September 27

Happy Fall! We had a great week in kindergarten with some exciting things to tell about!  On Wednesday our class had a preliminary ECO lesson where students were introduced to stick safety and then they had time to play in the wooded area behind our playground.  We joined Ms. Gales class as we will be ECO partners this year.  The students all had a wonderful time exploring in the  trees and building forts and working together with friends.  This is just the beginning of what will be an exciting year of outdoor education.  On Thursday our first butterfly emerged from its chrysalis.  Students spent time observing the butterfly as it began drying its wings.  Later that day we release the butterfly into the garden outside our door. 

In Literacy this week we reviewed the letters we have learned thus far and focused a lot on letter formation.  In writers workshop students learned how writers plan their books before they begin writing and started working with a partner to tell their book page by page before writing anything. 
In Readers workshop,  students learned that readers reread to find even more information.  We learned our first sight word, a, and we read our first sight word book this week titled A Park.
On Monday (some Tuesday), students took the STAR early literacy assessment which is taken on an iPad.  This assessment will help me determine groups for targeted intervention (all students receive intervention groups based on what they need). 

In math our lessons focused on sorting by two and three categories, and then sorting into groups by quantity.  We ended the week sorting and categorizing and then assigning a numeral to each set and ordering them from smallest to greatest (1-5).
On Friday students completed the Primary Numbers and Operations Assessment (PNOA) with me.  This assessment will give me a better idea of students' strengths and the areas they need the most work so that I can better target instruction for individual students. 

Both the STAR and PNOA assessments are given 3 times during the year.  The next round will be in January/February and then again in May.  This will show students growth over the school year.
We will be able to go over the results of these initial assessment during our parent teacher conferences on October 18th.

This week we began conversations around scholarly habits.  Students identified ways they hope to learn and grow as students this year in Kindergarten.  The each mad a flower and identified they thing they will need to do to grow as learners.  These are displayed in our classroom window in "Our Children's Garden".  Be sure to check them out next week at our Open House!

A few Reminders:
1) We have our introduction to ECO on Monday morning, September 30th,  from 9:30 - 11:00.  Students need appropriate outdoor clothes and shoes.  We will plan to have a snack outside so plan to pack a snack that is easy to eat outside (no spoons required etc.).  I will also bring out some fruit from the cafeteria for students who need a snack.  You should also send a water bottle is you have one available. 
Every year parents ask,"what if my child has to go to the bathroom while they are at ECO?".  the simple answer is, they go outside.  We have a strict protocol for taking kids to the bathroom while at ECO.  We go away from the group and always take two children with us.  Students are given privacy as we turn our backs away from them.  WE DO NOT HELP CHILDREN with this process other than talking them through it.  It is highly recommended that you practice this with your child prior to ECO.


2) Open House is next Thursday, October 3rd from 5:30 - 6:30.  We encourage you to come with your child to the exciting beginning of the school year event!  Your kindergartener will act as your tour guide showing you around our classroom and then the school.  This will NOT be a time to talk about your child's progress.  Please save that conversation for our Conference on October 18th.

3) We have our first full ECO on Friday, October 4th from 9:00 - 12:00.  We will enjoy as snack outside, and will eat lunch back in the classroom when we return from ECO.  Bag lunches will be available to students who get school lunch.  Please send appropriate clothing and layers to assure your child is comfortable.  Students will also need a water bottle.

4) We have a field trip to the Morristown Fire Station on Monday, October 7th.  Please fill out the permission slip in your child's Friday folder and return it to school ASAP.  Parents who plan to chaperone must have an approved background check with the school.  This field trip is planned as part of Fire Safety week.  Next week in class we will be learning about fire safety, and students may be asked to complete a fire safety plan with their family.

5) Parent/Student/Teacher Conference are on October 18th (and 22nd).  Please call or stop by the MES office to schedule an appointment to meet with me.  Conferences will last 20-30 minutes. 

Phew!  I think that is it for now!  Sorry no photos this week.  I left my camera at school.