Newsletter ~ January 31

Greetings Rascal Families,

           
Stay tuned for our Ground Hog predictions! We’re going to transform into a Ground Hog and crawl through an over-sized fabric tube. At the end of the tunnel, the Rascals, Woodchuck Pearl and Ground Hog Rich will dramatize the legend of the Ground Hog. Yes! Classroom photographs of Ground Hog happenings will tell the story! Check it out on our class blog this weekend.

Remember to watch the early morning news on Saturday, February 2, and compare our graphing results with Punxsutawney Phil. We will be “all ears” as we learn about Punxsutawney Phil’s weather prediction???!!! What do you think?????

The challenge is on! Counting by 10’s to 100 has been the focus in Math. Wait until you see the way we wrote our numbers from 10 to 100 on our 100th Day vests!!! We love to show off our ‘powers of 10’ knowledge! A hard copy of the “Count by 10’s” song has been sent home. Do you love singing by 10’s to 100 while clapping and slapping? We do, too!!!!

Yes, it’s true! One Hundredth Day Celebration is Tuesday, February 12th. The kinders in the morning and afternoon classes are working together to reach a goal of collecting 100 canned goods. We can make this goal a reality if each child brings in 2-3 cans. Thus far, we have collected 35 food items….Thank YOU!

We’re moving right along in our reading series, Imagine It! Sight word assessments are proof that BIG progress has been made. Results will be sent home next week. Check out your Rascal’s score! New sight words: but, up will be introduced next week along with Decodable, Bud and Max.

Do you believe that half of the kindergarten year is behind us? Kindergarten teachers have been talking to First Grade teachers to prioritize readiness skills for Grade One. First Grade teachers ranked self- help skills as Number ONE on their lists. Encouraging the following self-help skills is an important step to prepare your child for first grade.

• Get coats on and off and hang them up
• Follow simple two-step instructions such as "take off your boots and
                  put on your sneakers"
• Go to the bathroom and wash your hands
• Blow your nose and cover your mouth when you cough
• Fasten and unfasten simple buttons, zippers and snaps
• Eat neatly and pour into a cup
• Open up a juice box and get the straw in

From this day moving forward, let’s do it!!!!

                                                                         Happy Ground Hog Day!!!!
                                                                         June A. Rich