Busy, busy, busy...

Wow! Time just flew by! September theme was about family and friends. We shared about ourselves and learned about each other. October was all about assessments, report cards and parent conferences. We still managed to get in our lessons and holiday fun! We had a super guest come to visit us. Kate's big brother is part of a special firefighter team, better know as Hot Shots. He fights wildfires all over the country and he shared his experiences with us. Our popcorn fundraiser was a success! Thanks to everyone who participated. We are working on fixing up our kindy area so we can have a fun play area! Our gates are in and a letter is going home explaining the new drop off system. We're trying to keep it safe and efficient. Thanks for all your help and support! And have a great school break!

Wow! It's hot!

We really need better weather! It's too hot to play outside and inside has it's limitations. It's time for me to get more creative and set up Free Choice centers for the afternoon. It will give the children some control of their play and give me a chance to see them cooperatively interact. I think it will give the end of our day the happy kick that it needs! Can't wait to see how this change will work- at least until we can have outside time again!

We did it! And it was fun!

We made it through are first two days of school and I think we liked it! Since walking in a line is the safest way to get around school, of course, we had to practice staying in a line. We did this by playing Choo-Choo train and hopping like bunnies, stomping like giants, and other fun ways to move. By Friday, they were getting it! Here are some of the activities we will be doing this up-coming week: We will focus on the color red, including reading, spelling and writing the word in class, the numbers 1-10, sorting by attributes, and making simple patterns. We will continue making our Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom book (check out this story/song on YouTube.) We will be reading the words "I" and "can" and making sentences using those words. We will also be introduced to whiteboards and character drawings. Cutting and gluing, following lines and writing our names are also skills that will be practiced. Since following directions are important for us, we will also be doing activities where we can learn 1,2 and 3 step directions. This may sound easy to you, but it can be very challenging to them. Wednesday will be our first time painting a picture for our book. I hope I have a parent signed up to help! Fingers crossed!

Calling all kindergartener parents!

Thursday, June 28th I'll be holding a Parent Orientation at 6:00 in Room 9 for all the parents of my new class. I feel meeting with parents before school begins helps them, not only to know what to expect when their child starts school, but also makes the transition to school easier for the parent since they learn about the school, our classroom and me. Meeting parents and getting to know them a little, serves to calms their fears and helps them entrust their child to my care. It can be hard to let go and I hope this meeting will make it easier. Can't wait!

Wondering about you...

A new year is fast approaching and there is so much to do! I'm wondering if my new friends have nicknames? Or if any one will cry or get lost on the way to the toilets? Or chew on the pencil or break a crayon? Or not be able to snap or button or zip? And I wonder about the parents. Will any one do a drop and run or linger, unable to leave? I wonder how long it will be before we build a relationship of trust and admiration? Meanwhile,I'll keep doing all those many little things to get the room ready and, with each thing, become more and more excited about meeting my new class! I can't wait! Welcome friends to kindergarten!