We focused on Jan Brett's The Gingerbread Baby. 

Language Arts:  

We worked on lowercase G, S, A, I, T & J.   We also worked on the word is and the.    We started writing patterned books which matches with our work in reading.  The students are learning they have super powers to be super readers.  They have been reading and writing easy books with language patterns and lots of sight words.  Ask your Panda about their super reading powers.

Math:

We worked on attributes and shape.  We have been practicing counting to seventy by ones. We continued to work on practicing teen numbers.  We played a variety of games using dice and ten frames.  We also worked on representing hexagons different ways and recording the information we found.

Art:  

The students worked on a draw a long of Santa and a reindeer.  They decorated a gingerbread baby.

Book of the Week: The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Song of the Week:  "The Gingerbread Man" by Jack Hartman
(check out the video on the student resource page)

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters: review of all capital letter 

Word of the Week: am

Gingerbread Decorating Party: 12/22 @ 2:05 in the Panda Classroom family's are welcome

PJ Day: 12/23

Winter Vacation: 12/26-1/2/17

PANDA NEWS:

We have begun work on our gingerbread unit.  We have read a few versions of the folktale The Gingerbread Man.  We will work on retelling, comparing & contrasting and other elements to stories.

Language Arts:  

We worked on the letters C, O and Q.   We also worked on the word and.   We started writing patterned books which matches with our work in reading.  The students are learning they have super powers to be super readers.  They have been reading and writing easy books with language patterns and lots of sight words.  Ask your Panda about their super reading powers.

Math:

We have been practicing counting to fifty by ones.  We continued to work on practicing teen numbers.  We played a variety of games using dice and ten frames. We played Monster Squeeze it is like guess my number using language like greater and less.

 

Art:  

The students worked on a winter quilt this week.  They gingerbread men sun catchers and painted a giant gingerbread man.

Book of the Week: The Gingerbread Boy by Richard Egielski

 

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters: G, S & A

Phonics Letters:  S & Z

Word of the Week: is

Gingerbread Decorating Party: 12/22 @ 2:05

PJ Day: 12/23

Winter Vacation: 12/26-1/2/17

Panda News:

This week was National Education Week.  We celebrated what we were thankful for at school.

As you know our Family Breakfast is Tuesday, November 22nd.  It will start at 8:00.  We will finish with reciting a poem at 8:25.  I hope all will be able to join us. I hope all of you have a restful and happy Thanksgiving.

Mrs. Griffith came in to talk about tattling vs telling.  The students watched a video and discussed each situation.  They learned a mental checklist they could use before they find a teacher: 
                   Is someone in danger?
                   Is someone hurt?
                   Did I try to solve the problem on my own?
                   Am I minding my own business?
 

Language Arts:  

We have been working on the word so and reviewing the other words we have learned.  The Pandas practiced diagonal lines in handwriting.  We worked on the letters X, Y & Z.  Please try and reinforce the correct school way of holding a writing tool and forming letters and numbers.  I am trying to break  some bad habits.  If they can learn proper formation now  it will help with the fluency going forward. We also wrote our own version of  I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie.  

 

Math:

During math we continue to work on numbers and quantities 0-10.  We practiced positional words with a board game (next to, in front of, on, etc.)  We will work on turkey dice games as well as make a turkey glyph.  The Pandas are creating turkeys with the pattern block templates. The kids can't wait for you to check out their work at the breakfast.

Art:  

The classroom is looking very festive with all the Thanksgiving art work we have been creating!

Book of the Week:  I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie
Song of the Week:  "Turkey, Turkey" (tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters:  C, O, & Q

Phonics Letters: u

Word of the Week: and

Book Fair: 11/28-12/2

Thanksgiving Break:  11/23-11/28

Family Breakfast: 11/22 @ 8:00-8:25 (Panda Classroom)

Gingerbread Decorating:  12/22 @ 2:00 more info to follow

Winter Vacation: 12/26-1/4/16

Panda News:

 

I enjoyed speaking to all of you during conference.  Next Thursday, you will receive your child's report card, conference sheet, and record sheet of the Boehm.  As I mentioned, there will be no grades on the report card.  The attendance is reported and it gives you insight to the expectations for your child's development.  Please, sign the envelope and return it to school.  The contents of the envelope are yours to keep.

We had Mrs. Griffith talk about Personal Body Safety on Thursday.  She talked about bathing suit areas on your body and uncomfortable touches.  The students learned if something is making you feel uncomfortable you say Stop (assertively), Get Away, and Tell Someone.  They also talked about "stranger danger."  She included a handout in your child's folder.

Next week she will focus on the importance of telling versus tattling.   

 

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters X,Y & Z

Phonics Letters: m &n

Word of the Week: so

No school: 11/8 & 11/11

Family Breakfast: 11/22 from 8:00-8:25 a.m.

Thanksgiving Break:  11/23-11/26

Panda News

Our Halloween celebration was a success. The children had a wonderful time. Check out the new photos I added to Flickr.  Thank you for all the donations and help.  I couldn't do it without you! 

Here is a glimpse of our week in the Panda class:

Language arts:  The children wrote a piggy back version of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? using their costume photos.  We have focused on the word see & I.  We have been working on reading familiar storybooks. The kids are practicing read the books sounding like the author.  
 
Math:  We played various Halloween math games. 

Art:  We made candy corn people and jack-o-lanters.



Books of the Week:  Stellaluna and The Carrot Seed
Songs of the Week:  "Wizard's Brew" and "The Numeral Song"

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters V & W

Phonics Letters: o

Word of the Week: I

November Conferences:  11/2  (this is an early release days)

No school: 11/8 & 11/11

Family Breakfast: 11/22 from 8:00-8:25 a.m.

Thanksgiving Break:  11/25-11/27

Panda News:

Yesterday, we went out to the garden and planted bulbs.  Each child got to dig a whole and plant a bulb.  The children are excited to see what blooms in the spring.  A special thanks to Kerry Rich for making sure the garden was turned over so the children could plant.  

 

Language Arts: 

We practiced writing uppercase H & K.  We used wood pieces and our slate boards to practice.  We also worked on the word an.  The Pandas learned about the sound th.   We began learning to read like a storyteller.  The Pandas used very familiar stories to use the picture, remember the story & read it.  Have them try it with there favorite bedtime story you have read thousands of times!   

Math:

We finished up unit 2 in math.  An assessment of the unit will come home next week.  If there is a skill circled it means your child needs a little more practice with that particular skill.  

Art: 

We made spiders, ghosts, bats oh my!.  They also drew a rhyme and labelled them. Ask your Panda what they drew.   We made glittered place-mats and made a pattern on them..

Upcoming Events:

Book of the Week- Itsy Bitsy Spider
App of the Week- Can You Make Ten
Upcoming Letters-  U & L
Word of the Week- see
Phonics- a
Parent Conferences- 10/26 & 11/2 early release (please sign-up if you have not) 
Halloween Celebration- Students and Staff only 10/28 (please see signup genius for more info)
Nov. 8th & 11th- No School

Panda News:

 

Language Arts:  We have practiced writing uppercase M & N.  We have used wood pieces and our slate boards to practice.  We also worked on the word  in.  We recreated our own versions of Yuck Soup!    We have been focusing on telling stories based on a moment in time.  It is called a small moment story.  During Readers Workshop we learned that readers have fun reading privately and with a partner.   Ask your student what they learned about in there books this week.

Math:

We worked on our first open response problem in math.  The children worked in partnerships to sort a collection of objects using a certain attribute or attributes.  They then analyzed each others work to try and figure out what the sorting rule was.  The Pandas did a great job having a conversation about the math work.

Art:

The Pandas started making spiders to go with the nursery rhyme the Itsy Bitsy Spider .  We have read a few versions of this story.

Upcoming Events:

Book of the Week- Yuck Soup by Joy Cowley
App of the Week- Quick Image (using ten frames)
Upcoming Letters- H & K
Word of the Week- can
Phonics- th & th
Parent Conferences- 10/26 &11/2 early release 12:50
Halloween Celebration- Students and Staff only 10/28

Wish List:

Tissues

Panda News:

October is Safety Month.  We will do a variety of activities to promote safety.  We will be having presentations from the fire department, police, and many more.  We will also practice safety drills.  

 
Today we had a visit from the Stratham Fire Department.  Look for the safety photos on Flickr soon!
 
Big News!  Panda of the Day has begun.  Mia was our first Panda of the Day.  Watch for the panda bag and directions to arrive at your house.  Please try and return the panda bag with a share that matches the theme and the necklace the next school day.

Language Arts: 

We have practiced writing uppercase B & R.  We have used wood pieces and our slate boards to practice.  We also worked on the word  at.   We have been focusing on telling stories based on a moment in time.  It is called a small moment story.  During Readers Workshop we learned that readers have fun reading privately and with a partner.   Ask your student what they learned about in there books this week.

Math:

We finish up our first math unit.  You will receive a note about if there are any areas your child needs continued practice with.  We will be working on those skills in class as well.  We have been talking a lot about patterns.  They also have been working on counting starting at a number other than 1.

Art:

The Pandas made Sparky the Fire Dog for our visit from the fire fighters today.

Upcoming Events:

Book of the Week- No Dragons for Tea by Jean E. Pendziwol
App of the Week- Alphabet Monster
Upcoming Letters- N & M
Word of the Week- in
Phonics- qu, th & th
October 10th- No School
Parent Conferences- 10/26 &11/2
Halloween Celebration- Students and Staff only 10/28

Wish List:

wax paper 

Panda News:  

The students have been doing so well entering the building and leaving they do not need their bus tags anymore.  

Language Arts: 

We worked with the book No, David by David Shannon.   This was our shared reading book of the week.  The book featured our word of the week no.   We wrote our own version of No, David.  They stamped and traced our sight word no.  We worked with rhyming during our literacy centers.  The Pandas were introduced to their handwriting journals for the first today.  We practiced E & F.

Math:

We have been working on subitizing during math.  The students are working on taking "quick looks" at groups of dots.  They are working on see sets and telling how many with out counting.  We also worked on counting and describing shapes.  We worked on using important math language like curvy, straight, corners etc. 



P.E.:

They have been working on entering the gym and finding a good space without the use of carpet squares.  They have learned freeze signals when they are moving their bodies.  They also have learned some ways to warm up there bodies.  They are having a lot of fun!

Upcoming Events:

Book of the Week- No, David
Song of the Week-  Where Do You Start Your Letters


App of the Week- Counting Beads
Upcoming Letters-D & P
Early Release- September 28th (students dismissed at 12:50)
Music Hall Field Trip- September 28th
October 10th- No School
Word of the Week- he
Phonics-f & v

Panda New
Monday is Grandparents lunch.  I am looking forward to meeting many family members.  Thursday is field day for our school.  It is a fun filled day with lots of smiles.   Field day will run until 11:30.  We will break for a mid morning snack.  We have purchased orange t-shirts for your child.  They will get them on Thursday morning.

Please send your child to school with bug spray and sunscreen already applied.  We/they can not apply it here.  They will need comfortable clothes, sneakers, a labeled water bottle, a change of clothes, and a positive attitude.

This day is about having fun and playing with friends.  Please reinforce good sportsmanship with your child. 

Chicks Are Here!
We have had an exciting couple of week in the panda classroom.  We have 1 new baby chicks hatch and borrowed 1 from the fish classroom so it would not be lonely.  We also were the "chick hospital" for the sick chicks.  We nursed them back to health and now they are off to there forever home.  The pandas have enjoyed learning about them and watching them grow.  

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters: review of all lowercase letters
Phonics Letters: review of all phonic letters

Word of the Week: review of all sight words

Ongoing assessment

Field Day: 6/9

Grandparent Luncheon: 6/6 more info to follow

Last Day for K: 6/14 We will have an end of the year celebration starting at 9:30 in our classroom.  Dismissal will be by 11:00am if this poses a problem for your family please let me know ASAP so I can plan accordingly.

   

Thank You:

Thank you for all the appreciation shown this week.  The luncheon was delightful as well as the breakfast.  It is so wonderful to have all your support.  Your kind and generous thoughts made my week!
 
 

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters: review of all lowercase letters
Phonics Letters: review of all phonic letters

Word of the Week: review of all sight words

Early Release: 5/18 @12:50

May Day: 5/24 May Day (puppet show)

Field Trip Rescheduled: 5/25

Field Day: 6/9

No School: 5/30 (Memorial Day)

Grandparent Luncheon: 6/6 more info to follow

Last Day for K: 6/14 We will have an end of the year celebration starting at 9:30 in our classroom.  Dismissal will be by 11:00am if this poses a problem for your family please let me know ASAP so I can plan accordingly.

Panda News:

I hope you all had a great vacation.   Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

Language Arts:

We have begun an author study of Eric Carle.  They have been studying his craft and have tried out some of his illustration techniques.  We read A House For Hermit Crab.  The students are working on making their own hermit crab.   

Science:

 

Have you heard the news.  We are going to be the proud parents of new baby chicks.  They are due to arrive around the 24th..  The students have been learning about the life cycle and caring for them by waking them each morning.  Ask your student how they do that?  You may also want to ask them what other interesting facts they can remember.  A lot of students have talked about taking a chick home.  I told them it is the families decision and "lots" of home do not allow it.  If there is any family that would like to start raising chickens please contact me.

Art:

The students worked on Mother's Day gifts. Shh!  I hope you love them.

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters: review of all lowercase letters
Phonics Letters: review of all phonic letters

Word of the Week: review of all sight words

Early Release: 5/18 @12:50

Wellness Walk: 5/11

Field Trip: 5/13 

May Day (puppet show): 5/24 (9:50-10:35)  if you have little ones that would like to join us for the show please feel free to join.

Field Day: 6/9

No School: 5/30 (Memorial Day)

Grandparent Luncheon: 6/6 more info to follow

Last Day for K: 6/14 We will have an end of the year celebration starting at 9:30 in our classroom.  Dismissal will be by 11:00am if this poses a problem for your family please let me know ASAP so I can plan accordingly.

Panda News:

 
On Friday, April 22nd we will be taking part in Jump Rope for Heart.  The students will be jumping rope during the morning outside.  The have been practicing during our P.E. times.

Today the students received their report cards along with conference notes.  There are no grades third quarter just reporting attendance.  Please sign the envelope and return.  The copies are yours to keep.

I have received a number of request to chaperone our field trip.  I will wait until I have all permission slips back and then we will have a lottery.

I will not blog next week so please enjoy your vacation!

 

 

Language Arts:

We have been working on a poetry unit.  We have been reading a variety of poems and writing our on poems.  The students worked on descriptive words about pigs and they created a pig poem.  They also learned poetry has a voice and they gave their pizza a voice.  We worked on a list poem based on Shel Siverstein's poem "SICK".  To finish out unit we will be working on an Earth Day poem and a fruit poem.  

Math:

We have been working on writing number stories and writing the equations that go with them.  We also have been decomposing the numbers up to 10 using a variety of manipulatives.  The students have been exploring 2D and 3D shapes.  

Wish List:
tissues
flour
  

Upcoming Events: 

Handwriting Letters: review of all lowercase letters

Phonics Letters: review of all phonic letters

Word of the Week: review of all sight words

Jump Rope for Heart: 4/22 

Spring vacation:  4/25-4/29

Bike to School: 5/6

Field Trip: 5/13 more info to follow

May Day 5/24 more info to follow

Early Release: 5/18 @12:50

Makerfest: 5/19

No School: 5/30 (Memorial Day)

Grandparent luncheon: 6/6

Field Day: 6/9 (looking for volunteers)

Tentative last day of K: 6/14 more info to follow

Panda News:

It has been a busy week in the Panda room.  We are ready for Spring.  We made Spring flowers and umbrellas for April showers.  We made pigs to go with our up coming poetry unit.

 

 

Language Arts:

We have been finishing work on our how to unit.  We will begin reading a variety of poems and writing our on poems.  We worked on the sight word on.  They found the word in a sight word book.  They wrote on and made it with wickey sticks.  We focused on reading left to right when reading and spelling on.  

Math:

We have been working on writing number stories and writing the equations that go with them.  We also have been decomposing the numbers up to 10 using a variety of manipulatives.  The students have been on skip counting by 2, 5, & 10.  

Wish List:

restaurant items (dramatic play- Pizza Parlor)

Book of the Week:  "Roller Coaster"  Marla Frazee

Song of the Week:  Roller Coaster Gonoodle.com

Upcoming Events:

Handwriting Letters: review of all lowercase letters

Phonics Letters: review of all phonic letters

Word of the Week: she

Parent Conferences: 4/6 & 4/13 early release 12:50

Jump Rope for Heart: 4/22 

Spring vacation:  4/25-4/29

Bike to School: 5/6

Field Trip: 5/13 more info to follow

May Day 5/24 more info to follow

Early Release: 5/18 @12:50

Makerfest: 5/19

No School: 5/30 (Memorial Day)

Field Day: 6/9 (looking for volunteers)

Tentative last day of K: 6/14 more info to follow