November 13, 2015

Happy Friday the 13th! What a wonderful day we had today with all of our Grandparents and Grand Friends arriving for activities and lunch~

Dear Families,

In science we are learning about the changes we see in fall and learning many facts about animals of our choosing. 

Books Read: We're Going on a Leaf Hunt, Clifford's Good Deeds,  Alphabet Adventure, and Branches of the Military, 

We have emerged ourselves into writing non-fiction texts using animals we are interested in. We study professional authors texts and notice the types of writing they use. Bold words, labels, arrows, different font, etc. all make for interesting reading. Sketching, labeling and writing about our chosen animal are the skills we have worked on this week.

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The character we learned this week was; Baby Barnaby.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-50, writing numbers to 10 and draw symbols/pictures to represent the number, reviewed spatial vocabulary and concepts (top, below, between, next to, around, over, under, left, right), compared representations of numbers a d reflected on their thinking as they solved the problems. Continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Items we could use in our classroom:

Markers, Clorox Wipes, Tissues

Upcoming Events: 

November 23 & 24 Parent/Teacher Conferences- be sure to sign up if you haven't already!

November 25,26,27 Thanksgiving Break-No School

November 6, 2015

Welcome November! What beautiful weather we have had! It is so nice to be able to continue our treks outside on these beautiful fall days. We have been taking the role of scientist as we spend time observing the season using all of our senses. 

Thank you to all of our Veterans. I hope this Wednesday will be a time of celebration and pondering of these brave men and women. The picture above is my middle son who is currently serving overseas. He is not yet a veteran, but I am still very proud of him and his selfless service. Enjoy the day!

Some of the family turkey projects have made their way to school. I can't wait to see the rest of them!

If you have not signed up for conferences yet, please do. I can't wait to walkabout your student's first quarter of kindergarten. 

During writing time we are playing the role of a scientist and using our observation skills to write nonfiction texts. We are adding words (letters) to our pictures, rehearsing what we want to write, taking turns sharing our discoveries and writing with partners, going back into our writing pieces and revise what we have written by changing or adding to what we wrote and continuing to build up our confidence as writers. We are ALL writers!

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters we learned this week were; Kimmy Kangaroo and Farley Fox

In math we are working with teen numbers, recognizing teen numbers through movement, formation of numbers, addition and subtraction practice and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 

Wednesday November 11- No School- Veteran's Day

November 23 & 24 Parent Teacher Conferences

November 25, 26, 27 No School for Thanksgiving Break

October 30, 2015

Dear Families,

Our walk at school activities today were so much fun! To have students from Kindergarten to 8th grade all joining to gather for a morning full of fun and imagination is exactly what WCS is all about! Have a safe Halloween and remember those pesky clocks!

In science we are learning about the changes we see in fall and the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Books Read: Growing Pumpkins, In a Dark, Dark Wood, Bony Legs, Georgie's Halloween, Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat, Click, Clack, Boo!

During writing time they are starting to; observe objects found in nature, draw a real life representation of that object and label it like a real scientist. They are working hard during partner time to practice sharing their piece of writing and give important feedback back to their partner in order for our writing to be full of detail and understanding. We talk a lot about being BRAVE writers and adding more and more letters to our words and words to our sentences. 

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The character we learned this week was; Jenny Jaguar.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-50, sorting, using math manipulatives, created and solved number stories, reviewed spatial vocabulary and concepts (top, below, between, next to, around, over, under, left, right), and continued our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Items we could use in our classroom:

Markers, Clorox Wipes, Play-dough

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday November 11- No School

Friday November 13- Report Cards home

November 23 & 24- 1/2 day for students- Parent/ Teacher conferences

November 25,26,27- No School- Thanksgiving Break

October 23, 2015

Dear Families,

In science we are learning about the changes we see in fall and the life cycle of a pumpkin. Special homework: Please have your child collect 4-5 items that represent fall for them. (Some examples- colorful leaves, seeds, seed pods, pine cones/needles, acorns, etc.) 

Books Read: The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, When The Leaf Blew In, Autumn's First Leaf, Pumpkin Patch Puppy, The Silly Scarecrow

During writing time they are starting to; visualize places and people to write about, add words (letters) to their pictures, rehearse what they want to say about what they wrote, take turns sharing their ideas and writing with partners and show movement in their drawings for a fun effect. We talked a lot this week about being BRAVE writers and adding more and more letters to our words and words to our sentences.

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The character we learned this week was; Arnie Aardvark.

In math we are getting to know numbers, sorting, using math manipulatives, worked with 10 frames, composing and decomposing numbers,  identifying shapes, reviewed spatial vocabulary and concepts (top, below, between, next to, around, over, under, left, right), and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Items we could use in our classroom:

Tissues, Clorox Wipes

Upcoming Events: 

November 11- Veteran's Day- Thank You

November 23 & 24 Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 25-27 Thanksgiving Break

October 16, 2015

Dear Families,

We have been learning about fire safety this week and we were joined by the Woolwich Fire Department on Wednesday. We learned about the fire truck and how to keep safe. Some students were unsure if they their family has an outside meeting place if they have to evacuate their house. Do you have one? Have you practiced your escape route with your family? Have you changed the batteries in your smoke detectors lately? I care a lot about you all and want you to stay safe!!!

Books Read: Firehouse, Curious George at the Fire Station, Clifford the Firehouse Dog, My Fire Engine

During writing time they are starting to; visualize places and people to write about, add words (letters) to their pictures, rehearse what they want to say about what they wrote, take turns sharing their ideas and writing with partners and show movement in their drawings for a fun effect. We talked a lot this week about being BRAVE writers and adding more and more letters to our words and words to our sentences.

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The characters we learned this week were; Rosie Raccoon and Hippy Hippo.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-30, sorting, using math manipulatives, identifying shapes, reviewed spatial vocabulary and concepts (top, below, between, next to, around, over, under, left, right), and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Items we could use in our classroom:

Markers, Clorox Wipes, Playdough, Sidewalk Chalk

Upcoming Events: 

October 30- 1st quarter ends
November 11- No School-Veteran's Day-Thank you!

November 23 &24- Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 25-27 Thanksgiving Break

LUCKY and not even St. Patrick's Day!

Eliot found a 4 leaf clover here at school this morning and was so very excited about it!

We are pressing it in hopes to make it last and stay together. 

We found a super cool yellow and white fuzzy caterpillar on the playground yesterday as well! 

Mrs. Sample's Kindergarten is not ready for cold weather or any of that other stuff~maybe we will just skip on to spring...

October 2, 2015

Rocky Ridge Orchard

Dear Families,

A huge THANK YOU for those who traveled to Rocky Ridge apple orchard with us this week. It was so much fun! I hope you heard all about it! Ask your student what their favorite part was. I hope the flooding this week didn't cause problems for any of you, we made out fine at my house. Keep a weather eye for the upcoming storm, please!

In science we are learning about the life cycle of the butterfly and continuing our apple unit. Eric Carle author study is still alive and well!

Books Read: Big, Red Apple, Mr. Brown's Magnificent Apple Tree, Apple Countdown, Apple Trouble, Johnny Appleseed, The Very Busy Spider, The Very Quiet Cricket    The song: APPLE (sung to the tune of BINGO!

Animated Alphabet is our approach to phonemic awareness and spelling. The letters are taught through a multi sensory approach of music, dance, characters and signs which help the students hold onto that information. The character we learned this week was; Timmy Tiger.

In math we are getting to know numbers 0-10, sorting, discussing a graph, using math manipulatives, finger counting, working with shapes and continuing our calendar routines. Our routines at calendar time include; counting to the calendar number of the day, weather observations, tracking the number of days we have been in school and days of the week. 

We are learning about the Woolwich Way! The Woolwich Way is made up of 6 qualities that will help us to be the best we can be! (Courtesy- I can use good manners, Compassion-I can help others, Respect- I can treat others kindly, Honesty-I can tell the truth, Responsibility- I can take care of myself and my stuff, Quality- I can do my best even when things are hard)

Upcoming Events: 

October 9- NO SCHOOL- Teacher Inservice

October 12- NO SCHOOL- Columbus Day