AFTERNOON CLASSES ONLY!

TUESDAY, APRIL 30th is an exciting day for our AFTERNOON CLASSES! We are going on a field trip to the Museum of Nature! We will be loading the bus right after the attendance is taken. Then off we go to down town Ottawa!

We believe the bus will be able to accommodate all parents who wish to travel with us; so that means volunteers need to be at school (outside the Kindergarten doors) no later than 12:30.

Please note that we will not have time or facilities to eat a snack, so ensure your child enjoys a hearty lunch. Therefore:
- NO SNACKS
- NO BACKPACKS

Thank you for your help in making our special day even more special.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Maxwell & Mme. Blahout

Meet the newest additions to our class...

I love science in spring! It's a great time of year for kids to ask questions and observe the habitat around them. With that in mind, we will be observing and studying the life cycle of a butterfly over the next few weeks. Today, the students greeted the caterpillars for the first time. Right now, they are living in individual containers with food before they transform into a pupa (or chrysalis). The caterpillars will be with us until they turn into butterflies in the next few weeks. We will be releasing them into the wild.

We are also continuing to learn about plants. Today, we watched a video showing how the roots form under the ground. 


I have included the video if you would like to watch it with your child! Gardening is a great way to teach science!

Butterfly Video
I have also included the video we will be watching to discuss the transformations we will see in the next week.

Guest Storytellers!!

Until summer vacation, I am looking for parent (or grandparent) volunteers to come in to my class to read a picture book. I will only require one volunteer each Friday for around 30 minutes. I will do my best to accommodate families but I will be creating a set schedule that may fill up quickly. Guest storytellers are welcome to bring their child's favourite picture book to read or I can provide a story. Picture books should be grade appropriate. But remember- Shhh! It's a secret. The students do not know who the guest storyteller will be: it's a surprise!! 

Listening, subtraction, and Rhymes

This week, we have been working in pairs to practice our listening and speaking skills. One student will hold the "talking stick" while the other student must listen carefully. Once finished speaking, the student will pass the talking stick to their friend so they may share their ideas and thoughts. This is a great way for students to constantly be immersed in oral language, to learn how to take turns in a conversation and how to deal with interruptions . We have tried this several times during morning circle. We pair up to make predictions about stories and to answer questions. Oral language is incredibly important for future reading success- the more talking students do, the better! 

We have also tried a new game this week (I tricked you 6!) It's a great introduction to subtraction- no paper or pencils- just beads, pom poms and a pipe cleaner. I have six pom poms and I hide some in one hand while I show them the rest. They put six beads on a pipe cleaner. If I show them 2 pom poms, they slide two beads over and have four beads in the centre of the pipe cleaner...so they yell out "4"!!  

We have continued with rhymes..we are trying to personalize nursery rhymes by adding their names. I encourage parents to teach nursery rhymes at home!

I have also changed attendance into a literacy activity everyday....this week, I have pretended to have poor eyesight. I substitution the first letter of their name with a new sound. So, "Linda" might become "Minda". They correct me every time and are learning how to isolate beginning sounds at the same time! They also find it hilarious!

APRIL NEWSLETTERS

Sorry for posting this so late ---(Yikes!)--- I thought I already posted them on the first of the month!

Click here for JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN April NEWSLETTER.
Click here for SENIOR KINDERGARTEN April NEWSLETTER.

AFTERNOON CLASSES only - MAY 10

There will be a "MOTHERS' DAY CONCERT" at 2:15 pm on Friday, May 10.  We are sending the invitation with an attached RSVP, which we would like returned as soon as possible.

*Moms - This is a memorable event for you and your little one, so we really hope you can come!*
(If you can not come, please send a Grandma or Aunt in your place as each child will be singing to a guest.)

This concert is usually for SENIOR Kindergarten students only but all afternoon JK's will also be participating this year. 

Yaki and The Kindergarten Conference

On Friday, the students were treated to a performance by Yaki, a local children's musician who writes his own music. The students had a great time! 

On Thursday and Friday, I will be attending the Conference for Ontario Full-Day Kindergarten Teachers. I have spoken with the supply teacher and the students will be very busy with a variety of new science and art centres. While I will miss my kindergarten students, I am excited to come back and try out all the new ideas and strategies I will learn about in the workshops! 

Letter Recognition Skills

While we work on a variety of literacy skills in kindergarten, letter recognition is incredibly important for future reading success. Children should be able to immediately recognize uppercase and lowercase letters with confidence. In school, we have been using music, movement, and group writing activities to learn our letters. During spring, students are encouraged to review the letters of the alphabet at home and practise their printing skills.