"Star Cards"

To help promote a positive classroom environment, we began using "Star Cards" today.  These are very similar to the 'punch cards' Mrs. Schindewolf mentioned at our Parent Information meeting back in August, just with a Hapke twist (stars instead of punches). 

Here's how it works:

• Each child has a card with 15 spaces for stars.
• As the kids are "caught" doing something good (following directions, making good choices, etc), they receive a star on one of the star spaces
• They never really know when I'm going to give them a star, so they are constantly on their toes! ;)
• When a child gets 15 stars on their cards, they get to pick a prize out of the treasure chest and bring their completed "Star Card" home to show you.  
• Once a card is filled, they receive a new one to begin the process again.
• IF a child makes a not-so-good choice, a dot will be added to their cards.  These dots can be changed into stars by showing better and more appropriate behavior.
• This does not replace the "Caught Shining" slips (I'm a HUGE fan of "Caught Shining" slips...This just gives the kids another opportunity to be caught doing the right thing.

If you have any questions/concerns, please let me know!!!

Parent Volunteer Change

We are still working on building daily routines in our classrooms.  This, along with  the amount of testing and assessing we have been doing with the kindergarten kids, we are asking parents who want to help out in the classroom for a favor. 
We would like to postpone starting having classroom parent volunteers help us until November.  By then, we will have a good routine established and our kiddoes will know how things work in our classroom.  We appreciate your patience and understanding!  Thanks!

I will be sending home a volunteer schedule next week to make sure the days you are scheduled still work. 

Collections

We are collecting the following items at school.  Feel free to send in ANY items and we will get them to their correct place!

• BoxTops for Education
• Campbells Soup Labels
• Capri Sun juice bags
• ANY plastic lid...just clean and send them in!

Link to Grade Level Kindergarten Blog

I have attached a link to Northpoint's Kindergarten Blog, which contains general information regarding all kindergarten classes.  Since this blog is classroom specific, I wanted you to have easy access to general information.  You will find the link on the right hand side of the screen under "My Blogs".  Hope this is helpful!

Primary MAP testing

The kindergarten kids will be taking their first round of the Primary MAP test the week of September 19.  Here are some ways to help your child for this assessment:

• Eat a good breakfast after getting a good night's sleep.
• Remind your child to take their time, listen, and do their best.
• There will be questions that are easy, medium and more difficult.  I encourage them to make their "best guess" if they are not sure of the answer...and that's OK!
• Remember that this is a baseline assessment and the first of its kind that the kids will take.  

I'm sure the kids will do their best!  The best thing we can do for the kids is to be positive, encouraging and praise them for their hard work.   Thanks for any encouragement from home!

Library Books

Our library day is on THURSDAYS each week.   You may return library books ANY day.  We have a basket in the classroom where returned library books may be returned.  When your child is finished with a book, feel free to send it to school with them to return. 
Establishing a routine of returning the books (at least weekly) will help in the long run with NOT having a multitude of library books at home.

This week's happenings

Here are some of the highlights from this past week:

• We have been working on letter recognition, color words, and reading the words 'I', 'can', and 'see'.
• We have been counting and doing activities with numbers 1-9.  
• The kids have done a FANTASTIC job adjusting to "centers" and "math jobs".   Both activities foster learning skills in an independent and fun way.  I am SO proud of how they are learning the routine!
• We have been working on learning the names of our classmates, as well as who is who.  One activity we have been doing is the "Name of the Day".  This activity involves a teacher directed "drawing" of the child who has the "Name of the Day", with the kids following along.  Their attention to detail has improved so much!  Each child will be given their drawings in a book.  I think you will enjoy seeing them!

Welcome!

Welcome to our class blog.  Here are some of the things we have been working on!

• We have been working on learning classroom routines.   The kiddoes are doing a good job adjusting to the full day!  
• We began literacy "centers" last week and "math jobs" this week.  The kids seem to really enjoy the hands on ways to learn! 
• Our "Activity Times" are as follows:
• Tuesdays - Computer Lab
• Wednesdays - Music and Movement
• Thursdays - Library
• Fridays - Art