October 15, 2009

  kprocks123

From Mrs. Paris’ Desk

Dear Families,

We are having a great time in KP (in case you haven't noticed!) Thank you for all your cooperation and trust.  The children are transitioning and adjusting beautifully. Now that the “honeymoon” period is over, I’m beginning to notice everyone’s real personality.  And I have to say; they really are a wonderful bunch! 

I would like to thank everyone once again for coming to our family breakfast.  I hope that you found the experience informative and that the scavenger hunt and slide show helped to increase your understanding of your child’s experience in kindergarten.  There will be many additional opportunities throughout the year for you to visit the classroom and gain insight of the fabulous learning that takes place in KP!  We are also planning a Curriculum Night this fall with more in-depth information about the kindergarten curriculum at large.

We continue to work on getting to know each other, the daily routine and the physical environment of the classroom. We have begun our study of sign language.  We will learn to sign the alphabet as well as some sight words such as hello, thanks, wait, friends, bathroom, and water.  We will incorporate these signs in our school life.  Periodically, we will send home photocopied signs for children to practice.  This is yet another opportunity to foster literacy skills while developing sensibility and appreciation for each other’s similarities and differences.

We will begin a new unit about autumn.  Some of the big ideas are:

·      Leaves are nature’s food factories

·      Leaves get their green color from a pigment called chlorophyll that helps them absorb sunlight

·      Rotting leaves enrich the soil with minerals that are absorbed by the trees to stay healthy

·      Many different crops are harvested in autumn

·      Animals prepare for the cold winter (hibernate, migrate, adapt)

Sincerely,

Mrs. Paris

All About Literacy:

We will continue to practice rhyming activities.  The students are learning new poems and nursery rhymes, which will be added to their poetry binders.  The students will participate in writing and illustrating their own autumn poems. They will also continue to work on their journal to write /illustrate personal responses. In our author studies, we will be learning about the author Kevin Henkes. 

We will be reading many fiction and nonfiction books connected to our autumn unit. Many of the literacy center activities will be based on these books.

All About Math:

We will continue our work on Chapter 1: Numbers to Ten

In Chapter 1, we focus on three concepts that build a foundation for future learning:

·       Learning Number Names and Digits: We will begin lots of counting activities, counting by rote and writing and reading symbols for the numbers 0 to 10. Children will practice writing numbers in the air, on a friend’s back, on the carpet and on paper. “Learning number names and how to write them are essential to communicate with others about mathematical ideas.” (Think Math!)

·       Using Numbers to Describe Quantities: One very big concept that we want children to master in kindergarten is the idea that each object in a group can be counted exactly once (this is called one-to-one correspondence). Another concept that we emphasize is that “the number assigned to the last object counted is the total number of objects in the group.” (Think Math!) In order to learn these important concepts, children will have many opportunities to count a variety of different types of objects, including people, pennies, and other small objects in the classroom.

·       Using Numbers to Describe Order: We will begin to explore the concept of a number line, using it to count up and down, assigning quantities to the number.

Some highlights of Chapter 1 will include:

·       Number Rhymes: students will learn a short rhyme to help remember the formation of each numeral.

·       Quantity Card Game: as we introduce a number, we will play a game in which students perform an action (stand up, clap, hop) when they recognize a particular quantity on a card.

Big Ideas

·       Learning Number Names and Digits

·       Using Numbers to Describe Quantities

·       Using Numbers to Describe Order

Learning Goals

·       Learn to read and write the numerals 1 to 10

·       Practice counting groups of different items with one-to-one correspondence

·       Begin to explore the number line and use it to count up and down

 

From the Computer Lab:

We began our visits to the computer lab. Mrs. Murphy, the computer teacher, has been helping us become familiar with different software while the children practice using the mouse and the keyboard. We are currently exploring some of the tools in Kid Pix Deluxe.

All About Science:

We will be using our senses to observe, group, compare, classify, and describe objects in the environment. Children will observe and record the decaying process of leaves, apples,

 and pumpkins in their scientific journal. We will cut open various fruits and vegetables and make observations. We will observe different types of seeds, plant them and watch them grow!

 We will explore a nutrition mini-unit What’s for Lunch? The main goal of this unit is for children to make independent healthy food choices. Along the way they will learn about

 the different food groups, be exposed to new foods, and think about the choices they make at meal times, particularly in the school cafeteria.

We will also participate in the town’s annual bulb planting at our school this fall. What a fun way to learn about the magic of growing while beautifying our school grounds!

Reminder:

We appreciate the effort you are making to be at school on time. This is extremely important as it ensures that your child doesn’t miss out on any instruction, which starts at 8:00.  We thank you for reinforcing our school goal of helping the children become more independent by reminding them to place their belongings on the right places outside our classroom all by themselves.