CASA Kindergarten

CASA Kindergarten

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

All About Our Community

Hello All! We have had a busy couple of weeks as we've been learning all about Community Helpers!  We have talked all about the different workers in our community.  We have read some great books such as Library Lion, Down By The Station, All Aboard Firetrucks, Officer Buckle and Gloria, I'm Your Bus and many more.  We have been talking about the author and illustrator of our books as well as learning about the parts of the book such as the title, the front cover, and the back cover. 
As we have been learning all about communities, we have transformed our own classroom into a community.  Our writing center is the post office, our home living is Moe's, our building center is Home Depot, our Book Nook is the public library, and our Math center is the school.  They have loved pretending during centers each day!! And if you've been receiving some interesting papers or pictures in the folder- the post office has been mighty busy!! :)
We focused on the letter P last week and are onto the letter N this week.  We do a practice handwriting sheet each week, which I am sure you have seen in the folders.  I am also going to start sending home an additional "Homework Letter practice page."  This is not mandatory, but is just good extra practice, especially for the fine motor skills. If they do complete it and bring it back, I will let them get a prize from the treasure box.
In Math we have been practicing counting to 20, focusing on shapes, graphing, and have also worked a couple of math solving problems in our Math journals.
One of our favorite activities from last week was making edible firetrucks.  Thank you to everyone who sent in food items for those.
Reminders:
* Field trip tomorrow to Ridgeview Nursing Home.  Please have your child wear their CASA t-shirts.  If you are going with us, we will be leaving at 10:30.  You can just meet us in the front parking lot at about 10:25.  Ridgeview is in Meadowbrook, located behind Joe's Crab Shack.
* We will be going to Old Baker Farm next Friday, October 7.  I will need all children and chaperones at school that day at 8:45.  We have to be there by 9:30 and it is in Harpersville.  I will send permission slips for that trip home later this week.  There is a $7 fee for each child as well as for each chaperone.  If you write a check, just make it out to CASA.  I will have them cut us a check for the entire amount to give to the farm on the day of our trip.
*** Change of Date: On the October calendar that I sent home, the Harvest Hoedown is listed for Friday, the 28th.  It has now been changed, due to a conflict with the 4 year old teachers.  It will now be on Monday, the 31st.  Please make a note of that.
Thanks for your continuing support.  As always, let me know if you have questions or concerns. Thanks!!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Great First Week

Hello All! I just wanted to let everyone know that we had a fabulous first week at CASA! I know it's still early in the year, but I have to say, I think we are going to have a really great year.  This is a great group of kids who have really all meshed well together! We even got to celebrate TWO birthdays- Brooke and Riley! Cupcakes on Wednesday and doughnuts on Friday- lots of sugar! :)

Just a few things to remember... Next Monday, September 19 is our Parent Night at 6:00.  I ask that parents only come to this meeting.  I will be going over a good bit of information for the upcoming school year.  We will not go past 7:00- as I know that everyone is busy and I appreciate you taking time out of your schedules to be there.

I will have sign up lists for chaperones for our field trips this year at Parent Night, but I just wanted to give you a heads up that our first field trip will be on Friday, October 7 to Old Baker Farm.  They will allow up to one parent per child for this trip, so we would love to have you join us if you can. It's a great time if you've never been.  The kids will pick pumpkins, take a hay ride, pet farm animals, and lots more! There is a charge for children and adults for this trip.  I want to say that it's between $5-$7 per person.  I will have the exact amount when I send home the permission slip.
We spent a lot of time last week getting to know one another, reviewing our classroom procedures and rules, and settling into our routine.  This week we will be focusing on our "All About Me" unit.  We'll be reading some great books, writing in our daily journals, graphing the letters in our names, and many other fun activities. It should be a great week!







Thursday, September 1, 2011

























Welcome!

I'm looking forward to a great year with a new group of super kids this year! I had so much fun meeting everyone today at meet the teacher. I always love seeing the excitement on each child's face as they take in our classroom and a new group of kids, with whom they will soon be great friends! I know that we are going to have a fantastic year! We have lots to look forward to and much learning to be done.
Next week we will spend time getting to know one another as well as familiarizing ourselves with the routines of our classroom and our days at CASA.
I would like to stress the importance of doing your best to have your child to CASA on time each day. Carpool starts at 9:30 and ends around 9:50. This is a Kindergarten class, which involves a good bit of academic time. I hate for your child to miss anything important! If you are late, you must walk your child in and sign them in at the CASA office. From there, an office staff member will either walk them down to the room, or notify me that they are walking down.
I also wanted to mention, that our class does go until 2:00. If you have another child (or children) in the program, they will be taken to aftercare at no extra charge to you. However, you must come in and pick them up in the aftercare room before 2:00. I will bring the class out at 2:00 for carpool. You will line up as normal and I will load them.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let me know! My email address is jcameron6877@gmail.com
Thanks!