Week Two - September 16 - 20

Post date: Sep 21, 2013 5:41:14 PM

It's so exciting to see how quickly the kids are learning the routines of kindergarten! Transitions are getting faster so we are able to get right down to our learning each day. We have really been working on knowing when it's time to chat and when it's time to listen and also on being good listeners when our classmates are talking. We have a wonderful group of children who seem to be working well together and are developing a strong sense of community.

As part of our science unit we have been watching our apple seeds sprout and on Thursday we planted them in soil hoping that they will grow! We have been doing lots of apple projects and have been singing lots of apple songs.

We began the Read Well Reading program this week and have learned three new heart words:

I is a

It would be very helpful to your child if you encouraged them to point out the heart words when you are reading together. The more practice they get, the better!

As part of the Oregon Department of Education Assessment System, the state has begun implementing a new mandatory Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. The assessment coordinator, Sarah Hansen, administered the math and reading portion of the test with students one-on-one this week and I am doing the on-going behavioral assessment. This data will be useful in helping me determine where each child is in his or her learning.

On Friday we got to have some choice time with the other kindergarten class and the kids seemed to enjoy this quite a lot. Some came to my room to do puppet shows and water color painting, and others were in Mrs. Schulz's room playing with legos and doing other fun activities.

A few important reminders...

On Fridays your child will bring home their FRIDAY FOLDER. Please empty the contents and return the folder to school on Monday.

Also, Monday is Library day so remind your child to bring his or her library book(s) back to school if they would like to get new books.

Also, thank you to those of you who signed up to volunteer at Back-to-School Night. If you missed that opportunity, don't fret. You can still sign up. I still need helpers during lunch which is from 11:25-11:50. For those of you helping with math and reading, we will begin with volunteers the first week of October.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kate Wray