Ms. Wendling is our Christmas Mystery Reader!
Playing Outside
December 18, 2011
December 12, 2011
December 12, 2011
What an exciting time
of year! We are continuing a Harmony
student tradition of a holiday sing a long on Thursday, December 15th. Children
need to bring wear a Santa hat and black or red clothing on Thursday.
Please be on the
lookout for your child’s letter to Santa in the Oldham Era on December 22nd.
Our class Christmas
Party is scheduled for December 16th at 8:30 am. Parents are welcome to volunteer to help
out. Please contact our lovely room mom,
Elizabeth Turner at elizabetheganturner@yahoo.com or 502-381-1799 for more information about
volunteering. Students will need to bring a picture of themselves, a special sweet
treat for the party and a regular snack for our normal morning snack time.
What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are using Jan
Brett’s books to compare and contrast and make text-to-text connections as well
as learn about her writing style and characteristics.
Writing Workshop
This week we are writing
friendly letters and holiday greeting cards.
Be on the lookout for a card from your kinderpup!
Word Study
This
week, we will explore the word families –ut, -un, --ug, -um. Ask your child about the word family chants for
all four. We will also learn how to read
and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: were, like, not.
Have your child sing you the songs for these words.
Math
In
math we are learning how to look at a group of objects and decide how to sort
them. We will also count, label and
compare these group and learn how to explain “your rule” used for sorting (ex.
By color, things that roll, heavy vs. light, etc.)
Social Studies
We
are having a ball “traveling” around the world and learning about different
holidays. We will continue our study of
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, German Christmas trees, China and more.
Reminders
*
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- Tuesday Music
Wednesday – Friday PE
December 2, 2011
December 5, 2011
A note
from Ms. Poteet…
On Tuesday we are
going to visit the Book Fair at 12:00.
Parents are welcome to attend and eat lunch prior to visiting the Book
Fair (at 11:32) if they would like. If
you would like your child to purchase books please send in a check made out to
Harmony Elementary or send in cash. A
flyer containing some of the books that will be available at the Book Fair was
sent home last week in the Wednesday Folder.
Our class Christmas
Party is scheduled for December 16th at 8:30 am. Parents are welcome to volunteer to help
out. Please contact elizabetheganturner@yahoo.com
or at 502-381-1799 for more information about volunteering. Students
will need to bring a picture of themselves and a special sweet treat for the
party.
Look for your child’s
persuasive letter to Santa in the Oldham Era on December 22nd! The kids worked really hard and are eager to
be local “celebrities.”
What are we learning?
Reading Workshop
We are starting our
author study on Jan Brett. We are going
to read several of her books and make text-to-text connections to each of the
books.
Writing Workshop
This week we are practicing
writing persuasive letters. Remember to
look for your child’s Santa letter in the Oldham Era on December 22nd. 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 word families –et, -eg, -en. Ask your child about the word family chants
for all three. We will also learn how to
read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: did, what, see.
Have your child sing you the songs for these words.
Math
In
math we are learning to use a number line to solve addition and subtraction
problems, skip counting by tens, making and extending patterns using pattern
blocks, and practicing using counters to solve addition problems.
Social Studies
The
students are going to be overjoyed that we are starting our unit on Holidays
around the World. We will discuss our
own holiday traditions and learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the legend of the
poinsettia.
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
November 28, 2011
November 28, 2011
A note from Ms. Poteet…
I Hope you all had a bountiful Thanksgiving, with good food and
even better loved ones! Now it’s time to
prepare for the holidays. We will do our
best to maintain our learning routines during this busy season, as well as have
fun with holiday traditions.
We will be going to see, “Nutcracker in a Nutshell,” on
Friday. The performance will be held at
the Louisville Palace, so please make sure your children look nice. I’m sure your children will love dressing up!
We will eat lunch at school, but will need sack lunches and drinks.
Thank you to all who have asked to participate in the Harmony
Helping House. Our child that we are
helping this year is a 16 year-old girl who is interested in painting her
nails, wearing jewelry and hanging out with her friends. If you haven’t responded, and you would like
to participate, it’s not too late! Please contact me before Thursday for more
information.
Need some adult time? December 9th is our class
“Pretend Sleepover” from 7:00-10:00. We
will have S’mores and popcorn; watch a classic G-rated movie in our P.J.s and
sleeping bags. Contact me if you are
interested in signing up for this fun event.
Proceeds go into our class budget, and will be used for instructional
materials. Some families already signed
up at the Harmony Harvest.
What are
we learning?
Reading Workshop
We will learn more
about Schema, and how to use our background knowledge to make connections. We
will visit the school library on Monday.
Writing Workshop
This week we will continue to
develop our persuasive letters to Santa, or a special person.
Word Study
This week, we will explore
the word families -op, -og, -od, and -ot.
We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added
to our Word Wall: could, when, have. Have your child sing you the songs for
these words.
Math
We will complete our on
comparing numbers and begin our unit on addition and subtraction strategies,
and we will begin using addition and subtraction symbols.
|
Everyday Math Home Link
Family Note:
“Top It” reinforces number
recognition and helps children learn to compare 2 numbers, to decide which
number is more or less. (You may remember this game as “War.”)
Activity:
1.
Shuffle a deck of number cards (or a
regular deck of cards with the face cards removed) and divide the cards
evenly between 2 players, face down.
2.
Players turn their top card over at the
same time. The player with the greater
numbered card keeps both cards. If the
cards are equal, turn over the next card to see who has the greater
card.
3.
Play continues until one player has all
or most of the cards.
4.
Vary game play by playing for the least
numbered card.
|
Social Studies
What
are maps and what do we use them for? We
will learn the difference between political maps and physical maps, as well as
how to make maps.
Important Dates
*
Friday, December 2nd: Field trip to, “Nutcracker in a Nutshell.”
*
Tuesday, December 6th: Our class shopping day at the Book Fair
*
Wednesday, December 15th: Items
for Husky Helping House are due.
*
Friday, December 9th: Pretend
Sleepover 7- 10 p.m.
*Saturday,
December 10th: Donuts with Santa.
Reminders
*Send
in a healthy snack and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
*
Always dress appropriately for outdoor recess.
*
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
November 26, 2011
November 21, 2011
November 21, 2011
A note from Ms. Poteet…
Harmony has started our annual Canned Food Drive. Please send in non-perishable goods. All of the food will go to needy families in
Oldham County. We are collecting canned
goods (soups, meats, vegetables, juice, fruit, pasta sauce, pie filling),
cereal, rice, baby food, Jello, pudding, packaged food, beans, croutons, dried
fruit (raisins, apricots), nuts, and any other non-perishable food. Thank you for
your support in helping out children to learn about caring and sharing with
others. The food needs to be sent in by
December 2, 2011.
Our class has adopted a 16 year old girl for the
holidays. She enjoys painting her nails,
wearing jewelry, and hanging out with her friends. She attends one of the Oldham County’s middle
schools. If your family would like to
help this young lady, please send in the Husky-Helping House flyer sent home
last week in our Wednesday Folder, send me a note, or e-mail me. I will let you what the child needs and what
size clothes she wears. Please don’t
just send an item in, because we want to make sure all of her needs are taken
care of. Thanks for all of the families
who have already sent in the flyer pledging to donate an item. All
items need to be sent in by December 14, 2011.
Our big performance is finally here! On Tuesday we will perform our Thanksgiving
Play at 11:20 am. All families and
friends are invited. You are welcome to
stay afterwards for lunch. Don’t forget
to have your child wear their costume to school. Below is a description of the costumes. If you forgot which character your child is
playing, please call me.
Pilgrims – Boys will need to wear black pants and
a black shirt. Girls will need to wear a black dress or skirt and shirt. Girls
may also wear white aprons, but they are not required. We will make hats and
collars at school.
Native Americans – Boys and Girls will need
to wear dark clothing. We made head dresses and vests here at school.
What are
we learning?
Reading Workshop
We will wrap up our unit on schema.
Writing Workshop
This week we are continuing our persuasive letters to
Santa. We will focus on writing a
greeting, introduction and persuading Santa to bring us our desired gift. I will continue to remind kids of the audience
of their letter (Santa). Family Journals
will not be sent home this week.
Word Study
We will review our previous Word Wall Words, letter sounds,
and word families.
Math
We are continuing to learn how to
add and subtract.
Social Studies
On Monday we will have dress
rehearsal for our play. On Tuesday, is
our big day! Hope to see you there!
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 No School
Thursday No School
Friday No School
November 14, 2011
November 14, 2011
A note from Ms. Poteet…
Mark your calendar…
Our Thanksgiving Play will be on Tuesday, November 22nd at
11:20 am. All families and friends are
invited. You are encouraged to stay
afterwards for lunch. Please return the
lunch order form sent home last week by Wednesday
if you plan to purchase lunch from the cafeteria. The Kindergarten Team is looking for parents
interested in revamping last year’s props for the play. If you are interested please e-mail me!
Don’t forget to send in a bag of large colored feathers by Tuesday. We will use them to make Native American
headdresses. All students will get to make a
headdress even if they are not a Native American in the play. If
your family would be willing to donate a bag of large colored feathers, we
would appreciate it! I found them last year at Wal-Mart for two
dollars.
Now that all students know how to check out books from the
library, your child may visit the library before school throughout the week to
check out a book. Before students may
check out a new book, they must
finish their morning responsibilities in class. After completing their
responsibilities, I will send them down to the library. They must
return to class before 7:50 am. This is a
privilege that Ms. Clark and Ms. Wanda permit kids to do. If they aren’t make good choices in the
library (Ms. Theresa and I will not be in the library with them), they will
lose the privilege to check out books independently. We will continue to visit the library on
Friday’s.
It is starting to get chilly outside. Please make sure your child is dressed
appropriately because we will go outside everyday unless it is raining.
What
are we learning?
Reading Workshop
This week we are
learning about schema. Students will
work on making self-to-text connections.
We will be visiting the school library on Friday.
Writing Workshop
With the Holiday’s just around the corner, we are going to
take advantage of the kid’s excitement of Santa coming. On Monday, we are going to start our
persuasive letters to Santa. We will
focus on writing a greeting, introduction and persuading Santa to bring us our
desired gift. I will continue to remind
kids of the audience of their letter (Santa).
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.
Word Study
This week, we will explore the word families -ad, -ap,
& -ag. Ask your child about the word
family chants for all three. We will
also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word
Wall: little, down, do. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.
Math
We are learning how to add and
subtract in our heads, reviewing counting, number recognition, and sequencing
numbers 0-20.
|
Math Home Link
Family Note:
Children enjoy counting, and they find ways to practice
this skill all the time. In addition
to counting by 1s, children are learning to “skip count” by 10s. When your child counts by 10s help him or
her connect the counting words with the concept of making groups of 10. Counting fingers (and toes) is an excellent
way to begin.
Activity:
Count all the fingers in your family. Count by 10s. Count by 1s to double check.
Draw the fingers of all the people in your family. Try to write the numbers of fingers.
What else could you count by 10s? (Practice counting several different objects
by 10s.)
|
Social Studies
For the next couple of weeks, we
will visit the gym the practice for our Thanksgiving Play. Throughout week we
will discuss how the pilgrims lived on the Mayflower and in the new land.
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 PE
Wednesday PE
Thursday PE
Friday PE
November 12, 2011
North Oldham Fire Department Field Trip 2011
 |
 |
1.) Don't play with matches and lighters. If you see matches or a lighter where you can reach them, don't touch them. Go tell a grown up right away.
2.) Ask your parents to install smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. Smoke detectors can save lives. Ask your parents to show you where each one is located.
3.) Remind your parents to test your smoke detectors every month. Make sure everyone in your family is familiar with its piercing sound. Teach them that this sound means danger, and they must escape quickly.
4.) When your parents change the time on your clocks for Daylight Savings, ask them to change your smoke alarm batteries. Give it fresh batteries and your smoke alarm will stay awake and watch for fire while you are sleeping.
5.) In case of fire: DON'T HIDE, GO OUTSIDE! Fires are scary, but you should NEVER hide in closets or under beds when there is a fire.
6.) To escape during a fire; Fall & Crawl. It is easier to breath in a fire if you stay low while getting out.Use the back of your hand to test if a door is hot before you open it. If it is hot, try to use another way out.
7.) If your clothes are on fire; Stop, Drop, and Roll until the fire is out. Shout for help, but don't run. Running makes fire burn faster.
8.) Have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Find two ways out of every room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke. Practice escaping by both routes to be sure windows are not stuck and screens can be taken out quickly.
9.) Choose a meeting place outside, such as a big tree or the end of the driveway, so you will know that everyone has gotten out safely. NEVER go back into a burning building for any reason. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They have the clothing and equipment to safely rescue people.
10.) Know your local emergency number. Put stickers and magnets with emergency numbers on your refridgerator and every telephone in the house. If there is a fire at your house, choose one family member to leave your meeting place and call the fire department from a neighbors phone.
2.) Ask your parents to install smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. Smoke detectors can save lives. Ask your parents to show you where each one is located.
3.) Remind your parents to test your smoke detectors every month. Make sure everyone in your family is familiar with its piercing sound. Teach them that this sound means danger, and they must escape quickly.
4.) When your parents change the time on your clocks for Daylight Savings, ask them to change your smoke alarm batteries. Give it fresh batteries and your smoke alarm will stay awake and watch for fire while you are sleeping.
5.) In case of fire: DON'T HIDE, GO OUTSIDE! Fires are scary, but you should NEVER hide in closets or under beds when there is a fire.
6.) To escape during a fire; Fall & Crawl. It is easier to breath in a fire if you stay low while getting out.Use the back of your hand to test if a door is hot before you open it. If it is hot, try to use another way out.
7.) If your clothes are on fire; Stop, Drop, and Roll until the fire is out. Shout for help, but don't run. Running makes fire burn faster.
8.) Have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Find two ways out of every room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke. Practice escaping by both routes to be sure windows are not stuck and screens can be taken out quickly.
9.) Choose a meeting place outside, such as a big tree or the end of the driveway, so you will know that everyone has gotten out safely. NEVER go back into a burning building for any reason. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They have the clothing and equipment to safely rescue people.
10.) Know your local emergency number. Put stickers and magnets with emergency numbers on your refridgerator and every telephone in the house. If there is a fire at your house, choose one family member to leave your meeting place and call the fire department from a neighbors phone.
November 7, 2011
November 7, 2011
A note from Ms. Poteet…
We are off to a great start with our
Thanksgiving play! The students are
learning songs, how to use props and are having a terrific time preparing to
perform for you. All families are
invited to attend the play on Tuesday, November 22nd at 11:20. Families are also encouraged to stay
afterwards to have lunch with their child.
A lunch order form will be coming home today in your child’s Take-Home
Folder. You may also bring your own
lunch if you would prefer (I would recommend this option because the lunch line
tends to get pretty long). If you would
be willing to lend a helping hand before the play to help get the kids dressed
I would appreciate it greatly. Please
send me an e-mail if you can come at 11:00 to help. We will be making Native American headdresses
for our play. Please send in a pack of
long feathers for your child to use in their headdress by Tuesday, November 15th.
We have had to change our daily
schedule to access the gym for our practice.
Our class now eats lunch from 10:45-11:15. This is early, so we are saving our snack
until the afternoon. The new lunch time
will be in place until Thanksgiving break.
Please share this info with any grandparents, aunts, uncles who may come
to join your child for lunch.
Field trip permission slips and payments are due on
Wednesday, November 9th.
As a school policy, kindergarteners
do not bring home their first progress report like the other kids do. During our conference I will be able to
thoroughly go over your child’s progress report and explain how they are
performing and being assessed. Parent-Teacher
Conferences begin November 10th.
If you haven’t had a chance to do so, please call the office at 228-2228
after 9:00am to schedule a meeting.
What are we
learning?
Reading Workshop
We will read a variety of Native
American stories and folk tales. We will
also do DRA reading assessments.
Writing Workshop
This week we are viewing some of our
writing strategies that many students have forgotten. 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.
Word Study
This week, we will explore at, am, & an
word families. We will also learn how to
read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: am, then, we.
Have your child sing you the songs for these words.
Math
We will begin a new unit on comparing
numbers. We will use the photographs of
our macaroni necklaces to compare numbers, patterns, and write about our
learning.
Social
Studies
Native American
studies: we practice our Thanksgiving play.
Important Dates
* Tuesday,
November 8th: Election Day- No School
* November 10th
& 15th: Parent-Teacher Conferences
* November 22nd:
Kindergarten Thanksgiving Play at 11:20!
Families are encouraged to attend!
* November 23rd-25th:
Thanksgiving Break- No School
Reminders
*Send in a
healthy snack and water bottle every day.
* Always dress
appropriately for outdoor recess.
* Sign your child’s
weekly planner every night.
* Library book
due every Friday.
Related Arts
Schedule
October 28, 2011
Healthy Huskies
This week we learned about making healthy choices. Our class song was voted the best kindergarten song!! We preformed our song during today's Mega Skills Assembly!
October 31, 2011
A note from Ms. Poteet…
Happy Halloween!
Please do your child (and me) a favor by restricting the amount of candy
they eat this week, and try to keep bed time as close to the normal time as
possible. Otherwise, our little super
heroes and princesses are not going to feel very “super” or “princess-y” by the
end of the week!
Parent-Teacher Conferences begin November 10th. If you haven’t had a chance to do so, please
call the office at 228-2228 after 9:00am to schedule a meeting. Conferences are very important, and we’d like
to see every parent take the time to discuss your child’s progress with us.
Wednesday is an early release day. Be sure to let your
child know what their plans are for that afternoon, especially if their
afternoon transportation plans will change.
We are going to walk to the North Oldham Fire Department to
learn about fire safety on Friday.
Again, we will have a police escort to walk across the road. Please make sure that your child is dressed
appropriately for the weather, wears their class t-shit, and brings a sack
lunch.
What are we
learning?
Reading Workshop
We will learn what Schema is, and how it helps us
understand what we read. Schema is our
background knowledge and personal experiences that we use to make connections
with new learning. We will visit the school library on Monday.
Writing Workshop
This week we will “Fancy Up” our writing. We will pick one story to rewrite, using our
best handwriting, spelling and punctuation.
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: O, o, U, and u.
Word Study
This week, we will explore the letters Oo and Uu. 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: be, go, have. Have your child sing you the songs for these
words.
Math
We will begin a new unit on comparing numbers. We will make macaroni necklaces to compare
numbers and patterns,
|
Everyday Math Home
Link
Family Note:
Units of measurement originated from things familiar to
people. Using objects around the house
to measure items is one way to help children understand the concept of
nonstandard measurement and to practice measuring techniques.
Activity:
Measure the length of a shoe using pennies instead of
inches. Then, measure someone else’s
shoe using pennies. Did it take more
pennies or fewer pennies?
Now measure another object, such as a pencil or a floor
tile, using pennies.
Find something else to measure with- like raisins or a
small toy.
|
Social Studies
Native American studies: we will
learn about tribes in the Pacific Rim (food, clothing, and homes) and compare
them to the lifestyle of tribes in the Eastern Woodland.
We will begin practicing our
Thanksgiving play in the gym daily.
Important Dates
* Wednesday, November 2nd:
Early Release Day
* Friday, November 4th:
North Oldham Fire Department Field Trip
* Tuesday, November 8th:
Election Day- No School
* November 10th & 15th:
Parent-Teacher Conferences
* November 22nd:
Kindergarten Thanksgiving Play (Parents invited)
* November 23rd-25th:
Thanksgiving Break- No School
Reminders
*Send in a healthy peanut-free snack
and water bottle (with a pull up spout) every day.
* Always dress appropriately for
outdoor recess.
* 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 Music
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