Important Dates

I hope everyone had a great spring break. Coming back I have realized how quickly time is passing. We have 7 1/2 weeks of school left. I sent home an April calendar this week with some important dates, but just want to review them and add some additional dates so that families can plan effectively until the end of the school year.
April 23rd - PTA sponsored Skate Night @ Classic Skate Center (notes were sent home this week)
April 27th - Cookie Dough orders will be available to be picked up.
May 1st - Kindergarten students eat lunch at school to learn procedures. More info coming.
May 1 - 9 -Online Sign up window for end of year testing appointments. More info coming.
May 7th - Around the World @ Butler Elem. sponsored by PTA.  More info coming.
May 9th - Kindergarten Fieldtrip to Hogle Zoo. PM class will come in the morning that day. More info coming.
May 11th - All take-home books need to be returned.
May 14th - 16th - End of Year Testing for Kindergarten. No classes will be held.
May 23rd - Bobcat Award Cut-off. Notes will be sent home beginning of May with # of goals accomplished.
May 28th - Memorial Day (No School)
May 30th (Wed.) - Class Program for Kindergarten (tentative)  AM - 10 a.m.    PM - 2 p.m.
May 31st - PTA Carnival (evening)
June 1st - Bobcat Award Assembly @ 9 a.m.
June 4th - Field Day
June 5th - Last day of Kindergarten (regular schedule)
Hope this helps with your plans for the rest of the year. Please watch for more details about upcoming events. As always, if you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Spring is Really Here!

Spring Break is here officially, but our classes have been experiencing spring fever for several weeks. The students can hardly wait to break out their shorts and flip flops. (I know I feel the same way). The weather changes so drastically and quickly in the spring. We can have snow in the morning and 70 degree weather by afternoon. As our classes have discussed weather these last few weeks, I have really encouraged the students to be prepared for any weather. Please help them make wise choices. Also, a note of caution...I know how much everyone loves flip flops, but they are so dangerous on the playground. I have seen so many skinned knees and elbows because of students running with flip flops. There are other types of sandals that offer better control and yet are still nice and cool on the feet. Have a great Spring Break!

Thank you to all for the great support at Parent/Teacher conferences. They are such a valuable tool to recognize growth and chart a course until the end of the year. Congratulations to those students who were chosen to participate in the SALTA or Dual/Immersion Program. First grade will be an exciting and fun challenge! As we look to first grade, our biggest goal is to develop reading skills as much as possible. Thank you to those who return the "Road to Success" reading tickets. I know there are  many who are reading each night with their student and not sending back the tickets as well. Just keep reading! Whether students are independent readers or not, reading books together is the best thing I can think of to foster a child's love for books. This month Butler Elem. is sponsoring a "Literacy Night" on Thursday, March 22nd from 6 - 8 p.m. This will be another great opportunity to get excited about reading. Authors Mark and Caralyn Buehner (Snowmen at Night) will be giving a presentation along with sponsored activities in each grade level. Also, each child will have the opportunity to choose a free book. Sounds like a win/win to me!

March Madness

This is the time of year that I start feeling a bit of panic as I realize how quickly the end of the year is coming. It truly will be June, before I know it.  And there is still so much we want to do. We have definitely picked up the pace of our work, in preparation for 1st grade. But it's also comforting to look back and see how far the students have come. Kindergarten is a year of phenomenal growth, both academically and emotionally. One of our big goals is to help students become as autonomous (independent) as possible. It empowers children to know what to do when situations/problems arise. Although we can't forsee every possible situation, they can learn to think about possible solutions. This is such a HUGE skill.  When someone comes to me with a question or problem, I try to ask them what they think would solve it. When there are disagreements between students I listen to each side and ask what they think would solve the problem. If one student acts aggressively toward another student, I ask the non-aggressive student what the other student can do to help them feel better. I think the idea of focusing on solutions as opposed to the problem goes a long way to our personal happiness and success.

Happy Presidents Day!

This week we have been discussing our country's presidents, in particular George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. As I try and relate information that has taken place so long ago, I sometimes wonder if the students are really understanding things. And just when I think the information may be over their heads, someone makes a comment that shows a connection, which inspires several others to comment, and soon the whole class is buzzing with their personal knowledge about the subject. I have come to realize once again, how important it is to educate our leaders of the future. They will be the ones in charge when I am sitting in a care center. I want to make sure they understand our past, our present, and our future. Don't be afraid to talk about current events with your student, just do it on a level that they can understand. As we discussed how George Washington served as president for two terms and then refused a third term, someone realized that there are many people wanting to be our president on the TV. The better informed our children are, the stronger they will be as adults.

Check the backpack!

Notes were sent home this week with instructions for registering online for parent/teacher conferences during the first week of March. The window opens on Valentines Day 2/14 and will close at midnight on 2/28. If you did not receive the note, please let me know and I will be happy to send another one. Or you can look at the download on this blog that was used to register for mid-year testing. Our Kindergarten appointments will only be 10 min. because I have so many students to fit in. But it should be  adequate time. Just a reminder to not include any treats with nuts, peanuts, or peanut butter in the student's valentines. Thanks!

February Fun

   February is such a fun month because of Valentines. One of my favorite experiences is to watch Kindergarten students open their valentines from classmates. Each one is a treasure to them. They get so excited about the ones they have given out, as well as the ones they receive. It is so exciting for them to see what someone else has chosen for them. This provides so many great learning opportunities. I sent home a class list on Wednesday so that students may begin addressing their valentines. This is such good handwriting and spelling practice. Some students will be able to do most of it on their own. Others will need help and support. My suggestion is that students work on several each day, and try to accomplish it over a period of time. Valentines may be brought on Monday, Feb. 13th or Tuesday, Feb. 14th. They will be distributed in class on Tuesday. Students will be making a large valentine folder in class to keep their valentines in. They do not need to make a valentine box. Please remember not to include any treats with nuts, peanuts, or peanut butter. Thank you!

Our Kindergarten Year is Half Over

January marks the mid-point of the school year. From now to the end of the year we will be working very hard as we prepare for First Grade. Many students have applied for language or advanced programs. Good luck to all of you! We are raising the bar on the quality of work and expected work level. Thank you for continuing to read with your students every day. Reading ability really takes off for many students the last half of the year. But please don't forget to keep working on math skills. Fluency is a big part of math. In other words, recognizing and processing numbers quickly and accurately. As we look forward to February and Valentines Day, students can begin preparing valentines for class members if they would like. We will send home a class list this coming week with our homework assignment. Please remember that we have students with severe peanut/nut allergies and do not include any items with valentines that would contain these items. Thank you!

Testing Week - Thank You Parents!

This has been a great week. It was a marathon to get everyone tested, but it was wonderful to sit down and interact with each student one-on-one for 20 minutes, without distractions or disturbances. Thank you to all you parents for bringing your student in for their appointment!!! The information that was gathered will be presented to you at Parent/Teacher conferences the first week of March. It has been invaluable. Next week the schedule is as follows...Monday 1/16 - no school (Martin L. King Day); Tuesday 1/17 - regular day; Wednesday 1/18 - regular day; Thursday 1/ 19 - Early dismissal day; Friday 1/20 - no school (teacher work day). Although it is hard to have another day off on Friday 1/20. that is the day teachers will be able to look at the information gathered from testing, and make adjustments in their plans to best help their students. Again, thank you parents for all the support and help you give. It truly does make a difference! Enjoy the long weekend.

This Is Winter????

It has been an unusual experience this week as we have been talking about winter in our class. There is no snow and the weather is so nice, many of the students take off their coats during recess. I guess we will experience it vicariously through our memories of last year. Unfortunately, I'm afraid we may make up for this weather by having snow in April and May :(!!!
Just a reminder that next week is Kindergarten mid-year testing. Students do not come to school on Wed., Jan. 11th, Thurs., Jan. 12th, and Fri., Jan. 13th. Each student has been given a 20 minute testing appointment. Reminder notes were sent home today.  If you are unsure of your date/time, please call the school office and check with them. School will be held on Monday and Tuesday with regular hours.
We had a lot of fun with our "Toy Day" today. I've included a few pictures for your enjoyment. Unfortunately I couldn't include all our pictures because they contained students who are not to have published photos on the internet.

Our school participates in a great program called Jr. Achievement. This program teaches children about business and economic principles. Parents are asked to teach the 5 lessons (approx. 30 min. each) for each class. This typically takes place in March or April and dates and times are arranged with the teacher, so it is convenient. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Miller (AM class)  @ jakeleemiller@gmail.com  or Marcie Ison (PM class) @ marciejane.ison@gmail.com