Greetings Aviator Families of room 111!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! The Ross family enjoyed visiting with family and friends at my brother in law’s wedding in Lansing. It was so wonderful watching our two children boogie on the dance floor together (before Antonia would make  a break for an exit). I hope this message finds you all well. Here is what is cooking this week in room 111:

Letter of the week: Tt (please continue to study word cards, letter cards and read for pleasure nightly with your child) The new letter “t” homework assignment will go home this week. This is due on Friday as always.

Word of the week: him Please be able to read and write these words if your child has started receiving flash cards from the “green list” which is list one on the individualized spelling program.

Names: Many students are making a lot of growth with their name writing! Please continue to work on writing their first and last names at home each night with one capital for the beginning of each word.

Homework: We got almost ALL homework assignments last week and I am SO proud of our class! Please continue working hard on these assignments the students were beaming with pride this week over their hard work! In addition, this month our class will begin our official “homework” calendar. I will be copying then on the back of the PBIS behavior notes and you can just turn them over to find out that to do that night! Each night, your child is to complete one meaningful question pertaining to varying subjects such as math and reading. The assignments are sent home on Monday nights and to be returned and completed on Friday mornings for the teacher to check and give her juicy stars! Homework on the weekend will only consist of reading for 10 minutes a night as well as letter and sight word practice.

PBIS: This week our anti-bullying program officially begins. Although our kindergartners are still “learning” we are working harder each day to work towards a goal of more green this month! If your child has  earned it they will attend  reward day at the end of this month. I am so excited to see how many of our wonderful students make it! I just wanted to take a minute here to THANK YOU ALL for all the hard work you do raising such fine boys and girls. This classroom of mine is simply a JOY to work with and I look forward to working with them each day and seeing their smiling and eager faces is amazing.

Language Arts: This week we will continue building our stamina for Daily 5 and introduce a second choice called “work on writing”. I am so happy with the progress of the class so far. They are so motivated and adorable when we practice our letters and sounds and new words! we have been googling for free off of youtube and typing in: Letter ___ song have fun teaching video and also the “and” song Have Fun Teaching video. With your help, your child will enjoy practicing reading these words and letters at home! Students got their reading packs last week. Please continue using the materials in side each night and then returning them for school each day.

Media: This week is our library check out day! So please make sure your child’s library book is in their backpacks on Tuesday night. Thank you for your help!

Science: This week we will read a book about a little girl who is very inquisitive and what it means to be a scientist. We will begin our unit on being a scientist, using tools, and the five senses. This week we will explore our 5 senses with apples!

I’m sure there will be more updates throughout the week. Have a great evening and see you all bright and early Monday morning!

Mrs. Ross 🙂

Dear 111 Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I have enjoyed more family time and of course two more soccer games with Benjamin! Thank you to all the families who came last week to our back to school carnival it was so much fun and great to see you there. Here is what you need to know for this upcoming week:

Monday: Gym (wear gym shoes and appropriate attire!) Your child did a great job last week sending in their “Alphabet Homework”! way to go mom and dad! Please continue to work on your child’s letter/sound recognition with the flash cards each night at home. This will dramatically help your child grasp the written word. Tonight your child will bring home their letter “Rr” homework page that will be due on Friday (or before we LOVE to share them as the week goes on). Please return with THREE pictures that begin with the letter Rr and have your child attempt to phonetically write the word. What do they hear?

Tuesday: Music and Art Today we will enjoy a long day of learning and also two great specials.

Wednesday: Computers

Thursday: Music

Friday: Gym (wear gym shoes and appropriate attire!)

*Important Notes/Reminders:

Homework: Reading for fun from family personal library, letter/sound cards in reading pack, alphabet letter Rr

*Arrival must be at door 10. Please sign students in late at the office and let them walk down alone to promote independence. Parents need to say goodbye at the door! If a parent is to volunteer/chaperone at McCollough Elementary they need to have a “background check” completed and okayed through the state of Michigan. I will be sending these home this week.

*Lunch: Lunch has been going SO well! Please make sure that you are going over the lunch menu every night with your child so they know what if for lunch each day. If you have a lunch you need to drop off you can take it to the office and they will call us. Please help us promote independence. Thank you 🙂

*Dismissal has been really crazy lately. In order to keep things safe for your child please make sure that you are here on time and stand to one side of the door. I would like to keep my parents on the grass and just let the students exit to the right. I have an idea, If you show up at 2:55pm I will start dismissing the students early. I think this helps to avoid the mad rush of the second grade families and older siblings. So let’s try this starting tomorrow? Hopefully it will me more smooth for all it is so hard to make sure that each one of my precious babies are safely in their loved ones arms and I am very responsible for each and every one. Thank you so much for your help!

*If you have NOT signed up for parent teachers conferences please come and see the teacher after school this week to sign up. I do need to pick up Benjamin after school still because of my husband’s injured hip so I can only stay until 3:10pm. If you come at 2:55pm it will help in this matter as well 🙂

Book Bags: This week your children will begin bringing home a book bag. Be patient the teacher will begin meeting individually with each child during our Daily Five stamina practice and will get All reading packs home by Friday afternoon! This bag will contain materials that will help your child reach their literacy goal. Since each child in the class has DIFFERENT needs and goals and is learning to read at their own pace the materials in each child’s bag will be different. Please don’t worry or compare your child to another child we are all unique and at different developmental levels. However, this is where you and I MUST partner to help your child PROGRESS  and move forward. Please have your child practice the items in their bags each night for about 20-30 minutes TOPS and return it each school day. The yellow and green flash cards belong in here now. In addition, your child may be ready for the “sight word” program and will also have their “green card” in the bag as well. This much LIVE in here and never be left at home. Thank you so much in advance for your help this year it’s going to be a GREAT one!!! Directions will be on the Learning Log inside. The learning Log will need to be signed each night by you. Good luck and have fun!

Dear families of 111,

I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather over the weekend! We are still excited over at the Ross house for the start of soccer season. Our son Benjamin is on the Dearborn “Little Kickers” team and it is so adorable. Well we have been working SO hard last week to build up our stamina and expectations for Daily 5 Read-to-Self, Poetry and Math workshop. I am so proud to announce that our class was able to work independently for 10 MINUTES on day 1 and 15 MINUTES on day two of practice! We enjoyed a cookie treat Friday to celebrate our hard work. In the first month of kindergarten it is important to remember that your child is working so hard and tired when getting home. I am going to begin sending home small things for you to work on at home with your child, but we will slowly build up homework expectations. As something new comes home, I will post new blog directions.

Here is what you can expect this week in kindergarten…

Letter Focus: M m

Word(s) of the week: to

Reading: Practicing Daily 5 stamina for Read-to-Self and working with the book “Rainbow Fish”

Math: Continuing working on numbers from 0-5 and number sense talks and math workshop expectations and work stations

Poetry: Little Miss Muffett looking for the letter M, S, and the words the and to and rhyming words

Writer’s Workshop: What is a writer? Expectations and working on “Rainbow Fish” connections how to be a good friend.

PBIS: This week we will continue to work on learning about the PBIS behavior system for great behavior and positive rewards. Monday, your child will bring home their folder with the PBIS calendar in the back. PLEASE KEEP IT in the folder in the back all year and I will collect it and switch it each month. As a parent, I need your help to partner with me and discuss all the wonderful and challenging days your child has each day/week/month this year. Also, at the end of the week please initial the column for parents and I will know you are communicating with your child about their school manners. Remember, your child is NOT a perfect person and we do not expect them to be! But, this PBIS system is meant to stop bullying in school and reward your child when they are actively behaving well and being “respectful, responsible and safe.” Please help me “teach” your child how to correct and maintain the desired behaviors of McCollough Students. In addition, this month is practice and the colors they bring home will NOT count officially until October!

Homework:

This week we will ease into homework by working on the letter ‘M m’ assigned for phonics. This homework assignment is due on Friday and will be added to your child’s spelling and phonics folder in school.

#1. Cut or print 3 pictures from the internet, magazines, grocery store flyers etc. to place on the back of the paper (pictures must be small enough to paste on this single page). In addition, you and your child will work hard on all the letters and sounds in the alphabet, your child’s name reading and writing, and any of the suggested activities you wish to do on the front of the paper!

#2 Your child needs to practice writing their name at the top of the page on the back.

#3Underneath each picture you cut and paste please have your child attempt to phonetically spell the word. For example under the picture of a milk jug they would write milk the best they can. Have them stretch it our slowly and write what they hear. You do not need to fix it unless it is completely unreadable lol (I’d like to see what they hear!)

#4 Write the capital and lowercase letter 5 times each in the correct square.

*Each Friday, I will collect these and the idea is to create a folder to help your child practice letters and sounds during “word work” in Daily5! Thank you in advance for all your help!

                                                                                            ex.)    Mieelk

*Dates to Remember:

September 22, back to school carnival!

NWEA: testing has begun and this month your child will be pulled out individually to see how well they do in math and language arts. This is just the first/baseline test. Please make sure your child is getting a good night sleep!