November 18, 2011
November 18, 2011
Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to talk with Pat and me about your children. We're amazed at the progress that each child has made since the first day of school. Please feel free to contact us at anytime with questions you might have.
Remember to check our picture album from this week, our Kindergarten stories on the blo, as well as our Facebook posts.
Next Tuesday, November 22nd, we're planning a "Harvest Feast" to have at snacktime. It would be wonderful if each child could bring one item to share. Here are some suggestions:
a fall fruit or vegetable, some kind of bread (i.e. pumpkin), cooked potatoes, cranberry sauce.
Here are some questions to ask your child:
1. What did your child think would be inside the geode that he/she smashed open? Were they hard to crack? Were your kids surprised at the results? What did we do with the "sea water?"
2. What sound does the letter "Y" make? Can your child think of 5 words that start with y and 3 words that end with a "y" sound?
3. Does your child remember the story we told about animals crowding together under the mushroom (Anne's big rainbow umbrella was the "prop" for the mushroom)? What animal did your child choose to portray? What was the point of the story? (That when you treat others with kindness and politeness you will be included and appreciated).
4. What did we find inside Robert Munsch's mailing? (a photo of him in his classic pose - ask your child to demonstrate this pose), facts about him, and a story called "CRASH" written just for our class! Can your child recall the story? What happened to the principal? Does your child have any ideas about how we can perform this play?
5. We worked further on recognizing our last names and starting to be able to write them. Some children already have mastered this skill, others are still working on it. We played a game called, "Bippity Bippity Bumble Bee - Tell Me What Your Name Should Be." We clapped, whispered, and mouthed the each kids name by separating them into syllables. Sol-ly Gol-u-boff Schrag-ger.
6. Does your child remember how to say 1,2,3 in Ivrit (echad, shtayim, shalosh). We played games where kids held up numbers (1,2, or 3) and had to jump up, sit down, curl up, spin around, etc. when their number was called (in Ivrit of course).
We sang a song:
Yadayim lemala
al ha rosh,
al hak'tefayim,
echad shta-yim
shalosh!
Hands up
on your head,
on your shoulders,
one two
three!
7. What did your child think of Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in her Pocket? It's a new chapter book that we're reading.
8. We used our new UNIFIX cubes to practice different ways to reach the sum of 3. (2 reds, 1 blue / 1 red, 2 blues / 0 reds, 3 blues / 0 blues, 3 reds ) Can your child do the same to reach the sum of 4 (use could use various foods (cheerios and raisins).
9. We practiced a poem. Does your child remember it? If you write it out (or print it) can your child:
a. track from left to right/ point to individual words
b. Can your child point to particular words when you say them aloud?
c. What are the rhyming words?
d. Kids acted out the poem (you can see photos of this in this week's photos). Can your child act it out for you at home?
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
Wrinkle up your little nose
Put a nut between your toes
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
10. During our daily plan time, what does your child write down for his/her plan? How about at Free Choice time - what does your child choose to do?11. What are some of the chants we use at Circle Time to help us stay focused?
1,2,3 - all eyes on me. 3-2-1 - until I'm done!
Anne: Peanut
Kids: Butter
Anne: Peanut Butter
Kids: Jelly
Anne: Peanut Butter & Jelly
Kids: Sandwich!
12. Can your child write down 3 new verses to one of our favorite class songs? Down By The Bay - Here's a link to a version of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
13. During Alma's birthday celebration what Israeli tradition did the kids get to see? (Alma's parents and her brother Asa, lifted her up on a chair into the air 7 times - once for each of her 6 years and one for next year's 7th birthday).
14. Can your child recall the story of the baby turkeys and the ugly baby turkey? (It's based on the "Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Anderson.)
JOKES OF THE WEEK:
What four letters frighten a robber? OICU
How do you catch a squirrel? Climb up a tree and act like a nut.
Which 2 letters of the alphabet are nothing? MT
Why is it hard to play cards in the jungle? There are too many cheetahs
What is a Hebrew lion's favorite food? Arriy-otmeal
Shabbat Shalom!
Anne & Pat