November/December News- 4’s
Mrs. Thomas
November was a busy month in our classroom. We learned about triangles, the numbers four and five, and our letters, D, E, and F. We enjoyed our visit to the Bel Air Fire Station where we learned how to keep ourselves and our families safe. November also introduced us to fall leaves in all their splendor, Indians, Pilgrims, and of course, Thanksgiving. Our play/reception was a nice beginning to the holiday. The children worked extremely hard on their songs, the props, and the entire story of the First Thanksgiving. Thank you to all the parents who helped with donations of items necessary to complete our feast.
I am very proud that the children are learning several “sight” color words. They are remembering these words as we review them during each class. The words we have learned so far are: red, yellow, blue, brown, black, and orange. If you review these words at home with the children, they will continue to be reinforced. Over the course of the next few months, we will be adding several more sight words.
December will fly by! We will learn about rectangles, the number 6, and the letters, G and H. We will make gifts for those special people in our lives, and learn about the most important person of the Christmas season- Jesus. In December we hope to once again meet with our prayer partners, sharing in the joy of the season. The month will conclude with our very special Christmas Pageant and party on December 16th. We will meet you parents and guests in the Chapel at 9:45 a.m. Our party will follow in the classroom. Our Christmas Party committee will let you know if anything is needed.
As I mentioned, the children may exchange Christmas cards, homemade or otherwise. Remember to send in your covered (not decorated) cereal box by December 7th and the cards THE DAY OF THE PARTY, 12/16, not before. No names on the envelopes and don’t forget we have 20 children in the class. We would also like the class to send in one brown grocery store bag. Please send these in any time. The children will be using them on 12/16.
Our class book is currently circulating through the class. Enjoy it with your family, remembering to return it to school, THE NEXT CLASS DAY.
On our first class day back after the holiday, January 4, 2010, the children may bring in one new Christmas toy for show-and-tell. A reminder notice will be in their bag of goodies they will take home on the day of our party.
As the children approach their favorite holiday of the season, let’s continue to remind them of Jesus’ birthday and the true meaning of Christmas. May you all have a safe and blessed Christmas with your families? I look forward to 2010 with all my little angels!
Love, Mrs. Thomas
RECAP:
Covered boxes- 12/7
1 large brown grocery bag-any time
Christmas cards- 12/17
Don’t forget family pictures; send in right away
** Our “homemade” butter is simply a small amount of whipping cream in a jar, with a pinch of added salt. All you need to do is shake (vigorously) until the whipping cream turns to butter. Pour excess liquid off.
November- 3’s (p.m.)
NEWSLETTER
November was very busy for the 3’s. We made turkey wreaths, teepees, necklaces, pilgrim hats and vests, fall trees, and door knob hangers. We enjoyed making “love cookies” for our families and discussing the things our families do together. We learned what a triangle is and had fun with the number “5.” We will continue to celebrate our families each Monday, Wednesday or Friday in December. You will be told when it is your turn to send in items, including things your family likes to do together. Photos are always welcome. Please don’t send in the items until you are told it is your day.
In December we will learn about Advent, the birth of Jesus, Rudolph, count down to Christmas, and candy canes. We will review our numbers 1 to 5 during the first two weeks of the month. Rectangles will be our shape this month and the color green. We will begin patterning with objects of all sorts. Now that we have covered the four basic shapes, we will be making little shape puppets in order to remember the basic four.
Don’t forget- the children may bring in Christmas cards for their friends. These do not come in until our party on December 16th--- Wednesday. There should be no names on the outside of the envelopes, and remember that we have 19 children in the class. It makes life a lot easier if you let your child send one to himself, so that delivering them is an easy task. Our party on the 16th will be at 1:45 p.m. in our classroom. Please join us for songs, fingerplays, and costumes depicting the events around the birth of Jesus.
I enjoyed meeting with all of you at conferences. Please help me by continuing to reinforce the following skills at home that we do in school:
* holding a pencil correctly
* practicing letters in our names
* cutting, coloring, and counting
* shapes, numbers, and colors
* following two and three step directions
* asking questions and raising hands
Holiday time can be hectic. It doesn’t take much to have our little ones very excited. Please join us in celebrating the beauty of the season, and keeping our little ones focused. We will continue to stress the importance of baby Jesus and his birth throughout December.
As promised, here is the recipe for our delicious “Pumpkin Fluff”:
2 small pks. of vanilla instant pudding
1 can pumpkin
1 teas. vanilla
1 teas. cinnamon
1 regular size tub of cool whip
1. Make pudding as directed on the package.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing well.
3. Fold in cool whip until fluffy.
4. Enjoy!
Love,
Mrs. Thomas