Mrs. Bailey's Kindergarten

McTeacher Night

Mrs. Bailey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:03:56 +0000

McTeacher night was a fun time to visit and play with friends. Thanks for coming!

Mrs. Bailey

The silly picture of Kainoa is when he was hiding from his friends to scare them.

Kids you may not know were either previously in my class or are my neighbors.

January 20, 2012

Mrs. Bailey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:49:11 +0000

McTeacher night is Monday from 4-8pm. I plan to work from 4:00 until 5:00. I usually stay longer to visit with families. A percentage of the money earned that night will be split between all teachers that participate. We will be allowed to spend the money as we choose for our classrooms. I hope to see you there!

Library books will be coming home on Mondays for those kids who have returned their responsibility slip. We are supposed to return our books on Friday so they are checked in before kids go again the following Monday. This cheats kids from having time to share their books with family. So, my kids have the choice to keep their books for the weekend or turn them in on Friday. Books absolutely have to be here Monday though. Please help your child with this responsibility. I put a library reminder on the behavior calendar. I will be giving Tigeriffic Tokens on Monday if all my kids have returned books before we go to library. If you always return books to the backpack, this won’t be difficult.

Popcorn words have really helped the kids with writing and reading. Always review the previous words. I keep forgetting to send you new words! Next week will be “here” and “up”. I am so very proud of the growth I am seeing. When you see writing work come home, ask your child to read their work. This reinforces following the words that are being read and to be sure you are reading what is written.

We are beginning to hit coin names and values for 3rd quarter testing (March). This is a very abstract thought process. Practice looking at their attributes to help your child determine the differences in order to identify.

The Valentine party is nearing. I will help the kids make a container here to hold valentines from their friends. A note with a class list will be sent February 1. If you are unable to purchase valentines, please let me know. I have some here that I can send home for you label.

Hugs,

Mrs. Bailey

January 6, 2012

Mrs. Bailey — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:13:37 +0000

Welcome back! We are back in the groove with narrative writing in the works. The kids are excited to share stories in book form, and I am excited to see them working so seriously. Getting a beginning, middle, and end to a story is a big step in writing. Creating a rough draft is where kids begin to see where those parts separate. Today we will work on getting those thoughts into book form, then making sure pictures match the words on that page. Being able to stretch words to get the on paper, then to be able to stretch them again to read the story is hard. That’s where our popcorn words are so very useful. Those busy little words help put the bigger pieces together. We are also working on word families. Words ending with -at and -ip have been taught. Kids learn that if they can spell “ship”, they can spell “flip” because they know the ending letters already. Our next word family is -et. You will see think pages coming home at least once a week with these lessons.

Everything we do in reading and writing is gearing us toward your child reading books independently. Reading levels will be assessed for third quarter. I’ve started reading groups based on the level your child is reading. I will send home information about reading levels and what to look for when choosing books. What can you do? Exactly what you have been! Read to your child, practice popcorn words, talk about books you are reading. Writing traits scored on the report card are items that your child learns from listening to others read and think about reading. These writing items – learned from reading – roll into the book level your child achieves. By May every child should be able to pick up a level C book and read it alone. Several of my kids can do this with level D right now. I am proud of what I am seeing in groups – and I didn’t do this by myself.

We’re about to start a graphing unit in math. Kids will be creating graphs themselves and comparing information gathered. A letter will be sent Tuesday asking for you to prepare information about the number of eyes in your house. Please aide your child in this activity. The kids always have fun with it because information focuses on them and their friends.

An orange paper from the office is being sent home today. Please complete this sheet and return it Monday. It asks for after-school transportation should the weather turn bad during the school day and we have to dismiss early for the safety of the kids. We haven’t had to do this in several years, but we have to be prepared. Usually the dismissal is 12:30 or 1:00 and aired over radio and television. Sometimes internet goes down in rainy/icy weather or we find out with very little time to prepare, but I would email you if possible. If I don’t have the paper on-hand and we dismiss early, I will have to send your child home as usual. I don’t want any of my kids going home to a locked house. Please make arrangements for a neighbor or family member to be your backup if you can’t be there. Enrolled Tiger Tales kids will be allowed to attend Tiger Tales as usual.

McDonalds has a sign in their window that South McTeacher night is January 23rd. I don’t have any details for it yet. Watch for details in Mrs. Crighton-Smith’s newsletter. I will be there when it starts (usually 4:00) and stay for about an hour.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed January 16th. If we do not have a day missed due to snow before that day, students are not in school. I am though – in meetings! Learning never stops.

I’m excited to share fun news: Our grandbaby is a girl and due in May. I didn’t have my heart set on either gender, but it makes me happy to know she looks healthy in every way!

Hugs,

Mrs. Bailey

Merry Christmas!

Mrs. Bailey — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:43:35 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

Pictures are of several events. The first is our party on December 16th. Next is the kids opening gifts from me. We had a snowball fight with the paper afterward! Then we have December award winners. Last is our class with the December Tiger T-shirt award and our Fight Free certificate. Thanks for a wonderful end to 2011. See you in 2012!

Love and Best of Holiday Wishes,

Mrs. Bailey

Mrs. Bailey — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:01:21 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

We made mini pizzas – with your help! Thank you so much for sending the ingredients needed. We had plenty, and the kids did a wonderful job writing the directions for making mini pizzas.

We also made a digital project with our pictures and recording. As soon as I figure out how to put it on my website I will!

Mrs. Bailey

Mrs. Bailey — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:13:03 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

Our third grade reading buddies wrote directions for making a snowman to be just like theirs. Kindergarten kids followed written directions carefully to complete their own snowman. Our kids really gave it everything. It was beautiful to see their the effort in their eyes, and the humor when they were watching the 3rd graders’ frustration in realizing an important piece of information was left out. This turned out to be a powerful learning activity for both groups.

Mrs. Bailey — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:31:09 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

I hope you enjoyed creating a special tree with your child.

They look terrific decorating our hallway.

December 6, 2011

Mrs. Bailey — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:23:02 +0000

The kids are so excited to read. Their eyes light up when they recognize a word they’ve practiced. I really believe the popcorn words are a strong base for reading just taking off. Our popcorn words for this week are: was, and, but. Continue to reinforce previous words, especially those with “th” in them. We’ve also been working on the word family “-at”. This means words that end with “at”. Word families promote rhyming sense as well as broadening kids’ understanding of the fact that changing any part of a word changes the word. It also gives them a larger word bank to use in writing. If you can spell “cat”, then you can spell “bat”, “sat”, etc. Our next word family will be “-ip”.

This week we’ve talked about the two sounds the letter “Oo” says. The kids thought it would be fun for anyone who has overalls to wear them on Friday. It’s not a big deal and it’s just for fun. Don’t rush out to buy a pair!

So much to remember! Here’s a list:

Book orders are due this Friday. You can order on-line or send your order and payment to me.

Fundraiser pick-up Tuesday, December 13. See Mrs. Crighton-Smith’s orange newsletter for information.

Class party Friday, December 16th at 2:45. Kindergarten has recess until 2:35. Parents can arrive to set up about 2:40.

The Santa Store will be held on December 20th. Our class shops at 12:30 – 12:45. See Mrs. Crighton-Smith’s orange newsletter for information.

Tiger Pride assembly December 20 at 2:30.

School-wide PJ day December 21st – also an early dismissal.

The slide-show if from Make-It Take-It night last Thursday. The kids had a great time hanging out together, eating sugar cookies, making ornaments, and visiting Santa. I enjoyed watching them and getting to visit with families.

Thank you for all you do!

Mrs. Bailey

Click to view slideshow.

November 28, 2011

Mrs. Bailey — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:52:59 +0000

Welcome back! Hopefully your Thanksgiving break gave you fun family time and rest at some point. A hint for next year – stay away from Kohls when they first open for black Friday.

I’m beginning report card testing this week. From our daily activities I can see that most areas needing extra practice are: recognizing numbers 11 – 20 and writing all numbers without reversals. We are working on those numbers in class this week and next. We made “noodle numbers” today and will be using them to aid learning. Counting to 50 may be difficult for some. The tens are hard to remember (getting over the 9 humps). Shapes that need practice are “hexagon” and “rectangle”. Rhyming will be tested again and all letter sounds. All other areas are looking really good. These kids are excited about learning and motivated within themselves to do their best. The writing prompt will be a struggle, but it’s not “graded” and we will continue to see growth every day.

Get your calendar out. Here’s a list of things to remember:

The Pizza Hut reading log is due this week. When your child reads 10 books and brings the list, I give him/her a free personal pan pizza coupon. This is monthly homework due every month. Today I sent a name-writing page home as homework. It is due anytime this week.

December 1 is Make-It Take-It night from 6 – 7:30. Santa will be here, free treats, and a Christmas craft. I will be here on and off due to a workshop. I try to get all my kids together for a picture with Santa. If you can have your child near that area about 6:30, we’ll try it!

Book orders will be sent Wednesday. If ordering for Christmas, send a note. I’ll contact you when your order arrives.

The Tiger Pride assembly is tomorrow at 2:30. I’ve emailed you personally if your child is receiving an award. Tiger t-shirt day is tomorrow too. Some kids have said they can’t find their Tiger t-shirt or parents won’t let them wear it. I count your child as participating if they bring their shirt in the backpack. It’s a group effort toward earning the the tie-dyed mini shirt to hang outside our classroom for a month. With cold weather kids usually wear a long-sleeved shirt under it or a sweatshirt over it. When you remember t-shirt Tuesday, you are helping me teach responsibility and teamwork.

I will be out the morning of December 1 for a meeting and all day December 13. If your child is doing something differently after school you have to send a note. My sub will not be able to check emails or phone calls.

FYI: The Springfield Christmas parade is December 10 at 1:00.

We went outside for both recesses today! Remember those gloves and hats!

This year I am truly thankful for my kids. This is one of the best groups of kids I’ve ever known. Pat yourselves on the back – your parenting skills are awesome!

Hugs,

Mrs. Bailey

November 7, 2011

Mrs. Bailey — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:44:14 +0000

It’s non-stop busy for us! The kids were clicking so well today that we started “lazy 8′s” on paper. The idea is to get their brain and their hands coordinated to work together. They make a sideways 8 in the air first with the hand they write with. After a few 8s with this hand, they use the other hand – very difficult! Then they use their finger on their writing hand to make a sideways 8 on a paper or table – again changing hands after a few times. THEN – they use one color to do this on a large paper using one hand. They change colors and hands to do this again. This is where you can see the brain message not reaching their hand! Some end up with scribbles and crazy lines. The idea is for kids to train their own hand to follow brain messages. I won’t be holding their hand to guide them. They have to gain control on their own. Try this at home – very interesting. YES! You can let your child practice at home. It’s not a test, just a strengthening practice. If the brain isn’t developed to use both sides and coordinate, reading and writing are quite a struggle. Our Brain Gym activities are a way we help the brain. If your child hasn’t shown you any of them, please ask him/her to. We have done: Brain Buttons, Cross Crawl, Calf Pumps, Positive Points, Energy Yawn, Hook Ups, and Butterfly Hugs.

Popcorn words for the week: look, said, with. We’ve had look and said before, but few kids know them. We review frequently throughout the week. Flash cards and writing using the words can help strengthen the ability to just “know” the word. Knowing these little words help in reading leveled readers and writing. By now your child should know: the, my, see, have, to, is, this, you, can, an, said, he, she, went, I, my, book.

Speaking of books – most of the kids are bringing home their first book they have written. I’m proud of how seriously the kids took this project. But, kids should be able to read what they wrote. Making the connection between their writing and reading other works is hard. Please ask your child to read their book to you or to use the pictures to make sense of the words. We’ve discussed using spaces between words and punctuation to help. We have a long way to go, but that’s what kindergarten is for. We will start and ABC book tomorrow. It may be a week before you get to see these at home.

Our Veteran’s Assembly is Friday at 9:00. If you have a family member who served in the military, we’d love to honor them on that day. A blue form was sent home a week ago to complete, but I have more if you need one.

Reminders: Early out Friday at 12:30, Movie Saturday night is Cars 2, Tiger t-shirts and tennis shoes tomorrow!

I absolutely love these kids! You are such good parents and I appreciate that you share you treasures with me.

Mrs. Bailey