Updated Wish List

September 24, 2009

Fabric paints (enough for 22 students to paint with)

Large colored stamp pads

Hand towels (preferably microfiber)

New Hi -Ho Cherrio Game/ Candy Land

Dr. Seuss Super Stretchy ABC's (3)

Eric Carle ABC's (3)

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Peace Path

September 24, 2009

This is a conflict resolution program that Odyssey uses to empower students to solve their own problems.

Step 1: What's Wrong?

Step 2: How do you feel?

Step 3: How can we solve this problem?

Step 4: Solution

At Odyseey we create a literal peace path with 4 sets of feet facing each other to represent each step. Students move from the first set of feet to the last as they answer each question. I find that 98% of the problems in the classroom or playground can be solved using this method.  (I am sure it would work at home too!) I generally trace the feet or shoes of the children laminate and tape them with the words (accompanied by a photo of students doing an action to represent the question) nearby.

 

 

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Room B News September 21-26

September 24, 2009

Room B News 

September 21-26

 

Thank you to all the parents able to make Back to School night. I appreciate such a great turn-out. ONE MAJOR Miscommunication on my part was about pick up. I apologize and did not realize parents thought they had to come to my door to pick up their child. You can wait in the pick up line and an aide will ask who you are picking up, they then call the child’s name on the walkie talkie and the child is sent to the front gate by their teacher. I have my students stay in the classroom because of all the chaos in front and felt it was more manageable for me and for the students to stay inside. Again, my apologies for the mix up.

 

Math/Homework

In math we began learning about patterns and are making A/B patterns with shapes and/or colors. This is something you can do at home. Make patterns using two kinds of cereal, fork/spoon, big trucks/little trucks, etc.

**Patterns repeat themselves and can go on and on.

 

Writer's Workshop

We have begun Handwriting without Tears to support student writing.

Building Fine Motor Skills to help with writing

Cutting with scissors/ writing with chalk either on sidewalk or on board/ drawing with crayons or colored pencils (markers do not require the same sensory pressure).

 

Reader's Workshop

I am reading emergent storybooks to them (stories they are familiar with) to empower students as readers as they "reread" the story to each other.

Read, Read, Read

 

I am continuing to assess students so I will be able to meet them at their level and know where to begin. I will be discussing this with you at our Individual Learning Plan (ILP) meeting. If you were unable to come to back to school night I will be sending out dates and times I will be available to meet with you and discuss your child’s learning goals.

 

Save the Date!

Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop Seminar for Kindergarten by Ms. Denise and Ms. Erin.

Thursday, November 5 @ 3:00

 

Camp Day/Work Day Kindergarten Potluck

Sunday, October 11, 2009

 

 

 

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A couple updates

September 14, 2009

I am still trying to get use to our new schedule. Mondays is our short day therefore a second snack is not needed. We do have P.E. on Mondays so I want to remind parents the need for a sneaker with some support so students do not hurt themselves. I  recommend a sneaker everyday with support for safety reasons on the playground.

 

 

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Room B News September 8-11

September 10, 2009

Room B News

September 8-11

 

We made it through our first week of school and it was a good one. We toured the school, began learning and deciding the rules of the classroom, and are building a classroom community and culture. We have a wonderful group of students. This week we began oral storytelling and drew our favorite drawing spots. Ms. Lynda, Ms. Brenda, a student teacher from Pacific Oaks, and I are looking forward to a fabulous year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All School Fundraiser

September 03, 2009

 There is a group of parents with a fantastic fundraiser: they are
selling reusable sandwich, snack, grocery bags.  I will have more
information about this on the first day of school.  If you haven't
already bought your child's lunch containers, please wait to support
our school!

 

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Preparing for the First Day of School

September 03, 2009

 Preparing for the First Day of School

Again thank you for all of your help and support as we begin our first
day of kindergarten. Ms. Lynda and I are very excited to begin the new
school year. Some parents have asked what they should bring and how the
day will look so, I thought I would send out a brief outline.

Each child will be given a cubby to store their lunch, blankets, and
other personal items.
**Cubbies are not very big so please take that into consideration.
** I prefer students do not bring their own school supplies- as they
are needed I will provide supplies donated to the class.

Healthy snack- please provide two healthy snacks for your child one for
the morning and the other for the afternoon. In the morning students
will put their name on their snack (this can be done at home) and put
it in the snack box provided. I will have two separate boxes for
morning and afternoon snack.
** I separate snacks from lunches because I find students sometimes eat
their whole lunch for morning snack and have nothing for lunch.

Towel or small blanket labeled with your child's name- we will have a
read aloud after lunch. I generally turn the lights off and students
can lie down-if children fall asleep I will allow them to take a nap
while others have choice time.
**As we move into 2nd and 3rd trimesters I imagine there will be less
napping and more constructive play, science, and/or social studies.

Extra clothing- Please provide an extra set of clothing for your child
in a small bag labeled with their name. These will be kept in the
bathroom in case a clothing change is needed.

The first week:
8:15-8:45: parents are welcome to stay and help children adapt to the
morning routines.
Student and parent can decorate their cubby label and choose a cubby
with the help of Ms. Lynda.
Students will put their two snacks in the boxes provided.
I will take first day of school photos.
Parents can read books provided in tubs to read with their child.
At 8:84 I will put on Good Morning song and that is parents cue to say
their goodbyes and students will begin their day. If your child has
difficulty saying goodbye Ms. Lynda and I will be there to support them
while you leave the room.
This routine will be repeated all week with a different project.

Week 2 and the following weeks: Parents may read with their child until
8:30.

  
See you onTuesday,

Ms. Denise

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Volunteer Opportunities

September 03, 2009

 Volunteer Opportunities:
1.      Weekly Laundry: We will have pillowcases and hand towels to be
laundered.
2.      I will have take home prep work the first day of school.

As the year progresses there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities
in the classroom but I do prefer the first 6 weeks to establish a
classroom culture with the students, Ms. Lynda and myself.

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Daily Schedule

September 03, 2009

 Daily Schedule:
  8:15-8:30       Parents and children read

8:30-9:35    Morning Meeting and Math
  9:35-10:10      Snack and Recess (in the K-2 yard behind our classroom)

10:10-11:45  Reader's and Writer's Workshop
  11:45-12:30     Lunch and Recess (in the K-2 yard behind our
classroom, though children can venture to the 'Big' playground for
recess)

12:30-2:00 read aloud, rest time, creative play, social studies, Science
  2:00-2:15       Snack (if needed) and Recess
  2:30            Dismissal at front of school benches (**please note
that on Mondays, dismissal is 1:30)

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Wish List

September 03, 2009

 Wish List- 

Boxes of tissue
Expo dry erase markers (fat)
Sharpies

Colored pencils (sharpened would be terrific!)

House Plants
Painting Easels

Kitchen Unit from Discount School Supply
Home theatre projector (used is fine)


If it is easier, I would LOVE gift cards either in the form of a Visa,
Target, Staples, www.DiscountSchoolSupply.com, Home Depot or Lowes for
gardening supplies,
  or Amazon.com

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