Sunday: February 7, 2010

Dear Parents,

Catch-up Newsflash :) 

Thank you for all who have made supply donations.  It is so nice to have fresh crayons as well as other supplies you have donated.  More crayons are needed so all the children will have a box. 

Friday will be our Valentine's Day Party at 1:00 p.m.  If the student name list got lost in the shuffle, I have some extras to make your valentines for each student. You are welcome to join in on the fun. 

There are chapel ties left behind if you are missing your child's chapel tie.   

Math:  We will be continuing our learning of coins and clock.  I will also be introducing adding doubles.

Phonics and Reading:  Ask your child about our "Rhyming Journal" we are putting together as we learn our word families.  Keep reading with your child.  It makes all the difference.

Shoe boxes:  I am collecting shoe boxes for students to make their very own book box for all the little paper books we read and color. 

Behavior: Parents, encourage your child to follow school rules, focus on lessons, and be kind to others.  Five and six year old children as well as ourselves are always learning these things and need to be reminded.  I  have positive rewards ready to give.  However, lately I have had to hold back.  All your children are wonderful and I want the best possible environment for children to learn, grow, and be nurtured.  Thanks for your help in this area.

Thank you parents,

Warm regards,

Ms. Phillips

Monday: January 22, 2010

Dear Parents,

     I can't believe we have just completed our second quarter and so much has been accomplished!  Report cards went out Thursday and are in your child's homework folder.  Second quarter was more of a challenge for our kinders, so if your child's grade slipped, understand that your child was learning new and more difficult skills in reading, writing, and math.  Grades were based on their most recent assessments.  If you have any questions concerning your child's grade, feel free to call and set up a time to go over your child's work. 

     I know for many families, both parents work and it is hard to find time to work with your child on their reading skills in their leveled paper book.  However, it is so important that you do.  Most children have difficulty reading if they do not have that practice time.  Learning to read is just like learning a musical instrument.  The student learns how and what to do during their lesson time, but he/she still needs to practice their instrument if they are ever going to play their instrument.  The music does not sound so good at first, but with practice, that song gets more and more smoother and beautiful sounding.  So it is with reading.  Fluency only comes with practice.  So you and your child does not become overwhelmed, just take a couple of pages at a time.  Don't try to do the whole reading book each night; just do a bite at a time as well as a couple of new sight words a week.  Also if time permits, review the old ones.

For third quarter we will be focusing not only on the one-vowel rule, but the two-vowel rule:

     One-vowel rule:

           If a word only has one vowel, it is usually makes a short sound.

     Two-vowel rule: 

           If a word has two vowels, it usually makes a long sound.  The fun way to say it: When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and it says its name.  Also when there is an "e" at the end of a word, sneaky "e" is silent, but makes the first vowel say its long name. 

For some children this is too much information.  Some children learn better by learning their word families or what we call rhyming words.  For example:  The "ain" family: train, rain, plain....

Also for third quarter we will be concentrating on adding and subtracting! WOW!   We will continue to learn time, which includes half-past, coins, shapes, and patterns, number families to 100, greater than, lesser than, and equal. 

Our little ones are learning so much.  They need lots of encouragement and time to soak in all this new information.  Help them naturally learn by having them count the money in their pocket or banks.  Ask them what time it is and so on. 

Things to be aware of and remember are to have healthy snacks and lunches and to bring a jacket or a sweater to school.  Do not let your child bring toys to school.  It causes lots of issues to come up in the classroom. 

I am collecting shoe boxes that the children will be decorating to put their paper books in.  They will call it "My Book Box."  I welcome snack donations, new markers, both for coloring and white boards, new crayons, and paper towel and toilet paper rolls :) for crafts. 

Thank you parents for bearing with me through this quarterly letter.  You are all such wonderful parents.  God bless your family always.  You are in my prayers.

Warm regards,

Ms. Phillips