We’ve had a busy week as we continue to transition into a full day of Kindergarten.  I know that it isn’t easy for 5-year olds to adjust to a structured learning environment that must be shared with 22 other children, but I’m happy to report that most of the Kinders (my abbreviation for Kindergarten students) are adapting very well. 

      Learning Concepts:  As yesterday’s note indicated, we have begun working on our AaBbCc pizzas.  This review of uppercase letters/introduction of lowercase letters will continue, and we’ll let you know which letters need special practice at home.  We’re adding math words to our Word Wall as we discuss positional words like top, middle, bottom, above, below, after and before. We’ve talked about AB patterns during our Morning Meeting, and we’ll continue to practice writing our names with uppercase and lowercase letters. 
      We have begun a  Read-Aloud chapter book.  It’s the first book in the Junie B. Jones series and is entitled Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly School Bus by Barbara Park.  As the title indicates, the book is a bit irreverent as it follows the adventures of a Kindergarten girl by the name of Junie B. Jones.  Junie B.  doesn’t always make good choices, and her behavior is sometimes shocking, so she provides a framework for classroom conversation about good manners and appropriate behavior. Kinders really enjoy her antics.  I avoid reading any “baby talk” that she uses in her first-person storytelling, and I  polish up the grammar, so I feel comfortable about sharing this literature with my students.  If you’d like to know more about the series, the Library has the collection. 

      Homework:  It is my expectation that we will have 100% of the homework returned.  That didn’t happen this week, and I ask that all parents check the Folders every day to find the assignments labeled as Homework, help the Kinders  complete the work, then return the paper to the Folder.   (Please don’t leave old papers in the Folders!)   The assignments are a reinforcement of concepts taught during the day, so it’s very important that the work be done.
 
     Here is a Rule of Thumb:  Don’t spend more than  20 to 30 minutes on a homework assignment.  While it’s important that we teach the children to be responsible students, they should not be feeling extreme frustration.  Help your child to do the best she/he can do, and take a break if the activity is becoming too frustrating.  If you need another day to finish up an assignment, please send a note of explanation.   We appreciate your cooperation!

      Show and Tell begins next week!  This is a fun homework activity to do for each Wednesday.  As part of our oral language development, we ask that each child bring an interesting and educational item to school to talk about.  Please help your child describe the item (e.g. what it is, how it works, where it came from, etc.).  Practice at home using complete sentences, so that he/she will feel comfortable with the speaking experience.  Mrs. Weiler does a great job of leading the children in this weekly activity.  We’ll send a reminder note next week.

      Monthly Book Orders:  Mrs. Weiler will be sending home Scholastic book order forms that give you an opportunity to purchase reasonably-priced books and games for your child.  This is strictly voluntary, but we can earn free books for our classroom library when enough students order.

Thank you for all the interest and cooperation that you give to your child’s education!

Mrs. Mortensen and Mrs. Weiler