Dear Families:

Well…our blog has received good reviews. Thank you for that. Our homework poll ended this week...Only three parents weighed in. All three thought that there should be homework in Kindergarten!!! That was a big surprise.

We had an extremely busy week last week so I will try to break it down. We are continuing to work on our personal narratives. You should ask them about their writing. The children have really embraced the “Writing Workshop.” Mr. Ortiz came into our class to observe our Writing Workshop, and could not believe how self-sufficient the children were. The children have become experts at writing/drawing (1) where they are; (2) who they are with; and, finally (3) what they are doing. The children have been really concentrating on sounding out the words that they want to put on paper and trying hard to write the letters that they hear. The children have been doing an amazing job and their writing has been getting better and better everyday. As I tell the children, the only words that we want the children to be able to spell correctly in their writing pieces are their "word wall” words. These are the sight words that the children have been learning weekly. We have been practicing them everyday, so they should know how to spell them. The words that they should know and spell correctly in their writing pieces are ... "the”, “I." We have been practicing putting the words into sentences so the children are familiar with how to use them correctly. Our new words this week are “we” and “me". Also, ask the children about our “word wall fairy.” She comes to school at night and puts pictures of things on our “word wall.” For example, the fairy put a “ghost” on the G letter; a “witch” on the W letter.

We are reading our emergent storybooks and the children love the series. The books we have read so far are Corduroy, Will I Have a Friend, Where the Wild Things Are, The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The books that we will be reading next week are The Little Red Hen and The Three Little Pigs. We read the new "Star Books" everyday for a week so that the children become very familiar with the text and the illustrations. At the end of the week, the children shop for these "star books" and because they are so familiar with the words and pictures since they heard the book a number of times, they actually can read the book - first to themselves and then to their reading partner. They may not get all the words correct but they comprehend the story and are able to retell they story by looking at the illustrations. During partner reading, they children act out the story with their partner. I was amazed when one of the children remembered something in the story - Corduroy - that I forgot and was able to tell me that Corduroy - one of the characters in the book thought the escalator was a "mountain." I had to look back to make sure that he was correct!!! He was!!! I have also made several copies of the main characters in our books and put them on sticks…so the children will be also acting out their stories with “puppets.” This is going to be introduced next week.

Our math is improving everyday. I am in the middle of assessing the children's math ability and boy...it takes quite a long time with each child because they really know so much. We make math interactive in Kindergarten and work a lot on math problems.

Our science curriculum is great. Our Science/ Literacy teacher is Ms. Rosen. She is doing a great job with the children. The children have been learning all sorts of things about leaves and trees and have been having so much fun. Next week, the children will be adopting a tree in the neighborhood and will take many trips to look at the tree during the various seasons – noting the differences in their science notebooks.

WORD STUDY – I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful parents - led by Tyler’s mom - who really went over and beyond their call to duty by working on our word study books. There was a lot of cutting and drawing on the back of the word study sheets but having this work all completed makes to so much easier to get the children started on their work study program. I really could not have done this all myself. Thank you all so much!

Unfortunately, the kindergarten children do not receive computer instruction with Ms. Patterson. This begins in First Grade. Yet, we will be having the Computer Tech Squad come into our class once a week with the school’s laptops to work with the children and show the children how to use the computers. I think some of our children could show us a thing or two!!!

Our Social Studies inquiry study is underway with "Our Caring Classroom Community” We have buddied up with Ms. Millredge’s Fourth Grade Class and will be working with our Fourth Grade Buddies twice a month. The children are very excited because they get to go up to the “Big Kid’s” floor. We are working on an interview, a playground activity and a COOKING activity. I will be requesting some measuring cups, spoons and other items we need to “cook”. Ms. Millredge will be asking her parents for the cooking ingredients. Thank you in advance.

For Art, the Kindergarten classes build on the developing skills and art concepts that the children explored in Pre-K. Kindergarten will be making abstract paintings -exploring line and color mixing concepts. The children have competed accordion "books" with an under the sea theme using tempera and collage. These works of art are up in the classroom and have really helped decorate the room. Art is on Monday at 10:20. I know that Ms. Kelly would love to have parent volunteers at this time, so if you would like to help out during Art, please let me know.

Speaking of under the sea themes… The children and I want to thank you all so much for the fish tank and the fish. I especially want to thank Celia’s mom for all the hard work that did in setting up the aquarium. The children love the fish – we have three – and are working on the names for them. I am crossing my fingers that they survive. So far … so good. Thank you so much.

Our Music Program is also on Mondays and the children are really enjoying the new songs and dances that they are learning.

Gym is at 8:45 on Tuesdays with Ms. Ussury. They love what they are learning and playing sports. Please remember to have your child wear sneakers on that day.

As you can see, our curriculum is very full and rich. Your children are really thriving and are such a pleasure to work with. I love working with them and watching them grow everyday. You are all doing a great job. You should be very proud.

I enjoyed seeing so many of you and at the children at the Boo Bash on Friday. The kids really seemed to having such a GREAT time. I loved the costumes.

As you know, on Friday, October 30th, the kindergarten classes will be going to Green Meadow Farms. I would love to take all my parents, but we are limited by the bus to only taking 5 parents. I may squeeze another one or two – but don’t tell anybody. I will let you know tomorrow who will be coming with us. There will be many trips, so if you are not on this trip, you will be able to come on the next trip. This will be a fun day.

“Parents as Enrichment Partners” is on Friday, November 6. Please come by the class and read with your child!

Have a wonderful week,

Fondly,
Ms. Graham

What is Happening this week in Class K-207

Dear K-207 Families,

I was so happy to see so many of you at last week’s Curriculum Night and at the Parents As Enrichment Partners on Friday morning. I hope that we answered all your questions. If you were not able to attend, I have a Kindergarten Curriculum package for you to take home.

IMPORTANT: Dismissal Procedures this Week - SO SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE!!!
As per the note home that Mr. Ortiz sent out last Friday, dismissal procedures are altered for the week. This is due to the fact that the schoolyard will be closed for painting starting at 9 am each day this week. Our class, along with all kindergarteners will dismiss from the Multi-Media Rom on the first floor (where we were on Curriculum Night.) If you have older children, refer to the letter that Mr. Ortiz sent out to determine whether you would need to pick them up from the Sherman or Windsor Street entrances. Please remember to inform the adults who pick up your children of this change.

Recess this Week
The schoolyard will be closed for recess and gym this week. Typically when it rains, the children come into the classroom and have time for open-ended play with table toys and other manipulatives. This is the case for this week. The children are coping and love to come to the classroom after lunch. Today, the Physical Education teacher, Ms. Ussury, took the children to the park for Gym. The children told me that they had an amazing time. Thank you to Ben's mom (and Dog), Tyler's mom, Emerson's mom, and Roshi's mom for helping out with the children. Also, in the afternoon, I took the children on a "Number Walk" around the neighborhood to look for numbers and write them down with Tyler's mom....so the children are getting outdoor time.

Reading journals, Shared reading journals, book baggies & math homework packets
As discussed on curriculum night, homework is not mandatory in Kindergarten but I do recommend reading with your child and completing the Reading Journal. Children who get read to every night show significant differences in their approach and ability to read. The Reading Homework Journals should be sent back to class on Fridays. The Shared Reading Journals should be returned on Mondays. The Red Homework Folders should be returned to school everyday. The Math Homework Packet which is given out on Mondays, should also be returned on Friday. The book baggies with the book your child chose should be returned everyday so that a new book could be taken home.

Music & Chess
On Monday, Katerina Onatskaia from the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music started working with our class! She will be with our class on Monday afternoons at 1:00. The children loved her and had a wonderful first Music class. We will have Chess with Mr. Jairo on Friday aftersoons directly after lunch.

Scholastic Orders
I pass them onto you because Scholastic does offer some good books at decent prices. If you want to place an order online, please follow the instructions provided in the enclosed letter, or send in your order form and check in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on it. Also for each book that you order, our class gets credits towards free books. Please take the opportunity to look at the order forms that I send home. Thank you to Lily's mom for volunteering to help out with this.

Class Photos
The class photos will be taken on Friday, October 23rd. You also have the option to also purchase individual pictures of your child. I realize order forms were not sent home yet. If they are not in your child’s homework folder today, then just stay tuned. . .

Reminder: Shoe-tying / zipping/ buttoning practice + please practice putting coats & jackets on independently
Autumn has arrived and winter is on the way. Some children need more practice getting their coats/ sweatshirts on independently. Please practice this at home with your child. (I have been teaching those kids the method where you lay your coat out upside down on the floor in front of you, then put your hands in the sleeves and then it comes over your head and falls into place. Remember that one?!) Also, if you can work with your children at home to continue practicing the other important life skills listed above, it will facilitate their independence at school and beyond! Thank you! Also, PLEASE LABEL ALL YOUR CHILDREN'S ITEMS!!!! We do not want them to lose anything.

Reminder: Health forms
Just another reminder: The school nurse continues to request that families return the health forms as soon as possible (if you have not yet done so already.)

Mark Your Calendars
On Tuesdays, please dress your child in sneakers for Grade-level Gym
School is closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12th
Class Photos will be taken on Friday, October 23rd.
On Friday, October 30th we will be going to Green Meadows Farm. We will need parent volunteers to join us for this trip. Continue to stay tuned for a permission slip and additional details.

I want to thank you all for your great support..... Your children are amazing and working very very hard in Kindergarten. We are also having such a great time.

If you need to speak to me about any issue, please do not hesitate to see me. My door is always open.

Fondly,
Ms. Graham

PS I was going to post some pictures of today's "Number Walk" but my camera just ran out of batteries..... I will charge them and post the new pictures soon. They are so adorable!!!!