Weekly Update for Week of November 14-18th

November 14, 2011

A note from Mrs. Horn…

I sent home the book order forms for November and December.  December is a short month in school and Scholastic orders can take a bit longer after Thanksgiving, so I wanted to get them out earlier.  There are oodles of great books and these make terrific gifts.  If you would like to order something for your child as a present and don’t want them to see it, just let me know and we can make arrangements to pick it up. 

Book orders are due by November 18th so we are sure to get them back early.  You can order using the order form on the back of the flyer, and return the order form to me with payment in cash or check made payable to Scholastic Book Clubs.  Or, order online by visiting www.scholastic.com/bookclubs.  The class activation code is:  GP3JL.  Best of all, we earn a FREE book for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online.  The books typically arrive within a week of placing the order.  Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our classroom, however, there is never any obligation to order.

If your child would like to join our Pretend Sleepover, it’s not too late!  Our Pretend Sleepover is on Friday, December 9^th, from 7:00-10:00pm.  Mom and Dad can enjoy a quiet dinner out, or do some sneaky holiday shopping without your kinderpup.  The kids will have a blast in their pajamas playing flashlight tag, dancing, eating S’mores and popcorn and watching a holiday movie!  Our pictures even ended up in the yearbook last year!  Send an email or note and $25 (made out to Harmony PTA) to join in the fun!

  Mark your calendar…  Our Thanksgiving Play will be on Tuesday, November 22^nd at 11:20 am.  All families and friends are invited.  You are encouraged to stay afterwards for lunch.  Please return the lunch order form sent home last week by Wednesday if you plan to purchase lunch from the cafeteria.  The Kindergarten Team is looking for parents interested in revamping last year’s props for the play.  If you are interested please e-mail me!

Now that all students know how to check out books from the library, your child may visit the library before school throughout the week to check out a book.  Before students may check out a new book, they must finish their morning responsibilities in class. After completing their responsibilities, I will send them down to the library.  They must return to class before 7:50 am.  This is a privilege that Ms. Clark and Ms. Wanda permit kids to do.  If they aren’t make good choices in the library (Ms. Sue and I will not be in the library with them), they will lose the privilege to check out books independently.  We will continue to visit the library on Fridays. 

It is starting to get chilly outside.  Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately because we will go outside everyday unless it is raining or below 40 degrees.

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

This week we are learning about schema.  Students will work on making self-to-text connections.  We will be visiting the school library on Friday.

Writing Workshop

With the Holiday’s just around the corner, we are going to take advantage of the kid’s excitement of Santa coming.  On Monday, we are going to start our persuasive letters to Santa or to our family if you don’t celebrate Christmas.  We will focus on writing a greeting, introduction and persuading Santa to bring us our desired gift.  I will continue to remind kids of the audience of their letter (Santa or their family).  On Friday, we are writing in our Family Journals.  Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Word Study

This week, we will explore the word families -ad, -ap, & -ag.  Ask your child about the word family chants for all three.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: little, down, do. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

We are learning how to add and subtract in our heads, reviewing counting, number recognition, and sequencing numbers 0-20.

Math Home Link Family Note: Children enjoy counting, and they find ways to practice this skill all the time.  In addition to counting by 1s, children are learning to “skip count” by 10s.  When your child counts by 10s help him or her connect the counting words with the concept of making groups of 10.  Counting fingers (and toes) is an excellent way to begin. Activity:  Count all the fingers in your family.  Count by 10s.  Count by 1s to double check.  Draw the fingers of all the people in your family.  Try to write the numbers of fingers.  What else could you count by 10s?  (Practice counting several different objects by 10s.)

Social Studies

For the next couple of weeks, we will visit the gym the practice for our Thanksgiving Play. Throughout week we will discuss how the pilgrims lived on the Mayflower and in the new land.

Reminders

*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day.

* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night.

* Library book due every Friday.

Related Arts Schedule

Monday                      Art

Tuesday-Friday        Music