Dear Parents,

     Dinosaurs may be extinct, but having fun learning about them certainly is not.  The children are doing great learning so many facts.  Please assist them in completing their "dinosaur research" and return to school on Monday.  They will be sharing their facts orally with the class.  Help them to practice saying what they know about their dinosaur.  This can be in their own words.  Experience in oral communication is very important for their growth and confidence.  We have explored museums, fossils, and skeletons this week.  Next week, we will create volcanoes to erupt with our Dads on Thursday.  All Dads should come to the classroom at 9:00 on the 1st for a special treat.  We hope that everyone will attend.

     Our High Touch High Tech "Chem Fun" program was really great this week.  Students learned many basics about chemical bonds and chemical changes.  See if they can remember the recipe for the "silly putty" they made.

     Next week is National Read Across America Week.  We will be attending a special Dr. Seuss program on Monday in celebration of reading and Dr. Seuss's birthday.  Friday will be PJ Day for the whole school with activities planned for reading.  Our Kindergarten classes will  rotate from room to room to enjoy listening to several popular Dr. Seuss stories.  Be sure to encourage your child's independent reading on a daily basis.  

     Keep working on those "Rainbow Words".  All students who have successfully read all 60 words  by March 1st will have their names put into a drawing for a chance at free Atlalnta Hawks tickets.  

     In Math, we will finish our unit on "Time".  We have reviewed days of the week, months of the years, seasons, and daily events.  We have worked with clocks and introduced telling time to the hour.  Help your child to locate many types of clocks in your home and practice "reading" the time.  

     Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Denise Porter

Dear Parents,

     Wow! What an exciting day we had on Tuesday.  Valentines fun was great.  We delivered cards, enjoyed a special Valentine snack, worked in Valentines centers, and played in Porter's Hallmark store.  Thank you for all of the many flowers and sweet treats that you sent for Mrs. Poirier and I.

     For the next couple of weeks, we will have a unit of study on Dinosaurs.  This will include some "dino-Facts Research" for your child at home.  They are doing well in their understanding of non-fiction information,how to compare and organize what they know, and orally share with others their findings.  This is always a favorite unit with our students.  We will also be learning some fun dinosaur songs to sing for our Dads on 3/1 at Donuts for Dads.

     In Math, we will begin a new chapter on "time".  This will include work with events throughout the day, what objects are in the day and night sky, and an introduction to clocks and telling time to the hour.  Everyone has done well with our coin identification.  We will be making our trip to the School Store to shop next Thursday morning. 

     There is no school on Monday, Feb. 20th due to President's Day.  I hope you enjoy the long weekend with your children. 

Sincerely,

Denise Porter

Dear Parents,

     What a group of historians we are developing.  Everyone has done a great job learning about American symbols, presidents and ways to show our patriotism.  We will finish this unit next week with extensive work on coins, values, and trading coins.  Please continue to check your child's ability to name coins, state their value, and trade pennies for nickels and pennies for dimes.  If anyone has interesting coins or money from other countries that your child would like to share, please send them in.  We would love to take a look at money around the world.  I will be assessing everyone's skill level for coins by the end of the week.  When your child is able to demonstrate their understanding, they will take a shopping trip to the School Store.

     Tuesday is Valentines Day.  We are looking forward to some fun Valentine's Center activities and a special snack.  Everyone should bring in their decorated Valentine Box and cards for each other.  We will deliver them and then have an "opening party" after lunch to see what everyone received. 

     In Phonics, we will be working with sorting the "f" and "b" sounds.  In addition to discriminating between consonants, we are also working hard to discriminate between short vowel sounds.  Often, it is difficult to hear the difference between "a" and "e", or "e" and "i".  Please help your child practice blending sounds and identifying the short vowel that is in the middle.  You could play a "name those letters" game while driving in the car.  You say "mat".  Have your child name: m-a-t.  See how well they can hear what the vowel sound is.  This will help them in reading and writing those sounds.

     Dads, please mark your calendars for March 1st.  We will be hosting our annual Donuts For Dads here in the classroom from 9:00-9:45.  This is a very special time for Dads to spend with their child at school.  We will be sending home invitations soon. 

     Please return permission slips and donations for our High Touch High Tech in-school field trips by Monday.  Our first session is on Tuesday, Feb. 21st. 

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Denise Porter 

Dear Parents,

     Bears, bears, bears... We've had a great week learning to compare and contrast the "Bear Facts".  Students have orally shared their research and we've started our work on a PowerPoint presentation to collate our information.  Today we enjoyed having teddy bears at school.  The children read to their bears and let them "help" with their work.  We went on a "Bear Hunt" and found a pot of honey-combs.  Yum!

     During the next two weeks, we will learn about U.S. presidents, Amercian symbols and continue our unit on coins and counting money.  Thank you for sending in the coins for your child to work with.  At the end of our unit, everyone who has learned the names and values of their coins will get to shop at the school store with their money.  

     In Phonics, we have been learning additional "tricks" for blending letters.  We have introduced the following sounds: sh, th, ch, wh, oo, ou, ow, ar, er, or, ir, & all.  These will help your child in decoding as well as writing.  Progress has been steady for all and I am very pleased with their effort.  

     In Math, we have begun our chapter on Money.  In addition to learning the names and values of coins, students will work with counting coins and making combinations of coins.  We will learn to trade 5 pennies for a nickel, and 10 pennies for a dime.  We will also learn how to "purchase" simple items that cost less than 20 cents by creating different combinations of coins.  

     We will be exchanging Valentines in class on Feb. 14th.  Your child brought home a flyer today with directions for our exchange.  They may begin to bring their decorated box and bag full of cards anytime the week of 2/13.  

     The big GM Foundation Gala is this weekend.  Be sure to check our the many fabulous items for bid.  

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely

Denise Porter

Dear Parents,

     Happy 100th Day of School!!  We had a fabulous day celebrating this big milestone in the school year.  "Grammy Porter" made a visit this morning to the class.  She is 100 yrs. old and made a "big impression" on everyone. Several students dressed up for the event and we all enjoyed many activities dealing with the number 100.  

     Next week we will have a short unit of study called the "Bear Facts".  Students will learn about asking questions to learn new facts, compare and organize information gathered through research, practice sharing information learned orally, and working together to present new information by making a PowerPoint slide show.  Your child received a simple "Bear Facts" homework to do over the weekend.  Each child has a specific bear to learn about.  Please help them to explore several websites to see what they can find.  If you'd like to print or send in an image with their facts, that would be fun too.  They will be using this information to continue writing work as they learn to develop a paragraph on one topic to include several sentences.  

     In Phonics, we will be working with the letters sounds of "n" and "p" as well as additional handwriting practice with B, b, P, p. Several more students have mastered their Rainbow Words this week.  Thanks so much for working hard at home.  They are very motivated to move their "paw" up the rainbow and have their name announced on the Morning News.  

     In Math, we will complete our chapter on larger numbers and begin working with money.  In addition to learning the names and values of coins, students will work with counting coins and making combinations of coins.  We will learn to trade 5 pennies for a nickel, and 10 pennies for a dime.  We will also learn how to "purchase" simple items that cost less than 20 cents by creating different combinations of coins.  Let your child sort through your change pile at home and explore the "heads" and "tails" sides of coins and practice naming them with their values.  The best way for them to learn is to gain real life practice.

     Next Thursday is Ground Hog Day.  We will do some predicting and look at Internet resources to check the "official" report for the coming of spring.

     Tonight is the school dance.  Hope your family will come to join the fun.  Mark your calendar for Thursday Feb. 9th.  G.M. will host our annual Family Math Night.  Parents and students will enjoy many math games together.  This is being sponsored by Mathnasium, but G.M. teachers will also be there to help facilitate.   

     Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Denise Porter

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!

Dear Parents,

Hooray, Hooray!  We've almost made it to the 100th Day!  We are planning a big celebration next Friday, Jan. 27th for the 100th day of school.  Please be sure to assist your child in completing their 100th day collection of items to bring in to share.  We will be rotating from class to class for special activities and sing "Happy 100th Day of School" all together with 100 cupcakes and candles.

     We will complete our winter unit this next week as we study arctic animals and how animals adapt during the winter.  We'll have some fun with penguin facts and hold our own Eskimo Olympics Day on Thursday.  Learning about polar bears will lead into a short study of bears the following week.  We will learn about the word "research" and the importance of gathering facts.  There will be a simple "Bear Facts" assignment which will allow us to compare and contrast different types of bears. 

     In Phonics, we will be discriminating between the "T" and "G" sounds In handwriting, we'll work with U, S, B, and P.  Several students still need much practice starting their letter formations "at the top".  There are no "bottom up" letters.  When you review your child's work please check to see that they are following the proper direction.  (Fore example: the circle on an O and Q should start with a "backward-circle to the left".)  With continued practice, everyone will improve with their strength and accuracy.  Encourage your child to work slow and carefully when they write.  Their brain needs time to process the directions so that their fingers can manipulate the pencil properly. 

     In Math, we are working with numbers greater than 10.  This includes work with "place value" to understand two digit numerals.  (For ex: 13 is 10 and 3 more...)  We use a graphic organizer called a Ten's Frame to help with this concept.  Students are also learning to write numerals accurately from 0-30. 

     The big GM Foundation Gala is coming up soon on Feb. 4th.  Please remember to purchase your tickets in advance for this special event.  You'll have an opportunity to bid on several items and/or activities with your children's teachers.  Our Kindergarten team is sponsoring a fun filled afternoon of "Jumpy Room" time and snacks with teachers.  I can't wait to see who from our class it will be. 

     Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Denise Porter

Dear Parents,

     Happy New Year!  I hope that your family had a wonderful holiday season.  Porter's Pups are off and running in the new year.  This week was been filled with winter activities, stories, writing, and winter math fun.  Our winter word bank includes words for winter clothing like hats, mittens, boots, coat, jacket and sweater.  Snowman words include: eyes, nose, mouth, buttons, arms, scarf, and hat. Through stories and snowman building activities, students have been able to use these words to describe winter activities.  I am very proud of their writing progress. They are working hard and showing much growth. We will continue this Winter unit for the next two weeks.  We will also explore arctic animals and culminate the unit with an Eskimo Olympics day.  

     Our phonics sorts during the second semester will primarily help students to discriminate between sounds, blend sounds to create new words, and learn how to insert and change letters to make new words.  As students become more proficient with short vowel sounds, we will begin to work with long vowel sounds and the rules for decoding them.  This is an exciting time for young readers when they begin to "make sense" of all of these reading strategies and feel like "real" readers.  

     In Math, we will begin working with larger numbers.  During this unit, we work with a chart called a "tens frame".  It looks like a chart with five boxes across the top row and five boxes across the bottom row.  We will establish and understanding of place value by counting objects using the tens frames and seeing that larger numbers are made up of some groups of tens and some more.  They will learn to "count on" as an important addition strategy and be able to visually see that subtraction is the opposite of addition. We will also be using a number line to help with this connection.  

     Report Cards were sent home on Thursday for the 2nd Quarter.  Please review and then sign the signature card and return in the brown envelope.  The Report Card is yours to keep.  Please let me know if you have any questions.   

     Our students have a renewed enthusiasm for "Reading the Rainbow" words.  Mr. Giesler has begun recognizing those Kindergarten students who have achieved mastery of all 60 words each Friday on the GM Morning News. I have assured them that everyone learns at their own pace, however they would love for you to keep working with them daily at home so that they can be recognized when they accomplish their goal.  

     Please remember that school will be out for the MLK holiday on Monday.  We began this week talking about Martin Luther King and his contributions. We shared many ideas about human rights and living together in peace.  

     Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Denise Porter 

Dear Parents,

     Wow! What a big week we've had.  Trips "Around the World", Gingerbread House building, lots of fun at our Holiday Party, and a final ride on The Polar Express.  Thanks so much to our great room Moms for all of their planning and to those who came to help out.  The children were very excited to enjoy special activities, snacks, treats, and time spent celebrating the holidays together.  Mrs. Poirier and I send a big "THANK YOU" for the generous gift cards we received from the whole class along with personalized cups and note paper.  We will certainly enjoy our shopping spree during those after holiday sales.  We hope the children's gingerbread houses made it home in one piece.  They had lots of fun making them.  

     In January, we'll be starting a unit on Winter.  This will include the world in winter, weather, arctic animals and Eskimos, as well as fiction and non-fiction winter books.  Please check out a great web-site at www.janbrett.com.  Jan Brett has written many wonderful winter children's books and she has a fun web-site with activities available.  

     In Phonics, the second half of the year will be spent working with consonant sounds and making sure that students can discriminate between sounds and use the sounds to blend words in reading and writing.  By now, everyone should be able to identify all capital and lowercase letters and produce the sound that each letter makes.  Our letter sorts will now begin to ask them to discriminate between two sounds and sort pictures accordingly.  We will also blend words containing a consonant-vowel-consonant.  Please keep working on those sight words and helping your child to "sound-out" what they hear in words.

  In math, we will have a week of "Winter Math".  It will include some fun snowball activities that will practice counting and adding skills.  Then we will work with numbers larger than 10.  The 100th day of school is coming up in January.  That will be a big celebration day for us and include many special activities to count to 100.  

     I hope that all of you and your families have a wonderful holiday season.  Enjoy some extra time with your child.  I'll see you in 2012.  Students return to school on 1/10.  

Sincerely,

Denise Porter

     We had a great class party today.  Thanks to Olivia's Daddy for taking lots of great pictures for us.  Here are just a few... Animoto link below:

http://animoto.com/play/T07rf0x7O1lx6tuvlaksPw?utm_content=main_link