Bonkowske Bulletin
Morganton Day School Jr. Kindergarten December 9-13
Dates to Remember
12/13 Polar Express Field Trip to Bryson City
12/20 Half-Day with secret pal Gift Exchange and music program
12/23-1/3 Holiday Break NO SCHOOL
1/9 Open House (informational for prospective 2014-1015 students and families)
1/20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
2/17 Teacher/Portfolio Workday NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
What's Happening in Jr. Kindergarten
Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch JK, we're the Gingerbread Man! We had an exciting week of JK learning and fun as we prepared for our day at the bakery. JK students read four different versions of the classic folktale, The Gingerbread Man, and we charted how the characters and setting changed. They also made a graph to see which story was the class's favorite. They worked on story sequencing by cutting and placing pictures in the correct order and retelling the story of The Gingerbread Man. They also created a silly story about how to keep a gingerbread man from escaping. This book provided a great opportunity for shared, choral reading together to work on reading voice, fluency and one-to-one correspondence. We also had fun with food this week! Students were asked to take one bite of a gingerbread cookie and then we graphed which part they ate first (leg, arm or head). And, of course, we had a wonderful trip to My Local Bakery where we had the chance to decorate gingerbread men with all of the fixings. What a great week!
Cool Weather Has Arrived...
Reading
We will be working on the consonant "Cc" this week and talking about how when you know how to write letter Cc, it helps you write many other letters (like lowercase d, g, o, and q). We will also learn about letter C's sound through songs and other activities. Please continue to support their learning at home by pointing out letters we have covered so far (Aa, Bb, Tt, Jj, Dd, Ff, Pp, Ee, Oo, Ii, Uu, and Cc) when you see them and ask them what sound they make, or brainstorm words that start with that sound. Back by popular demand, I have embedded the link to our letter Cc song in the newsletter this week. :0) I had a few parents request this at conferences and I am happy to bring it back! I have also embedded the link below of a website called Starfall that is great to reinforce what they are learning in JK. It offers many literacy activities for all levels and is absolutely free! I have also sent home ABC cards in every child's folder last week. Please continue to review each letter name and sound three times a night. When you finish, you can place the cards back in the bag, place the bag in their folder and send it back to school each day. This way, when I assess them and they are ready, I can begin to add "snappy words" and decodable books to their bags. Please remember that learning to read is a learning and developmental process. Each child progresses in their own way at their own rate. We want them to develop a LOVE and PASSION for reading and we want to avoid frustration as much as possible. Make this time with your child a fun and exciting time. :0)
The Power in a Name!
Story Sequencing
Mad Scientist
Math
In math, we will use our Gingerbread Man theme to review and practice creating and extending patterns. We will also continue to introduce the concept of graphing, using emotions and their age to learn more about our classmates. We will create a graph about the different ways we feel when we come to school as well as a graph depicting the different ages represented in our class. Students continue to develop great math skills in our math center as well, as they investigate spatial relations and different attributes of the various objects available to them. This week, they worked collaboratively to build a waffle block town. We have gone from building out to building up, and that third dimension creates a lot more thinking and learning. :0)
Unit of Inquiry
This week, we will continue our work with Nursery Rhymes and assisting Mother Goose with identifying characters who need some help with their attitudes and actions. They know and love Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater, Little Miss Muffet, The Eensy Weensy Spider, Humpty Dumpty, The Three Little Pigs and The Gingerbread Man Nursery Rhymes. This week we will continue reading traditional and fractured tales from the classic folktales. These activities that revolve around Nursery Rhymes are wonderful for building reading stamina, fluency and inflection. It is also great for phonemic awareness skills as they begin to hear rhyme and rhythm of reading. As you are riding to and from school this week, see how many they can remember, or maybe try saying them in silly voices for extra practice. Also, watch for some of their great Gingerbread Man work to appear in the hallway this week. :0)
Routines and Information
This week, I will be sending home Take Home Folders and Planners. In these folders you will find work that your child has completed at school along with any information I need to send home each day, including homework. The left side is labeled "Left at home" and the right side is labeled "Right back to school." Please try to remember to send the folder back each day.
I have sent home our December book orders. Please enjoy the gift coupon for this issue! They are due back to me by THIS WEDNESDAY, December 11th. I know that is a quick turnaround, but it allows us time to submit the order and make sure they arrive before we leave for the Holiday Break. These make great stocking stuffers for the holidays or entertainment for holiday road trips! Please indicate on your order if the books are intended to be gifts so I don't spoil the surprise! ;0)
This Thursday, in preparation for our big trip on Friday, we are having a Polar Express day at school. Along with Kindergarten and First Grade, we will read the story, drink hot chocolate, and watch the movie. Please plan for your child to wear warm pajamas on both Thursday and Fiday this week! And please feel free to join us if you're schedule allows for it. It is a cozy, fun day.
I am so proud of how big and brave our JK students have become at drop off time. They come right in and get down to the business of learning each day with smiles on their faces! They are comfortable with our routine and that is all thanks to you! Thank you for your support in helping them become more and more independent as learners. I also want to say that they are growing by leaps and bounds with letter identification, sounds and recognizing "snappy words." It is truly wonderful to see all of the new connections they make each day as they develop a love for learning and reading.
Special Thanks
A special thank you to all of our parent chaperones who have signed up for the big trip to Bryson City this week to catch a ride on The Polar Express! We will have a big group ready to make wonderful memories for these sweet kiddos. Watch out this week for more information about this exciting day we have planned.
Please see the new link below to sign up to volunteer in our classroom. :0) As we prepare for some special holiday crafts, I could use a couple extra pairs of hands to help out if you are available. Also, a big thank you goes out to the family of Carter Johnson for providing snack for our class this week. Our current snack rotation is full through the holiday break. Thank you! I have embedded a new link for our winter/spring snack sign up below. I appreciate all of you!