Dear families,
I hope you have had a lovely weekend and enjoyed this amazing autumn weather! I found a white fuzzy caterpillar up north this weekend as well as 12 crayfish claws that a local seagull left behind. Perfect for our little Science Centre and nature inquiries!
Last week was busy in room 166! We continued our Mo Willems Author Study last week; after watching a little video about real pigeons and then Mo Willems' "Pigeon Needs a Bath!" the children helped me create a Venn diagram comparing real pigeons and Mo Willems' fictional pigeon. We also read Willems' book "Should I Share My Ice Cream" and talked about the TDSB Character Trait of Integrity, in other words, doing what you should do even when no one is looking! We made a "favourite ice cream" graph and tally marks, the JKs used bingo dabbers to find and trace the letter P for Pigeon, and the SKs "Read the Room" by finding pigeon sight words and writing 7 of them down. The SKs also competed a sheet by writing 5 more things the pigeon shouldn't drive, and are practising a booklet of pigeon popcorn words! Good work! The kids had a great time doing cookie math (after reading "Pigeon Wants a Cookie!") and ate an Oreo after solving a simple addition or subtraction problem involving cookies in jars! Thanks to Ethan for the extra Oreos!
Psssst! This month's Scholastic flyers have Mo Willems books! October's Scholastic order is due on the 10th.
In Numeracy, we started our inquiry on Patterns. The JKs are learning simple ABAB patterns and the SKs are learning to create and recognize more complex patterns such as ABCABC, AABAAB, ABBABB. The Juniors are creating a Numbers Poems Booklet, which includes all the little poems we say to help the children remember how to write the numbers 1-10. For example, "A straight line down is lots of fun, that's how you make the Number One!" We JKs also counted the corresponding stickers I gave them (who doesn't like stickers!!). One-to-One Correspondence is an important Kindergarten skill. As well, Zero the Zebra came out twice this week! It was September 20, and it was also the 10th day of school this week! We are also learning (JKs) and reviewing (SKs) how to make tally marks.
The SKs have been doing a terrific job with their journals! I am very happy that they are skipping lines and drawing lovely pictures to accompany their writing. Keep up the great work!
Kindly review with your children which is his/her snack and which is lunch. We discussed it in class but some of the little ones still aren't sure. Please also don't send fruit cups as snacks. Most of our class is carpeted and the children can't manage opening them, so spilled sweet juice attracts wasps this time of year as well as ants. Fresh fruit is easiest (and healthiest!).
The painting centre is officially open and already the children are making some beautiful art. I've put out rainbow colours (in the ROYGBV order), plus black and white, and some of the kids were quick to paint rainbows as well as lovely flowers.
Thank you so much to Alexander's dad who was our Mystery Reader this week! He read the classic stories, "Ferdinand the Bull" and "Library Lion."
With their Reading Buddies, the children answered questions about themselves and read books.
We are also learning a poem called "I Like School" and the children are learning how to write the word TO.
On Friday had a little cookie party for the children moving to the smaller class. Boy were they excited when they saw their new classroom!
That's the news for this week! I hope you have a lovely week. This hot weather is supposed to break by Wednesday. Whew!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Week of September 11-15
Dear families,
Last week was busy in Room 166! The children are really enjoying our Author Study on Mo Willems! They made pigeon art; the SKs wrote about other things pigeons shouldn't drive and drew a picture; the JKs are colouring and reading a booklet about Pigeon's friends Elephant and Piggie; the children played a number matching card game with Elephant and Piggie, and we had lots of fun reading Mo Willems' terrific books that are fun to read and also teach little ones lessons about how to be a friend and solve problems. Thank you so much to Hudson who shared his Pigeon stuffy with his classmates! We'll continue with this author study and all their wonderful work will go home when we're done.
The children also played at various numeracy centres last week. Numeracy at this age is much more than counting and recognizing and printing numbers; it is being able to sequence; knowing which is more, most, less, least; ordination; solving problems and making good decisions; performing simple calculations; using technology such as computer applications to help solve problems; simple coding; managing time and money; handling everyday situations that involve numbers. This year the children will learn about Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Patterning, and Data Management and Probability. Math is fun! Here is a great guide from the Provincial Government called "Doing Mathematics with Your Child:" parentGuideNumEn.pdf Next week we will start learning about (JKs) and reviewing and expanding (SKs) Patterns. Patterns are everywhere!
Last week was the first assembly of the year for LKS - the Terry Fox assembly. The children did a marvellous job sitting and listening attentively! We watched two videos on the Smartboard about manners and accepting others who are different from ourselves. We're all unique and the same at the same time!
The children also did a very good job during our first Fire Drill! Good listening and lining up!
We met with our Reading Buddies for the first time last week! Ms. Sunde's students helped ours complete the sentence "I was brave when..." and drew themselves running with Terry Fox.
Thank you so much to Mia who brought in real LAVA from Mount Etna in Italy! This turned into a great mini inquiry about volcanoes! Mia donated the lava to our classroom Science Centre. Thank you Mia! We love Science!
Every day in the afternoon we have "Quiet Thinking Time." This is about 30 minutes of quiet relaxation mindful time so the children can rest their minds and bodies and re-energize for the rest of the day. They listen to soft nature sounds, "spa-type" music, soft piano playing, zen-type music. It's a long day for the children, especially the JKs. This is also a time when I work 1-on-one with children in a quiet environment, do assessments, when children who need extra time can quietly finish their work, and is a very positive way of teaching the important skill of self-regulation.
On Friday it was INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY! This is inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' best-selling book called "The Dot," which is about a child whose teacher inspires him to be an artist. We read the book, and then the children all made their own dots by colouring in a circle, cutting it out, and then drawing on it some more with "magic" pencil crayons (water colour pencil crayons) and then brushing those marks with water. They look beautiful and are on display in the classroom bulletin board.
Cutting with child-safe scissors is a skill the children work on each week. Please provide your child with child-safe scissors at home so they can practise this important small motor skill and spatial skill.
The Sight Words (a.k.a. Popcorn Words) of the week are IS and AND. Most of the SKs know how to recognize and spell these already. They can extend this skill by spelling it and writing it. I have prepared the SK Journals and I am looking forward to reading them each week! Don't forget to complete the list at the front of the journal for your child with ideas for them to write about. Encourage your child to use the list of "100 most frequently used words" at the back of their journals. Thank you for supporting your child as a writer and illustrator!
Summer has finally arrived in Toronto :) and the children need layers of clothing so they don't get over heated. Please avoid dressing your children in flip flops because they can easily trip and fall wearing them. Close-toed shoes are safest for outdoor play. Thank you.
I would like to say a huge THANK YOU once again to Kate's mom Tara and Hudson's mom Tiffany who have generously offered to be our Grade Parents this year! If you would like to be a volunteer in our classroom this year please let them know. Thank you!!
That's the news for this week! I hope you are having a terrific weekend and are enjoying the beautiful weather.
Mrs. Tyndall
Last week was busy in Room 166! The children are really enjoying our Author Study on Mo Willems! They made pigeon art; the SKs wrote about other things pigeons shouldn't drive and drew a picture; the JKs are colouring and reading a booklet about Pigeon's friends Elephant and Piggie; the children played a number matching card game with Elephant and Piggie, and we had lots of fun reading Mo Willems' terrific books that are fun to read and also teach little ones lessons about how to be a friend and solve problems. Thank you so much to Hudson who shared his Pigeon stuffy with his classmates! We'll continue with this author study and all their wonderful work will go home when we're done.
The children also played at various numeracy centres last week. Numeracy at this age is much more than counting and recognizing and printing numbers; it is being able to sequence; knowing which is more, most, less, least; ordination; solving problems and making good decisions; performing simple calculations; using technology such as computer applications to help solve problems; simple coding; managing time and money; handling everyday situations that involve numbers. This year the children will learn about Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Patterning, and Data Management and Probability. Math is fun! Here is a great guide from the Provincial Government called "Doing Mathematics with Your Child:" parentGuideNumEn.pdf Next week we will start learning about (JKs) and reviewing and expanding (SKs) Patterns. Patterns are everywhere!
Last week was the first assembly of the year for LKS - the Terry Fox assembly. The children did a marvellous job sitting and listening attentively! We watched two videos on the Smartboard about manners and accepting others who are different from ourselves. We're all unique and the same at the same time!
The children also did a very good job during our first Fire Drill! Good listening and lining up!
We met with our Reading Buddies for the first time last week! Ms. Sunde's students helped ours complete the sentence "I was brave when..." and drew themselves running with Terry Fox.
Thank you so much to Mia who brought in real LAVA from Mount Etna in Italy! This turned into a great mini inquiry about volcanoes! Mia donated the lava to our classroom Science Centre. Thank you Mia! We love Science!
Every day in the afternoon we have "Quiet Thinking Time." This is about 30 minutes of quiet relaxation mindful time so the children can rest their minds and bodies and re-energize for the rest of the day. They listen to soft nature sounds, "spa-type" music, soft piano playing, zen-type music. It's a long day for the children, especially the JKs. This is also a time when I work 1-on-one with children in a quiet environment, do assessments, when children who need extra time can quietly finish their work, and is a very positive way of teaching the important skill of self-regulation.
On Friday it was INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY! This is inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' best-selling book called "The Dot," which is about a child whose teacher inspires him to be an artist. We read the book, and then the children all made their own dots by colouring in a circle, cutting it out, and then drawing on it some more with "magic" pencil crayons (water colour pencil crayons) and then brushing those marks with water. They look beautiful and are on display in the classroom bulletin board.
Cutting with child-safe scissors is a skill the children work on each week. Please provide your child with child-safe scissors at home so they can practise this important small motor skill and spatial skill.
The Sight Words (a.k.a. Popcorn Words) of the week are IS and AND. Most of the SKs know how to recognize and spell these already. They can extend this skill by spelling it and writing it. I have prepared the SK Journals and I am looking forward to reading them each week! Don't forget to complete the list at the front of the journal for your child with ideas for them to write about. Encourage your child to use the list of "100 most frequently used words" at the back of their journals. Thank you for supporting your child as a writer and illustrator!
Summer has finally arrived in Toronto :) and the children need layers of clothing so they don't get over heated. Please avoid dressing your children in flip flops because they can easily trip and fall wearing them. Close-toed shoes are safest for outdoor play. Thank you.
I would like to say a huge THANK YOU once again to Kate's mom Tara and Hudson's mom Tiffany who have generously offered to be our Grade Parents this year! If you would like to be a volunteer in our classroom this year please let them know. Thank you!!
That's the news for this week! I hope you are having a terrific weekend and are enjoying the beautiful weather.
Mrs. Tyndall
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Week of September 5-9
Dear families,
The first week of school is over already! The children have done an amazing job learning classroom rules and routines and there have been very few tears! Here is just some of the learning the children (especially the little JKs!) did last week. They learned how to:
- get to school - some learned to board and exit a school bus
- manoeuver between the big people and the little people to find a classroom
- line up
- find their cubby and hook in the cubby room
- find their name on a table
- find space in a room full of other little beings - for some this may have been the largest group of children (32!) they have ever been with!
- the names of adults they have never seen before
- where the washroom is
- raise their hand and put their finger on their lips when they want a turn on the carpet
- sit "criss cross apple sauce"
- move carefully and quietly from one centre to another
- share toys and materials (this is ongoing!)
- follow each other in a line to go upstairs to the Library and Computer Lab
- open and close back packs
- read "snack 1" and "snack 2"
- new games
- a new poem
- new songs
- make new friends!
Just think of all those little things we need to learn to be more independent! My SKs are being awesome role models to the JKs. Well done!!
Our first read-aloud was "How Full is your Bucket" for kids. The children helped me put ideas on the "bucket filling" or "bucket dipping" side of chart paper. We have a red classroom bucket that we'll fill with pom poms when the children do positive things.
In Friday's mail bag there was a lot of important paper work to be completed. This is time sensitive so please return it by MONDAY. Thank you.
The first of our monthly words was sent home too ("August/September Words"). Please put it on the fridge or in your child's room so s/he can practice them at home. It would be wonderful if you could practise letter and sound recognition with your child at home. We are learning to recognize high-frequency words in the modeled writing each day. As well, it is important for your child to learn to print his/her name this year with a capital letter, followed by lower case letters. This is not going to happen overnight with my little JKs. It may take most of the year for some! Try making their name with play-dough, sugar on glue, or dot-to-dot on paper.
The children are also learning about working together cooperatively in Centres. We have played in the following centres: wooden letter games, patterns, magnetic letters and numbers, counting cards, Treo, Lego, dominoes, building toys, and dramatic play.
The first Scholastic order is due on September 22. Thank you for supporting Scholastic!
Our very first Mystery Reader was Nathalie, a former student of mine. Nathalie read a funny Mo Willems book. We will be starting a Mo Willems author study next week! If you don't know his books, he wrote "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" and many other funny stories that kids love. If you would like to be a Mystery Reader, please contact our Grade Parent Tiffany.
This year we are doing Reading Buddies with Ms. Sunde's Grade 3/4 class. We will meet for the first time next week!
The words of the week are I and AM. We add two new words to our word wall each week. The children completed their first "This is Me" work. We do these each month (with the SKs writing about their picture). It's so amazing to see the childrens' progress from month to month! They also practised tracing lower and upper case letters. Next week we will start the Snuggle Up book program and will send home journals for the SKs.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. My family and I went up north for the day and today we saw the world premiere of "Jane" at the TIFF, a documentary about Jane Goodall. To our surprise and delight, Dr. Goodall was in the audience and spoke about her life after the film. It inspired me to do an inquiry on monkeys (fiction and non-fiction) with my little "monkies!" :)
I'm looking forward to seeing all the kids' happy little faces tomorrow!
The first week of school is over already! The children have done an amazing job learning classroom rules and routines and there have been very few tears! Here is just some of the learning the children (especially the little JKs!) did last week. They learned how to:
- get to school - some learned to board and exit a school bus
- manoeuver between the big people and the little people to find a classroom
- line up
- find their cubby and hook in the cubby room
- find their name on a table
- find space in a room full of other little beings - for some this may have been the largest group of children (32!) they have ever been with!
- the names of adults they have never seen before
- where the washroom is
- raise their hand and put their finger on their lips when they want a turn on the carpet
- sit "criss cross apple sauce"
- move carefully and quietly from one centre to another
- share toys and materials (this is ongoing!)
- follow each other in a line to go upstairs to the Library and Computer Lab
- open and close back packs
- read "snack 1" and "snack 2"
- new games
- a new poem
- new songs
- make new friends!
Just think of all those little things we need to learn to be more independent! My SKs are being awesome role models to the JKs. Well done!!
Our first read-aloud was "How Full is your Bucket" for kids. The children helped me put ideas on the "bucket filling" or "bucket dipping" side of chart paper. We have a red classroom bucket that we'll fill with pom poms when the children do positive things.
In Friday's mail bag there was a lot of important paper work to be completed. This is time sensitive so please return it by MONDAY. Thank you.
The first of our monthly words was sent home too ("August/September Words"). Please put it on the fridge or in your child's room so s/he can practice them at home. It would be wonderful if you could practise letter and sound recognition with your child at home. We are learning to recognize high-frequency words in the modeled writing each day. As well, it is important for your child to learn to print his/her name this year with a capital letter, followed by lower case letters. This is not going to happen overnight with my little JKs. It may take most of the year for some! Try making their name with play-dough, sugar on glue, or dot-to-dot on paper.
The children are also learning about working together cooperatively in Centres. We have played in the following centres: wooden letter games, patterns, magnetic letters and numbers, counting cards, Treo, Lego, dominoes, building toys, and dramatic play.
The first Scholastic order is due on September 22. Thank you for supporting Scholastic!
Our very first Mystery Reader was Nathalie, a former student of mine. Nathalie read a funny Mo Willems book. We will be starting a Mo Willems author study next week! If you don't know his books, he wrote "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" and many other funny stories that kids love. If you would like to be a Mystery Reader, please contact our Grade Parent Tiffany.
This year we are doing Reading Buddies with Ms. Sunde's Grade 3/4 class. We will meet for the first time next week!
The words of the week are I and AM. We add two new words to our word wall each week. The children completed their first "This is Me" work. We do these each month (with the SKs writing about their picture). It's so amazing to see the childrens' progress from month to month! They also practised tracing lower and upper case letters. Next week we will start the Snuggle Up book program and will send home journals for the SKs.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. My family and I went up north for the day and today we saw the world premiere of "Jane" at the TIFF, a documentary about Jane Goodall. To our surprise and delight, Dr. Goodall was in the audience and spoke about her life after the film. It inspired me to do an inquiry on monkeys (fiction and non-fiction) with my little "monkies!" :)
I'm looking forward to seeing all the kids' happy little faces tomorrow!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Welcome to Room 166!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Kindergarten at Lambton Kingsway Junior Middle School! I am delighted to have your child in my class! We are going to be learning a lot this year and it is my goal to do everything I can to make sure my classroom is a welcoming place full of learning, fun and friends. Please also join me in welcoming Early Childhood Educator Ms. Mosun to our classroom! Thank you to Hudson's mom who has volunteered (again!) to be our Grade Parent this year! We need one more Grade Parent. Please email Madeleine Lowenbork-Frick (mfrick@sympatico.ca) if you would like to be a Grade Parent. We have lots of opportunities each year for parents to volunteer in the classroom, including weekly Mystery Readers (every Day 4)! Please contact our Grade Parents for further information regarding volunteering in the classroom. Thank you!
I am looking forward to seeing you at the Kindergarten Open House next Tuesday! I am looking forward to a wonderful year and I know you are, too.
Kindergarten is a two-year program and our classroom has both Juniors and Seniors. I encourage you to have conversations with your child about what we are doing in school. Parental involvement is very important. Your participation and support will help instill a positive attitude about learning. When we all work together, students are successful! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns during the school year. Please check my blog each weekend for updates and important classroom information.
Kindergarten Schedule
8:45-8:50 Entry
8:50-11:20 Morning Program
11:20-12:30 Lunch
12:30-12:35 Entry
12:35-3:05 Afternoon Program
Your child will need a regular-sized backpack for Kindergarten. This backpack should be large enough to carry snacks, lunch (if your child is not going home for lunch), a library book, small reading books, as well as a clear TDSB plastic "mailbag" (provided by me) that will go home at the end of each week. This bag will include notes from school, classwork, art projects, etc. Please return this bag to school each Monday, and remind your child to hand put it in the bin provided when s/he enters the classroom. Please give your child opportunities to practice opening, putting things in, taking objects out of the backpack and then zipping the backpack closed.
As your child enters school, independence (and attempting to be independent) is very important. Saying a cheerful goodbye at the outside door will ensure your child has a smooth transition to classroom routines and independence.
The beginning of the day, end of the day, and lunch time are busy times, with children coming and going to before and after school programs, taking the bus, daycare, etc. My first priority is ensuring that each of my children is dismissed safely to parents and caregivers, bus attendants. etc. If you wish to speak with me about your child's progress, please send a note and I’ll be happy to make an appointment to speak to you at a time convenient to all.
Please note that the Kindergarten Playground/Yard is CLOSED after school each day as it is reserved for the After School Program. Thank you.
Important Numbers:
School Office: 416-394-7890
Please leave a message with the office if your child will be absent from school. Messages can be left 24 hours/day. Please give your child’s name, teacher name, and reason for absence.
My Program:
In keeping with the Ministry of Education’s Full Day Kindergarten Curriculum, the Kindergarten Program is Inquiry-Based. I will also be doing several educational and interesting theme-based literacy and numeracy activities with the children adapted to their level and interests, which also helps prepare them for SK/Grade One Curriculum. The children will bring these themed units home in folders when they are completed, so that you can see all the hard work they have been doing in class!
Each child is unique. Young children grow and develop at their own rate. When provided with opportunities to play and interact with their peers and guided by adults, children have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and solve problems through everyday activities. While there will be large group discussions, much of the interaction between your child and myself and Miss. Santiago will be in small groups or one on one. As a result, children will be able to receive as much individualized attention that is geared to their interests as well as their development and abilities.
Centres:
The Kindergarten classroom is set up as a number of centres. Independence is key to the program and, as such, the learning materials are housed in storage shelves and containers that allow children to find and reach them on their own. The children are expected to help keep our classroom clean and organized by cleaning up their activity when finished with it and returning it to the proper place.
While centres will change through the year (according to which theme we are working on), some remain, with the materials changing to meet our learning expectations. Some of the centres in our classroom are:
- Sand and/or Water
- Math (Numeracy)
- Writing
- Reading/Books/Mini Library
- Creative (Art)
- Sensory
- Building
- Science/Discovery
- Computers (2)
- Dramatic Play
They will also be encouraged to rotate through all the different centres. Each child has a designated seat at a table, and a designated spot during Circle Time and Smartboard Work Time. Otherwise, as a rule, children will play in small groups of 2-4 children.
Additional Activities:
Library and Computers – We are fortunate to have Teacher Librarian Ms. McGee, who maintains a wonderful primary resource centre. Each week we will have an opportunity to visit the library for a read aloud or learning activity, as well as a book exchange. The library is also next to our Computer Lab where the children will have an opportunity each week to explore a variety of programs and learn how to use the computers.
Physical Education – Our gymnasium and outdoor kindergarten playground are large open spaces where children will be able to participate in activities to promote healthy living. Co-operative games and moving safely are the major components of the kindergarten gym program.
Volunteers:
There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer in the classroom, such as Mystery Reader (every Day 1 at 9 a.m.) and Holiday Craft Parties. Any person wishing to volunteer at the school requires a recent, valid police check from the Toronto Police Department. Annual Declarations are required for any current volunteers. Please contact your Grade Parent if you wish to volunteer for classroom activities.
Safety:
Ensuring the safety of the students, staff and visitors at Lambton Kingsway is a priority. Students in Kindergarten enter and leave through their classroom doors to the kindergarten yard. Should you need to enter the school, please use the front doors and sign in at the office each time you visit us.
A note from home is required for changes to regular routines (i.e. a child who normally stays at school for lunch will be going home, or a child who normally takes the bus will be picked up by a caregiver, or a child is going on a play date after school and will be picked up by another caregiver). For the safety and security of your child, we cannot change your child’s routine if a note is note provided. Please do not assume that if a note is left in your child’s backpack your child will remember to give it to his/her teacher. Please hand the note personally to me first thing in the morning and/or call the office with the change to routine.
If your child is going to be absent from school for a planned activity (i.e. doctor, dentist, early or extended holiday) please send a note in advance so that it can be forwarded to the office. For unexpected absences, please call the safe arrival system (416-394-7890) and leave a message with your child’s full name, teacher, and reason for absence.
Classroom Rules and Routines:
One of the main goals in Kindergarten is to develop self-regulation. I work with the children to help them maintain control of their actions and behaviours. Our classroom expectations are to:
- Listen to others
- Use a quiet voice
- Keep hands to yourself
- Sit while in a group
- Walk while inside the school
Home Communication:
Communication between home and school is essential. Every Sunday evening, I update my blog (www.mrstyndallslksblog.blogspot.com). Please make a habit of checking it regularly for important dates, information about what we are doing in class, and other updates. Each day items such as notes, newsletters, permission forms, etc. may be sent home. Children in my Kindergarten class use a communication bag (a clear plastic TDSB bag with their name on it) to carry items between home and school. Please place notes from home, or any money for pizza, Scholastic Book Orders, field trips, etc. in the bag. Please do not lose this bag as I only have a few extras. Thank you.
To help keep orders safe and contained, please seal any required money inside an envelope or zip-lock baggie, and put your child’s name on it, along with the purpose for the money being sent.
Calendar:
A classroom calendar will be sent home during the last week of each month (or earlier) for the next month. Please post in a special place so that you and your child are prepared for all designated activities. Please make note of special dates such as your child’s Special Leader Day, due dates for pizza and Sholastic book orders, etc.
Reading Skills:
Reading is an essential skill that lasts a lifetime. It is your and my responsibility to ensure that your child develops early reading skills. An at home reading program will be provided, beginning in the first term. A folder with a reading log, as well as early reading “snuggle up” books will be provided. Your Snuggle Book needs to travel to and from school in your child’s TDSB bag. More information will be provided once we begin the program in October.
Spare Clothing:
Children occasionally don’t make it to the washroom on time. They also like to “find” puddles or go down slides that aren’t quite dry. To make such instances easier for everyone, please send a change of underwear, pants and socks to keep at school. Wet clothes will be placed in a plastic bag and sent home. Please be sure to replace used items the next school day.
Library:
We will have a scheduled library period for a visit and book exchange each week. Children are responsible for the books that they sign out. They will be provided with a library bag to bring their book to and from school. Please return you Library books each Monday.
Snacks and Lunches:
Your child should bring two healthy, nut-free snacks each day. Children will have an opportunity to eat in each of the morning and afternoon nutrition breaks. The purpose of these breaks is to provide energy and nourishment for your child. Please choose healthy items that your child enjoys. Due to food allergies, children must not share their food with others. We continue to strive towards being a nut-free school for the safety of the children with nut-based allergies. Children will NOT be allowed to open or consume any items known to contain nuts.
Please do not send cans of pop/juice for your child. Cans are difficult for students to handle and they rarely finish the entire drink. Keeping the can throughout the day is troublesome as cans spill and attract ants. Please use juice boxes or water bottles instead. There is also a water fountain in our classroom, so water bottles are not necessary.
Scholastic Book Orders:
This is a voluntary book club for children. Each month a book flyer will be sent home. Please choose the books you would like on the order form, and return the order form and a cheque (payable to Scholastic Books). Orders are placed the day after the due date (found on the order form or on the class calendar), and orders are usually received within a week. Your child will bring home their books in their backpacks, to be opened at home. If you wish to purchase an item as a gift, please send me a note with your order.
Personal Items:
PLEASE LABEL ALL CLOTHING, SHOES, AND OTHER ITEMS BROUGHT TO SCHOOL.
Toys should be left at home.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions that have not been covered! Please keep this newsletter for future reference.
I’m looking forward to a wonderful year!
Kind regards,
Mrs. Beverley Tyndall
Welcome to Kindergarten at Lambton Kingsway Junior Middle School! I am delighted to have your child in my class! We are going to be learning a lot this year and it is my goal to do everything I can to make sure my classroom is a welcoming place full of learning, fun and friends. Please also join me in welcoming Early Childhood Educator Ms. Mosun to our classroom! Thank you to Hudson's mom who has volunteered (again!) to be our Grade Parent this year! We need one more Grade Parent. Please email Madeleine Lowenbork-Frick (mfrick@sympatico.ca) if you would like to be a Grade Parent. We have lots of opportunities each year for parents to volunteer in the classroom, including weekly Mystery Readers (every Day 4)! Please contact our Grade Parents for further information regarding volunteering in the classroom. Thank you!
I am looking forward to seeing you at the Kindergarten Open House next Tuesday! I am looking forward to a wonderful year and I know you are, too.
Kindergarten is a two-year program and our classroom has both Juniors and Seniors. I encourage you to have conversations with your child about what we are doing in school. Parental involvement is very important. Your participation and support will help instill a positive attitude about learning. When we all work together, students are successful! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns during the school year. Please check my blog each weekend for updates and important classroom information.
Kindergarten Schedule
8:45-8:50 Entry
8:50-11:20 Morning Program
11:20-12:30 Lunch
12:30-12:35 Entry
12:35-3:05 Afternoon Program
Your child will need a regular-sized backpack for Kindergarten. This backpack should be large enough to carry snacks, lunch (if your child is not going home for lunch), a library book, small reading books, as well as a clear TDSB plastic "mailbag" (provided by me) that will go home at the end of each week. This bag will include notes from school, classwork, art projects, etc. Please return this bag to school each Monday, and remind your child to hand put it in the bin provided when s/he enters the classroom. Please give your child opportunities to practice opening, putting things in, taking objects out of the backpack and then zipping the backpack closed.
As your child enters school, independence (and attempting to be independent) is very important. Saying a cheerful goodbye at the outside door will ensure your child has a smooth transition to classroom routines and independence.
The beginning of the day, end of the day, and lunch time are busy times, with children coming and going to before and after school programs, taking the bus, daycare, etc. My first priority is ensuring that each of my children is dismissed safely to parents and caregivers, bus attendants. etc. If you wish to speak with me about your child's progress, please send a note and I’ll be happy to make an appointment to speak to you at a time convenient to all.
Please note that the Kindergarten Playground/Yard is CLOSED after school each day as it is reserved for the After School Program. Thank you.
Important Numbers:
School Office: 416-394-7890
Please leave a message with the office if your child will be absent from school. Messages can be left 24 hours/day. Please give your child’s name, teacher name, and reason for absence.
My Program:
In keeping with the Ministry of Education’s Full Day Kindergarten Curriculum, the Kindergarten Program is Inquiry-Based. I will also be doing several educational and interesting theme-based literacy and numeracy activities with the children adapted to their level and interests, which also helps prepare them for SK/Grade One Curriculum. The children will bring these themed units home in folders when they are completed, so that you can see all the hard work they have been doing in class!
Each child is unique. Young children grow and develop at their own rate. When provided with opportunities to play and interact with their peers and guided by adults, children have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and solve problems through everyday activities. While there will be large group discussions, much of the interaction between your child and myself and Miss. Santiago will be in small groups or one on one. As a result, children will be able to receive as much individualized attention that is geared to their interests as well as their development and abilities.
Centres:
The Kindergarten classroom is set up as a number of centres. Independence is key to the program and, as such, the learning materials are housed in storage shelves and containers that allow children to find and reach them on their own. The children are expected to help keep our classroom clean and organized by cleaning up their activity when finished with it and returning it to the proper place.
While centres will change through the year (according to which theme we are working on), some remain, with the materials changing to meet our learning expectations. Some of the centres in our classroom are:
- Sand and/or Water
- Math (Numeracy)
- Writing
- Reading/Books/Mini Library
- Creative (Art)
- Sensory
- Building
- Science/Discovery
- Computers (2)
- Dramatic Play
They will also be encouraged to rotate through all the different centres. Each child has a designated seat at a table, and a designated spot during Circle Time and Smartboard Work Time. Otherwise, as a rule, children will play in small groups of 2-4 children.
Additional Activities:
Library and Computers – We are fortunate to have Teacher Librarian Ms. McGee, who maintains a wonderful primary resource centre. Each week we will have an opportunity to visit the library for a read aloud or learning activity, as well as a book exchange. The library is also next to our Computer Lab where the children will have an opportunity each week to explore a variety of programs and learn how to use the computers.
Physical Education – Our gymnasium and outdoor kindergarten playground are large open spaces where children will be able to participate in activities to promote healthy living. Co-operative games and moving safely are the major components of the kindergarten gym program.
Volunteers:
There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer in the classroom, such as Mystery Reader (every Day 1 at 9 a.m.) and Holiday Craft Parties. Any person wishing to volunteer at the school requires a recent, valid police check from the Toronto Police Department. Annual Declarations are required for any current volunteers. Please contact your Grade Parent if you wish to volunteer for classroom activities.
Safety:
Ensuring the safety of the students, staff and visitors at Lambton Kingsway is a priority. Students in Kindergarten enter and leave through their classroom doors to the kindergarten yard. Should you need to enter the school, please use the front doors and sign in at the office each time you visit us.
A note from home is required for changes to regular routines (i.e. a child who normally stays at school for lunch will be going home, or a child who normally takes the bus will be picked up by a caregiver, or a child is going on a play date after school and will be picked up by another caregiver). For the safety and security of your child, we cannot change your child’s routine if a note is note provided. Please do not assume that if a note is left in your child’s backpack your child will remember to give it to his/her teacher. Please hand the note personally to me first thing in the morning and/or call the office with the change to routine.
If your child is going to be absent from school for a planned activity (i.e. doctor, dentist, early or extended holiday) please send a note in advance so that it can be forwarded to the office. For unexpected absences, please call the safe arrival system (416-394-7890) and leave a message with your child’s full name, teacher, and reason for absence.
Classroom Rules and Routines:
One of the main goals in Kindergarten is to develop self-regulation. I work with the children to help them maintain control of their actions and behaviours. Our classroom expectations are to:
- Listen to others
- Use a quiet voice
- Keep hands to yourself
- Sit while in a group
- Walk while inside the school
Home Communication:
Communication between home and school is essential. Every Sunday evening, I update my blog (www.mrstyndallslksblog.blogspot.com). Please make a habit of checking it regularly for important dates, information about what we are doing in class, and other updates. Each day items such as notes, newsletters, permission forms, etc. may be sent home. Children in my Kindergarten class use a communication bag (a clear plastic TDSB bag with their name on it) to carry items between home and school. Please place notes from home, or any money for pizza, Scholastic Book Orders, field trips, etc. in the bag. Please do not lose this bag as I only have a few extras. Thank you.
To help keep orders safe and contained, please seal any required money inside an envelope or zip-lock baggie, and put your child’s name on it, along with the purpose for the money being sent.
Calendar:
A classroom calendar will be sent home during the last week of each month (or earlier) for the next month. Please post in a special place so that you and your child are prepared for all designated activities. Please make note of special dates such as your child’s Special Leader Day, due dates for pizza and Sholastic book orders, etc.
Reading Skills:
Reading is an essential skill that lasts a lifetime. It is your and my responsibility to ensure that your child develops early reading skills. An at home reading program will be provided, beginning in the first term. A folder with a reading log, as well as early reading “snuggle up” books will be provided. Your Snuggle Book needs to travel to and from school in your child’s TDSB bag. More information will be provided once we begin the program in October.
Spare Clothing:
Children occasionally don’t make it to the washroom on time. They also like to “find” puddles or go down slides that aren’t quite dry. To make such instances easier for everyone, please send a change of underwear, pants and socks to keep at school. Wet clothes will be placed in a plastic bag and sent home. Please be sure to replace used items the next school day.
Library:
We will have a scheduled library period for a visit and book exchange each week. Children are responsible for the books that they sign out. They will be provided with a library bag to bring their book to and from school. Please return you Library books each Monday.
Snacks and Lunches:
Your child should bring two healthy, nut-free snacks each day. Children will have an opportunity to eat in each of the morning and afternoon nutrition breaks. The purpose of these breaks is to provide energy and nourishment for your child. Please choose healthy items that your child enjoys. Due to food allergies, children must not share their food with others. We continue to strive towards being a nut-free school for the safety of the children with nut-based allergies. Children will NOT be allowed to open or consume any items known to contain nuts.
Please do not send cans of pop/juice for your child. Cans are difficult for students to handle and they rarely finish the entire drink. Keeping the can throughout the day is troublesome as cans spill and attract ants. Please use juice boxes or water bottles instead. There is also a water fountain in our classroom, so water bottles are not necessary.
Scholastic Book Orders:
This is a voluntary book club for children. Each month a book flyer will be sent home. Please choose the books you would like on the order form, and return the order form and a cheque (payable to Scholastic Books). Orders are placed the day after the due date (found on the order form or on the class calendar), and orders are usually received within a week. Your child will bring home their books in their backpacks, to be opened at home. If you wish to purchase an item as a gift, please send me a note with your order.
Personal Items:
PLEASE LABEL ALL CLOTHING, SHOES, AND OTHER ITEMS BROUGHT TO SCHOOL.
Toys should be left at home.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions that have not been covered! Please keep this newsletter for future reference.
I’m looking forward to a wonderful year!
Kind regards,
Mrs. Beverley Tyndall
Friday, June 30, 2017
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