Mrs. Vandermeer's Class

September 22, 2009

Hello on this first day of fall - my favorite season! 

Just a reminder that t-shirt orders are due today.  The orders will be placed promptly and I'm told the turn around time is quick!  I would really like for everyone to have one, so please let me know if the cost ($6.00) is a concern and we will work something out.

If you're looking to connect with other Fern Bluff kindergarten children and parents, this Friday the 25th, would be a great time.  There will be a Kindergarten Social at the park next to our school starting after pick-up time.  Please contact Alexia Thex with any questions:  ajthex03@thexfamily.com.

I'm sad to miss it, but this week the children are studying all about family dynamics and who comprises their immediate and extended family.  They'll also discuss roles that family members play as well as similarities and differences among families.  Sorting objects by like attributes continues in mathematics, and writing and reading workshop are in full swing.  The children are learning to write in their own personal draft books and learning how to plan for a story using pictures.  The draft books are always fun to see so plan to make the Kindergarten Academic Night / Open House on October 6th so you may browse all the fun things we've been doing so far!

If you are able to help out with the Monday Workroom responsibilities I would tremendously appreciate it.  Workroom volunteers gather on Monday mornings at 7:45am to do all the things that help make our classroom run smoothly and are truly my weekly saving grace!  Many of the activities we do during the day are made by the help of these special volunteers which allows me to focus on more of the curriculum and instruction.  If you are available during that time, please let me know! 

Thank you to everyone for their well wishes this week.  The surgery was a success and I am resting comfortably.  I can't wait to be back next week though!

Enjoy the rest of your week!



September 13, 2009

Happy rainy weekend!  It's been so nice to have an "excuse" to stay indoors.  Although we played outside in the rain quite a bit too!

We enjoyed visiting with grandparents during lunch on Friday and look forward to meeting more on Monday.  Our lunch (brunch) time is from 10:35am-11:05am.

Please make sure to check your child's red folder for an important note regarding next week.  I will be out for 2 weeks starting Wednesday...specifics are in the note. 

Now on to details for the week...

Wednesday is a 12:45pm early release day.  Our dismissal process remains the same on these days so we'll see you on the porch as normal...just a little earlier.

Book orders are due by Wednesday, September 16th.  You may order online or send in the paper order form marked with your child's name. 

A note went home on Tuesday regarding our class t-shirts.  The order forms are due on September 22nd with cash ($6.00) being the only form of payment accepted.  Please let me know if cost is an issue as I would like for every child to have a t-shirt.

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 6th.  Our Parent Academic Night / Open House will be that evening at 6:00pm.  If you are a Fern Bluff veteran you will find this night to be a little different than in the past.  Our time together will start in the cafeteria from 6:00pm-6:30pm for an overview of the kindergarten curriculum and guidelines for the year presented by all the kindergarten teachers.  At 6:30pm you are invited to come back to our classroom for an Open House where you may browse the room, see your child's work samples, and review your child's individual progress report.  This progress report serves as the old "conference form" we've used in the past.  At that time if you have any additional questions or concerns regarding your child's progress you may e-mail me, request a phone conference, or request to meet with me on Monday, October 12th.  

This week we continue discussing important beginning Reading & Writing procedures and will begin writing in our first writing folders.  We'll also begin a discussion of "HOW do we read?"  Community helpers is the hot topic in Social Studies and sorting by different attributes is our focus in mathematics.  It's sure to be a fun week!

Now a rainy quote to end on...

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."
                                                                                  - Author Unknown

Have a great week!


September 8, 2009

I hereby declare all weekends should be 3 days long.  There's just enough time to be productive yet relax a little too!  However, it's always nice to return to a routine.  Our little ones did a fabulous job adjusting to a Tuesday that felt like a Monday!

A few things to note for this week and beyond (in random order!)...

Illness abounds at Fern Bluff!  In an effort to be fair and not penalize those that stay home when they are sick, our school will not have the coveted "Perfect Attendance" award this year.  We've been very fortunate in our classroom to not have too many illnesses, so thank you for keeping your little ones home if there is any sign of sickness on the horizon.  For your convenience, you may report an absence online via the Fern Bluff webpage under "Parent Resources".

It's helpful to have everyone arrive at school on time so lunch choices can be made and important announcements heard.  Starting this week, tardies will be counted if students are not in our classroom by 7:45am when the last bell rings.

We have P.E. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  For safety, please be sure to send tennis shoes with your child on these days so they may participate in all activities.

Every Friday green Poetry folders will come home with the "Poem of the Week" inside for you to read with your child.  Please place the poem inside the brads of the folder each week.  You will also find books we've read together in the pocket of the folder.  After reading these with your child, please place them back into the pocket of the folder so they find their way back to school and in your child's personal book box to return to during reading time. 

Please do not place lunch money checks, order forms, notes, etc. in the green or yellow folders as I may not check those until later in the week.  The blue Tuesday folder is the best place to return things to school, but if you need to get something to me any other day, please send in a separate envelope or note that your child can hand to me when the get to school.

Thank you to Gommy, Ryan's grandmother, for making our Y-U-M-M-Y gingerbread cookies that made Friday a hit!  We searched high and low for those sneaky gingerbread men and finally found them reading in a very cozy spot in the library!  Now that we've had a library orientation, our officially library day will be each Wednesday.  We'll head there tomorrow for a story from Mrs. Dalton, our librarian, and then next week we'll be ready to check out books.

This week we continue our discussion of the importance of reading and writing and will begin talking about  everyday procedures during Reading and Writing Workshop.  We are also experimenting with primary & secondary colors and learning about what it means to be a classroom community of learners.  We're busy!

I encourage everyone to read the information that was sent home about the RRISD Parent Summit on Saturday, September 26th, from 8:00-4:00pm.  The event will be held at the RRISD Performing Arts Center and is FREE with childcare and lunch provided...can't beat that!  I've heard it's something you won't want to miss.  Please contact Mrs. Holly Stueve, our Fern Bluff Parent Support Specialist, at 428.2195 with further questions.   

I believe that is all for now...except a thought for the week on friendship as we begin a great year together!

"Friendship is like the relation between hands and eyes.  It's like when the hand gets hurt, the eye cries, and when the eye cries, the hand wipes its tears."
                                                                                                                  - Unknown

Have a great week!




August 30, 2009

We have one successful week under our belts!  I look forward to many more this year. 

Please be on the lookout for a permission slip in the Tuesday folder this week.  Our kindergartners will be hunting down gingerbread men all week long in an effort to learn more about our school layout and the jobs of important staff members.   On Friday the kids will enjoy a special homemade treat, but in order to participate I will need a permission slip from everyone.  Shh - it's a surprise!  More information to come on Tuesday...

In addition to the permission slip, you will find a request to send in your child's favorite book on Wednesday.  This week we are discussing the importance of reading as well as some of the 5 W's of reading (WHO reads? WHY do we read?  WHAT do we read?  WHERE do we read?)  We'd like to get to know some of our classmate's favorite books and share them with everyone, so look for more information on Tuesday as well.

Please refrain from sending an snugglies (animals, blankets, pillows, etc.) with your child for rest time.  We want to spend as much time resting as possible now that school is in full swing!

Appropriate behavior is extremely important for learning to occur at school.  On Friday I talked with the little ones about our behavior system and how it works in our classroom.  We're all learning the boundaries of kindergarten and Mrs. Vandermeer's classroom, so this week I gave ample positive reinforcement, re-directs, and reminders when necessary.  Tomorrow I will start expecting a little bit more in regards to behavior and we will begin to use the behavior system as needed.  Everyone starts on a "Green" day and if rules are broken (after reminders) they will move through the colors of the behavior system - yellow, orange, red, and blue.  If your child happens to move to "Yellow", please do not worry too much as that's usually all they need in order to correct the behavior.  I will write in your child's behavior folder and send it home that day anytime they move to "Orange" or beyond.  I will contact you specifically with any recurring behavior concerns.  Thank you for your support at home with behavior so our students know we're all working together to help them learn as much as possible.

Homework this week is from our handwriting program, Handwriting Without Tears.  Please read through the information in the homework folder about the program.  The homework sheet focuses on making small, deliberate strokes with the pencil while holding it with the correct grip, a 3 finger grasp (thumb, pointer, middle finger).  No need to color the sheet this time as the main focus is on adding the tiny details to each picture as you will see on Tuesday.

I think that's about it - lots of information, I know!

Finally, a thought to ponder as you venture into a new week...

"Do all the good you can and make as little fuss about it as possible."
                                                                    - Charles Dickens

Have a great week everyone!



August 25, 2009

We made it through our first day with flying colors!  We had a busy day of learning the ropes at Fern Bluff and everyone did a great job. Give yourself a huge pat on the back for a successful drop-off time this morning.  The kindergarten hallway won't be nearly as crowded and scary as the week goes on.  By Friday we're all dragging in!

Just a few things to note as we start this year...

Please make sure to read the contents of the blue folder tonight and return it tomorrow.  There is an important note regarding bringing a teddy bear to school.  If your child does not have a teddy bear at home, no worries, as any animal will do!  Please make sure this is an animal your child is willing to part with for a few days as they will be having a "sleep over" at school until Friday.

As you all know, it is H-O-T outside.  We have a water fountain available at all times in our classroom, as well as water fountains in the hallways, but it is still hard for our little ones to stay hydrated.  Water bottles are encouraged to keep our brains functioning at top speed!

Please send a small, healthy snack with your child each day.  It would be helpful for snacks to be separate from so your child doesn't get them confused.  The front pocket of the backpack is a great place for snacks.

Rest time is an important part of our day, but it is also a short time.  After this first week, please refrain from sending any snugglies (animals, blankets, pillows, etc.) with your child in order to give plenty of room for folders and such in the backpack and to allow our brains to absorb as much rest as possible.  

In the bottom left section of our classroom website is an "email" link.  It would be super helpful to me if you would send me an email with "Group" in the subject line...no need to write anything in the contents unless you want to.  I will be forming a class email group and this will ensure everyone's address is correct.  

Also, check out our "Reading Opportunities" link to sign up to read to us!

Finally, please make sure your little one gets plenty of rest these first few weeks of school.  It is a tough adjustment for everyone (including me!), so don't be surprised if you see a few tears this week and next week.  Our day is structured and becomes highly academic fairly quickly, so early bedtimes are strongly encouraged.

Thanks for a great start to our year...have a great week everyone!

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