Happy Holidays!

I just have a few reminders and announcements for you...

• Parent-Teacher Conferences are being held this week.  If you are uncertain of the time and/or date you have signed up for, please let me know.  Also, there is NO SCHOOL on Wednesday (the 14th) due to conferences.
• Friday is our Kindergarten Caroling.  We will perform in the amphitheater at 1:30.  Cookies and hot chocolate to follow on the kindergarten playground.  If you have signed up to bring something in for our performance, please have it here by Thursday so we can plan accordingly.  Thank you!
• Friday is also pajama and Santa hat day!
• NO school December 19th-January 2nd due to Winter Break.  Classes resume on Tuesday, January 3rd.

Hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday season filled with love, laughter, family and friends.  Enjoy!!!

:)  Mrs. Kalnicki

Kindergarten News

Kindess Elves- Today we had our first visit from our Kindness Elves.  Each day our Kindness Elves will deliver a special message about being kind.  Be sure to ask your child about the Kindness Elves when they come home.  Today the kindness elves asked us to give a complement to someone.  I hope that this will be a rewarding experience for your child!

Parent Teacher Conferences - Conferences will take place the week of

December 12th.  There is no school on Wednesday, December 14th to allow for a full day of conferences.  Our conference should be scheduled through the front office.  Please call (702) 799-2274 to schedule your conference. 

Book Orders  I will place our December book order tomorrow evening.  If you would like to use your coupon to order books, please place your order before the end of school tomorrow (otherwise you might not receive your books until after the winter break).  Thanks so much!

Kindergarten Caroling Our class will perform on Friday, December 16th at 1:30 PM.  A letter is coming home today with more information about this event.  There will be a sign-up sheet on the the back of our pick up door if you would like to volunteer to help with this event.  Thanks so much!

This is also Santa Hat and Pajama Day!

What We are Learning…

Thematic Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we are reading  The Gingerbread Boy.  We will retell the story, learn new vocabulary words, answer text dependent questions, compare the story with other versions and even write an alternate ending!  

Phonics:  We will work on handwriting, letter sounds and using letters and sounds to spell and read words.  This week we will focus on the letters Dd and Gg.  

Sight Words: FOR and WITH

Writing: We are working on writing sentences and sounding out words.  We are also working on the writing process. First we think, then we sketch, then we write, then we re-read and add to the pictures and words.  At this point I would like all students at least attempting to write more than one sentence.   

Math: This week we will begin comparing numbers (more, fewer, greater, less and equal)

Science: This week we will think about how we could help the Gingerbread Boy safely accross the river and we will build a bridge using marshmallows and toothpicks).  

Spirit Days

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

 Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

Welcome Back!

Thank You!

Thanks so much to all of you who made it to our Thanksgiving Play and family picnic.  The kids did a wonderful job and the day was just perfect!  I hope you all had a relaxing break and your kids are ready to get back into the swing of things! :) 

Parent Teacher Conferences - Conferences will take place the week of
December 12th.  There is no school on Wednesday, December 14th to allow for a full day of conferences.  Our conference should be scheduled through the front office.  Please call (702) 799-2274 to schedule your conference. 

Save the Date

Kindergarten Caroling- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 1:30 PM.
This is also Santa Hat and Pajama Day!

What We are Learning…

Thematic Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we are reading stories by Laura Numeroff.  We are comparing the plots of the stories.  We are focusing on retelling the characters, setting, beginning, middle and end.   

Phonics:  We will work on handwriting, letter sounds and using letters and sounds to spell and read words.  This week we will focus on the letters Pp, Oo, and Dd.  

Sight Words: ARE, IS and WAS

Writing: Writing sentences, sounding out words.  We are working on the writing process.  First we think, then we sketch, then we write, then we re-read and add to the pictures and words. 

Math: Numbers, 11-20.  Please help your child recognize numbers 0-20

Science: This week we are focusing on the five senses.  

Spirit Days

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

 Donors Choose 

We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed; we are getting closer to meeting our goal! Our Project

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

Thankful in Kindergarten

The next couple of weeks are going to be very busy!  Here are some reminders about our schedule.  Please note that time of our play has changed to 10:45AM.  

Friday, November 18th

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Play-Our class will perform at 10:45 on the amphitheater, located on the big kid playground (this time has changed due to the family picnic).

The family picnic is scheduled to begin at 11:30 and will also take place on the big kid playground.  Kindergarten-2nd grade students will be outside from 11:30-12:30 and students in 3rd-5th grade will be outside from 12:00-1:00. I hope that this change will make it easier for you to come to the play and stay for the picnic.

Please let me know if you will not be able to make it to the picnic so that I can make arrangements for your child to sit with a friend and their family.  

Reading Group Books Please make sure your child brings their reading group book to school, in the book baggie (ziploc), everyday.  The best thing to do is to read the book and return it immediately to the book baggie.  The sight word book and reading log should also stay in the bag.  You can take the flashcards out to keep at home.  Thanks so much!

What We are Learning…

Thematic Big Book/Shared Reading: The next few weeks are all about Thanksgiving.  We will read lots of Thanksgiving stories and rehearse for our performance. 

Phonics:  We will work on handwriting, letter sounds and using letters and sounds to spell and read words.  This week we will focus on the letters Rr, Ll, Pp and Oo.  

Sight Words: ARE, IS

Writing: Writing sentences, sounding out words

Math: Numbers, 11-20.  Please help your child recognize numbers 0-20

Science: Sink or Float STEM Challenge- Why do some things float?  How can we make things float?

Save the Date

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast/Performance- Friday, November 18th at 10:45AM. 

Family Picnic Day-Our class will be outside from 11:30-12:30.

Kindergarten Caroling- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 1:30 PM.
November 21-25, No School

Spirit Days

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

 Donors Choose 

Are looking for a way to help our class?  We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed; we are getting closer to meeting our goal! Our Project

If you are not able to donate to our project, but would still like to help, our class is currently in need of the following items:

Sidewalk Chalk

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

Please let me know if you have any questions!  Have a great weekend!

:) Mrs. Kalnicki

Trunk or Treat Reminders

Here are a few reminders about Trunk or Treat and other Festivities for tomorrow!

Times:

1:00-1:30   Snacks socializing and fun on the kindergarten playground (families are welcome)

1:30-1:45   Trunk or Treat (families are welcome to come and watch)

1:45 Back to the classroom

2:25-3:15 Library

*Students may wear costumes to school (masks are fine, no weapons, please make sure your child is able to use the restroom)

*If you haven't signed up to bring treats for the party, feel free to send something in (no nuts of any kind including almond milk, peanuts, and peanut oil or peanut butter)

Thanks for all that you do.  It's going to be a great day!

We're Not Afraid in Kindergarten!

Reading Group Books  This week your child will bring home a plastic bag with his or her reading group book and sight word book.  Please make sure that these bags are returned to school every day.  I recommend practicing the book and sight words and then immediately putting it right back into your child's folder on the Return to School side.  This is our first week, so some students might come home with books that are a little too easy, but that's okay.  As we move along I will assess your child's reading level and place him or her in the appropriate level book.  

What We are Learning…

Thematic Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we will read and retell the story The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.  We will compare the Little Old Day to characters in other stories.  Our shared reading poem is called Jack-O-Happy

Phonics:  We will practice handwriting, letter sounds and using letters and sounds to spell and read words.  This week we will focus on the letters Tt and Cc. 

Sight Words: Our new sight word this week are HE and SHE.

Daily Five: This week we will rotate through our Daily Five centers in small groups.  During class students will get a chance to read independently and with a buddy, they will listen to stories, work with words and work on writing.

Writing: This week we will practice reading, writing and tracking print. We are working on adding words to our writing, even if we are only able to write the beginning sound of each word. 

Math: This week we will complete our unit on numbers 0-10, we will play lots of fun games to practice counting and working with numbers. 
Science: On Fridays (or the last day of the week) we will begin our day with science.  This month is called Sink or Float.  This week we will explore why different objects are able to sink or float.  

Costume Day/Trunk or Treat/Party

Save the Date

Picture Make-Up Day- Wednesday, October 26th

No School- Friday, October 28th

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast/Performance- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 1:30 PM.

Kindergarten Caroling- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 1:30 PM.

Spirit Days

Friday, October 21st- College Day

Monday, October 31st- Costume Day, Trunk or Treat

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

Donors Choose 

Are looking for a way to help our class?  We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed, we are getting closer to meeting our goal!

Our Project

Have a great day!

:) Mrs. Kalnicki

We're Not Afraid in Kindergarten!

Reading Group Books  This week your child will bring home a plastic bag with his or her reading group book and sight word book.  Please make sure that these bags are returned to school every day.  I recommend practicing the book and sight words and then immediately putting it right back into your child's folder on the Return to School side.  This is our first week, so some students might come home with books that are a little too easy, but that's okay.  As we move along I will assess your child's reading level and place him or her in the appropriate level book.  

What We are Learning…

Thematic Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we will read and retell the story The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.  We will compare the Little Old Day to characters in other stories.  Our shared reading poem is called Jack-O-Happy

Phonics:  We will practice handwriting, letter sounds and using letters and sounds to spell and read words.  This week we will focus on the letters Tt and Cc. 

Sight Words: Our new sight word this week are HE and SHE.

Daily Five: This week we will rotate through our Daily Five centers in small groups.  During class students will get a chance to read independently and with a buddy, they will listen to stories, work with words and work on writing.

Writing: This week we will practice reading, writing and tracking print. We are working on adding words to our writing, even if we are only able to write the beginning sound of each word. 

Math: This week we will complete our unit on numbers 0-10, we will play lots of fun games to practice counting and working with numbers. 
Science: On Fridays (or the last day of the week) we will begin our day with science.  This month is called Sink or Float.  This week we will explore why different objects are able to sink or float.  

Costume Day/Trunk or Treat/Party

Save the Date

Picture Make-Up Day- Wednesday, October 26th

No School- Friday, October 28th

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast/Performance- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 1:30 PM.

Kindergarten Caroling- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 1:30 PM.

Spirit Days

Friday, October 21st- College Day

Monday, October 31st- Costume Day, Trunk or Treat

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

Donors Choose 

Are looking for a way to help our class?  We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed, we are getting closer to meeting our goal!

Our Project

Have a great day!

:) Mrs. Kalnicki

Fire Safety Week

National Board Certification
Today I will send home a release form asking that I be able to video tape lessons in class in order to obtain my National Board Certification.  The letter will have more details, but I would really appreciate your support!  The part to sign is on the back of the letter.  Thank you so much!

Homework
This week I will send home name writing practice in addition to our weekly poetry homework.  Please help your child practice writing his or her name using an uppercase letter for the first letter, and lowercase letters for the rest.  Please help your child write letters appropriately (not starting at the bottom).

Please remember that kindergarten age students should have about 15 minutes of homework each evening.  While some children do enjoy working for longer periods of time, we want to make sure that homework is not stressful for your child.  One trick might be to set a timer and let your child know that if he or she works really hard for 15 minutes, they will be done when the timer goes off.

I am really hoping that your child's kindergarten year can be one where he or she learns to love school.  


Free Dress
Thanks to their behavior in the lunchroom and during specials, our class has earned a free dress day!  So, we will have free dress this Friday!

Save the Date

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast/Performance- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 18th at 1:30 PM.

Kindergarten Caroling- Tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 16th at 1:30 PM.

Spirit Days

Friday, October 21st- College Day

Monday, October 31st- Costume Day, Trunk or Treat

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  

What We are Learning…

Thematic Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we will read lots of books about fire safety.  Our Big Book is called Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. McGuire. We'll have a Fire Safety talk on Tuesday from Smokey the Bear and our local fire station will come with their truck later this week!

Phonics: This week we will complete our classroom alphabet line.  We will then go back and re-visit each letter.  We will practice handwriting, letter sounds and using letters and sounds to spell and read words.  This week we will focus on the letters Mm and Ss. 

Sight Words: Our new sight word this week is SAID.

Daily Five: This week we will rotate through our Daily Five centers in small groups.  During class students will get a chance to read independently and with a buddy, they will listen to stories, work with words and work on writing.

Writing: We will continue to write teaching stories, we will stretch out words and write the sounds we hear to label our pictures.  We will focus on persevering even when words or pictures are difficult to write or draw. This week we will begin identifying our personal writing goals and working on these goals. 

Math: We will finish our unit on shapes and positional words.  We will begin working with numbers through ten and finding different ways to show the number 6.  An example of this would be 2 and 4, 1 and 5, 3 and 3.  At this point in the year we are not working with addition or subtraction symbols. 

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

 

Donors Choose Are looking for a way to help our class?  We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.  

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed, we are getting closer to meeting our goal! 

 Our Project

Have a great day!

:) Mrs. Kalnicki

Teddy Bear Week

Monday

I will not be at school today, students will have a substitute.  If you need to change your child's transportation method please call the office.  I'm sure the kids will have a great day, they are really getting into the swing of things :).    


Homework

There is no poetry homework this week.  Instead we are asking you to decorate your Trick-or-Treater as a family project.  This should be a fun project that you complete with your child. 

Save the Date

Fun Run: The Fun Run will be Thursday, October 6th @ 9:30, you are all welcome to come and cheer on your runners!  We will vote on our class theme on Tuesday. 

Teddy Bear Picnic: Friday, October 7th (1:30-2:30 PM)- Please join us for our Teddy Bear Picnic, bring a blanket and a snack for your family and enjoy getting to know your child's classmates and families. Students may bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to school on Friday.   Thanks!

Spirit Days

Friday, October 21st- College Day

Monday, October 31st- Costume Day, Trunk or Treat

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  I do purchase some extra water bottles that children my "buy" with a beach buck, but there is a limited supply.  Thanks!

What We are Learning…

Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we will read lots of teddy bear themed stories.  Our focus story is Corduroy and our classroom poem is called Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear. Students may bring a Teddy Bear or stuffed animal to school on Friday. 

Phonics: We are working on creating our classroom alphabet book and alphabet wall.

Phonemic Awareness: We are working on rhyming, isolation, and syllables. 

Sight Words: Our new sight word this week is GO.

Daily Five: This week we will rotate through our Daily Five centers in small groups.  During class students will get a chance to read independently and with a buddy, they will listen to stories, work with words and work on writing.

Writing: We will continue to write teaching stories, we will stretch out words and write the sounds we hear to label our pictures.  We will focus on persevering even when words or pictures are difficult to write or draw.

Math: This week we will practice writing numeral 0-5, we will learn about positional words and 3 dimensional shapes. 

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

 

Donors Choose Are looking for a way to help our class?  We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.  

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed, we are getting closer to meeting our goal! 

 Our Project

Have a great day!

:) Mrs. Kalnicki

Apples in Kindergarten

What We are Learning…

Big Book/Shared Reading: This week we will read fiction and informational books about apples, our classroom poem is called Apple Happy.

Phonics: We are working on creating our classroom alphabet book and alphabet wall.

Phonemic Awareness: We are working on rhyming, isolation, and syllables. 

Sight Words: Our new sight word this week is CAN.

Daily Five: This week we will rotate through our Daily Five centers in small groups.  During class students will get a chance to read independently and with a buddy, they will listen to stories, work with words and work on writing.

Writing: We will continue to write teaching stories, we will stretch out words and write the sounds we hear to label our pictures.  We will focus on persevering even when words or pictures are difficult to write or draw.

Math: We are learning about 2 dimensional shapes, we will continue to practice counting and writing numbers to 10.

Save the Date

Fun Run: The Fun Run kick off will be tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27th.  Your child will bring information about this fundraiser home tomorrow.  The Fun Run will be Thursday, October 6th @ 9:30, you are all welcome to come and cheer on your runners!

Teddy Bear Picnic: Friday, October 7th (1:30-2:30 PM)- Please join us for our Teddy Bear Picnic, bring a blanket and a snack for your family and enjoy getting to know your child's classmates and families.  For this even we are asking parents to donate Teddy Grahams and Gummy Bears.  Please let me know if you can help out.  Thanks!

Spirit Days

Friday, October 21st- College Day

Monday, October 31st- Costume Day, Trunk or Treat

Friday, November 18th-Twin Day

Friday, December 16th-Pajama Day/Santa Hat Day

Water Bottles

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle each day.  I do purchase some extra water bottles that children my "buy" with a beach buck, but there is a limited supply.  Thanks!

Helpful Websites

Starfall

ABCYA

Discovery Kids

CoolMath4Kids

FunBrain

 

Donors Choose Are looking for a way to help our class?  We are looking for some additional seating options for our classroom.  Please consider donating to my Donors Choose project.  

Thanks so much to all of the families who have already contributed, we are getting closer to meeting our goal! 

 Our Project

Have a great day!

:) Mrs. Kalnicki