Kinder News 2.4

Kinder News
Volume 2 - Issue 4
Friday September 19, 2008

Weekly Happenings
•Color Week: We spent the week working on activities that helped reinforce our knowledge of and comfort with Brown, Purple, Pink, White and Black.
•Brown Bear: We read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin. The students helped to read the story aloud, we used our memory of the story to color, cut, and order the ten characters (numbered 1-10).
•Science: We began our unit on Wood and Paper this week. We started with a hands on lesson where students got to observe different types of wood – redwood, plywood, particle board, pinewood and basswood. Students learned that wood comes from trees. In the coming weeks we will be going more in depth with our study.
•Math: We continued working on our number formation. So far we’ve practiced writing the numbers 1, 2, and 3.
•International Talk Like a Pirate Day: Today we celebrated this silly holiday by starting our day with our “Ahoy Book”, we practiced our colors in a book called “I am a Pirate”, and we even made pirate hats.
•Literacy: We have been learning about the different Concepts About Print. These are aspects of books and reading that help students become better readers. We have talked about the front cover, back cover, spine of the book, title page, and what the author and illustrator do. Please ask your child to show you these things when reading stories with them.
•P.E.: We got together with Miss Casellini’s class to talk about PE. On Wednesdays, we will be doing PE together. Please make sure your child wears appropriate shoes on Wednesdays. Their shoes need to be able to stay on their feet when running, kicking a ball, stretching, etc.

Notes and Reminders
Conferences: In your child’s Thursday envelope, I have enclosed a slip that gives you the date and time for your Parent-Teacher Conference. Please return the bottom half of this form as soon as possible, so that I may make switches as necessary. If you are unable to make your scheduled time, please indicate that on the form and I will get in touch with you.
Apples: Please send an apple of any shape, size, or color to school with your child by Wednesday, September 24th. We will be studying apples next week, and will use those apples to do some graphing and tasting.
Walk-A-Thon: Next Friday is the Walk-A-Thon! This event is a huge yearly success, and something that Laurelwood students have been participating in for many years. If you plan on attending this, please make sure your child has a signed permission slip turned in to me. There will be many fun activities, including a silent auction for the parents!
Scholastic Book Orders: Thank you to Esther for taking on this responsibility and getting the ball rolling so quickly. If you plan on ordering books from the scholastic book order, please turn in your orders to me no later than September 24th. This is truly the cheapest way to buy books for your child!
Wanted Items: I am looking to start some sorting boxes in my classroom. If you have any of the following items lying around your house that you wouldn’t mind sending in with your child, I would greatly appreciate it: bread tags, beads, shells, old keys, shaped erasers, container lids, metal washers from screws, tile pieces, foam shapes, birthday candles, uncooked pasta, colored paper clips, etc.

Upcoming Events
Wednesday September 24, 2008 Sweet Tomatoes fundraiser (5:00-8:00)
Wednesday September 24, 2008 Blue Day
Friday September 26, 2008 Walk-A-Thon, Dinner, and Silent Auction (2:10-6:00)

Check www.misswagenaar.blogspot.com for more updates
Photos available at http://picasaweb.google.com/MissWagenaar/
(new this week: ITLAPD; updated: Color Week)