What a blast we had on the 100th day of school!  All the kids looked ADORABLE!!!!!!  WE had fun talking and acting like a 100 year old person.  We did 100 day activities, counted 100 cupcakes and read 100 day books.  What is next on the agenda?

In the classroom

Math:  Money

Shared Reading:  Fiction and Non-fiction and self-text connections

Theme:  Bears/Ground Hog's Day

Words:  play and for

Letter/sound/handwriting:Qq

*****Bear homework assignment is coming home on Monday!!!! 

Dear Parents,

I just wanted to let you know that, as a gala auction item, the kindergarten team is offering "Munchies and a Moonwalk."

This will be for 12 lucky students. Bounce away with the kindergarten team after school at GM for approximately 1.5 hours.  Fun snacks provided.  Top two bids for each teacher.  Date and time to be worked out between teachers and parents.

The Gala Auction will be held February 4, 2012 at Olde Towne Athletic Club from 7 to 11 PM. Tickets are on sale at http://gmefoundation.org - $35 and $45 at the door or you can Download 2012GALATicketformto purchase tickets in advance. Visit the website for a sample of items to bid on. All proceeds go back to GMEF.

The proceeds will be used to improve our school by providing funding for programs such as technology, educational curriculum and facility improvements. The GMEF will accumulate and distribute resources beyond those provided by Cobb County or the PTA, in order to further enhance, foster and enrich the educational experiences of all students at Garrison Mill.

Thank you for your support!

Happy 100th Day of School!  Friday, January 27th is the 100th day of school-hard to believe! We can't wait to celebrate this special day with the children. 

Theme:  Winter/Penguins

Math:  Numbers 10-30

Letter/Handwriting/Sound:  Pp

Words of the Week:  run and like

Shared Reading:  Understanding speech bubbles in a story, looking for word patterns and preview a story before reading it!

Writing Workshop:  Writing "real" information about penguins

Friday's Theme:  100th Day Activities in the classroom!

Around GM:

Tuesday, January 24th:  Spirit Night at Paradise Grille and South of the Border 5-8pm

Friday, January 27th-School Dance 6:30 and RFL Baseball Cap Day

Friday, January 27th-100th Day of school

Nuts and Bolts:

Please continue working on the sight words with your child.

Thursday, January 26th-Our class visits the GM Library

This time of the year is VERY CRITICAL AND ACADEMIC...please make sure your child comes to school on time, well-rested and ready to learn.  There are few breaks in the upcoming months-we are ready to teach, teach, teach and the students to learn, learn, learn!  Expect some at home projects each month!

We will begin to send home notices regarding particular skills your child may need extra help on.  Please take the time to work on the skill(s) with your child (ex counting 0-30, number recognition sounding out/writing words).

PLEASE REMEMBER A TOWEL EACH WEEK!

We hope you had a wonderful winter break!  The kids came back to school ready to listen and learn.  We truly appreciated their cooperation and enthusiasm!  5 months down in Kindergarten.......5 months to go! 

In the classroom:

Math:  Numbers 10-30

Words of the week:  you and are (30 words down.....30 to go)

*****incentive to learn the words********K students that have learned ALL 60 words will be recognized on the morning announcements!  Ready, Set......learn those words!

Letter/Sound/Handwriting:  Oo

Writing:  Continue the writing process-(Capitals, spaces between words and punctuation at the end of sentences).

Theme:  winter/MLK

Around Garrison Mill:

Monday, January 16th:  Student/teacher holiday

Tuesday, January 17th:  Room parent Meeting (only room moms need to attend)

Tuesday, January 17th:  Foundation meeting 7pm

Tuesday, January 24th:  Paradise Grille and South of the Border Spirit Night 5-8pm

Friday, January 27th-School dance and RFL baseball Cap Day (pay 1.00 to wear a hat to school....all proceeds go to our RFL team).

Nuts and Bolts

What can I do to help my child at home?  Here are a few suggestions.....please only spend 10-15 minutes a night working on "unofficial homework".

Learn those RAINBOW WORDS-Kindergarten has 60 sight words.....1st grade has 220 sight words!!!!!!

Number RECOGNITION 0-30

Write numbers 0-30

Sounds of our letters (consonants and vowel-short and long)

Here is a great website to use at home to help with phonics/letters/reading:

www.starfall.com

Continue reading the "little reading books" we send home-this is the time of year kids start catching on to the reading and writing process.

Read books to your child....let them her your tone and fluency level!  Exposure is the key to reading.

Thanks for all your help and dedication.  This statement is so true-It takes a village to raise a child.  We appreciate that you VALUE your child's education.

REMEMBER-If your child does not bring a warm coat to school, he/she may not go outside during the winter months (please write your child's name in the coat).

We have a few coats hanging around in the classroom......not getting claimed.....???

Items needed in the classroom:

Lysol/Clorox wet wipes-we are constanly wiping down the tables to keeps the germ levels down.

Quart size zip lock bags

In the classroom: 

Theme:  Holidays

Math:  Ordinal Numbers (1st-10th)

Letter/Sound/Handwriting:  Mm

Words of the week:  he and we (after winter break, we will be on the green words)

Shared Reading:  Identifying the main character, setting and problem of the story

Writing Workshop:  Theme writing

Around Garrison Mill:

Monday, December 12th-Foundation meeting 7pm

Wednesday, December 21st-Holiday party 9:30-10:30

Thursday, December 22nd-End of 9 weeks

Friday, December 23-January 9th-Winter Break!!

PLAIN WHITE T-SHIRT NEEDED (keepsake project)!!!!  We have started painting our t-shirts in class......if you haven't sent in a t-shirt, please do so by Monday, December 12th......after that, we can not accept any t-shirts.....and your child will not make this special project (missing 10 t-shirts from students).  

Mrs Pittner's last day in this classroom is Friday, December 16th-Please have your child make her a goodbye card.  She has done an AMAZING job with the students.  She has taken such an interest in each child.......She will truly be missed!

On another note, Mrs Rodgers will return to class on Monday, December 19th-I know the children will be glad to have her back :)

Happy December!  I can't believe we have been to school for 73 days....almost half way through the year!

In the classroom:

Words of the Week:  see & not

Letter/Handwriting/Sound:  Ll

Math:  Geometry

Theme:  Holidays

Shared Reading:  Understanding the main character, setting and retelling of a story.

Around Garrison Mill:

Saturday, December 3rd-Foundation Breakfast

Monday, December 5th-6-8 Reading Night

Thursday, December 8th-6:30 International Night

Other Info:

Please continue working on the rainbow words....hopefully, we will begin to see application of these words in our reading and writing.

Please send in a t-shirt/sweatshirt for a class project.

Items needed in the classroom:

Plastic spoons and forks

Plates

Quart sized plastic bags

Have a great weekend

I want to wish each family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  We all have so much to be thankful for this time of year.  I am Thankful for my students and their smiling faces. 

In the classroom: 

Math:  wrapping-up number 6-10

Letter/Handwriting/Sound:  Jj

Theme:  Thanksgiving

Words of the Week:  to and big

Around Garrison Mill:

Monday, November 14th-Foundation Meeting 7pm

Monday-Friday (11/14-11/18)-Book Fair in the Media Center

Friday, November 18th-Grandparent's Luncheon for K/5th Grade Students

*****Please have your special guest arrive to the classroom at 10:25.  We will take pictures and do a special Thanksgiving performance.  A "turkey" lunch will take place in the cafeteria after we  perform(the parking lot will be a zoo-please plan accordingly.  please plan to arrive and park early-k students are eager to see their grandparents/friends).  

if you plan on checking your child out after the luncheon, please send us a note and sign him/her out in the front office. 

Happy November!  Only 10 school days left until our Thanksgiving break.  How time passes when you are having fun!

In the classroom:

Math:  numbers 6-10

Handwriting/Sound:  Ii

Words of the Week:  the & and (we are on the yellow row)

Theme:  Thanksgiving

Writing Workshop:  Writing across the curriculum

Shared Reading:  Using prior knowledge before reading text

Around Garrison Mill:

NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 8th!

Wednesday, November 9th-Giving Tree begins

Monday, November 14th-Foundation meeting

Monday, November 14th-18th Book fair in the media center

Friday, November 18th Grandparent's Luncheon for Kindergarten students (invite coming home this week).  Please make sure your child has a grandparent/special friend to eat lunch with.  We will have a special performance before we eat lunch.  Can't wait to share in the fun!

Nuts and bolts:

Thanks for the pillowcases!  We are able to make costumes for our Thanksgiving play.

Looking ahead......we will need a sweatshirt/t-shirt from each child (child-size and plain-white/gray).  Please feel free to send in when you have purchased.    

Thanks for a wonderful conference week.  I hope you left your conference with some valuable information.  I know that we have a lot to celebrate!  I look forward to the upcoming months and the learning that will take place in the classroom.

In the classroom:

Math:  understanding the numbers 6-10

Handwriting/Sound/Letter:  Hh

Words of the Week:  black and green

Theme:  friends and family

Writing:  Writing about our family

Around Garrison Mill: 

Thursday, November 3rd: PTA at 6:30 followed by 3rd grade musical

Tuesday, November 8th:  Student Holiday

Wednesday, November 9th:  Giving Tree begins

Other Information:

Please send in a white pillowcase by Tuesday, November 1st

Your child may bring his/her costume to school on Monday, October 31st. We will wear them during our Halloween social.

Grandparent's Luncheon.......Friday, November 18th....invitations to come!

Please put your child's name inside his/her coat :)