some children really liked these little tomatoes.  Others took a quick "no thank-you" bite.  When we returned from the farm we made a picture graph of the color chicken we liked best.  Black was the favorite color.  We will continue to meet with Miss Abi throughout the school year and incorporate our science, math, literacy and social studies standards into our work with her.

A field trip form should have come home today.  We are going to the Boothbay Railway Village on Thursday, September 27.  Students will need to bring a bag lunch.

Please remember to send back your Kindergarten Contact information so I can get the final information out to all of you as soon as possible.  Thanks!

Long and Short

Today we observed how our names can be longer and shorter than other names.  We made our bodies long and short, and then we built long unifix cube trains.  We all practiced how to go to a quiet space to restart our mouths, bodies, and minds when we need a break.  The class learned yet another new song, "Black Socks."  Thanks to everyone who returned the classroom directory sheet.  Remember to get them in by Friday so I can give everyone the contact information for the students in this class.

Kindergarten News

                                           September 13                                          

We are settling into our class routines.  The class has been developing rules that will help us achieve our hopes and dreams for the school your.  Our rules are as follows:

We are safe.

We are kind.

We are responsible.

We all make mistakes and that is how we learn.

The class has been working with our names this week.  We had our first fire drill and did a great job.  The class is enjoying several songs and stories. 

I’m noticing some hungry kiddos at the end of the day, so they may eat during choice time.  Please send in two snacks for your child to help keep rumbling tummies away.

Our Open House is next Wednesday night, September 19.  Come on in and have your child show you the room.  We have a daily blog up and running.  You can find it at

http://msroperskindergarten.blogspot.com/

As birthdays pop up and friendships are formed, you might find yourself wanting to contact other children’s families. To that end I am making a student directory.  Please fill out the sheet below regarding the contact information you are willing to share.  I am also asking for your permission to post your child’s picture on our classroom blog.  If you are uncomfortable with this please just check “No” and I’ll be sure to leave your child’s picture out of our blog. Please return the sheet by Friday, September 21.

Thanks, and have a super weekend.

Kindergarten Contact Information

Student name:

Parent/Guardian name:

Phone number(s):

E-mail:

I give permission for my child’s picture to be posted on the classroom blog

____yes

____no

Please return this form by Friday, September 21.  Thanks!

Computers!

We played a game with our names.We played on an I-Pad.  We made pictures on computers. We used some STICKY ICKY play-do!  We had an extra recess to celebrate good behavior!

Making Rules

Today we wrote rules for the classroom. We drew pictures of what it looks like to follow our rules.  We also did a great job with our first fire drill.  The class enjoyed the chant "Who Took the Cookies From the Cookie Jar." We even ended our day with our new chant, which is great for reinforcing everyone's names.  

Hopes and Dreams

We have been talking about what we hope to do this year in kindergarten.  The class wants to play outside, paint, and "learn stuff."  We will use these hopes and dreams to help develop the rules to follow that will help us do all we want to in kindergarten.

Fire Drill

Today we practiced how to do a fire drill.  We went to Physical Education.  We sang the songs "Pizza Hut,"  "Awake, Alert Alive," and we chanted about five little monkeys jumping on the bed. We talked about rules. We watched our caterpillar that Luke brought in.  We made our names with foam letters.  We read about a shark in the park, and about an old lady who swallowed a fly.

Our class is HUNGRY at the end of the day.  Please send enough snacks for your child to have two snack times a day.  It was an exciting day.

Name Work

Today we practiced reading and writing each others names. The students wrote names on whiteboards, used names in songs, and found letter magnets to spell names. We also read the book Chrysanthemum, about a little girl with a very special name.  Please talk with your child about how you chose his or her name, or look up the meaning of his or her name.

The First Days Of Kindergarten

We have been learning about how school works these first few days of school.  The class has been introduced to the tools we use in the classroom.  We have enjoyed learning several new songs.  The kids love using the pointer to follow along as we sing.  The class has mastered walking quietly down the hall, a feat even my older kids struggled with last year!  They are greeting each other and learning to share.  They are writing their names and even attempting words like "bowling," "swing," and "airplane."  They have enjoyed using our math manipulatives for sorting and counting.  

I have been writing in each student's notebook each day.  To make sure you have seen the notebooks I would like you to either respond to me, or at least initial what you have read.  These notebooks can be a super way for us to talk back and forth and also keep a record of your child's first year at school.
You will be able to view this newsletter on our school website.  Follow the link to Ms. Roper's class
Ms. Roper's Class and click on "Our Blog."

Remember that Monday is school picture day.  If you haven't sent in your child's picture money in the envelope, please be sure to do so on Monday.  We have had an exhausting, but productive week.  Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or concerns.