This Week: January 18

Brrr!  I hope you are enjoying this snowy, wintry week and what feels like an extra, extra long weekend for us in AM Kindergarten!  Although the snow is fun I miss kindergarten!  The week is shaping up to be a short one…so plan on no homework this week. 

I’ve finally uploaded a few photos from our gingerbread house day back in December.  You can view them under the Photos tab!  Have fun in the snow! 

 

Welcome Back!

A Warm Winter Welcome!  Where has this first week of January gone?  A few items for you:

Please send your child to school on PE days in appropriate shoes (I’ve had a report that boots are not great for the PE activities).  I have to admit that I am 100 percent guilty of not checking my kiddos feet in the rush of the mornings!  So, please try your best to send your child in tennis shoes on those days.  I will remind the kids in class as well.

This week in Computer Lab the students had the chance to try out StoryLine Online (a super cool site where actors read aloud GREAT children’s books).  If you get the chance, help your kinder hop on the computer, head to the link above and turn the volume up for some reading fun!

Home Reading Book Exchange will now happen on Mondays!  If we don’t have school on a Monday and/or I don’t have a helper on a Monday then the exchange will take place the next day.  We will only exchange books once per week, so if your child misses the day they will have to wait till the next week.  I recommend storing the book inside your child’s backpack to eliminate having to remember to pack it on Mondays!

Your children are ALL having a great week back from break!  Happy 2012!

~Krista Mattison

This Week: December 12

Holiday Greetings, everyone!  A few notes for our week ahead:

Wednesday:  Please send in your gingerbread house item.

Thursday:  Gingerbread Houses 11:05-11:50am (parents welcome)

Friday:  No AM Kindergarten.  Band/Choir Concert Assembly and Holiday Sing-a-long 10:30-11:15am (AM Kinders are welcome to attend with a parent…make sure to come a few minutes early to grab a seat). 

Winter Break Dec. 16 – Jan 2nd

School resumes Tuesday, January 3rd

Enjoy the special time with your family and friends.

~Krista Mattison

Some notes about Computer Lab…and counting fun!

Hello Parents!  This is little bit of info about Computer Lab time, plus here is one of our favorite counting songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0dJWfQHF8Y

We often “sing” this during our snack time!   The Kinders really LOVE this song, plus it helps the kids practice counting to 100!  Check it out at home if you a have a quick minute or two!

In Computer Lab, we’ve spent our time lately working with StarFall.com (an amazing, free literacy website for your child to try at home) as well as Drawing For Children (a free program that you can download at home…see below).  The students are learning how to both manipulate the mouse (a HUGE fine motor skill) and navigate these programs independently.  Practice at home really helps.  If you are looking for some child-safe options for home-computer time these are two EXCELLENT choices! 

To Download Drawing for Children at home:  http://drawing.gamemaker.nl/  (follow the install steps on the website).

Tags: ,

This Week: November 28

Hello Parents!  Take-home book bags came home today!  Please help your child read his/her book several times this week.  Store books inside your child’s backpack.  Every time your child reads his/her book you can log it on your child’s Read-a-thon sheet.  Books will be rotated weekly (at this point I don’t have a volunteer scheduled…the job is still up for grabs!).  For now, books will be rotated on Mondays…but this may change!

Friday is our Polar Express Pajama Party (students may wear PJs to school).  It is also OK for your child to bring in his/her favorite stuffed animal. 

Gingerbread House Day is coming up (Thursday, December 15th 11:05-11:50am).  Parents are invited and encouraged to attend (students LOVE to build houses with a mom, dad, or grandparent!).  Here is the letter that came home today with all the details:  Gingerbread Houses 2011

Have a great week!