I hope everyone enjoyed a nice week off, and you were able to enjoy some time with friends and family. We will be getting back to our regular schedule again, and are excited to have parents back in the classroom for the next two weeks for classroom centers. We have just three and a half busy weeks before we will be headed off for winter break-- it will go by quickly!
Language Arts
This week, we will introduce two "plane line slide" letters: Vv and Ww. Handwriting tips for these letters can be found here. By the end of 2023, we will wrap up the introduction of all letters and will move onto blending sounds to read words in 2024. Our sight words this week are we and up.
Our literature this week will focus on owls. We will read both fiction and nonfiction stories about owls, and put together our own sentences and a booklet about owl facts.
Math
In math, we will begin a short unit on measurement that will take us up to Winter Break. We will be comparing length, weight, and capacity. Parent tips for this module can be found here.
Nutcracker
Looking ahead on your calendars at this busy time of year, I wanted to make sure that you are all marking your calendars for Tuesday, December 19th at 9:15 a.m.-- our performance of The Nutcracker. This is something that you will not want to miss. I have only heard from one family that they will be missing the performance. If you have not done so already, please let me know whether you will be traveling on the 19th. I will be assigning parts this week and need to know if your child will not be joining us on the stage so that I can balance out all the parts. Thank you!
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Bulldog t-shirts to show your school pride.
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: Centers (Brian & Aida)
Tuesday: Centers (Michelle & Amanda)
Wednesday: Library @ 8:30 (Kaela & Aida), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Centers (Marianne & Sean)
Friday: Music
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
12/21-1/3: Winter Break
Thursday, 1/4: School resumes
Monday, 1/15: No School: MLK Holiday
Monday, 1/29: No School: Teacher Work Day
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Week of November 13th
I hope you are all enjoying a long weekend. In the upcoming week, we will continue parent-teacher conferences. I have enjoyed meeting with many of you so far, and have gained some great insights about your children from you. Thank you for meeting with me and being such active participants in your child's education. I look forward to meeting with the rest of you this week. For this week, early dismissal at 1:15 continues through Friday.
There will be no classroom centers again this week, due to the early dismissal. Centers will resume on Monday the 27th.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Tuesday, 11/14 is Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. This is a schoolwide event. Please join Alta Vista in recognizing this historic event by wearing purple and walking to school on Tuesday.
Language Arts
This week's letters are Ll, Hh, and Kk. Parent tips for helping with the formation of these letters can be found here. Did you know that there is a strong link between handwriting and literacy? Studies show that kids who practice handwriting do better at reading and spelling. Forming letters by hand while learning sounds activates brain circuits that promote literacy. If you notice that your child has not yet mastered the 20 letters & sounds we've introduced so far, please print out the letter pages in Fundations that are linked in the weekly update and have your child trace over them with their finger, while repeating their sounds, watching that they are forming them correctly. The pace of kindergarten is very fast, and by the end of 2023, children should know all letters & sounds. When we return from Winter Break, we will be moving onto sounding out words to read decodable texts.
Our sight words this week are he and no. For a list of the 15 sight words (also called high frequency words) we've introduced so far, as well as all words we'll be studying this year, please see the class website, under the tab "Kinder Words." Again, if you notice that your child is not able to read these sight words, please continue working on them at home.
We will continue our labeling unit in writing this week. Children will work on stretching out sounds in words to label a person, and things in a setting.
This week, children will be sharing the turkeys that they disguised. They will each get to present their turkeys in front of the class. After Thanksgiving, we will begin circulating a book of all the turkey projects so that you can enjoy them at home with your child.
Math
In math this week, we will continue reviewing all concepts we've covered so far. We will begin a new unit on measurement after Thanksgiving.
Kimochis
This week, your child will learn the first Kimochis® Key to Communication: Get someone’s attention. Your child will learn that when we want to get someone’s attention, it is important to call that person’s name. This alerts the person to look. If your child waits for the person to look or make eye contact before speaking, it increases the odds that the people communicating will really listen to each other. Sometimes calling someone’s name is not enough. Your child learned to use a gentle tap on the shoulder to get attention. When your child knows that the listener is ready to listen, the likelihood of having a positive connection is increased. These are the three communication habits your child will learn: 1. Call the person by name. 2. Wait for eye contact before speaking. 3. Use a Communication Tap (a gentle tap on the shoulder two or three times) to gain attention or eye contact. Now it’s time to speak because we are both focused on the communication interaction.
Nutcracker
Looking ahead on your calendars at this busy time of year, I wanted to make sure that you all mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 19th at 9:15 a.m.-- our performance of The Nutcracker. This is an annual kindergarten favorite. If you are heading out of town that week and your child won't be at school on the 19th, please let me know so that I can plan parts accordingly.
Also, a reminder as the holidays are approaching, if you are taking a trip that will result in your child missing at least 3 days of school, please see the office ASAP to get an Independent Study Packet. You must notify the office at least 2 weeks in advance of your trip to be eligible. When you take out an Independent Study, your child will get some school work and the school will get credit for your child's attendance, securing ADA money, so it's a win-win.
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Bulldog t-shirts to show your school pride.
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: Dismissal at 1:15
Tuesday: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, Dismissal at 1:15
Wednesday: Library (Phil & Gina), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Dismissal at 1:15
Friday: Music, Dismissal at 1:15
Upcoming Events
There will be no classroom centers again this week, due to the early dismissal. Centers will resume on Monday the 27th.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Tuesday, 11/14 is Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. This is a schoolwide event. Please join Alta Vista in recognizing this historic event by wearing purple and walking to school on Tuesday.
Language Arts
This week's letters are Ll, Hh, and Kk. Parent tips for helping with the formation of these letters can be found here. Did you know that there is a strong link between handwriting and literacy? Studies show that kids who practice handwriting do better at reading and spelling. Forming letters by hand while learning sounds activates brain circuits that promote literacy. If you notice that your child has not yet mastered the 20 letters & sounds we've introduced so far, please print out the letter pages in Fundations that are linked in the weekly update and have your child trace over them with their finger, while repeating their sounds, watching that they are forming them correctly. The pace of kindergarten is very fast, and by the end of 2023, children should know all letters & sounds. When we return from Winter Break, we will be moving onto sounding out words to read decodable texts.
Our sight words this week are he and no. For a list of the 15 sight words (also called high frequency words) we've introduced so far, as well as all words we'll be studying this year, please see the class website, under the tab "Kinder Words." Again, if you notice that your child is not able to read these sight words, please continue working on them at home.
We will continue our labeling unit in writing this week. Children will work on stretching out sounds in words to label a person, and things in a setting.
This week, children will be sharing the turkeys that they disguised. They will each get to present their turkeys in front of the class. After Thanksgiving, we will begin circulating a book of all the turkey projects so that you can enjoy them at home with your child.
Math
In math this week, we will continue reviewing all concepts we've covered so far. We will begin a new unit on measurement after Thanksgiving.
Kimochis
This week, your child will learn the first Kimochis® Key to Communication: Get someone’s attention. Your child will learn that when we want to get someone’s attention, it is important to call that person’s name. This alerts the person to look. If your child waits for the person to look or make eye contact before speaking, it increases the odds that the people communicating will really listen to each other. Sometimes calling someone’s name is not enough. Your child learned to use a gentle tap on the shoulder to get attention. When your child knows that the listener is ready to listen, the likelihood of having a positive connection is increased. These are the three communication habits your child will learn: 1. Call the person by name. 2. Wait for eye contact before speaking. 3. Use a Communication Tap (a gentle tap on the shoulder two or three times) to gain attention or eye contact. Now it’s time to speak because we are both focused on the communication interaction.
Nutcracker
Looking ahead on your calendars at this busy time of year, I wanted to make sure that you all mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 19th at 9:15 a.m.-- our performance of The Nutcracker. This is an annual kindergarten favorite. If you are heading out of town that week and your child won't be at school on the 19th, please let me know so that I can plan parts accordingly.
Also, a reminder as the holidays are approaching, if you are taking a trip that will result in your child missing at least 3 days of school, please see the office ASAP to get an Independent Study Packet. You must notify the office at least 2 weeks in advance of your trip to be eligible. When you take out an Independent Study, your child will get some school work and the school will get credit for your child's attendance, securing ADA money, so it's a win-win.
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Bulldog t-shirts to show your school pride.
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: Dismissal at 1:15
Tuesday: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, Dismissal at 1:15
Wednesday: Library (Phil & Gina), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Dismissal at 1:15
Friday: Music, Dismissal at 1:15
Upcoming Events
11/7-11/17: Parent-Teacher Conferences-- dismissal @ 1:15 daily
Tuesday, 11/14: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day-- wear purple
11/20-11/24: Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
12/21-1/3: Winter Break
Tuesday, 11/14: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day-- wear purple
11/20-11/24: Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
12/21-1/3: Winter Break
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Week of November 6th
I am looking forward to meeting with everyone in the upcoming two weeks! Remember that for the next two weeks (except Monday, 11/6), dismissal will be at 1:15 daily. If you need to check your conference time, you can find it here. Please note that this sign-up can no longer be edited. If you need to reschedule your conference, please email me.
Special Family Project
I am excited to see all the decorated turkeys this week! You can start sending those in on Monday, but no later than Thursday, when you return your child's Wednesday envelope. Please allow your child to lead this project. We are not looking for Pinterest-perfect turkeys and would much prefer to see child-created projects.
Parking Lot Gate
Did you know that there is a protected walkway up to the kindergarten gates? When you are walking both to and from school, it is much safer to use this walkway, which is protected by yellow bollards, and is right next to the school garden. Rather than having your children walk through a parking lot behind cars that may be backing out, encourage a safe habit by using the protected walkway. If the parking lot gate is closed, please do not open it so that you can walk in this way. Please go to the protected walkway.
In Class This Week
Language Arts
This week, we will begin the labeling unit in our writing program. Children will be encouraged to draw pictures and add labels to them to help facilitate independent writing. As children develop as writers, we ask for your support in allowing them to sound out words on their own. If they spell a word phonetically and end up writing "morkr" for "marker," this is the first phase of learning to write and spell independently, and please encourage those attempts!
Our letters this week are Pp and Jj. These are both letters that drop down to the "worm line." To help your child with correct letter formation, please look at the Home Support letter. Our sight words this week are me and be.
Math
This will be a review week in math. Children should continue working on counting to 100 by 1s and 10s, counting on from any given number, and writing numbers legibly and correctly to 20, as well as counting objects up to 10.
Kimochis
Special Family Project
I am excited to see all the decorated turkeys this week! You can start sending those in on Monday, but no later than Thursday, when you return your child's Wednesday envelope. Please allow your child to lead this project. We are not looking for Pinterest-perfect turkeys and would much prefer to see child-created projects.
Parking Lot Gate
Did you know that there is a protected walkway up to the kindergarten gates? When you are walking both to and from school, it is much safer to use this walkway, which is protected by yellow bollards, and is right next to the school garden. Rather than having your children walk through a parking lot behind cars that may be backing out, encourage a safe habit by using the protected walkway. If the parking lot gate is closed, please do not open it so that you can walk in this way. Please go to the protected walkway.
In Class This Week
Language Arts
This week, we will begin the labeling unit in our writing program. Children will be encouraged to draw pictures and add labels to them to help facilitate independent writing. As children develop as writers, we ask for your support in allowing them to sound out words on their own. If they spell a word phonetically and end up writing "morkr" for "marker," this is the first phase of learning to write and spell independently, and please encourage those attempts!
Our letters this week are Pp and Jj. These are both letters that drop down to the "worm line." To help your child with correct letter formation, please look at the Home Support letter. Our sight words this week are me and be.
Math
This will be a review week in math. Children should continue working on counting to 100 by 1s and 10s, counting on from any given number, and writing numbers legibly and correctly to 20, as well as counting objects up to 10.
Kimochis
This week, the Kimochis® Character named Cat will join our classroom to teach children about the feelings curious, cranky, and sorry. Cat is the Kimochis® Character who knows what she wants, when she wants it, and why she wants it! When Cat makes up her mind, there is no stopping her. When the group needs a leader, Cat is always ready to help. She loves to be in charge, but she can be a little bit bossy. Cat may seem mean on the outside, but on the inside, she is very sweet.
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Bulldog t-shirts to show your school pride.
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: No centers, dismissal at 1:40
Tuesday: Conferences begin. Dismissal at 1:15
Wednesday: Library @ 8:30 (Janelle & Naira), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Turkey Project due, Conferences, Dismissal at 1:15
Friday: NO SCHOOL: Veteran's Day
Upcoming Events11/7-11/17: Parent-Teacher Conferences-- dismissal @ 1:15 daily
Thursday 11/9: Return Turkey Trouble project in Weds. envelope
Friday 11/10: NO SCHOOL: Veteran's Day
11/20-11/24: Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
12/21-1/3: Winter Break
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Bulldog t-shirts to show your school pride.
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: No centers, dismissal at 1:40
Tuesday: Conferences begin. Dismissal at 1:15
Wednesday: Library @ 8:30 (Janelle & Naira), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Turkey Project due, Conferences, Dismissal at 1:15
Friday: NO SCHOOL: Veteran's Day
Upcoming Events11/7-11/17: Parent-Teacher Conferences-- dismissal @ 1:15 daily
Thursday 11/9: Return Turkey Trouble project in Weds. envelope
Friday 11/10: NO SCHOOL: Veteran's Day
11/20-11/24: Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
12/21-1/3: Winter Break
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