Merry And Bright!

Wishing you love, joy, and peace!


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PLC DAYS and SMART KIDS LEARNING

What do PLC DAYS and SMART KIDS LEARNING have in common?

If you said, "Quite a bit!", then you are right!

Both are centered around children!

Both lead to student success!

Both guide teaching strategies, curriculum interventions, and daily instruction!

Both are integral parts of my year with your children!

On Tuesday, just like every month, our PLC (Professional Learning Community) at Meadow Lane met and discussed/analyzed our reading and math goals.  With the end of the second quarter just three days away, it was the perfect opportunity to look at where we started the year and where we are now with the academic achievements of our little munchkins!

I am happy, no ecstatic, to share with you the following data from the kindergartners in our classroom! We talk every day about how important it is to practice, to focus and finish, and to try our best.  The following successes should make us all proud!  How rewarding it was to put our names in the hall today and celebrate being SMART KIDS LEARNING!

Yeah for us!  Yeah for us!  Yeah for us!

READING GOAL 1: This year, 95% of all kindergartners will demonstrate proficiency in ALPHABET KNOWLEDGE.

100% of the children successful!
(second quarter proficiency = 45 or more letter names and 15 or more letter sounds)

READING GOAL 2:  This year, 90% of all kindergartners will demonstrate proficiency in HIGH FREQUENCY WORD DICTATION.
100% of the children successful!
(second quarter proficiency = 11 or more words out of 13)

READING GOAL 3:  This year, 95% of all kindergartners will  read ON or ABOVE GRADE LEVEL.
100% of the children successful!
(second quarter proficiency = DRA Level 1 or above)

MATH GOAL 1: This year, 95% of all kindergartners will demonstrate proficiency in NUMBER SENSE.

100% of the children successful!

(second quarter proficiency = creating groups, writing numbers, & making partners for numbers 1-10)

We know our ALPHABET LETTERS and SOUNDS!

We can READ books!

We can READ, SPELL, and WRITE our high frequency words!

We are getting SMARTER every day because we work hard, practice, and believe!

HOLIDAY GATHERING ON FRIDAY!

Just a reminder that our Holiday Gathering is this Friday.
The munchkins are excited to have you join us as we share a bit of holiday cheer!
The Holiday Sing Along is a festive and fun Meadow Lane tradition!
We made jiggle bell sticks today and are ready to sing!

Here is our schedule!
2:30  Parents arrive.
2:30-2:50  Making and eating "reindeer" snacks!
2:50ish  Walking to gym.
3:00  Holiday Sing-Along!
3:38  Hugs and Holiday Wishes!

Helping Our Community!

We were quite busy last week helping at school!  The courtyard was piled high with leaves and the forecast was calling for snow, so...we decided that we had best get busy and lend a "helping hand" to nature!

We raked!  We scooped!  We picked up!  We pushed!  We piled!  We collected!  We gathered!  We helped our courtyard get ready for winter and then we watched as nature covered the earth with a white blanket of snow.  Our timing was perfect!

DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR!

Hello!
I wanted to quickly share some upcoming dates with you!
Please mark your calendars.
I can't wait to see the munchkin tomorrow!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
Miss Sawyer in Chicago!
Mrs. Bogner will be teaching kindergarten.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
Miss Sawyer in Chicago!
Mrs. Bogner will be teaching kindergarten.

Spirit Day:  Children are invited to wear Meadow Lane shirts and/or our school colors, blue & yellow!

DECEMBER 9-13
Assessments for Second Quarter!
Please try to make sure your child has a full tummy and a good night's sleep during this week...I want them to be able to show me all of the amazing skills they are learning in kindergarten!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17
PLC DAY!
Early dismissal @ 2:18

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20
Holiday Gathering  2:30-3:38
Please plan to join us at school for a "Rudolph" snack and our traditional Holiday Sing!
More information soon!

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

As our days grow colder and the munchkins anxiously await building their first snowman of the year, I would like to share with you a few thoughts about school and cold weather!  I am happy to help the munchkins when it is time to "BUNDLE UP, but as a very wise kindergartner once proclaimed..."It's too bad you aren't an octopus, Miss Sawyer, so you could help us all!

Since I am certainly not an octopus, here are some thoughts and ideas!

LEARNING TO BUNDLE UP!
*Please help your child learn how to "BUNDLE UP" for winter!
*Please help your child learn how to zip, snap, button, or toggle their coat!
*Please help your child learn how to put on scarves, hats, and mittens!
*Please help your child learn how to put on and take off boots!
*Please help your child learn how to tie their shoelaces!

A FEW TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR CHILD!
*Practice "BUNDLING UP" every night.
*Practice when you are not even going anywhere.  Make it your "homework"!
*Practice when you have time and patience.
*Celebrate your child growing up and becoming independent!  They will be so proud!

SHOPPING TIPS!
*Pull-on boots are easiest.
*Mittens are easier than gloves.
*Take your child with you and practice in the store before buying a new coat...cute isn't always best.

DAILY RECESS!
*When possible, the children go outside for recess.
*Mr. "K" makes recess decisions daily based on temperature, wind chill, and weather conditions.


CLASSROOM SHOES AND SNOW BOOTS!
*It is best for children to have shoes for wearing in the classroom AND boots/shoes for wearing outside.
*Children without boots will not be able to play in the snow.
*Wet shoes and socks are not fun.
*Thank you for helping keep the children warm and cozy so we can focus on learning!

NEED A COAT FOR YOU CHILD...PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

More AMAZING Writing!

Here are some more stories from the munchkins!  We hope you enjoy watching our journey as writers! Do you remember what your child's writing sample looked like at Parent-Teacher Conferences?  Oh, my...what SMART KIDS LEARNING we are in kindergarten!

Please feel free to send us a comment or two.  We would love to hear from you!

Also, remember that if you don't see pictures in your email, you can click on the BLOG TITLE in your email and you will automatically be redirected to our blog!

Zoe's story about things she likes!

Miley's story about colors in nature!

Geonho's story about colors!

Danny's story about his friends.

"HATS OFF" To Kindergarten!

Yeah!
We did it!
We collected 100 items of food for children and families that might be hungry in Lincoln!

We decorated some of the cans and boxes with delightful pictures!
It is always nice to help other people!
Today I think we are SMART KIDS LEARNING and KIND KIDS SHARING!

Thank you for helping us reach our goal!
I am blessed to have such a caring classroom of children and parents!

ALL ABOUT WRITING!

We are becoming AMAZING writers!  We are learning how to write information sentences to make our stories more interesting!  We are also practicing how to ask a question in our writing!

We are excited to share our writing with you!  We are quite certain you will be able to read our stories.  Enjoy!  Stay tuned for more stories in the near future!

Camree's story about nature.

Evan's story about symbols of America!

Scarlett's story about Zoe.

Rion's story about a train!

Ugo's story about going to McDonald's with friends.

"Hats Off" To Those Who Help The Hungry!

We are collecting food for children and families who might be hungry!
We are thankful for the food we have at our houses.
We are charting our collection.
We are happy to report we have collected 72 items if food!
Yeah for us!

Our goal is 100!
We are almost there!
Thank you for helping us help those who are hungry!

"FALLING" Into Kindergarten!

This is perhaps my most favorite time of the year!  The munchkins are adorable!  Enjoy!

Report Cards Are Coming Home!

Hello!
Our days are flying by and we are LEARNING so much in kindergarten.  I wanted to remind you that REPORT CARDS are coming home this week in Wednesday folders.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child's Report Card.  

 Please look for your child's Report Card and keep in mind the following thoughts and information:
     *All of the children are SMART KIDS LEARNING!
     *Everyone is learning new skills while growing academically and socially!
     *Effort is important for learning!
     *I am blessed to be the teacher of wonderful children who love to learn each and every day!
     *Academic Achievement Scores:
     4 = exceeds expectations, uses skills independently, & successfully completes daily work
     3 = meets expectations, usually uses skills independently, & successfully completes most daily work
     2 & 1 = approaching expectations, needs teacher assistance to use skills & successfully complete daily work
       
P.S.   I will be gone this Wednesday experiencing my first root canal!  Please say a prayer and wish me well!

Our Five Senses Help Us Learn!

Our FIVE SENSES help us learn!
They're pathways to our brain.
See, hear, smell, taste, touch!
See, hear, smell, taste, touch!
See, hear, smell, taste, touch!
They're pathways to our brain .

We can taste apples!

Which is your FAVORITE apple?  

Red, yellow, or green?

We can see and explore nature with our eyes!

What can you see with your eyes!  What can you touch with your hands!

We can hear, taste, see, smell, and touch!

Calendar Reminders & Updates...

Thursday, October 3rd
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
BOOK FAIR

Friday, October 4th

SPIRIT DAY - "SOCK IT" TO DRUGS AND BULLYING DAY
Wear fun and silly socks to school!
Wear shoes, too!

APPLE TASTING DAY!
Bring an apple to school...yellow, green or red!

Monday, October 7th - Thursday, October 10th

FIRST QUARTER ASSESSMENT DAYS!

Please make sure your child is getting a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast!

We will be taking a lot of tests and showing Miss Sawyer that we are SMART KIDS LEARNING!

Friday, October 11th

POPCORN FRIDAY!  Bring a quarter and buy a bag of popcorn!

SPIRIT DAY - "INSIDE OUT" DAY
Wear your clothes INSIDE OUT as a reminder to not let drugs and bullies turn you INSIDE OUT!
(Please make sure your child can get in and out of their clothes for trips to the bathroom!)

MATH IS ALL AROUND US!

We are SMART KIDS LEARNING all about math!

We can make groups by color!

We are writing numbers 1-6!  Number 7 is next!

We are making groups by shape!  Can you see the parallelograms?

We are making people, places, and things with shapes!

A train with rectangles, circles, and squares!

Patterns repeat!  This is an "AB" pattern.

We can make number partners!  3+2=5

Find the cylinders!  Find the cube!  What is on top?

Stars And Stripes

What an amazing classroom of children!
They truly are bright and shining stars each and every day!

A FEW QUICK NOTES....

TUESDAY:  I will be at Wendy's Restaurant for Meadow Lane's Dining Out Night from 5:00-6:00!  Please join me for dinner if it works into your plans and together we can help support our Meadow Lane PTA!

WEDNESDAY:  Individual students pictures will be taken this Wednesday at school.  Please send back your order forms and payments if you wish to have a delightful picture of your kindergartner!

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY:  We are working diligently to learn ALL of the uppercase and lowercase alphabet letters and letter sounds!  We are making tremendous progress at school!  Please practice at home, in the car, when washing the dishes, during your bedtime routines, while riding bikes, and well, I think you get the idea...please practice whenever you get the chance!  Thanks for making us SMART KIDS LEARNING!

SHAPES ARE EVERYWHERE

Enjoy this video of our latest math project!  We are mathematicians!

PURPLE HANDS DAY

Just a quick reminder that Friday is PURPLE HANDS DAY at Meadow Lane School!  The children are invited to wear PURPLE to school to show support for kindness and anti-bullying.  Children might want to wear:
*purple socks
*a purple bow or ribbon
*purple pants
*purple shoes
*a shirt with purple stripes or flowers
*or anything purple!!!!!

We recite the PURPLE HANDS PLEDGE every day at school.  It sounds like this:

I will not use my hands or words for hurting myself or others!

GOOD! GREAT! CONCENTRATE!

Oh my goodness!  We are on our way to becoming SMART KIDS LEARNING!

During Reading Group Rotations we have four work areas and since there is only one Miss Sawyer (thank goodness) the children are learning that sometimes they have be their own teacher, kiss their brain, and try their best!  At one of the rotations, the children have to complete a literacy activity that usually requires one or more of the following processes:  coloring, drawing, spelling, reading, word work, or writing!  We have been looking over our work and "EVALUATING" how we are doing so that we know the expectations for school and what it "looks like" to do great work!

Our ratings are as follows:
good! = most of the work is done, nicely colored, followed directions, & resembles example
great! = all of the work is done, beautifully colored, followed directions, & has some creativity
concentrate! = work is not done, colored a lot with one color, & followed some of the directions

It is amazing, but the children are becoming quite accurate at rating the work we do in kindergarten.  They love to look at papers on the big screen and decide if it is a "good", "great", or "concentrate" paper.  We are always positive and try to give our friends ideas for getting smarter!  We are quickly discovering that "concentrate" papers usually mean that we need to focus a bit more and talk a bit less!  It might also mean that sitting at a table by ourselves is an okay strategy for learning.

Here are some examples of our work!  We are so proud of everybody!

GOOD!

GREAT!

GREAT!

CONCENTRATE!

WE ARE SAFE!

We have been talking about ways TO BE SAFE in school and in our world.  We practiced crossing Vine Street during VERY BUSY times of the day on both Wednesday and Thursday!  We all made it safely back to school and then we created some wonderful pictures as well as traffic lights!

We watched the traffic carefully and pushed the button!

We crossed the street...5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

         

We made it safely back to school!

We look both ways even if we have a green light!

We always cross at the crosswalk!

Red is for STOP!   Yellow is for SLOW DOWN!   Green is for GO!