I've Been Away For A While!

Unfortunately,  I have been away for a while!  However, we have been very busy!!  Please check out some of our buggy work that we will be doing this week....  keep checking back as I post throughout the week.  

We are becoming shape experts!

This past week, the students have been working very hard to identify 2-Dimensional shapes.  This included the following shapes:  circle, square, rectangle, triangle, and hexagon.  The students can identify their vertices and their sides... just ask!     We will begin working on 3-Dimensional shapes beginning this week.  See if your children can find examples of each as you are driving down the road or looking around the house.

Please be sure and check out our cool shape song:       

 2-Dimensional shapes (flat shape)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htcuPenTg38

 

3-Dimensional Shapes (solid shape)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9L9l86N-xM

 

This link includes some extra shapes, but whoever said that knowledge is not power?!?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ5mZIInE6s&feature=fvwrel

 

Check out the Curious George Shape Game... I love shapes:

http://pbskids.org/games/shapes.html

 

Check ABCMouse out too... it does cost money to join, BUT you can get the first month for FREE!

http://www.abcmouse.com/landing/SEM:BING?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=msn+search&utm_campaign=Kindergarten&utm_extra=dim1/Games_Modified//dim2/broad&utm_term=+games%20for%20+kindergarten

 

 

We have a surprise coming on Monday..... wonder what it could be?  I bet you will NEVER guess!

 

 

 

 

Bats & Spiders... OH MY!

The students have enjoyed discussing bats & spiders this week.  We have learned so much about them!  The students have completed research books, learned "wise words" associated with the both of them (i.e. nocturnal, echolocation, silk, etc.), and so much more!  Please be sure and discuss everything that they have learned about bats & spiders.  The students have many books that they will be able to share and read to you about them.  I have included some of the videos that we watched during our class discussions.  I told the students I would post them so that they could watch them again at home. 

Check out the video about spiders:

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

The Isty Bitsy Spider Nursery Rhyme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-l2P-b5z2s

Check Out the video about bats:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPPRGjXKl38

Bat Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9y4r-VI_qY&feature=endscreen&NR=1

The Echolocation song: 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr-Y2Tt8gFE

What's Happening...

Please make sure you check out our book order catalogs.  They offer such wonderful books at discounted prices.  Pete the Cat, a favorite of all the students, is available this month.  We love Rockin' with Pete and we also love his positive attitude that "It's All Good!"    

 

Click on the link below to check out this cool video:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUubMSfIs-U

 

 

 

 

Practice your math with a Pete dot-to-dot:

http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t_template.asp?t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/pets/PetetheCat/PetetheCat-DottoDot-1-31.gif

 

 

 

One other thing.... if you order online, you help us receive a free book for our classroom library.  I greatly appreciate your orders!  It not only helps our classroom library, but it also creates excitement for your child & helps them develop the love for reading! 

 

Sight word rings went home and you should have received an extra set of words to use as a resource.  These will be great to use with the ring cards (please just make sure they make it back onto the ring) to play memory, hang up around the house, or use for many other creative ideas.  If you come up with any great strategies, please share (on our blog, of course)!  Remember, we are a TEAM and I want everyone to be excited about READING!!   

 

I want our classroom blog to be a resource for you!  Not only to notify you of what is occuring in our classroom, but to also assist with any questions that you may have.  Please leave a comment and let me know what types of topics/information would be beneficial for you.  I am looking forward to a TERRIFIC year!

   

Three Day Weekend!

 I hope you all enjoyed your three day weekend! I definitely did. My family and I (minus one son) went to the lake with some friends. My son, Bryson, learned to knee board and my daughter, Kiersten, enjoyed riding the tube.

 

Bryson

Kiersten

  It's always nice to get to leave town for a few days.  Now.... back to reality.   I wanted to notify you that homework calendars will be going home today.  If you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to notify me.  I want to reiterate the fact that homework is not busy work, it is to help improve skills that we are working on in the classroom.    In addition, I want to stress the fact that we are in school for 7 hours, although it is extremely important that we work together as a team to ensure your child's success, I do not want to give your child a lot of work to bring home.  If I do have to send home extra practice, please understand that it is to provide your child assistance in areas in which they may need support.  Again, I look forward to working with you and your child this year!

Great Resources!

I am including some great resources for to utilize, not only for your children but for you as well!

Letterland:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?
 Activities for LettterLand:  http://www.letterland.com/free  
or type in letterland video youtube on Google and all kinds of videos will pop up for you to select from.

Parent Resources:  http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/parents/   http://www2.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml 
(these websites provide some awesome articles, suggestions, etc.)

Student Resources: 
http://www.starfall.com/
http://pbskids.org/
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/



If you find any other resources that you feel would be beneficial to other parents,  please share! 


 

Welcome!

I am so excited to kick the new school year off with our new class!  We have already had so much fun in our first 3 days.  We have been practicing our cutting and gluing skills, learning about Peacemakers and Peacebreakers, and reading so many fabulous books (Llama, Llama Misses Mama, The Night Before Kindergarten, The Kissing Hand, Jake Starts School, Monster Goes to School, and No David).  All of our books have helped us get over the jitters of starting school and have helped us understand our new classroom procedures & rules.  Please reinforce these with your own children at home; as they are extremely important to ensure that all 23 of our students are able to focus on their academics.  Please do not hesitate to contact me this year if you have any questions and/or concerns.  As a team, we will help your child reach their highest potential!