Dear Parents,

 

     Our new story this week is called " Little Panda" by Joanne Ryder. It is the true story of  Hua Mei who was born at the San Diego Zoo in August of 1999. The six new Amazing Words are weigh, measure, healthy, bamboo, curious and explore. We will be using the words all week to check for their comprehension. We will again be visiting the skill of comparing and contrasting. We will be discussing the PLOT of the story and we will be practicing our knowledge of nouns and adjectives. This week I will introduce the term "verb." They will learn that it is a word that shows action and we will be acting out various verbs that they come up with. Our letter/sound this week will be "Bb."We will brainstorm lots of words and names that begin with this very popular sound. We will also be revewing the "Nn" sound to check for clarity. The children will learn a new poem to be illustrated and added to their poetry booklets. Our three new sight words are me, with and she.

     We will be playing and learning a variety of  games in math this week. We will be learning a new card game called "Top It." It is basically the old game of WAR. The children love this one. We will also be extending the use of patterns. The children who have this skill will be working on more challenging patterns. Those children that continue to struggle will again practice with the basics. They will be introduced to the "pattern block template" which will follow them throughout their years at the Hansen School. The children will be learning more concrete addition terminology and symbols and using them to create number stories with manipulatives and in written number sentences.

     We have been very busy creating lots of holiday crafts for you all to enjoy. Many have already started coming home and some are being displayed here at school for all to enjoy. On that note......don't forget that our classroom will be shopping at the "holiday fair" on Tuesday, December 15th at 9:30AM.  If you need any items for loved ones in the family, just send a note along with the money in an envelope and we will do our best to shop for that particular person. Also this week is our annual Winter Concert performed by the fourth and fifth graders. The show for parents is at 9:00am on Thursday the 17th. All are welcome!!! 

     We are continuing are study of the five senses and this weeks skill is the sense of sight. The children love watching the centers change and this one has a lot of searching and looking closely to find items. We also have some cute little glasses for them to try on (no lenses of course).

     Well, that's just some of the many happenings coming out of Room 19 this week. Remember that next week is a short week and that Wednesday IS a full day. I hope that everyone has a joyous holiday season and that you all take the time to enjoy all of your families and friends. I know that it is a crazy time of year and we are all a little STRESSED OUT, but try and remember this time through a child's eyes. Ahhhhhh to be a kid again!!!  "BUON  NATALE and Ciao for now,

                                                                                                                                               Ms.Fugate

P.S. Report cards will be coming home on Tuesday...please keep the report card, but SIGN and RETURN the ENVELOPE as soon as possible. Thanks again in advance for your help with this.  SMILE!!!!!! It's Kindergarten!!!