Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day! 

Check our ChatterPix imovie to see our Turkey Disguises!

The children did another amazing job with the Thanksgiving Concert singing for their first and second grade friends.  

After the concert, we enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast today thanks to all of your donations.  We whipped up some butter and everyone took a turn shaking the butter with the chant "B-U-T-T-E-R: Butter!"  We had delicious corn muffins topped with our homemade butter, apple slices and we carved our turkey!  Surprise!  It was filled with popcorn!  We had a great day!

I am thankful to experience each and every one of your children each school day.  

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Sequencing and Retelling

Click Here

This week during our Reader's Workshop, we are reading The Little Old Woman Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything written by Linda Williams.  The students are working on sequencing and retelling the story events with details.  First, we used picture cards to sequence the story in order.  Then the children got to practice putting the pictures in sequence after they colored and cut.  Finally, the children placed them in the correct order of the story.  Then, the children practiced retelling the story with their own picture cards.  After the children colored, they were able to share with their elbow partners to retell the story in order.  We are beginning to use the language "first, next, and then".

The next time you are reading a story with your child, ask them these questions: What happened first in the story?
Tell me what happened in the middle of the story?

How did the story end?

Can you retell the story using as many details as possible?
*Remember to encourage your child to use the sequencing words: first, next, and then.

Duck! Rabbit!

For the next few weeks, the children & I are taking part in Global Read Aloud (GRA).  GRA is an author study that connects children in classrooms all around the world.  We are reading books from the author Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  Last week, we read the story Chopsticks. This week we are reading the book Duck! Rabbit!

click here.

 We Skyped with Mrs. Dunn's first grade class at the Steward School in Topsfield, MA.

First we began by introducing our classrooms to each other.  We shared how many students are in our class, our grade, and what town we live in.  Many of the Topsfield children knew Richardson's Dairy and many of our student knew about the Topsfield Fair.  We made great connections right away! Next, we received many great pieces of advice from the first graders to our Kindergarten children.  Some advice was "work hard", "get ready to learn", "always listen when your teacher is talking", and "remember to include everyone". Then, we began sharing our opinion of whether it was a duck or rabbit.  Mrs. Dunn asked "If you think it is a duck, stand up!"  The children then stood up and were able to share why they think it was a duck. Then, Mrs. Dunn asked "If you think it is a rabbit, please stand up!"  The children stood up if they thought it was a rabbit and shared their reasons. Mrs. Dunn's class was using clip boards to record the data.   Finally we were able to analyze the data and see the results!

We are asking you: mom's, dad's, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, please click on the story and watch the video of the story.  Then make a comment to tell us what you think it is: a duck or rabbit! We will be collecting the data and making observations! Check out our PicPlayPost!!! It is awesome!!! Click here!!

Apple Picking Field Trip

On Friday, September 25th, the Kindergarten went on an apple picking field trip.  

We went to Ingaldsby Farm in Boxford.  

 First we went on a hayride        through the farm.





We were able to enjoy looking at the different crops of fruits and vegetables that the farm grows.

We saw a corn field, a pumpkin patch, and saw where the eggplants, beets, radishes, chili's and peppers grow.  The farmer shared a lot of interesting facts on the hayride about different types of pumpkins, apples, and various root vegetables.



After a short stop at the pasture to see the cows, we went off to apple picking!

 We each got to pick 5 delicious apples!

 Then off to back to the farmstand where we

 enjoy delicious apple cider donuts and apple cider!

It was a great trip and we all had a lot of fun!

Exploring Math Stations

We have been very busy learning and exploring in our math stations!

We have been counting!
Click on this video to see what we have been watching: http://safeshare.tv/w/fqAuggpvzl

Here are the 4 math stations we have been exploring:


1. Pom Poms Galore: building number recognition and identification, fine motor pincher fingers, and one to one correspondence (CC1: Know number names and the Count Sequence; CC4A, B, C: Count to tell the Number of Objects)








2. Pin the Number: number identification and matching clothespins to the number, oral counting (CC1: Know the number names and the Count Sequence; CC4A,B,C: count to tell the Number of Objects)







3. Gumball math: number identification, number formation, and one to one correspondence (CC1: Know the number names and the count sequence; CC4A,B,C: count to tell the Number of Objects)




4. Play dough work mats: number identification, number formation, building ten frame correspondence, one to one correspondence, and oral couting (CC1,3: Know the number names and the Count Sequence)







To learn more about the Math Common Core Standards visit:
http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/K/introduction/

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Click here if you are interested in buying this book!

This week, we read the book, "Have You Filled A Bucket Today? (A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids)" written by Carol McCloud.  This book shares the thought that everyone carries around an invisible bucket that contains our varied emotions and feelings.  When we are happy, our bucket is filled, but when our bucket is empty, we are feeling sad or unhappy.
In class we will be emphasizing be a "Bucket Filler" which is someone that fills someone's bucket with feelings of happiness by saying and doing nice things to others.  Some of the chararcteristics of a "Bucket Filler" are sharing, listening, helping, using kind words, etc.  At the same time of filling someone else's bucket, you are filling your own bucket as well!

Click here to watch the video for "Fill Your Bucket"

We will also be discussing not being a "Bucket Dipper" who is someone who says and does things that may hurt someone else's feelings.

Each day, we will be filling our classroom bucket with "warm & fuzzies".  We have already began filling our bucket!  The children are doing an amazing job showing kindness to each other.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Who's Ready for School? click link for video!

Welcome to Kindergarten!


I want to welcome you and your child to our kindergarten classroom. I am very excited to begin the school year with you and your family. The children and I will be enjoying many new, fun, and exciting activities together. Our first few weeks together will be very busy. We will focus on getting to know each other, learning about our school and mastering daily routines.

Classroom Policies:
Please remember to label all of your child's belongings. This includes folders, backpacks, lunch boxes, coats, hats, etc.
Please place all notes, lunch money, milk money, and homework in your child's folder. It is much easier for them to hand in the papers if they are all located in the same place!

Lunch and Snack:
Please pack your child a snack everyday.  We will be having a 15 minute snack daily.  It should include an small snack and water bottle or juice box.
Fuller Meadow has incorporated www.myschoolbucks.com into the school lunch program. Please see the school website for further information!


FYI: There will be multiple opportunities for parents to lend a helping hand throughout the school year. Whether you’re in our classroom helping out the children or joining us on one of our field trips, we love the extra help! As in most school classrooms, there’s always something on the back burner waiting to be done!
If for some reason you are unable to volunteer in our room, please do not worry! There are many other ways you can contribute to your child’s kindergarten experience without having to come into the classroom. More information (regarding CORI forms, Confidentiality form, and the volunteer schedule) to come.
Please refer to the Fuller Meadow School website and/or your student handbook for further information regarding school-wide policies.


Expanding Learning At Home:
The Kindergarten Team encourages you to expand your child’s learning experience at home as much as possible. The following educational websites are a fun way for you and your child to learn and explore together.
www.Starfall.com
www.Scholastic.com
www.Storylineonline.net
www.ixl.com


Important Dates:

Kindergarten Meet & Greet- August 27th
K-Screening- September August 31st and September 1
First Day of School for Kindergarten: September 2nd
No School: Friday, September 4th and Monday September 7th
Early Release: September 21st @ 1:15 (Lunch will be served)
Open House: September  17th 6-6:45


Wish List:
The following is a list of items that we will be using often: disinfecting wipes, tissues, Ziploc baggies (gallon size), hand sanitizer, magic erasers, and play dough (homemade or store bought). If you are able to and wish to donate something off of our list, please send it in your child's backpack. We sure do appreciate everything! Thanks in advance!

Planning Ahead:
Conferences:
Wednesday, December 9th and Thursday, December 10th
Wednesday, April 6th and Thursday, April 7th
Progress Notes:
Friday, October 16th
Friday, January 29th
Friday, May 6th
Report Cards:
Friday, December 4th
Friday, April 1st
Last Day of School (tentatively June 14th with no snow days)