10/28 Classroom Update

This week, we learned about the letter B and discussed bedtime. At the beginning of the week, we talked about our bedtime routines and important things to do before going to bed. We especially loved our visit from Ms. Alisha, a dental hygienist at Kingma's Pediatric Dentistry, where we learned about how to take care of our teeth and make healthy choices for our teeth. Later in the week, we discussed the differences between night and day, and sorted things that we do and see during the night and day. We also painted starry night skies, went on a letter B hunt, practiced one-to-one correspondence making bedtime quilts, and put our babies to bed in our dramatic play area.

Preschool friends writing the letter B using the multi-sensory "Wet/Dry/Try" Method

Preschool friends painting stars in the night sky

As winter approaches, we have also been working on zipping our coats at school. I model for the students how I zip my coat, then allow them opportunities to try before helping friends that still need help. When helping students, I help guide them through the steps so that they are learning and doing at the same time. This is a great skill to practice at home as well!

Important Reminders:

Halloween Parties: Thank you to everyone who signed up to help with our Halloween parties! We are looking forward to sharing in the Halloween fun with all of you on Monday! Our morning class party runs from 10:45-11:15, and our afternoon party runs from 2:45-3:15. Students (and grown-ups too!) are invited to wear their Halloween costumes on Monday. They may wear them to school, or we can also help them change before the party as well if you prefer.

• AM Class Party Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties2

• PM Class Party Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties3

Fall Conferences: Fall conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 1st and Wednesday, November 2nd after school. If you have yet to sign up, please do so using the link below. If your child receives speech services with Ms. Amanda, she will at conferences on Tuesday, November 1st. Please fill out the pre-conference form in your child's folder and return it at your earliest convenience. I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you!

• Fall Conference Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties4 

Picture Retakes: School picture retakes will be held on November 16th. Please let me know if you would like to have your child's picture retaken.

Have a great weekend!

10/21 Classroom Update!

This week, we learned all about the letter P and how pumpkins grow! We learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin, examined what's inside a pumpkin, compared different sized pumpkins, and learned what pumpkins can be used for. We painted pumpkins using apples and added jack-o-lantern faces, made and played with different Mr. Pumpkin heads, painted paper plate pumpkins with shape faces, made a P is for Penguin for our letter books, created a scene to go along with our "5 Little Pumpkins" rhyme, and much more!

Next week, we will be learning about the letter B and talking about bedtime routines and night versus daytime. We will also have a visit from Kingma Pediatric Dentistry on Tuesday (AM) and Wednesday (PM), where we will learn about the importance of dental health and brushing our teeth. Each student will get a free toothbrush as well!

Reminders:

Pajama Day: This coming Thursday, October 27th, we will be having a pajama day in class to go along with our "Bedtime" theme! Students are invited to wear their coziest pajamas and to bring either their favorite blankie or a small stuffed animal to share with the class.

Halloween Party: We will be having a Halloween Party in our classroom on Monday, October 31. Costumes are encouraged :) The morning party is from 10:45-11:15 am, and the afternoon party is from 2:45-3:15 pm. If you are interested in helping out with the party, please click on the links below to sign-up!

• AM Class Party Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties2

• PM Class Party Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties3

Fall Conferences: Fall conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 1st and Wednesday, November 2nd after school. Please follow the link below to sign up for one ten-minute parent-teacher conference. If your child receives speech services with Ms. Amanda, she will at conferences on Tuesday, November 1st. Please fill out the pre-conference form in your child's folder and return it at your earliest convenience. I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you!

• Fall Conference Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties4 

Have a great weekend!

10/13 Classroom Update!

This week, we learned all about the letter D and dinosaurs. During center time, we made dogs for our letter books, built the letter D with lines and curves, practiced writing the letter D and went on a letter D hunt. We also dug for dinosaur bones, made dinosaurs out of playdough, made up our very own dinosaurs, and played a few dinosaur games.

During circle time, we learned about how dinosaurs were discovered, how paleontologists study dinosaur bones, facts about different types of dinosaurs, and we also compared our feet to the size of a T. Rex's foot. In both classes, we were able to fit all our shoes inside the T. Rex's foot, and we still had extra room!

Reminders:

Halloween Party: We will be having a Halloween Party in our classroom on Monday, October 31. Costumes are encouraged :) The morning party is from 10:45-11:15 am, and the afternoon party is from 2:45-3:15 pm. If you are interested in helping out with the party, please click on the links below to sign-up!

• AM Class Party Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties2

• PM Class Party Sign-Up:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties3

Fall Conferences: Fall conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 1st and Wednesday, November 2nd after school. Please follow the link below to sign up for one ten-minute parent-teacher conference. If your child receives speech services with Ms. Amanda, she will at conferences on Tuesday, November 1st. Due to the short amount of time we have during conferences, I will be asking parents to fill out a pre-conference form to help me make the most effective use of our time together. This form will be coming home in your child's folder next Thursday (10/20). I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you!

• Fall Conference Sign-Up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties4 

Have a great weekend!

10/7 Clasroom Update!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the parents who accompanied us on our field trip on Tuesday! We had such an amazing time at Schwallier's eating delicious donuts and drinking apple cider, picking apples and pumpkins, feeding the goats, jumping in the hay, going down the slide, and petting the baby goats, kittens, and bunnies.

  

 

This week, we learned all about apples and how apple trees grow. We learned about how the apple trees change as the seasons change, as well as how apples start as a flower and grow into a fruit. While learning about the parts of an apple, we made our own apples which are now on display in the hallway. 

After reading Ten Apples Up On Top, we also practiced painting apples and counting.

 

Next week, we will be learning about dinosaurs and focusing on the letter D! 

Upcoming Events:

Picture Day: Picture Day is this coming Tuesday, October 11th. Both the morning and afternoon classes will be having their pictures taken on this day. If you are absent on Tuesday 10/11, then we will try to get your picture taken on Wednesday, 10/12. Otherwise, picture make-ups will be Wednesday, November 16. 

Friday 10/14:  I will be out of the classroom for a Handwriting Without Tears conference all day. Ms. Mackenzie will be running class with the help of a substitute teacher. 

Halloween Party: We will be having a Halloween Party in our classroom on Monday, October 31. Costumes are encouraged :) The morning party is from 10:45-11:15 am, and the afternoon party is from 2:45-3:15 pm. If you are interested in helping out with the party, please click on the links below to sign-up!

AM Class Party Sign-Up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties2

PM Class Party Sign-Up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4daca62aa2fe3-mskaties3

Have a great weekend!