Thank you as always to our valued volunteers!
As we head into December - knowing it is a very fast and very busy three weeks - please keep an eye on your calendars for class happenings, due dates such as for our donation basket and changes to routines like library and mailbags.
While the weather isn't saying it's winter holiday time, the calendar is and the excitement in the class is palpable! A gentle reminder that we don't all celebrate or acknowledge the same traditions and beliefs but we show respect, openness to new things and acceptance of differences when learning about them. In kindergarten we have MANY children who firmly believe in the magic of Santa and the elves and some who do not. That is the beauty of being free to choose what you believe - but it also means we need to be sensitive and remind our children it is OK to think differently and what isn't "real" in one household may be very real in others. One is not more right than the other and we don't all have yo have the same ideas.
On that note, I was given a "class elf" several years ago - a mini version of the "elf on the shelf" idea. It was promptly named "Elfie" by that first group and has continued to be a tradition in the following years. If you have an elf at your home, ours follows the same rules - and the kids love to look for him each morning and ponder how he got to that spot... Elfie will make his debut on Monday and be with us until the 22. Don't forget to ask your child where Elfie was each day, he gets up to all kinds of things!
This week at LKS includes the "hour of code" for kindies to grade 8. Coding has become huge in education and some version of it can be used at all grade levels. For us in kindergarten, we learn that algorithms are a series of steps that help accomplish a task and that those steps can be assigned symbols, pictures or words and need to be sequenced properly to reach the desired result. Think of
simple board games or video games using sequences of "moves" to accomplish a task by getting
where you need to be - perhaps using helper spots and avoiding danger or demise! There are online applications that your children can use such as Scratch JR and Box Island and many more but I have also created and will use life size game boards where characters need to move around a grid (tape on a shower curtain!) to win, survive, beat the game, get the treasure or accomplish some goal or other. If you would like to learn more and even see coding in action or try some activities with your child at home check out www.code.org for all kinds of resources.
We continue to learn and review our phonics in class using the Jolly Phonics program. This week we begin the second set of sounds. You can find helpful songs, videos etc on youtube to practise and consolidate with your child if you wish. We have measuring concepts as our math focus right now with the kids experimenting with scales, balances, measuring tapes and meter sticks. The idea is that they become familiar with comparative concepts such as bigger, heavier, taller etc as well as the idea of standard and non standard measurement. They love to use the "tools" of measurement since they
are "real" and not toys and have been absolutely loving weighing themselves on the scale and
comparing their weight to their peers...apparently "of course seniors have bigger numbers because they are SENIORS!" not because they are physically bigger!! And yes, they have asked me to step on the scale and then squealed in glee when the needle went past 100...goodness!
Our Stonegate donation basket is beginning to fill up, many thanks to those who have already sent in items. This is an annual tradition at LKS and a meaningful way to help out families in need. You can see by the list of items these are not what we would call luxuries but basic needs for comfort and health, it doesn't matter why families are in the situations they are in - looking forward and moving forward, helping wherever we can help is what is important. No donation is too small and combined they send a powerful message to someone out there that the world can be good. As noted on your calendar, the last day for donations is Friday. Baskets are set just inside our back door for items to be placed in but if you have a gift card please give it directly to myself or Ms. Paldon so they don't get misplaced - I usually put them all together in a little gift bag or stocking for safety and presentation.
Many thanks!
Our week looks like this:
Monday - Elfie arrives!
Tuesday - Music AM, Mystery Reader AM, Gym PM
Wednesday - Reading Buddies AM
Thursday - Library both groups, Gym PM
Friday - Author Visit, No Lib book exchange, Mystery Reader PM
(The author coming is Kari Lynn Winters if you wish to look her up)
Many thanks to everyone for making sure the kids all had gym shoes here! We were disappointed to find out we lost our spot to special activites by the "house" groups but this will happen from time to time when the gym is needed for other events. It's just part of sharing with the whole school.
Have a great week!
Ms.I.
