Week of February 3-6, 2014

Hello parents!

I have a lot of information for you this week.  First of all, I was so impressed with the "trips" that the students have already returned!  It looks like everyone had a great time and I hope it was fun and educational.

Valentine's Day is on Friday February 14.  We will be having a party and passing out Valentines.  We will be making bags in class to collect the valentines, so you don't need to bring a decorated box from home.  I will send home a class list next week so your students can write the names on the valentines themselves.  This task can be overwhelming so make sure you break it up over several days!

This week we will be starting addition.  I have some more challenging addition homework to send home with those who would like it.  I already put some in cubbies that I assumed would want it.  If you get it and don't want it, don't feel obligated to do it!  Send me an email if you don't get it and want me to send it home.

As always, thanks for all your support and hard work!

Week of January 6-10

Hello parents!
I am continually surprised and delighted at the caliber of our class!  We had a great first day back from break.  Everyone followed directions and got their work done.  It is so nice to have such great students who make my job easier!  Thank you for sending me such good students!  And we had a great time looking at everyone's shape books.  They were all so creative.  I hope you had fun doing this project!

It is very important that everyone is at school next Monday January 13.  We will be having our winter CBM testing.  This is the winter version of the test I did with your students at the kindergarten pre-assessment.  In the past, there has been no school for kindergarteners and the teachers have done this winter test.  This year it will all be done at school in one day by district testers.  So if at all possible, please make sure your students are here on Monday.

Week of December 16-20, 2013

Sorry it has been a while since I posted!  I will try to be better about this in the new year!  Return reading books on Monday and I will keep them over the break so they don't get packed up with holiday stuff.  There will be homework sent home on Monday.  You will be working on a shape book which can either be turned in Friday or the Monday we get back from break.  I will also be sending home the January volunteer calendar on Monday.  Thanks again for everyone's help in the classroom and at home with your students!

Week of November 11-15, 2013

Thank you so much for all the great conferences last week!  I think they all went really well and hopefully all of you agree!  We have a really great class this year and I am so grateful for all the parent support I have received so far. 

I've heard a lot of kids saying they have gotten on Raz Kids already.  Let me know if you have any questions about how to use this program.

Week of November 4-7, 2013

On Monday you will receive a reminder note about your scheduled time for Parent Teacher Conferences.  On Wednesday there will be a substitute in the classroom while I conduct conferences in the library.  If your conference is during class on Wednesday, please pick up your child from class and meet me in the library.  Since there will be conferences in the library, we will not have our library time this week.

I am also sending home Monday a fun home project for November.  You will "disguise" a turkey so he does not get eaten for Thanksgiving!  Please see the note for more details.

Thanks for a fun Halloween party on Thursday!

Week of October 21-25, 2013

This week we will have library on Friday instead of Thursday.

On Friday we will be having a pajama party with pink pancakes! 

Remember to sign up for parent teacher conferences online.  Let me know if you have questions about how to do this.

Week of October 14-16, 2013

This is a short week, but I will still be sending home homework and reading books as usual.  Also, today a note went home about signing up online for parent teacher conferences.  I found a note on the floor after class, so someone didn't get a copy.  If your child didn't bring one home, let me know. 

I hope you enjoyed making your number books last week.  I was so impressed with what the students turned in!  We will be keeping them in the classroom for a week or so for everyone to look at and enjoy!

Have a great fall break!

Week of October 8-11, 2013

Hello Parents,

Remember there is no school for students on Monday October 7.  Please remember to return homework and reading books on Tuesday.  There will be no school on October 17 and 18 and October 16 will be a short day.  That's all for this week!

Week of September 30-October 4, 2013

Hello parents!  Hopefully the reading books I have been sending home are working well.  Please remember to put a note in the book bag if the book is too hard or too easy.  Also, if you would like more books sent home, I am happy to accommodate that.  Thanks again for all the volunteers!

Week of September 23-27, 2013

So sorry for the late post!  I usually try to post before Monday, but it just didn't happen this week!  I will be sending home the volunteer calendar for October on Wednesday.  Please look for it and mark your day(s) on your calendar.  As always, I am totally flexible if you need to change your volunteer day.  Thanks again for all you do!

Week of September 16-20, 2013

Hello Parents!

On Thursday we went to the library and every child checked out one book.  Our regular library day will by Thursdays, so make sure your student's book is in their back pack on Thursday mornings.  They will be able to check out another book if they returned a book.

I will be sending home reading books on Monday.  Please read the books with your child several times during the week.  If the books are too hard or too easy, put a note in the bag.  The book bags are due on Mondays with the homework.  Monday after school I will switch out the books and your child will take home new books on Tuesdays.

There will be a note going home about the Reflections Contest on Monday.  It is certainly not a requirement for kindergarteners to enter, but they do have a fun time with it.  So you might consider doing a simple art project for your child to enter the contest.  Entries are due Thursday October 3rd.

Thanks again for sending me such a great class this year!

Week of September 9-13, 2013

Hello Parents.  Remember to send back the green homework page on Monday.  There will be a new homework paper coming home Monday.  I never return the previous week's homework.  So if you find it in your child's back pack, that means I have not seen it. 

I have decided to wait one more week to send home reading books.  I want to make sure I get everyone's level right.  So I will start sending home reading books on Monday September 16th.  The books will be due back on Mondays along with the homework.  Just put a note in the bag to let me know if the books were too easy, too hard, or just right. 

Thanks again to our classroom volunteers!  If your name is not on the volunteer calendar and you would like to come in to help, just let me know.  Also, I can use more than one person each day so if you would like to come in on a day where someone else is scheduled, that is not a problem.  Thanks again for a great start to our year!

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Hello parents!  We had a great first week of kindergarten.  I am so impressed with the good behavior I have seen from the class so far!  I think this is going to be a great year!  Today I sent home the volunteer calendar for September.  Please let me know if you cannot come on your assigned day.  On Tuesday the first homework paper will go home.  Please remember to sign and return it next Monday.  When it is returned, the students will get a homework prize and a sticker on the homework chart in the classroom. 

Thanks for sending me such great kids!

Week of March 4-7, 2013

I have added some useful websites to the right of the blog.  The Bella Vista Computer Lab Blog has some fun games that kids can play at home.  I will be telling you about the Pearson Success Net site at conferences this week.  I sent home report cards today with a reminder about your conference time.  See you at your conference!

Week of February 25-March 1, 2013

Remember Thursday AND Friday this week are both short days.  Parent teacher conferences are next Wednesday and Thursday.  No school next Friday.  On Thursday I will be meeting with parents during class so there will be a substitute in the classroom during that time.  Report cards will be sent home on Monday March 3.  Remember to sign up online for a conference time.

Week of Feb 19-22, 2013

We are celebrating the 100th day of school on Tuesday Feb 19th!  Remember to dress like you are 100 years old!  You can make your costume very easy.  Boys could wear a flannel shirt, suspenders, and glasses with no lenses.  Girls could wear a shawl, a pearl necklace, and their hair in a bun.  Just be creative!

I have rescheduled our library day for Wednesday next week due to the holiday.

Remember to sign up for Parent Teacher Conferences online.  Let me know if you did not receive the instructions.

Thanks for being such great parents!  I know you work hard with your kids at home!

Week of Feb 11-15, 2013

Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up again.  The Online Scheduler will be open on Thursday.  Conferences are Wednesday and Thursday March 6th and 7th with no school on Friday March 8th. 

***Schedule Change!****
Thursday Feb 28 will be a short day AND Friday March 1 is a short day!  So there will be two short days in a row just like there was for conferences in November.  This is to give teachers time to work on report cards.

Week of February 4-8, 2013

This week's homework will be a mapping project that was sent home today.  The instructions are in a brown "suitcase" (construction paper.)  Whenever you complete this project this week, just send it back and your student will present to the class.  The last day to present will be Monday February 11. 

There is no school on Friday February 8 with a short day schedule on Thursday February 7. 

I sent home a list of the names of the students in our class so you can fill out valentines.  Let me know if you would like to help with our party on February 14.  We will be making bags in class so you do not need to bring a box from home.

The PTA is trying to gather as many Box Tops for Education as possible before Thursday.  So send them in if you have been collecting them.

Week of January 28- February 1, 2013

We will be having our Valentine's Day party on February 14 from 10:30-11:25.  Please let me know if you are able to help that day and have an idea of a game, craft or treat to bring.  If you would like to help but need an idea, I have plenty!  Also, we will be making bags in class to bring home valentines so you don't need to bring a box from home.  I will send home a class list this week.  If you choose to send valentines, please make sure you bring a valentine for everyone.  I will also be sending home the volunteer calendar for February this week. 

Week of January 22-25, 2013

Thank you to all for bringing your students to the kindergarten assessments.  Everyone showed great improvements!  Thank you for all your work at home!

There is no school on Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr Day.  We will be having library on Tuesday so send library books back along with homework and reading books.

Keep up all the good work with reading and homework!