Dear families,
I hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Thanksgiving weekend is around the corner and this upcoming week we will be completing several numeracy-, literacy- and craft-based activities related to this theme. It will tie in very well with the farm unit we just finished; we are talking about being thankful for the harvests from the fields.
If you have a chance, look at the bulletin board in the hallway to see the wonderful writing your children have done about Farms and themselves. We read, wrote and talked about farm food, farm life, farm animals, and why farms are important. A visit to an apple farm would tie in very nicely with our unit if you have the time! The children will decorate a plaster farm animal of their choice with their Reading Buddies this week to take home.
Related to the Thanksgiving theme was the homework I sent home in Friday's mail bag. I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful turkey puppets the children made at home. This week we will be making an "I am Grateful For..." plate.
We also learned and reviewed the letter sound "Pp" and so far have learned/reviewed the letter sounds SATIP. This week's letter sound will be "Nn." If you have magnetic letters at home it is amazing how many words can be made with those six letters (and this is why we learn them in this order as opposed to alphabetically). We are also learning about the changes that occur in the Fall.
Thank you to my Parent Volunteers this week: Mystery Readers were Luke's mom and Grace's mom, and white bags and snuggle books were done by Clive's mom and Izzie's mom.
If your child will be picked up by someone other than their regular caregiver, please remember to provide me with a note and to let the office know as well. It is very important for your child's safety that we are certain of your child's safe arrival to school and home. Please do not leave it up to your child to tell me that they are "not taking the bus today" for example or that someone different will be picking them up; the school must have a written note and/or the office must be called. Leaving a note in your child's backpack will not guarantee that s/he will remember to give it to me; it is best to call the office and they will let me know. Thank you so much.
The LKS Book Fair is the week after Thanksgiving in the Library during school hours. If you would like your child to be able to purchase a book/books at the Book Fair, please put money in a clearly labelled and sealed plastic bag. Thank you. October's Scholastic Order is due on October 20th and September's order should arrive this week!
I was very happy to see all the wonderful Bedtime Book Boxes that the children have made. They look terrific and are a wonderful way to encourage daily reading at home.
If it is your child's Special/Snack Day remember that it is also their Show and Tell Day.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Week of September 30-October 4
Dear families,
I hope you enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend.
This week we continued our unit on Farms, reading books and reading and writing words about farm animals and their characteristics, what farms produce, farm work and why we need farms. The children started making a booklet called "Who us in the Barn" with their Reading Buddies as well.
The children did a wonderful job reciting the poem "Me" at our first Sharing Assembly.
The Halloween Scholastic order is due October 20. September's order is due on Monday.
Thank you to the parent volunteers who walked with us on the Terry Fox walk. LKS has raised 10,000 so far and that means we are having Crazy Hair Day on Tuesday!
Please join me in welcoming Emma, an ECI co-op student who will be assisting my afternoon class every other day until June.
This week we will finish our Farm Unit and starting to learn about patterns.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
I hope you enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend.
This week we continued our unit on Farms, reading books and reading and writing words about farm animals and their characteristics, what farms produce, farm work and why we need farms. The children started making a booklet called "Who us in the Barn" with their Reading Buddies as well.
The children did a wonderful job reciting the poem "Me" at our first Sharing Assembly.
The Halloween Scholastic order is due October 20. September's order is due on Monday.
Thank you to the parent volunteers who walked with us on the Terry Fox walk. LKS has raised 10,000 so far and that means we are having Crazy Hair Day on Tuesday!
Please join me in welcoming Emma, an ECI co-op student who will be assisting my afternoon class every other day until June.
This week we will finish our Farm Unit and starting to learn about patterns.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Week of September 23-27
Dear families,
This past week we completed our first calendar of the year. We will complete one each month, practicing writing our numbers 1-30. When the calendar goes home please put it on your fridge and practice number recognition, especially with the JKs. The children also enjoyed using our class set of magnetic write and erase boards, practicing number writing.
We have learned (JKs) and reviewed (SKs) the first three letter sounds of S, A and T. The next three are I, P and N. It's amazing how many words you can make with those six letters!
We also started writing a booklet called "I am..." and the children are doing a lovely job completing the sentences and drawing accompanying pictures. We will do several similar booklets this year, with different starting words. Our next booklet will be called "Farms are..."
We also welcomed our Grade 8 Reading Buddies again, who come each day from 9-9:20 and from 2:45-3:05 to read phonics books one-on-one with the children. They are doing a fabulous job and the children enjoy reading with them! We also had dun with our grade 2/3 Reading Buddies from Ms. Shklar's and Ms. Sunde's class. They are getting to know each other and are working very well together!
We use scissors and glue sticks often in the classroom; please encourage your children to use junior child-safe scissors at home as well. This is an important small motor skill.
Our science table has changed to fall items; pine cones, acorns, changing leaves.
Please remember to return your child's white bag each Monday. Remind your child to hand me their white bag when they come into school on Monday morning/afternoon.
Please return your child's medical/permission forms if you have not done so. Thank you.
If you would like to volunteer for Mystery Reader, white bags, class craft parties please let your Grade Parents know; they are responsible for doing the volunteer calendars. Thank you!
This week we are starting our unit on Farms. We will be doing several numeracy and literacy activities with this theme as well as a craft. This is the perfect time for apple picking - if you have a chance, take your child to a local apple farm and help your child understand that our food comes from farms.
It is getting chillier as Fall is officially here. Please remember to provide your child with a light jacket and appropriate foot wear. I hope your have a wonderful week!
This past week we completed our first calendar of the year. We will complete one each month, practicing writing our numbers 1-30. When the calendar goes home please put it on your fridge and practice number recognition, especially with the JKs. The children also enjoyed using our class set of magnetic write and erase boards, practicing number writing.
We have learned (JKs) and reviewed (SKs) the first three letter sounds of S, A and T. The next three are I, P and N. It's amazing how many words you can make with those six letters!
We also started writing a booklet called "I am..." and the children are doing a lovely job completing the sentences and drawing accompanying pictures. We will do several similar booklets this year, with different starting words. Our next booklet will be called "Farms are..."
We also welcomed our Grade 8 Reading Buddies again, who come each day from 9-9:20 and from 2:45-3:05 to read phonics books one-on-one with the children. They are doing a fabulous job and the children enjoy reading with them! We also had dun with our grade 2/3 Reading Buddies from Ms. Shklar's and Ms. Sunde's class. They are getting to know each other and are working very well together!
We use scissors and glue sticks often in the classroom; please encourage your children to use junior child-safe scissors at home as well. This is an important small motor skill.
Our science table has changed to fall items; pine cones, acorns, changing leaves.
Please remember to return your child's white bag each Monday. Remind your child to hand me their white bag when they come into school on Monday morning/afternoon.
Please return your child's medical/permission forms if you have not done so. Thank you.
If you would like to volunteer for Mystery Reader, white bags, class craft parties please let your Grade Parents know; they are responsible for doing the volunteer calendars. Thank you!
This week we are starting our unit on Farms. We will be doing several numeracy and literacy activities with this theme as well as a craft. This is the perfect time for apple picking - if you have a chance, take your child to a local apple farm and help your child understand that our food comes from farms.
It is getting chillier as Fall is officially here. Please remember to provide your child with a light jacket and appropriate foot wear. I hope your have a wonderful week!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Week of September 16-20
Dear families,
Thank you for helping make the first two weeks of school a smooth transition for your children.
This week was busy and the children did a wonderful job listening during the Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills. There was also a fun presentation called "Cyberbusters" this week and a Terry Fox Assembly.
A note regarding water bottles and snacks -- your children can bring water bottles to school but there is no need for them in class since we have a water fountain. There is no need for snacks either since the Special Person of the Day provides snack for the entire class. Please remember to provide your child with indoor shoes that remain in their cubbies. Thank you.
It was a pleasure meeting you at Curriculum Night. For further information regarding the Kindergarten Curriculum please see tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
Some parents were asking about good first dictionaries for their children, and I recommend the Scholastic First Dictionary, which is the one we use in class. The ISDN number is 978-0-439-7983 and it can be purchased through Scholastic for 22.99.
Bubbles the Beta Fish is our new classroom pet and the Special Person of the Day gets to feed him! We also met with our Reading Buddies this week and the JKs and SKs were interviewed by their Buddies and started making a booklet together called "The Twelve Days of Kindergarten."
A big thank you to my Grade 8 volunteers Haley and Leyla who read one-on-one with the afternoon children each day at the end of the day. I will be recruiting morning Grade 8 volunteers as well.
We are practicing the poem "Me" for the Sharing Assembly:
I've got ten little fingers,
And ten little toes,
Two little eyes,
And one little nose.
Put them all together
And what have you got?
You've got me, baby,
And that's a lot!
We read the wonderful book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and the children enjoyed making a coconut tree with the letters of their name on it. They are on display in the hall bulletin board.
We also learned about the letter sound "S" and are practicing our number poem, a copy of which will be sent home in this Friday's white bag. Soon your child will be bringing home his/her first calendar. Please put it on the fridge and practice saying and counting the numbers with them.
Here are some tips on how to be a good Reading Coach:
Pause...Prompt...Praise
When your child is stuck on a word, pause, then give them time to figure it out.
Prompt
Suggest a strategy they could try:
- Look at the picture. Are there any clues there?
- What would make sense there?
- Let's look at the letters. Are there any little words in it you know? Stretch out the sounds in the word.
- Try skipping a word. Read to the end of the sentence (or re-read the whole sentence) and come back to it.
Praise
- "I like the way you sounded that out."
- "Good for you for re-reading to figure that out."
- "You did a great job looking for clues in the picture."
Don't let your child struggle for a long time oveer a single word. Tell them it's a hard word and tell it to them.
Whether your child is listening to you read, "reading" pictures, or reading words, be sure to communicate how much you enjoyed your book time together. Your enthusiasm will encourage your child's interest in reading. Each child reads at his/her own pace.
Most of all, enjoy this special time with your child...
A big Thank You to my Grade Parents Tim Ryder, Marsha McFayden, Erica Bower and Liza Snowden for their help in creating our volunteer schedules. They are posted by the entrance doors each month. Thank you as well to the parents who have already signed up for the numerous volunteer opportunities within the classroom. Thank you to Grace's dad for doing the afternoon mail bags!
Scholastic orders are due September 30. Thank you to Megan's mom who volunteered to do Scholastic orders from October onwards.
An important reminder to bring only nut- and sesame-free snacks to class. There are children in my classes that have severe nut and sesame allergies. A note regarding this will be sent home tomorrow. Thank you.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Tyndall
Thank you for helping make the first two weeks of school a smooth transition for your children.
This week was busy and the children did a wonderful job listening during the Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills. There was also a fun presentation called "Cyberbusters" this week and a Terry Fox Assembly.
A note regarding water bottles and snacks -- your children can bring water bottles to school but there is no need for them in class since we have a water fountain. There is no need for snacks either since the Special Person of the Day provides snack for the entire class. Please remember to provide your child with indoor shoes that remain in their cubbies. Thank you.
It was a pleasure meeting you at Curriculum Night. For further information regarding the Kindergarten Curriculum please see tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
Some parents were asking about good first dictionaries for their children, and I recommend the Scholastic First Dictionary, which is the one we use in class. The ISDN number is 978-0-439-7983 and it can be purchased through Scholastic for 22.99.
Bubbles the Beta Fish is our new classroom pet and the Special Person of the Day gets to feed him! We also met with our Reading Buddies this week and the JKs and SKs were interviewed by their Buddies and started making a booklet together called "The Twelve Days of Kindergarten."
A big thank you to my Grade 8 volunteers Haley and Leyla who read one-on-one with the afternoon children each day at the end of the day. I will be recruiting morning Grade 8 volunteers as well.
We are practicing the poem "Me" for the Sharing Assembly:
I've got ten little fingers,
And ten little toes,
Two little eyes,
And one little nose.
Put them all together
And what have you got?
You've got me, baby,
And that's a lot!
We read the wonderful book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and the children enjoyed making a coconut tree with the letters of their name on it. They are on display in the hall bulletin board.
We also learned about the letter sound "S" and are practicing our number poem, a copy of which will be sent home in this Friday's white bag. Soon your child will be bringing home his/her first calendar. Please put it on the fridge and practice saying and counting the numbers with them.
Here are some tips on how to be a good Reading Coach:
Pause...Prompt...Praise
When your child is stuck on a word, pause, then give them time to figure it out.
Prompt
Suggest a strategy they could try:
- Look at the picture. Are there any clues there?
- What would make sense there?
- Let's look at the letters. Are there any little words in it you know? Stretch out the sounds in the word.
- Try skipping a word. Read to the end of the sentence (or re-read the whole sentence) and come back to it.
Praise
- "I like the way you sounded that out."
- "Good for you for re-reading to figure that out."
- "You did a great job looking for clues in the picture."
Don't let your child struggle for a long time oveer a single word. Tell them it's a hard word and tell it to them.
Whether your child is listening to you read, "reading" pictures, or reading words, be sure to communicate how much you enjoyed your book time together. Your enthusiasm will encourage your child's interest in reading. Each child reads at his/her own pace.
Most of all, enjoy this special time with your child...
A big Thank You to my Grade Parents Tim Ryder, Marsha McFayden, Erica Bower and Liza Snowden for their help in creating our volunteer schedules. They are posted by the entrance doors each month. Thank you as well to the parents who have already signed up for the numerous volunteer opportunities within the classroom. Thank you to Grace's dad for doing the afternoon mail bags!
Scholastic orders are due September 30. Thank you to Megan's mom who volunteered to do Scholastic orders from October onwards.
An important reminder to bring only nut- and sesame-free snacks to class. There are children in my classes that have severe nut and sesame allergies. A note regarding this will be sent home tomorrow. Thank you.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Tyndall
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Week of September 9-13
Dear families,
Kindergarten in Room 166 is well under way and we had a terrific first week! The new JKs and SKs are learning our classroom routines and are making new friends every day. We completed our first "This is Me" sheet and started counting our days as well.
On Friday you received a lot of important information and forms in your child's white bag that should be read carefully. All forms should be completed and returned in your child's white bag tomorrow, Monday. Thank you.
Our Afternoon Class met with their Reading Buddies from Ms. Sunde's grade 2/3 class for the first time on Friday! The grade 2/3s interviewed my class and had fun getting to know them. This week our Morning Class will meet with their Reaung Buddies from Ms. Shklar's Grade 3 class. Reading Buddies meet once a week in my room. I look forward to another wonderful and productive year with our Reading Buddies!
Please join me in welcoming our Grade Parents - Morning Class: Tim Ryder + one more tbd
- Afternoon Class: Liza Snowden, Erica Bower
I hope you will attend Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 10. I look forward to seeing you at our Kindergarten Presentation at 5:30 in the gym. I will have hand-outs for you in my classroom as well.
Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions. I look forward to another terrific year with your wonderful children!
Yours in partnership,
Beverley Tyndall
Kindergarten in Room 166 is well under way and we had a terrific first week! The new JKs and SKs are learning our classroom routines and are making new friends every day. We completed our first "This is Me" sheet and started counting our days as well.
On Friday you received a lot of important information and forms in your child's white bag that should be read carefully. All forms should be completed and returned in your child's white bag tomorrow, Monday. Thank you.
Our Afternoon Class met with their Reading Buddies from Ms. Sunde's grade 2/3 class for the first time on Friday! The grade 2/3s interviewed my class and had fun getting to know them. This week our Morning Class will meet with their Reaung Buddies from Ms. Shklar's Grade 3 class. Reading Buddies meet once a week in my room. I look forward to another wonderful and productive year with our Reading Buddies!
Please join me in welcoming our Grade Parents - Morning Class: Tim Ryder + one more tbd
- Afternoon Class: Liza Snowden, Erica Bower
I hope you will attend Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 10. I look forward to seeing you at our Kindergarten Presentation at 5:30 in the gym. I will have hand-outs for you in my classroom as well.
Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions. I look forward to another terrific year with your wonderful children!
Yours in partnership,
Beverley Tyndall
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