Playing Outside

Playing Outside

September 30, 2011

October 3, 2011


A note from Ms. Poteet


The kids had a blast at the Husky Hustle on Friday.  Out class collected more than $400 for our school to improve our playground equipment.  Great Job!  Thanks to the parents who were able to come out and cheer our kids along. 

We had a great turn out for the Harmony Harvest!  I hope everyone had a wonderful time!

This Friday is our field trip to Huber’s.  We plan to leave school around 8:30am and return around 2:00pm.  We will get to pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, go on a hayride, pick apples, take an adventure through the corn maze, have a picnic lunch, and feed the animals in the petting zoo!  Please dress your child for the weather and in shoes that may get muddy.  They will need to bring a sack lunch and drink.  We will pass out the class T-shirts on Friday (this way, you won’t have to remember to dress your child in their t-shirt).  If you would like to coordinate your child’s outfit, the shirt is orange with navy blue writing.  The design is adorable!

Box Tops for Education are due Friday.  Please send them in a baggie labeled, “Poteet.”  Funds from the Box Tops go directly into our classroom budget.  Keep collecting Box Tops the rest of the year.  Thanks!

Don’t forget to send in a healthy snack every day! 

What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
This week we will continue learning about strategies good readers use.  This week we will focus on using more than one tool to read (flexibility with print strategies), and readers always think about what makes sense. We will be visiting the school library on Monday.

Writing Workshop
In writing we are going to learn how to use a booklet (writing a story with a beginning, middle and end).  We will not be writing in our family journals this week due to our field trip on Friday.     

Handwriting
Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  Jj and Ww

Word Study
This week, we will explore the letters Jj , Qq and Ww. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: up, all, and with. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
We will continue to practice writing numerals, and read and count the tricky teen numbers.  

Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:  Help your child find patterns around your house and neighborhood. 

Activity:   Look at fences, buildings, doors, windows, wallpaper, and fabrics.  Try to draw some of patterns that you see.  If possible, take a camera along and record some patterns you find.

Social Studies
We will begin to study Native American life.  Our focus will be on the Eastern Woodland and Pacific Northwest regions.  If you have any knowledge of Native American life, share it with your kiddos!

Reminders
*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* 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

September 22, 2011

September 26, 2011


A note from Ms. Poteet

Wednesday is an Early Release Day.  School will dismiss at 12:25.  Please send in a note if your child’s transportation will change.

Please have your child wear ORANGE on Thursday for our pack activity.  We will play teamwork games with the other classes in the orange hallway. 

The Husky Hustle is this Friday from 1:30-2:15.  This is a family event and the kids love to have families walk with them.  We hope you will join us! Don’t forget to send in your Husky Hustle pledges!  100% of the pledges benefit Harmony students.  We use the money to purchase a new playground.  On Friday your child needs to bring in a water bottle, wear tennis shoes, and dress to run. 

The Harmony Harvest is also this Friday from 6:00-8:00 pm.  Please be sure to take a look at the silent auction items when you come.  I am auctioning a “Pretend Sleepover Party” in our classroom on Friday, December 9th from 7:00-10:00 pm and a “Halloween Bash” on Thursday, October 13th from 2:30-4:00 pm.  The cost of the Pretend Sleepover is $25 and all students are welcome.  It will be a night filled with good treats to eat, games to play, and a movie on the big screen!  The students get to wear their pajamas, bring pillows, stuffed animals, and a sleeping bag.  I hope lots of you sign up for the fun-filled night!  The Halloween Bash is $10 and 10 students will be able to attend.  We will meet after school, dress up in our Halloween costumes, make crafts, and decorate cookies.  It will be a fright filled afternoon.

Kindergarten students are expected to use the Harmony Book Bag throughout the year to transport their belongings back and forth to school.  The book bags help identify kindergarten students to bus drivers, substitutes, and other school employees.  It also makes it easier for me and Ms. Theresa to quickly glance in each student’s bag in the morning to check for lunch checks, folders, and notes that your child may have forgotten to turn in.  We do not have time in the morning to go through all of the compartments in alternative book bags.  If you need to purchase another book bag, the Harmony book stores sells them!  Thanks for your understanding!

Don’t forget to send in a healthy snack every day!  Many students have been forgetting the past two weeks!

What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
This week we will continue learning about strategies good readers use.  This week we will focus on looking for chunks in words and rereading. We will be visiting the school library on Friday.

Writing Workshop
In writing we are going to learn how to use our Writing Folders, how to use an alphabet chart to help use write our words, and learn how to use a booklet.  On Friday, we are writing in our Family Journals.  Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Handwriting
Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  L, l, K, & k.

Word Study
This week, we will explore the letters Ll and Kk. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: they, had, at. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math
We are learning to use a number board and read and count the tricky teen numbers.   

Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
A penny jar provides great mathematics opportunities!  Counting the pennies together reinforces the counting skills we are working on in school.  Estimation is not just guessing.  It is using what you know to make a “smart guess.”

Activity:
Start a penny jar to collect your family’s pennies.  Once a week, estimate how many coins are in the jar. 

Science
We are continuing to observe our corn growing.  The kids are really enjoying watching the changes.  We will study the differences between deciduous and evergreen plants. 

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

September 20, 2011

Look at our friends that know how to tie their shoes!

We have three students who completed the Shoe Tying Challenge!  Help your child practice tying their shoes at home.  Our goal is for all Kindergartners to go to first grade knowing how to tie their shoes!

Here’s what is happening this week:
We are beginning a super important reading unit this week!  Students will learn “tools” or strategies that will help them read tricky words.  I am sending home a booklet for you to keep in a special place.  This booklet explains each strategy or tool, and how you can help your child at home when they are reading to you.  Please continue listening to your child read their guided reading book every night it comes home. 

On Tuesday your child will be bring home their Kentucky Center for the Arts (we are going to see Ferdinand the Bull) and Waterfront Park Field Trip form.  Field trip forms and money are due Friday, September 23rd. 

What are we learning?
 Reading Workshop
We are learning about strategies to help us read tricky words.  These strategies include
·         Looking at the Picture
·         Getting your mouth ready (saying the initial letter sound and later the final sound of the word)
Writing Workshop
We will continue to develop our story ideas, reinforce spacing between words and to stretch out each word to write each sound they hear.  Thank you for your responses to the family journals.  Reading your message and sharing the sketches you make is a big treat for the kiddos! 
Handwriting
Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  F, f, D and d.
Word Study
This week, we will explore the letters Ff and Dd. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: for, on, and she.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.
 Math
We are learning oral counting games, noticing patterns all around us and how to properly write numbers. 
 Science
We will learn about plants: What are the parts of plants?  What are different parts of corn plants and how do they work together?  We will also observe and record our corn plants.
Related Arts Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
PE
PE
PE
PE
PE

September 12, 2011

September 12, 2011


A note from Ms. Poteet

Thank you for being so prompt with turning in your field trip forms.  Many of you have requested to chaperone for this trip; it’s so wonderful to have this group of enthusiastic parents!  Keep practicing those lunch numbers!  We’re almost at 100% of our kiddos who know their numbers by heart.  Next week, I will begin “Shoe Tying Awards” for those who know how to tie their own shoes.  Practice, practice!  J

Here’s what is happening this week:
·         Wednesday-Friday:  Library Orientation- After our three orientation sessions, we will be able to check out books weekly.  Our library check out days will be on Friday’s.
·         Thursday: Send in 10 saltines or graham crackers for today’s math lesson. 
·         Friday: Bring a small action figure (about the size of a Polly Pocket or a G.I. Joe) for Math.
·         Friday: Field Trip forms and money are due.

Dates to Remember:
·         September 15: Picture Day- Get those bangs trimmed!  The picture will be from the neck up, so don’t worry too much about what they are wearing. 
·         September 28: Early Release Day
·         September 30: Husky Hustle
·         September 30: Harmony Harvest 6:00-8:00pm
·         October 7: Huber Field Trip!

What are we learning?
 Reading Workshop
Our class started reading groups last week.  Remember to read their Guided Reading books at home, and return them in their Guided Reading book folder so that we can continue to read these books at school.  We will continue to practice choosing books across different genres and learn how readers get their minds ready. 

Writing Workshop
Now that our children are writing, we will encourage them to stick with a story by adding details and labels to their stories.   Be sure to look for those family journals on Friday.  They sure loved reading your responses on Monday!

Handwriting
Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  C, c, H and h.

Word Study
This week, we will explore the letters Cc and Hh. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: his, said, and that.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

 Math
We are learning how to make shapes and continue to practice counting.
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
Help your child find patterns around your house and neighborhood.  Look at fences, buildings, doors, windows, wallpaper, and fabrics.  Try to draw some of the patterns that you see.  If possible, take a camera along and record some patterns you find. 

Activity:
Look outdoors and in your home for objects that have patterns.  Choose your favorite pattern to draw and bring to school to share on Thursday.

 Science
We are continuing our unit on plants. We are learning that plants need light, warmth, water, and nutrients to survive.  On Tuesday we are going to plant our very own corn seed!  We are going to observe our plant grow over the next couple of weeks. We will begin learning about the parts of plant on Friday.

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


September 2, 2011

September 6, 2011

A note from Ms. Poteet

I hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend! 

Continue reading every night for 10-20 minutes, record the title of the book you read on your child’s weekly planner, and practice your word wall words. Don’t forget to sign your child’s weekly planner every night and their weekly report on Friday.  Please send the weekly report back on Monday. 

This Thursday we will start guided reading groups.  Look for your child’s guided reading book to come home this week.  Guided reading books are books that we have worked with in class.  Please read the book 2-3 times again at home.  Rereading is a great way to build fluency and confidence as a reader.  Reading this book can be part of your 10-20 minute nightly reading.  Send the book back the following day.  Your child will not get to bring another book home, until you send the first one back. 

Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering to work with a reading group.  We still need a volunteer on Tuesday or Thursday from 8:10-8:40 am.  Please call or e-mail me if you are interested.

In the middle of September, I will begin “Shoe Tying Awards” for those who know how to tie their own shoes.  Practice, practice!  J


What are we learning?
 Reading Workshop
This week we are learning how to select books for our book bucket, choose a place to read around the room, how to turn and talk during a read aloud, and how to buddy read.

Writing Workshop
We are learning how writers choose a topic they know and care about and how writers draw hard to make ideas.    On Friday, we are writing our fourth entry in our Family Journals.  Please take time over the weekend to read your child’s letter to you and respond. 

Handwriting
Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  N, n, P, & p 

Word Study
This week, we will explore the letters Nn and Pp. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: of, in, was. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

 Math
We are learning to count and read numbers up to 10 and solve word problems with pictures. 

Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
In this activity, children become more aware of numerals all around them, as well as the varied uses of numbers.  Look around and encourage your child to notice numbers in your home.  Talk with them about what the numbers represent and how they are used.
Activity:
Look for numbers around your house.
Where did you find the most?  In your bedroom?  In the kitchen?
Where else did you find numbers?
Draw a picture of some of the things with numbers that you found on a piece of paper.  Bring this paper to school to share!




 Social Studies
This week we are finishing our Weather and Seasons Unit and starting our unit on Plants.  We will learn about rainbows and thunderstorms, nonliving and living things, how we use plants and plant materials.  At home you might discuss where different foods and materials come from.  For example, paper comes from trees and bread comes from wheat. 

 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. 
* Have your child practice memorizing their lunch number at home.
* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night!

Related Arts Schedule
Monday         No School
Tuesday        Art
Wednesday    Art
Thursday       Music
Friday           Music