Playing Outside

Playing Outside

February 25, 2011

February 28, 2011

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Tuesday, March 1st is the last day to vote in the WLKY School Crib contest!  As you've heard, our school is in WLKY's "Coolest School" contest.  The kinderpups know that our school is the best, but sure want to add that big shiny trophy to our trophy case.  Please vote often today and past the word on to friends and family.  You can vote 15 times per hour per computer – just make sure you close out the browser and reopen it or the additional votes do not count. Click this link to vote: http://www.wlky.com/school-cribs/index.html.

Progress Reports come home on Wednesday!  Please sign and return the white envelope.  You may keep the report!  We will discuss your child’s report during our conference.  If you haven’t signed up, please call the office to set up an appointment. 

Field Trip forms and money are due Friday, March 4th! 

Important Dates this Month:
March 2nd: Progress Reports Come Home
March 9th & 10th: Kindergarten Registration
March 15th: Class and Individual Pictures
March 17th: Irish Dancer Performance in the Gym
March 23rd: Early Release Day
March 24th: Louisville Science Center Field Trip
April 4th-8th: Spring Break

What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are continuing our Biography unit.  We will learn that biographies are types of books take place during a certain time period, are written about people who have made a significant contribution to society, and are in chronological order. 

Writing Workshop
Wow, what great writers we have in our class!  We are one a role with our ABC books.  Last week, each table came up with their own topic.  This week we will start making the pages for each book.  Family journals will be sent home on Friday.   Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the consonant blends: pl, sl, cl, fl, cl, gl.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: good, want, how.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math, we learning how to exchange pennies for nickels and nickels for dimes, solve comparison stories, count by 2s, and divide groups in half. 
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
Calendars offer valuable opportunities for children to count and read numbers.  Help your child record important family appointments, events, and occasions on a calendar at home. 
 
Activity:
Look at your calendar to find answers to the following questions:
-      How many days are in this month?
-      How many Wednesdays? Fridays?  Sundays?
-      What day of the week is the first?  The fifth?
-      What is today’s date?
-      How many days are left in this month?
-      Are there any birthdays, holidays, or special days this month?  When are they?  Circle or mark them on your calendar.   


Social Studies
We are continuing our unit on Presidents and American Symbols.  We learn about Thomas Jefferson, the Lincoln Memorial, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday                      Music
Tuesday                     Music
Wednesday               PE
Thursday                   PE
Friday                         PE

February 18, 2011

February 21, 2011

February 21, 2011
A note from Ms. Poteet…

Happy President’s Day!

Monday is our first snow make-up day!  Seven more to go!

Oh no!  We’ve lost our lead in the WLKY School Crib contest!  As you've heard, our school is in WLKY's "Coolest School" contest.  The kinderpups know that our school is the best, but sure want to add that big shiny trophy to our trophy case.  Please vote often today and past the word on to friends and family.  You can vote 15 times per hour per computer – just make sure you close out the browser and reopen it or the additional votes do not count. Click this link to vote: http://www.wlky.com/school-cribs/index.html.

We had an amazing Valentine’s Party last week!  Thank you Ms. Roberts and Ms. Kastman for planning the party!  Thank you Ms. Blakely, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Edward, and Ms. Skelton for helping the kids make their crafts during the party!

We are running low on napkins and tissues.  If your family would like to donate a few packages or boxes, we would greatly appreciate it!

Wednesday is an Early Release Day!  School will dismiss at 12:25pm.  Remember all transportation changes need to be made in writing.

Please call the office at 228-2228 to set up a parent-teacher conference on March 3rd or 8th.  If you need an alternative date please just call or e-mail me.

Important Dates this Month:
February 21st: We DO have school!  Snow day make-up day!
February 23rd: Early Release Day
February 25th: Mega Skills Assembly
March 2nd: Progress Reports Come Home
March 15th: Class and Individual Pictures


What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are continuing our Biography unit.  We will learn that biographies are types of books that tell a story of a real person’s life, they are about important people, and tell a story about someone’s life (instead of just facts about a person like informational books). 

Writing Workshop
We completed our first ABC book, titled S is for School.  This week each table will be able to come up with their own topic for their ABC book.  They will work as a team to come up with different subjects for each letter.  Family journals will be sent home on Friday.   Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the consonant blends: sp, sk, sm, sc, sn, sw.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: an, over, from. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math, we are learning how to use counting as a way to measure and compare time, identify 2-D and 3-D shapes, and explore the dime.  On Tuesday, students will get to come up with their own survey question, collect data, and display their data on a bar graph. 
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
Start collecting pennies in a family Penny Jar.  Once you have quite a few pennies, start adding nickels and dimes so you can do the activities described below. Your coin collection is an excellent tool for developing mathematical skills such as counting, sorting, coin recognition, and coin exchange.
 
Activity:
Empty the coins from your jar and sort the coins. 

Count the pennies. Can you think of a good way to keep track of the total?

Make piles of 10 pennies and count the pennies by 10s. 

Can you trade one pile of 10 for another coin?  What is the name of this coin?  Trade some more pennies for dimes. 

Make piles of 5 pennies and count the pennies by 5s.  Can you trade one pile of 5 for another coin?  What is the name of this coin?  Trade some more pennies for nickels.  



Social Studies
We are starting our unit on Presidents and American Symbols.  We learn about Mount Rushmore, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday                      Art
Tuesday                     Music
Wednesday               Music
Thursday                   Music
Friday                         Music

February 12, 2011

February 14, 2011

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Thanks everyone for helping your child prepare their 100th Day of School T-Shirts!  They all looked adorable!  Also thanks to all of the families who were able to make it to our Writing Celebration.  It was a huge success!  The kids were so proud to show off their hard work and first books with you! 

Monday we will have our Valentine’s Party at 8:30 am.  Please have your child bring in 21 Valentine cards.  Please do not address each card, just have your child sign their own name.  For confidentiality reasons, I cannot send home a list of student’s names.  It also makes it easier for the kids to pass out the cards, if they don't have to hunt for each child's Valentine bag.  We are going to decorate Valentine bags during the party (so you don't need to send in a Valentine box).  Thanks for sending in supplies to complete this project.  Students may also bring a special peanut-free sweet treat and drink (no soda please) for the party.  If you would like to help at the party, please send me an e-mail.  I appreciate Ms. Robert’s and Ms. Kastman’s joint effort to plan the party.  The kids are looking forward to it!

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, Ms. Hammons will be coming in to teach us about “Stranger Danger.”  Your child might need help coming up with their “Safe-Side Adult.”  Ms. Hammons will send home more information about Stanger Danger this week. 

Please call the office at 228-2228 to set up a parent-teacher conference on March 3rd or 8th.  If you need an alternative date please just call or e-mail me.

Important Dates this Month:
February 14th: Class Valentine’s Party
February 21st: We DO have school!  Snow day make-up day!
February 23rd: Early Release Day
February 25th: Mega Skills Assembly
March 2nd: Progress Reports Come Home

What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
On Tuesday we will finish creating mental images of our Nursery Rhymes.  Wednesday we will start learning about biographies and their features. 

Writing Workshop
We are starting our unit on ABC books.  We are going to write our first class ABC book on school.  Family journals will be sent home on Friday.   Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the consonant digraphs th and wh.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: now, came, they. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math, we are learning about 2-D and 3-D shapes, number grids, and the penny and nickel.   
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
Manipulating, exploring, and discussing 3-dimensional objects helps children learn the names of these objects and build spatial sense.  Many familiar objects are common 3-demensional geometric shapes: balls are spheres and dice are cubes, for example.  Children have been learning about 2-demensional and 3-demensional shapes and noticing shapes all around them.  At home, encourage your child to think about 2- and 3- dimensional shapes as he or she looks for objects to place in a Shape Museum. 
Activity:
Look around your home for objects that have 3-dimensional geometric shapes. 

See if you can find examples like these:

Sphere: ball, globe
Cube: dice, square box
Cylinder: can of food
Cone: ice cream cone, party hat
Rectangular Prism: cereal box. Book

Make a Shape Museum at your house like we did at school.  Sort the different 3-D shapes into their own group.

Social Studies
Ms. Hammons is coming in this week to teach us about Stranger Danger.

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday                      Art
Tuesday                     Art
Wednesday               Art
Thursday                   Art
Friday                         Art

February 5, 2011

February 7, 2011

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Happy 100th Day of School!

Monday is the 100th day of school!  I cannot believe we have had 100 days of schools already!  I know this sounds cliché, but it seems like just a few weeks ago, 22 little nervous bundles of energy walked into room 103.  Many students were still learning to write their names and were trying to decide whether or not they we going to like their new classmates, teacher and school.  Everyone has grown so much since those first few days of school.  Now we are all readers, writers, scientists, historians, and most importantly friends.  I would like to thank all of you for letting me educate and grow to love your babies! 

I hope you are all able to make it to our Writing Celebration on February 11th from 11:05-11:30 in the library.  You are welcome to stay afterwards for lunch.  Please send in the yellow Writing Celebration form to let me know if you will be able to attend and if you would like to order anything from the cafeteria (I suggest you bring your own lunch because I am sure the lunch line will be extremely long). 

Next Monday, February 14th is our Valentine’s Party.  Please have your child bring in 21 Valentine cards.  Please do not address each card, just have your child sign their own name.  For confidentiality reasons, I cannot send home a list of student’s names.  It also makes it easier for the kids to pass out the cards, if they don't have to hunt for each child's Valentine bag.  We are going to decorate Valentine bags during the party (so you don't need to send in a Valentine box).  Please send in supplies for your child to decorate their bag (stickers, pom-poms, etc) by Wednesday the 9th.  Students may also bring a special peanut-free sweet treat and drink (no soda please) for the party.  If you would like to help at the party, please send me an e-mail. 

The Board of Education decided to use February 21st as a make-up snow day.  So we WILL have school on the 21st. 

Please call the office at 228-2228 to set up a parent-teacher conference on March 3rd or 8th.  If you need an alternative date please just call or e-mail me.

Vote for Harmony as the best WLKY School Crib.  Click Here to vote for us!  You can vote as many as 15 times on each computer every hour.  Go Huskies! 

Important Dates this Month:
February 7th: 100th Day of School! 
February 11th: Kindergarten Writing Celebration from 11:05-11:30am.  Please make all efforts to attend!  If you will not be able to attend, please send me an e-mail so I can try to have a special friend from school (siblings, husky hideout employee, Ms. Horn, etc) read with your child. 
February 14th: Class Valentine’s Party
February 15th: Harmony Skating Party at Champs at 6:30!
February 21st: We DO have school!  Snow day make-up day!
February 23rd: Early Release Day
February 25th: Mega Skills Assembly
March 2nd: Progress Reports Come Home


What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are continuing our Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) this week (Each test takes about 10-15 minutes per student).  While I am assessing the kids, Ms. Theresa will introduce several Nursery Rhymes.  The students we create a mental image of each rhyme. 

Writing Workshop
This week we will finish our All About Me books.  The kids are so excited about writing a book all about themselves and their family!  Our Writing Celebration will be held on Friday, February 11th at 11:05 am in the school library.  They cannot wait for you to read them.  Family journals will NOT be sent home on Friday, due to the Writing Celebration. 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the consonant digraphs ch and sh.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: are, come, if. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
In math, we are learning to measure with standard measurement tools (rulers, yard sticks, tape measures), collect data and display data on a bar graph, and distinguish between different attributes.
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
This week we are learning how to decide which measuring tool is best to use for measuring different lengths.  It would be best to use a ruler to measure a short distance (width of a book, length of our shoe, etc).  It would be best to use a tape measure to measure longer distances (length of room or height of a bookshelf).
Activity:
At home have your child determine tool (ruler, yard stick, tape measure) is best to use to measure various lengths.  After determining the best tool, practice using the tool to measure the object or distance.



Social Studies
This week we are going to travel back in time and interview four famous scientists.  We will meet George Washington Carver, Wilbur and Orville Wright, and Jane Goodall. 

Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Our classroom gets very chilly sometimes.  Please send in a light jacket or sweater for your child to keep in their back pack. 
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!
* Library book due every Friday!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday                      PE
Tuesday                     PE
Wednesday               PE
Thursday                   PE
Friday                         PE