Thank you as always to our valued volunteers. Our fabulous grade parents have emailed out for a few craft supplies your child will need for the upcoming (Dec.16) Holiday craft party. How we can be at this point in the year is crazy but here we are! **Please send in a small/medium clean glass jar with no labels, a silver pop/beer "tab" (the piece you open the can with) and a 1 clean coloured or patterned sock. Send your items in a baggie with your child's name on it as soon as possible, many thanks!
Ms. McGee and the children did a great job at our Sharing Assembly this week, they sounded great and the song "Peace in my Heart" was included in your child's poetry book this week so they can teach it to you at home. The poetry books are a great way to practice reading skills at home as well. Because the children know the words to the poems or songs, they aren't having to decode the words as they sing; they are following along with the text using their sight word recognition skills. Feel free to use the poems to have your child look for small familiar words - I, am, we, me, my, are, and, is, it, boy, girl, yes, no, the colour words, the, you, how, play etc and have your child circle, underline or hilite them if you wish.
Look inside big words for smaller words - it can even be your child's name. Look at the letters available and move them around to make small words like this - Ms. Iafrate - so I can make mat, rat, fat, sat, met, sit, fit etc remembering of course that the sounds might make a word that isn't spelled correctly such as "mits" but that's ok. Standard or correct spelling becomes more apparent as children read more and are exposed to more printed text. Correct spelling is not the most important part of your child's learning at this stage. Being able to listen for and hear sounds in words; using phonics or "approximate/phonetic spelling" is age appropriate and will allow them to write down any idea they have, answer any question and convey their thoughts. This is our main focus with the Kindergarten age group. Encourage your children to practice and use their phonics knowledge by reviewing with them (Jolly Phonics songs, videos etc are available online) and use their skills to write cards or letters, lists, stories, ideas that they have. Writing for a purpose is meaningful practice. Remember - we could all copy down words in any language correctly and still have no idea what they say so keep the focus off of "right and wrong" spelling and more on just trying to write. Having taught grade one many times in my 25 years, it is more important that children will take risks and try than worry about spelling something "right". A paper with some attempt to communicate knowledge and understanding using approximate spelling is far more valuable than a blank one!
This week there is a book fair in the library. NO book exchange for either group. The children will have an opportunity to look at and purchase books during their regular library visit time. As little as $5 can usually get an age appropriate book. If you wish to have your child purchase please be sure they have money in a baggie WITH THEIR NAME ON IT on their regular library day. (See below for schedule if you aren't sure.) The December Scholastic order also came home with your child this week. If you wish to purchase please have your cheque and order form back to me by Friday.
Photos were sent home in mailbags on Friday also. If you ordered a package of your own child, those orders were sent, along with a class photo. EVERY child received a class photo regardless of whether you ordered individual photos or not. Enjoy!
This week:
Monday - PM Music
Tuesday - Mailbags, PM Mystery Reader
Wednesday - PM Book Fair Day 5/yellow group
Thursday -
Friday - Mailbags, AM Reading Buddies, AM Mystery Reader, PM Book Fair Day 2/orange group
Have a great week!
Ms.I.
