Sounds of KB

Chime: It is time to go to group time. We sit on our lilly pads.

Bells: It is time to sit in a circle. We sit around our pond.

Click: We need to fix ourselves so our bodies are doing what they are suppose to be doing.

3 Claps: freeze, stop what we are doing and look at Ms. Gray

Recess Sounds

one whistle means freeze

second whistle means to line up ready to go inside

Mystery Reader: Mrs. Hardisty

Mrs. Hardisty chose to read her daughters' favorite stories to our class today! KB helped her count in her Pokey story.

September Newsletter

Reading
KB has been working on stretching sounds with (bubble gum) Pathways to Reading helps us focus on the connections between letters, sounds, and the way our mouths form to create the sounds.
Mm /m/ sound is one we have worked on and we will continue on this upcoming month with the Nn /n/ , Ff /f/, and Vv /v/, sounds. I will be sending activities home so students can practice “popcorn words” words students need to know by sight because they will “pop” up in their reading. Our first list: the, of, a, to , and, in, is, you, that, it. Students should be able to recognize them and then later be able to write them.


Math
Every morning we take a look at the calendar, including, the month, year, days of week, and date. We are counting by one’s. Also we take a look at the weather and create a graph were we can compare our data.
We also have looked at several manipulatives like teddy bear counters and pattern blocks. We are going to continue working on numbers, counting, and graphing over the next few weeks.


Writing
We have already started our Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) writing program. We have a packet that stays at school that we write in. Please help your students practice writing their name using lower case letters and only a capital at the beginning. HWT has writers starting at the top to make their letters, help prompt your student to start at the top every time. We have worked with the letter M and numbers 1, 2, 3. We are going to continue on with letters F, N, E, and D. Also we will keep working on our numbers 0-9.



Communication
What is the best way to make sure your child is doing great in school? Ask your child questions. Ask your child what they did in school that day, have them show you some of the things they have been practicing.
Ask your teacher questions. Please don’t feel like you need to wait until conferences to find out information about your student’s progress in school. Please use the FROG binders.
Email is the best way to communicate quickly. I will normally check my inbox during lunch and while they are at specials. If you are letting me know about a change in after school travel arrangements or a child’s absence. I will always send a response to let you know the message has been read.



Who does my child see everyday?
I’m Ms. Gray, this is my second year teaching kindergarten in Corning. Prior to that I taught 5th grade down in the Ozarks after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. I’m also a former graduate of Corning.
Mrs. Hardisty, is a proud mother of 2 wonderful girls. She will be helping out in the classroom, with recess, and in with lunch as our para educator.
Your child will have at least one special a day. Ms. Winter teaches art, Mr. Naugle will keep them active in P.E.., Ms. Docker works with the students in music, Mrs. Goldsmith will have them in library, and Mrs. Morales will be teaching them Spanish.
Your student may also visit other classrooms during the day. Mrs. Reynolds does Title I Math and Mrs. Thompson will be working with students in Title I Reading this year.


Book orders
Book orders are due on Thursday, Septembe11 , 2008. Please do not feel obligated to purchase books. Each month I will send home a stack of book orders. Scholastics is a great way to build up your students home library. You may send in cash or make checks out to Scholastics.



September Dates To Remember
September Week 1 Fall
Monday, September 1st
No School
Tuesday, September 2nd
FV’s Birthday
Wednesday, September 3rd
Early Out 1:35
Friday, September 5th
BA'sBirthday
September Week 2 Apples
Wednesday, September 10th
Early Out 1:35
Thursday, September 11
Book Orders Due
Saturday, September 13
Cheerleading Clinic 1-4pm
September Week 3 Leaves
Tuesday, September 16th
BVand BV's Birthdays
Wednesday, September 17th
Early Out 1:35
September Week 4 Fire Safety
Thursday, September 25th
Homecoming Pep Rally
(Elementary Spirit Squad Cheers)
Friday, September 26th
Homecoming-Early Out
(Elementary Spirit Squad Cheers)

Look Around the Room

Art Center filled with supplies.
Where we sit each day!
Computer Center
Mail Boxes, we place our imporatant papers and our binders in here!

Ms. Gray's Library filled with over 1,000 books!
This is where we hang our bags and coats.
Listening Center

We sign in everyday at this place. We choose if we want to have milk snack and show if we are eating a hot or cold lunch by using the colors in the baskets.

Popcorn words! Words we are learning to read and write that pop up in our reading a lot!

Behavior Plans

PAWS (class rules)
Paws is based around Positive Behavioral Supports a researched based behavioral program. The focus is on the positive behavior shown by students and giving them praise for things seen and done inside and outside the classroom. The program is also about telling them the positive expectations you have for them. Classroom expectations are clearly defined for the students based on the PAWS theme.


Behavioral Stick
There is a painted yardstick hanging beside the centerboard. It is in visible sight with easy access. Each student has his or her name on a clothespin that starts out in green everyday. Given one warning of movement of the student’s name. On the second warning name will be dropped down to the time-out. Time-out includes leaving the classroom if needed or finding a place in the classroom away from the problem area. 3rd warning of behavior will result in another time-out and calling parents. The last result is going to the principal. Students have the ability to move up and down on the behavior stick throughout the day.

*Time-out needs to be no more than 10minutes at a time. Recommended 3minutes. The problem needs to be addressed verbally to the student so that the problem doesn’t continue. “Ask them why they are in time out”

Often time students are taken out into the hallway or placed on the wall at recess. They may also just be placed at a different desk or spot in the room.

Behavior Reporting Form
Records and documentation are very important. There is a form that may be sent home that mark the behaviors from minor to major behavior.

Behavior Chart
Some students may have a daily behavior chart in order to monitor their behavior subject to subject. Behavior chart are marked accordingly taking on best judgment and point value. The points are added up at the end of the week. If student meets his or her goal then a prize or reward is given. Example pencil, free choice of game, or extra computer time. Each child is different, each goal may vary.

Star of the Week

We go in alphabetical order by last name. Each child should have a chance to be it two times.


Dear Kindergarten Family,

Next week is ? ‘s turn to be “Star of the Week”. Part of that honor is to have a bullet in board all about your child. To help us out with that bulletin board, we would like you to send in the following things as soon as possible.

About 6 pictures of your family. They may include family members, friends, pets, baby pictures, vacations…whatever is special to your child! These will be posted on the bulletin board and then returned to you.

A “Star of the week questionnaire” (stapled to this sheet), that you complete with your child.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,


Ms. Gray



Star of the Week Questionnaire

Please help your student fill out this sheet.


My favorite thing to eat is_________________

May favorite color is _________________________

I was born in _______________________

I like to play_______________________________

My favorite game is ____________________________

My favorite book is_______________________________

My family is made up of _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Extra, Extra What Do We Need To Know?

*FROG binders*
3 ring binders will get checked every morning and sent home every night. Please feel free to write any notes you have for me on the sheet of paper inside. Don’t forget to remove any papers that your child brings home. There may be calendars, lunch menus, notes about lunch money, etc, as well as daily papers to go over with your child. Remind your child to give Ms. Gray any messages or papers you send back to school in the binder.

*Dismissal*
If there is a change from how your child normally leaves the school either walking, riding, or bus. Please leave a note in the FROG binder or call Karen in the office before 3 p.m. If your student is going home with another student please make sure that there is a note sent to school. The first few weeks if your student is riding the bus there will be a bus tag attached to his or her backpack with the student’s name and bus number for the first few weeks of school. Please make sure your student is aware of what they are to do after school each day.

*Lost and Found*
Sometimes clothing items are left behind in the lunch room, playground, art room, etc. It would be extremely helpful if you marked ALL clothing items with your child’s name or initials (on the tag is great!) Items not marked end up in the Lost and Found if they are not claimed. If clothing items don’t make it home in a timely manner please, check the Lost and Found.

*Milk Time*
We have a milk break each day in the morning and the children are able to choose if they would like to take it or not. There will be an extra cost for this each semester.

*Birthdays*
If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday please let me know in advance the day you would like to come in or if you would like to bring treats. *NO PEANUTS*

*Mystery Reader*
If you or a family member would like to come to our class as a special guest and read please contact me. Mystery Reader will be starting in September on Fridays. You may sign up at registration or later on throughout the year.
*Class visits*
I welcome you into our room. I do ask that you wait to visit until later on in the year, when students have gotten use to their routine and will not be disrupted by visitors. Please take look at the hand book.

*Multiple Bags*
Birthday Bag and Tooth Bag will get sent home when your child is celebrating his or her birthday and the tooth bag when they loose a tooth either at home or at school. Share Bag will be sent home once a week to one student, then rotated throughout all the students in our class. Frog Bag will also be sent home once a week to one student in class. Each bag will contain a notebook with instructions and books to read with your child. Look for other bags throughout the year with activities to do with your student.

*Book Orders*
I will send out a selection of book orders once a month for you to look through. I will normally give a date of one week to return any orders you would like to place. Please don’t feel obligated to purchase anything. If you are looking for a way to enrich your child’s life with literature, Scholastic is one of the most affordable ways to start.

*Rest Time*
I don’t require that everyone sleeps during this time; it is a quiet time where students can lay down and relax after using their brain power during the day. Please make sure that your student brings something like a towel or a rug to lie on during this time. I will send home the bedding on Fridays.

*Extra Clothes*
Please remember to have your child wear tennis shoes on the day they have gym as their special. Some families have opted to leave a pair of tennis shoes at the school just for gym and that is ok too. Also if your child has a tendency to have accidents during the day or while napping please bring in an extra set of clothes either in their bag or to leave at school just in case. Please mark any shoes or extra clothing with your child’s initials or name.
I have covered quite a bit in this letter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

KB’s List of Supplies

Please Label:
-Backpack (large enough to fit a 3 ring binder Please Label
- Art smock (an old shirt will do) Please Label
- Pair of tennis shoes to stay at school for gym days
-towel, small blanket, or mat for rest time Please Label
-clear plastic container with lid (shoe box size) Please Label

-small pencil box
-1inch 3 ring binder (not a trapper keeper)
-set of extra underwear, pants, and socks (please put in Ziploc bag and label)
(Shoes and extra clothes can be put in the container)

Please do not label the following:
- 2boxes of facial tissues
-1box, 24pk of crayons (no glitter crayons)
-1box, 8pk of crayons (regular size)
-5 number 2 pencils
-2 glue sticks
-1 four ounce bottle of Elmer’s glue or equivalent (no gel, please)
-2 erasers (normally pink)
-1 Scissor (Fiskar recommended)
-2 yellow hi-liters

• If your student is a girl- box of gallon zip lock bags
  •If your student is a boy- box of quart zip lock bags
  •Please No Disposable Cameras. Digital pictures will be taken throughout the year for you.
  

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Reminder open house is Tuesday, August 19th ,2008 from 4:30-6:30p.m. This is a chance for your student to visit their classroom, find their seats, and see where they put their things. If you would like to bring their school supplies that evening, please feel free to do so.
As you know, the first day of school is Wednesday, August 20th . I will meet your child as they get off the bus, or if you are dropping your child off at school. Please plan on saying your good-byes at the front door or at the bus stop.
Enclosed is your child’s name tag. Please be sure that they wear it the first day! It helps us to easily identify the kindergartners as they get off the buses during the first week of school. On the first day I would like you to send in three photographs with your child. Two photos of your child alone, and one family photo. We will be using them for class books we make at the beginning of the year. They help to inspire conversation on the first day!
I look forward to an excellent year with your child and getting to know your family.


Sincerely,
Ms. Gray

KB Expectations

Language Arts
Write first and last name correctly
Recognize capital and lower case letters
Write correctly both capital and lower case letters
Know the initial sounds of all 21 consonants
Know the initial sounds of 5 short vowels a, e, i, o, and u.

Be able to write full sentences with capital letter at the beginning, lower case words, punctuation at the end, and a sentence that sounds pleasing to the ear.
1 ex. The cat sat on the mat.
2 ex. Cat sat mat. (this does not sound correct)

Read sight words min. of 18
Recognize color words correctly
Hold a book correctly and turn pages correctly
Makes an effort to read words that are unfamiliar

Math
Count 1- 130 by 1’s
Count by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s
Write numbers 1-30
Sequence numbers
Recognize coins
Count coins
Recognize and create patterns

Read a date on a calendar
Write the date

Add and subtract simple mathematical problems

Social Skills
Tie Shoe
Have polite manners, please and thank you
Can walk in a line quietly
Can use a quiet voice inside
Can dress him or her self

Special Schedule

A1 10:00am Spanish
1:15pm P.E. (remember shoes)

B1 1:00pm Music

A2 10:00am Spanish
12:45pm P.E. (remember shoes)
1:15pm Art

B2 1:00pm Music

Class Rules

PAWS
Please Listen
Always Be Prepared
Work/Act Responsibly
Show Respect

FROG Binders

For Reliable Organizational Goals Binders

FROG Binders will need to be taken home every night and brought back to school every morning. There is a sheet of paper put inside that will help us communicate with each other and to help us all stay organized from home to school and vise versa. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments on this paper. I will also write notes back to you on the same sheet. Any worksheets or books will be put in the binder as well. Thursdays there will be a communication folder sent home with your student with important information from the school office. Please make sure this folder is returned to school. FROG Binders are a great way to teach your student how to be organized.