Our Sensory Field Trip

After a long week I was finally able to find the time to upload our field trip pictures. The kids had a great time (even with the walk). Here are some highlights from the animals that we saw and learned about.

A Busy Week

Well it has been a busy week in the classroom. We have been working hard on learning new reading strategies in Reader's Workshop. This week our focus was on "Does this make sense?" and "Get your mouth ready." Ask your child while he/she is reading his/her book to show you how to effectively use these strategies. In Writing, we have been working on pattern books. They are really cute. If you are at the school, feel free to come by and see our work posted outside the room. Encourage your child to write you a pattern book this weekend. Look for our new Standards Based Bulletin Board that will be up by the end of the week. In Math we have been working on comparing numbers and finding numbers that are greater than and less than as we play Staircases and Compare. We finished our first Science unit on Properties of Matter. Ask your child to describe what matter is and what properties we use to compare matter.

Don't forget we will be having our first field trip on Monday. We will be walking to J. Allen Axson so please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately - green Chets shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes. We will provide water for the students once we reach our destination. We will leave promptly at 9:00 so please make sure your child is on time - we prefer everyone is there by 8:45 at the latest.

Next week we will reach the middle of the first grading period. Please remember that we will not be sending out formal progress reports any longer. All parents can access grades through on-course. The log in will be the same as last year. On Monday I will be sending home the tests and quizzes we have taken recently. Please make sure you sign and return them. I will be sending home scholarship warnings on Wed. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

President Barack Obama Speaks to our Students

Today we were treated to a live speech by President Barack Obama. He spoke to our students about what it takes to be a success not only in school, but in life. In his speech he told students many ways to be the best that they can be. Here are some of the messages our class walked away.

New Math Investigations

This year we have started a new Math Investigations curriculum. This is very exciting for us as we are learning new ways to deepen our students' knowledge of math concepts. Last week we played two new games: Collecting 20 and Staircases. While playing Collect 20, the students would roll the die and count the out that many pieces. Each child would take a turn rolling and adding to the pile until they reached 20 as a team. They learned new strategies of counting and finding how many more were needed to make 20. For Staircases, students began by placing 12 cubes in numerical order. Then they worked as groups to fill each stair to the appropriate number. Working collaboratively during both of these games is extremely important and they did a great job. Here are some highlights from the week in Math.

Welcome Back to School

What a great first day we had today. WOW just doesn't say enough. We were lucky to have visitors from the University of Florida's agricultural department and 4H. We were treated to many stations that showcased different parts of agriculture. We got to go on a watermelon roll and eat watermelon, look at different farm equipment, see lots of baby animals, look at bees and taste some honey, plant seeds, and enjoy a read aloud. It was a busy but very educational and exciting day. Here are some pictures from the morning.

The First Day of School is Almost Here

Welcome all the students who will be in our class this year. I can't wait to see all my returning students and meet the new ones that will be coming in. We have a great class and are excited to have you be a part of it. This year Mrs. Wright will be in the classroom as a co-teacher. She is currently on maternity leave but can't wait to join us every day. Mrs. Wright and I have worked together before as years ago she was my intern and then was hired on as a teacher here.

Our theme this year is "Cultivating a Community of Excellence" and that is just what we are going to do. This year our class is The Learning Garden. Each of us will be busy bees as we help our garden to grow. There are a lot of things needed to make a garden bountiful and we have just the right tools and knowledge to make that happen.

Orienatation is Friday at 11:00. I hope that all of you can attend - even if you were in my class last year. Thank you to Alex and Taylor for their great letters this summer. We look forward to a great year!

The Best Thing About Kindergarten!

Here are some final thoughts about what we loved about Kindergarten:
Ezra - new friends
Addison - the zoo
Sean - the zoo
Taylor - Cummer Museum
Jack - St. Patty's Day party
Bella - POW WOW
Elizabeth - Diamond D Ranch
Simran - POW WOW
Jacob - seeing you every day (how sweet was that!!)
Ava - learning
Ethan - Diamond D
Lynethe - St. Patty's Day party
Emily - Diamond D
Matthew - Diamond D
Nick - pancake breakfast during Eric Carle
Keely - calendar math
Sierra - learning
Prabhmeeka - calendar math


.....looks like they thought it was an eventful, fun year. Write us a post and tell us your favorite thing about Kindergarten from a parent perspective!