Mrs. Wright’s Newsletter

December 2009

 

Dear Parents,

How did it get to be Winter Break??  I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, and we will see you back at 8:20AM on Monday, January 4, 2010!!!!

 

Spotlight on Classmates

In this portion of the newsletter, I would like to introduce some of the children each month, highlighting the things that make them unique and special members of our class.  Bryanna loves to read and loves all things Disney! Lindsey enjoys art and reading, too.  Lucas is blooming as a writer, and likes to run really fast at recess!  Marialexa enjoys working with others and likes to build with many different kinds of blocks.  WELCOME!  

 

Reading

Congratulations to the Pink Reading Group!  They are starting a new set of books in January.  The Green Reading Group should finish the Kindergarten reading series in January, and is excited about starting the first grade reading books!  The White Reading Group is learning two or more new books each week…keep up that reading over the break! 

 

Reading Log

Please remember that the Reading Log, found on the back of the monthly calendar, is a piece of your child’s homework.  You will find a goal for your child to reach for on the log starting in January.  A book that your child reads “independently” can be practiced for several nights before your child reads it alone to you.  I am not looking for perfection, just a real ability to attack a book with confidence and some fluency (smoothness). 

 

Writing

Students are becoming confident Kid Writers.  Here is an explanation of the method I use to encourage independent writing.  A child creates a picture of something they want to write about.  Then they decide on a sentence, count the words, and stretch each word to listen for the sounds to write.  After writing the sentence, an adult can offer to write the same sentence “the Grown-Up Way.”  As the adult writes, they point out and notice which sounds and writing skills the child got right.  Ex “You remembered to put a finger space between the words!  You are right, tiger starts with /t/.”  In this way, the positive reinforcement of skills they already know encourages children to take risks with new skills.

 

Shoe Recycling

Our school recycles tennis shoes (sneakers) in conjunction with the Nike Outlet in Ellenton.  We have recycled nearly 300 pairs of all sizes!  Please put your old tennis shoes in the two gray plastic tubs under Mrs. Mills window any day.

 

Visit My Website weekly (linked at school site):

http://TeacherWeb.com/FL/SarasotaSuncoastAcademy/MrsWrightsClass/

 

Important January Dates to Remember

JANUARY 4th—First Day Back to School

(remember water bottles, lunch choices and folders)

 

Jan. 15th—end of the second quarter

Jan. 18- 19th—No school (MLK & Work Day)

 

PLEASE NOTE THE MID-YEAR SUPPLY LIST ON THE BACK OF THIS NEWSLETTER! 

 

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year!