Wish List

Several families have been asking if there is anything our class would like.  If you would like to donate to our classroom, here is a list of things we would use:

-kindergarten scissors

-large "beginner" pencils

-computer paper

-crayons

-small zip lock bags

-large zip lock bags

-SNACK

We are always looking for snack donations.  If you are able to, please send in your child's favorite healthy snack to share.  Some ideas for healthy snacks include:

crackers

cheez its

goldfish

pretzels

yogurt

apple sauce

raisins

fresh fruit

sugar free jello

sugar free pudding

carrot sticks

Thank you in advance!

Shining Light

This week, our class chose Karima as our Shining Light!  She was chosen because of how hard she has been working in her reading group.  Each day, Karima practices the words on her word ring, brings her reading bag to school, uses beginning sounds and pictures to decode unfamiliar words and never lets hard words stop her from reading!  Great job, Karima!

Our Trip to the Library

On Friday, we went on our first field trip to the Detroit Public Library!  We began with a nice walk in beautiful fall weather.  It gave us a chance to see our neighborhood and some of Wayne State University.

After we arrived at the library, we were treated to a story by Ms. Sherry the Librarian!  The children did a wonderful job of sitting nicely and listening to the book.

After listening to the story, we broke into smaller groups to look for books we would like to borrow.

When we were all done looking for a book, each child was given their own library card to use to check the book out.  They were so excited to give their cards to the librarian!

Here we are as we were leaving the library holding our books!

After walking back to school, the children couldn't wait to read their new books!  We are really looking forward to going back to the library to return our books and check new ones out!

Thank you to our chaperones for helping us on our trip - Ms. Barnes (Nia's mom), Ms. Harper (Phillip's grandmother), Ms. Espuet (Donovan's mom), Ms. Marbury (Rachel's mom) and Ms. Thomas (Karima's mom)!  We could not have done it without you!

Kindergarten Band!

Last week we opened up our instrument drawer!  Each child received a different rhythm instrument to play, including drums, bells, rhythm sticks, rain shakers, tone blocks, sand blocks, cymbals, egg shakers, maracas and tambourines!  We had such a great time learning all about the different sounds the instruments made.  For our first time, we used them to practice the difference between outside, inside and whisper sounds.  It was so much fun!  We made some great music!

Shaving Cream Letters

There are so many fun ways to practice writing our letters!  Here we are writing them in shaving cream on our desks!  It was so easy to erase and made the room smell so clean!  We had such a great time discussing the different shapes (straight lines, curves, circles) found in letters.  It even washed our hands at the same time!

Red Ribbon Week & the Harvest Party

Next week, our school will be participating in Red Ribbon Week.  This is a national program where students across the country discuss ways to stay safe and drug free.  In our class, we will be discussing poison control, stranger danger and anti-bullying. 

As part of Red Ribbon Week, each classroom will be decorating their doors to show the theme of being safe and drug free.  The doors will be completed by Thursday for a contest judged by our principal, Ms. Johnson!

On Friday, Oct. 28, our school will be celebrating the harvest time!  On this day, the children may wear costumes to school!  If your child will be coming in costume, please remember that there should be no witches, goblins, weapons, blood or masks.  Our morning will consist of harvest themed lessons and activities.  After lunch, the whole school will be participating in a harvest parade!  We will be walking through the school, collecting treats along the way, and showing off our costumes!  Following this, we will return to our classroom for our harvest party with Ms. Demsky's class!

If you would like to volunteer to help us with our harvest party, please let me know!   There will be chairs set up in the gym for parents to watch the harvest parade walk by.  The parade will begin at 1:30 and we will return to our classroom by 2:30 for the party, where we will combine with Ms. Demsky's first graders.  If you are joining us for the parade and party, we would love to see you in the afternoon!

If you would like to donate items for our harvest party, here is a list of things we need:

- plain donuts (rings, not holes - we are hanging them)
- paper plates, cups, napkins
- apple cider/juice
- apples, oranges, pretzels, grapes (or any healthy, fall-colored foods we can think of!)

Thank you in advance for your help! 

NO SCHOOL MONDAY, OCT. 24

This is a gentle reminder that there is no school this Monday, Oct. 24.  The teachers and I will be participating in a professional development day.  School will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Library Field Trip

This is a reminder that, weather permitting, we will be walking to the Detroit Public Library on Friday morning.  Those children who turned in their library card application last week will have their cards waiting for them at the library.  I will bring the applications for those children that turned them in this week with us.  We will try to process their applications for them to use that day.  If you have still not turned in the application, please return it to me by Friday.  Thank you!

Ooops!

As I was leaving school today, I noticed something sitting on the reading table - our homework folders!  After listening to a mystery reader in the village area, we forgot to put our folders in our backpacks!

As I know that some families have kept their milestone sheet (which is due on Thursday) in their folders, I will accept ALL milestones by Friday, October 21st.  I am sorry for the inconvenience.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Symmetry Paintings

In math, we have been learning all about symmetry!  We first practiced looking at different pictures and seeing if it was the same on both sides.  Then we folded a pieces of paper in half, and put paint on only one side.  We discussed what we thought might happen if we folded the paper over again.  After trying, we found that the paint made the exact same design on both sides, creating a picture with symmetry!

Milestone #1 is Due Next Thursday

On Friday, a sheet was sent home for the children to fill out regarding milestone #1 for their exhibition.  Please have your children list the resources they are going to be using, listing at least two books and return by Thursday, October 20th.  Please remember that the topics are due by this Monday, October 17th.  Here are some of the great topics that children our class have already chosen to learn about:

Taking care of a puppy - Karima

Bearded Dragons - KB

Cars - Caden

Peanut Butter - Donovan

If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thank you in advance!

Shining Lights

This week, we had two kindergarteners that let their lights shine!  Gemar was chosen as a Shining Light because of how much help he offers his friends every day.  Gemar is always helping friends with their work, assisting groups to clean up their center after he has finished putting his away, and his concern for others when they are hurt or sad. 

Phillip was also a Shining Light this week!  Phillip was chosen because of his conflict resolution skills.  Phillip has been doing a great job of following our de-bugging strategies, always trying to solve his problems on his own, before telling an adult.

Congratulations, boys!  I am very proud of both of you!

Sound Sorting

Today we reviewed the letters that we have learned about for the last two weeks.  As a class, we used our large magnetic letters to make different groups.  For each picture, we stretched the word out to hear the beginning sound.  We then placed the picture under the letter that it begins with!

After working as a group, we used different pictures to sort independently.  We practiced using scissors to cut the pictures out, and glued them under the correct letter!

At home, see if you can find things that begin with letters, Dd, Mm, Oo or Gg!  I bet you can find at least one thing for each letter!