Dear families,
It's hard to believe that October is almost over and that Halloween is next Friday! I think the children will have fun decorating our classroom on Monday!
The children have been working very hard and learning a lot about changes in the Fall and pumpkins. We estimated the weight and number of seeds in our pumpkin, and then observed the actual weight and number of seeds (before and after weighing). We have also been learning about Living vs. Non-Living things.
We have also started learning about Primary colours, discovering what happens when we mix varying amounts of yellow and red (it makes light to dark orange). This tied in nicely with our art this week which is painting a fun pumpkin plate from yellow and red paint. This week we'll turn it into a jack-o-lantern.
Last week we continued learning about Fall weather and went outside with the weather reports the children made.
The homework for the Juniors this weekend is to cut and sort small, medium and large pumpkins. I have also sent home a science sheet for you to fill out together when you open up your own pumpkin at home.
We had our second Sharing Assembly on Thursday celebrating Responsibility. In class, we always say the title first before singing our song with matching gestures, but it seems that when 122 children try to sing together in front of their classmates and parents this is forgotten! Maybe it's best to just start right in without the title... :)
Our Science Table looks terrific with all the Signs of Fall items. Thank you to the kids for sending them in!
The LKS Halloween Parade is on Friday morning! The whole school first assembles class by class in the gym, then we walk around the school. Please remember that makeup works better than masks for small children. Our Halloween Party will take place after lunch.
This week we'll be learning lots of Halloween vocabulary and doing sequencing activities (steps to make a jack-o-lantern, steps to grow a pumpkin). In numeracy we'll also be focusing on the number 5 and learning the poem, "Five Little Pumpkins."
This is the last week of the Scare Hunger Food Drive to support Free the Children. If you would like to help out, please send in non-perishable food items as well as unused toiletries.
It is time to sign up for Parent-Teacher interviews. Senior Kindergarten Progress Reports are sent home on November 10. Juniors will receive their first Progress Report in February. All parents are welcome to schedule an interview to discuss their child's progress. Please read the LKS Bulletin for instructions on how to book an interview on schoolbookings.net from October 31-November 6. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss your child's progress!
A friendly reminder to sign your child in at the Office if you are late arriving to school to ensure your child's safety. Entrance bells are 8:45 and 12:35. Attendance forms are sent to the office shortly thereafter.
Have a terrific week!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Week of October 20-24
Dear families,
I hope you are enjoying the wonderful weather this weekend. Apparently it snowed a bit in Orillia!
This week we learned more about scarecrows and living and non-living things. Our Signs of Fall folder is almost done and will go home in this Friday's mail bag. We also started learning about how pumpkins grow and made a little booklet. This week we will continue learning about pumpkins as well as Fall weather. We'll measure and weigh our pumpkins, estimate how many seeds are inside, count them, weigh the pumpkins after removing the seeds, etc.
Thank you to the children for bringing in signs of fall for our Science Table. We have leaves, acorns, pine cones, gourds, a pumpkin, feathers, and part of a wasp nest.
This Thursday will be our second Sharing Assembly. Brady, Camilla and Megan will be receiving certificates for Responsibility. Well done!
Thank you to Trudie who was our Mystery Reader this week. Thank you also to Dina's mom and Olivia's dad who helped out at the Book fair.
On Friday the whole school saw a presentation called NED about N-Never Give Up, E-Encourage Others, and D-Do Your Best.
The week after next is Halloween Week! That week we will be doing all kinds of fun literacy and numeracy Halloween themed activities.
If your child will be bringing in treats for his/her classmates for Halloween, please bring them in on the MONDAY or TUESDAY before Halloween. I will be making treat bags for each of the children to sort the treats if they bring them. Halloween is a terrific time to practice reading names and sorting. Help your child write his/her friends's names on the treat (unless they can do it by themselves).
Your children are learning how to read. At school, we read every day. I read aloud to the children, we read together in groups, and the children read to themselves or to a friend. Your children are bringing home Snuggle Books to read as well.
While you read and talk to your child, you are helping him/her to become a life-long reader. Some things you can do are:
- read your child's favourite stories again and again
- do puzzles and make things together
- sing nursery rhymes and songs
- share cards and letters from friends and family
- look at road signs, labels on packages, and signs in stores
- read recipes and shopping lists
- go to the library together
I am very excited about our trip to see Mad About Munsch on December 3rd. We will be doing a unit on the books the play is based on in November. Please be sure to send in your permission forms and 15.00 by November 3rd.
Have a wonderful week!
I hope you are enjoying the wonderful weather this weekend. Apparently it snowed a bit in Orillia!
This week we learned more about scarecrows and living and non-living things. Our Signs of Fall folder is almost done and will go home in this Friday's mail bag. We also started learning about how pumpkins grow and made a little booklet. This week we will continue learning about pumpkins as well as Fall weather. We'll measure and weigh our pumpkins, estimate how many seeds are inside, count them, weigh the pumpkins after removing the seeds, etc.
Thank you to the children for bringing in signs of fall for our Science Table. We have leaves, acorns, pine cones, gourds, a pumpkin, feathers, and part of a wasp nest.
This Thursday will be our second Sharing Assembly. Brady, Camilla and Megan will be receiving certificates for Responsibility. Well done!
Thank you to Trudie who was our Mystery Reader this week. Thank you also to Dina's mom and Olivia's dad who helped out at the Book fair.
On Friday the whole school saw a presentation called NED about N-Never Give Up, E-Encourage Others, and D-Do Your Best.
The week after next is Halloween Week! That week we will be doing all kinds of fun literacy and numeracy Halloween themed activities.
If your child will be bringing in treats for his/her classmates for Halloween, please bring them in on the MONDAY or TUESDAY before Halloween. I will be making treat bags for each of the children to sort the treats if they bring them. Halloween is a terrific time to practice reading names and sorting. Help your child write his/her friends's names on the treat (unless they can do it by themselves).
Your children are learning how to read. At school, we read every day. I read aloud to the children, we read together in groups, and the children read to themselves or to a friend. Your children are bringing home Snuggle Books to read as well.
While you read and talk to your child, you are helping him/her to become a life-long reader. Some things you can do are:
- read your child's favourite stories again and again
- do puzzles and make things together
- sing nursery rhymes and songs
- share cards and letters from friends and family
- look at road signs, labels on packages, and signs in stores
- read recipes and shopping lists
- go to the library together
I am very excited about our trip to see Mad About Munsch on December 3rd. We will be doing a unit on the books the play is based on in November. Please be sure to send in your permission forms and 15.00 by November 3rd.
Have a wonderful week!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Week of October 14-17
Dear families,
Happy Thanksgiving! It's hard to believe we've already had five weeks of school and that the children are thinking about Halloween already! Fall is a wonderful time of year. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the children do for their "This is Me in October" words and pictures.
We continued our unit on Patterns this week. The children did a good job identifying some of the many patterns in our classroom. Next week we will be making popsicle stick patterns (thanks Mrs. Burn for the idea!) and dabber patterns. The children also made patterns with Thanksgiving pictures. Good job! We made patterns at our tables with paper pictures, shapes and cubes. More to come!
The Seniors reviewed their number and letter formation by completing the upper and lower case alphabet and numbers 1-30. The Juniors practiced their numbers 1-10.
We are reading a series of non-fiction books about Signs of Fall: Harvest time, weather, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, and so on. I have changed our Science Centre to "Signs of Fall and am asking each child to bring in a "sign of Fall." It could be a leaf that has changed colour, an acorn, etc. I have an enormous (abandoned) wasp nest for the children to look at as well as a walnut shell that a squirrel has snacked from. Our magnifiers are out and I'm looking forward to seeing what the children bring in. Please also go on a little leaf hunt with your children because I would like to make leaf rubbings on wax paper with them. Softer leaves are best. Thank you!
We'll be starting a little fun unit on Scarecrows next week as an introduction to "Living vs. Non-Living Things." This will tie in nicely to a Science Unit on Pumpkins next. We'll estimate how much our pumpkin weighs, how many seeds are inside, weigh it, count the seeds, and learn how a pumpkin grows.
This week we started focusing on Fall Weather. So far we have counted 2 sunny days, 2 partially cloudy days, 2 cloudy days, 2 rainy days, and 0 snowy days. This is teaching us about how variable the weather can be in the Fall, as well as about graphing and counting. The children are having fun using the Smartboard for these and other activities!
I'm busy preparing a unit on Primary Colours for Science, as a nice next step from leaves changing colour. We'll learn about and make a colour wheel, mix the three primary colours (blue, yellow, red) at various centres with various materials to see what happens, and learn about collecting data, making predictions, observing, and drawing conclusions. I'm looking forward to it!
This week's homework for the Seniors is to complete the Thanksgiving Words Word Search and the Cornucopia Math Sums.
Homework for all the children is to bring in a Sign of Fall for our Science Centre. I could be an object or a photo (of them at a pumpkin patch for example).
Some parents have been asking about where to get those "C-shaped" neck pillows. Chapters may have them, but any small pillow is nice for your child's quiet time (12:30-1:00). I think the children really benefit from this little "down time" listening to nature sounds, especially the little ones who stay for lunch (which is most of the children).
Thank you to Tessa's mom who was our Mystery reader this week. Thank you as well to Olivia's dad, Dima's mom and grandmother, and Christopher's mom, who were Computer Lab helpers this week. Going forward, if you have volunteered for Computer Lab, please sign in at the office then go straight up to the Computer Lab at 9:20 a.m. and start logging the computers on. The password is on the whiteboard. We will meet you there! Thank you so much for your help.
Your received a Student Data Correction Form this week. It is due back to the school by October 16.
That's the news for this week - I hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather and colours!
Mrs. Tyndall
Happy Thanksgiving! It's hard to believe we've already had five weeks of school and that the children are thinking about Halloween already! Fall is a wonderful time of year. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the children do for their "This is Me in October" words and pictures.
We continued our unit on Patterns this week. The children did a good job identifying some of the many patterns in our classroom. Next week we will be making popsicle stick patterns (thanks Mrs. Burn for the idea!) and dabber patterns. The children also made patterns with Thanksgiving pictures. Good job! We made patterns at our tables with paper pictures, shapes and cubes. More to come!
The Seniors reviewed their number and letter formation by completing the upper and lower case alphabet and numbers 1-30. The Juniors practiced their numbers 1-10.
We are reading a series of non-fiction books about Signs of Fall: Harvest time, weather, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, and so on. I have changed our Science Centre to "Signs of Fall and am asking each child to bring in a "sign of Fall." It could be a leaf that has changed colour, an acorn, etc. I have an enormous (abandoned) wasp nest for the children to look at as well as a walnut shell that a squirrel has snacked from. Our magnifiers are out and I'm looking forward to seeing what the children bring in. Please also go on a little leaf hunt with your children because I would like to make leaf rubbings on wax paper with them. Softer leaves are best. Thank you!
We'll be starting a little fun unit on Scarecrows next week as an introduction to "Living vs. Non-Living Things." This will tie in nicely to a Science Unit on Pumpkins next. We'll estimate how much our pumpkin weighs, how many seeds are inside, weigh it, count the seeds, and learn how a pumpkin grows.
This week we started focusing on Fall Weather. So far we have counted 2 sunny days, 2 partially cloudy days, 2 cloudy days, 2 rainy days, and 0 snowy days. This is teaching us about how variable the weather can be in the Fall, as well as about graphing and counting. The children are having fun using the Smartboard for these and other activities!
I'm busy preparing a unit on Primary Colours for Science, as a nice next step from leaves changing colour. We'll learn about and make a colour wheel, mix the three primary colours (blue, yellow, red) at various centres with various materials to see what happens, and learn about collecting data, making predictions, observing, and drawing conclusions. I'm looking forward to it!
This week's homework for the Seniors is to complete the Thanksgiving Words Word Search and the Cornucopia Math Sums.
Homework for all the children is to bring in a Sign of Fall for our Science Centre. I could be an object or a photo (of them at a pumpkin patch for example).
Some parents have been asking about where to get those "C-shaped" neck pillows. Chapters may have them, but any small pillow is nice for your child's quiet time (12:30-1:00). I think the children really benefit from this little "down time" listening to nature sounds, especially the little ones who stay for lunch (which is most of the children).
Thank you to Tessa's mom who was our Mystery reader this week. Thank you as well to Olivia's dad, Dima's mom and grandmother, and Christopher's mom, who were Computer Lab helpers this week. Going forward, if you have volunteered for Computer Lab, please sign in at the office then go straight up to the Computer Lab at 9:20 a.m. and start logging the computers on. The password is on the whiteboard. We will meet you there! Thank you so much for your help.
Your received a Student Data Correction Form this week. It is due back to the school by October 16.
That's the news for this week - I hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather and colours!
Mrs. Tyndall
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Week of October 5-9
Dear families,
What a beautiful fall weekend!
Last week we continued our units on Signs of Fall in the morning, and All About Pets in the afternoon. The children's homework for this weekend is to complete the page "My Pet" with a drawing of their real (or imaginary!) pet. The Seniors should also write the name of their pet on the lines beneath their drawing, as well as some descriptor words about their pet ("My pet Max is a cute, brown, small, dog.").
With our Reading Buddies we started a Turkey Craft, colouring according to colour words. We have been tying in learning our colour words (more for the Juniors - the Seniors know them) to two booklets we are writing: Colourful Cats (JKs) and "I Can Be" (SKs).
This week we will start our Math unit on Patterning. Patterns are everywhere! Encourage your children to point out colour patterns to you: ABAB, AAB AAB, ABC ABC, ABB ABB, etc. Size and shape patterns work well, too: square, square, triangle/ small, big, small, big/ etc. If your child has patterned clothing, encourage him/her to point out the pattern on their clothing.
The children are enjoying signing in at the Smartboard! We'll also be doing some patterning exercises and colour poems/songs on the Smartboard this week.
This week we will be doing lots of Thanksgiving-related activities: counting turkeys, turkey patterns, turkey letters, etc. We will also be talking more about what "Harvest" means and what we do with the food that is harvested.
We will also be making Venn Diagrams in Numeracy, comparing characteristics of Cats vs. Kittens and Cats vs. Dogs.
A quick note about scissors: please provide your child with child-size blunt scissors at home. We do a lot of cutting and gluing in class and any similar small motor activities your child can also do at home would be beneficial.
So far we have talked about the following letter sounds: S A T I P N C K E H. We do one a day, and will rotate through all the sounds several times this year.
During our Quiet Time from 12:30-1:00, a few children have a small pillow. If your child has a small pillow that s/he can keep in school it would help them rest comfortably. A soft neck-type pillow works well (the kind we use on airplanes, for example).
When your child brings a folder home (the first one was "All About Me"), please keep that folder at home. If is your child's to keep and re-read at home. Your child will be bringing home a lot of work and art this year. If you don't want to keep it, I found with my own children that taking a photo of their work and keeping the special art pieces worked well.
Finally, a big thank you to Claire's mom who was our Mystery Reader this week.
There are still quite a few spots open for Computer Lab volunteers - please let Trudie or Erica know if you are able to volunteer from (9:20-10:00) on Days 1 and 2 each week.
I hope you have a terrific week!
What a beautiful fall weekend!
Last week we continued our units on Signs of Fall in the morning, and All About Pets in the afternoon. The children's homework for this weekend is to complete the page "My Pet" with a drawing of their real (or imaginary!) pet. The Seniors should also write the name of their pet on the lines beneath their drawing, as well as some descriptor words about their pet ("My pet Max is a cute, brown, small, dog.").
With our Reading Buddies we started a Turkey Craft, colouring according to colour words. We have been tying in learning our colour words (more for the Juniors - the Seniors know them) to two booklets we are writing: Colourful Cats (JKs) and "I Can Be" (SKs).
This week we will start our Math unit on Patterning. Patterns are everywhere! Encourage your children to point out colour patterns to you: ABAB, AAB AAB, ABC ABC, ABB ABB, etc. Size and shape patterns work well, too: square, square, triangle/ small, big, small, big/ etc. If your child has patterned clothing, encourage him/her to point out the pattern on their clothing.
The children are enjoying signing in at the Smartboard! We'll also be doing some patterning exercises and colour poems/songs on the Smartboard this week.
This week we will be doing lots of Thanksgiving-related activities: counting turkeys, turkey patterns, turkey letters, etc. We will also be talking more about what "Harvest" means and what we do with the food that is harvested.
We will also be making Venn Diagrams in Numeracy, comparing characteristics of Cats vs. Kittens and Cats vs. Dogs.
A quick note about scissors: please provide your child with child-size blunt scissors at home. We do a lot of cutting and gluing in class and any similar small motor activities your child can also do at home would be beneficial.
So far we have talked about the following letter sounds: S A T I P N C K E H. We do one a day, and will rotate through all the sounds several times this year.
During our Quiet Time from 12:30-1:00, a few children have a small pillow. If your child has a small pillow that s/he can keep in school it would help them rest comfortably. A soft neck-type pillow works well (the kind we use on airplanes, for example).
When your child brings a folder home (the first one was "All About Me"), please keep that folder at home. If is your child's to keep and re-read at home. Your child will be bringing home a lot of work and art this year. If you don't want to keep it, I found with my own children that taking a photo of their work and keeping the special art pieces worked well.
Finally, a big thank you to Claire's mom who was our Mystery Reader this week.
There are still quite a few spots open for Computer Lab volunteers - please let Trudie or Erica know if you are able to volunteer from (9:20-10:00) on Days 1 and 2 each week.
I hope you have a terrific week!
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Week of September 29 - October 3
Dear families,
I hope your are enjoying this lovely fall weekend. The leaves are starting to turn and now that Autumn is officially here, we will be talking and learning about seasonal changes in nature. The children are finishing up their fall leaves Family Trees and their work inspired by our Terry Fox Walk called "I was brave when..." is on display on our class bulletin board. I have to share that two students playing with the blocks created a beautifully detailed structure and said it was "Heaven for Terry Fox..." Wow.
This week, as well as our science unit on Fall changes, we'll be starting a fun little unit on Pets. Kinds of pets, what they eat, can do, look like, why they are fun, how we take care of them, etc. I think/hope the children enjoy this fun little literacy unit. Look for these two new folders coming home in the next few weeks!
The children are also doing a little "Eye Spy" art: JKs read the lower case letters and sounds while SKs read the sight words I have written on construction paper. Then they decorate the paper with various material to look like a page out of an Eye Spy Book. I have several Eye Spy Phonics books to accompany their work.
Our Terry Fox Walk was lots of fun. The children walked around the school three times, then ran the last little bit.
Our very first Pizza Lunch was a success, thanks to Trudie and Erica, and parent volunteers Luca's mom and Lauren's mom. Thank you so much!
At our very first Sharing Assembly of the year, Avery, Christopher and Freya received certificates for Respect. Congratulations! Getting 120 children to sing at the same time is quite a feat and my class sang their last verse twice since we got a bit lost! It was very sweet nonetheless! Next month we'll all try to start at the same time! The TDSB Character Trait we will be learning about in October is Responsibility.
Your child received his/her first Snuggle Book this Friday. Juniors and Seniors have separate sets. Enjoy this special reading time with your child, and one day s/he will read to you!
This week we will be doing our month-end cumulative work of "This is Me in September" and the numbers 1-30 (Juniors 1-10). I keep a copy for assessment purposes and send the original home. We will also start learning our October Words - a copy of which will be sent home on Friday.
Remember that Photo Day is on September 30 (Tuesday). Children are not supposed to wear green due to the background screen colour.
Our Science Table has changed to "All About Fasteners" and Hole Punches. The kids are learning how to use paper clips, staplers, hole punches (their favourites!), and tape dispensers. Small motor skills! Soon it will turn to Signs of Fall as the children bring in different coloured leaves, etc.
The Homework Sheet for this weekend is to read and name the upper and lower case letters (sounds, for the Seniors) of the alphabet.
The children will be going to the Computer Lab starting this week. In order to support your child's small motor manipulation of the mouse, consider putting a sticker on the "left-click" side of your mouse at home.
Finally, the Seniors and Juniors enjoyed their first separate teaching and learning time (they'll have these opportunities a few scheduled times each week); the Seniors in Room 157 with me and the Juniors in Room 166 with Mrs. Paldon. Great for small group work and friendship!
Please note that I will be supervising LKS members of Free the Children at "We Day" on October 2. There will be a supply teacher in my absence.
I hope have a lovely week.
Regards,
Mrs. Tyndall
I hope your are enjoying this lovely fall weekend. The leaves are starting to turn and now that Autumn is officially here, we will be talking and learning about seasonal changes in nature. The children are finishing up their fall leaves Family Trees and their work inspired by our Terry Fox Walk called "I was brave when..." is on display on our class bulletin board. I have to share that two students playing with the blocks created a beautifully detailed structure and said it was "Heaven for Terry Fox..." Wow.
This week, as well as our science unit on Fall changes, we'll be starting a fun little unit on Pets. Kinds of pets, what they eat, can do, look like, why they are fun, how we take care of them, etc. I think/hope the children enjoy this fun little literacy unit. Look for these two new folders coming home in the next few weeks!
The children are also doing a little "Eye Spy" art: JKs read the lower case letters and sounds while SKs read the sight words I have written on construction paper. Then they decorate the paper with various material to look like a page out of an Eye Spy Book. I have several Eye Spy Phonics books to accompany their work.
Our Terry Fox Walk was lots of fun. The children walked around the school three times, then ran the last little bit.
Our very first Pizza Lunch was a success, thanks to Trudie and Erica, and parent volunteers Luca's mom and Lauren's mom. Thank you so much!
At our very first Sharing Assembly of the year, Avery, Christopher and Freya received certificates for Respect. Congratulations! Getting 120 children to sing at the same time is quite a feat and my class sang their last verse twice since we got a bit lost! It was very sweet nonetheless! Next month we'll all try to start at the same time! The TDSB Character Trait we will be learning about in October is Responsibility.
Your child received his/her first Snuggle Book this Friday. Juniors and Seniors have separate sets. Enjoy this special reading time with your child, and one day s/he will read to you!
This week we will be doing our month-end cumulative work of "This is Me in September" and the numbers 1-30 (Juniors 1-10). I keep a copy for assessment purposes and send the original home. We will also start learning our October Words - a copy of which will be sent home on Friday.
Remember that Photo Day is on September 30 (Tuesday). Children are not supposed to wear green due to the background screen colour.
Our Science Table has changed to "All About Fasteners" and Hole Punches. The kids are learning how to use paper clips, staplers, hole punches (their favourites!), and tape dispensers. Small motor skills! Soon it will turn to Signs of Fall as the children bring in different coloured leaves, etc.
The Homework Sheet for this weekend is to read and name the upper and lower case letters (sounds, for the Seniors) of the alphabet.
The children will be going to the Computer Lab starting this week. In order to support your child's small motor manipulation of the mouse, consider putting a sticker on the "left-click" side of your mouse at home.
Finally, the Seniors and Juniors enjoyed their first separate teaching and learning time (they'll have these opportunities a few scheduled times each week); the Seniors in Room 157 with me and the Juniors in Room 166 with Mrs. Paldon. Great for small group work and friendship!
Please note that I will be supervising LKS members of Free the Children at "We Day" on October 2. There will be a supply teacher in my absence.
I hope have a lovely week.
Regards,
Mrs. Tyndall
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)