Friday is Orange Shirt Day!

Please show your solidarity and have your child wear an orange shirt tomorrow. Please refer to the school blog for more information about why we are asking everyone to wear orange.

Terry Fox Run

Tomorrow is the Terry Fox run and we will be participating! Our students will be walking or running around the kindergarten playground area, weather permitting.
If you have any pledges, the pledge form should be returned by next week. Please place the form into your child's backpack and we will make sure it gets to Ms. Lowen.

Thanks

Dear Parents,

Thank you for making Curriculum Night such a success. We were happy to meet with so many parents, old and new! We are off to a great start to the school year!
If you didn't have a chance to attend, there are a few things that we would like to share with you.
Please remember to send an extra pair of shoes and clothing (if you haven't done so already). Please remember to check your child's backpack daily and to check the blog weekly.

Have a great weekend,
The English Kindergarten Team

Simple Strategies for Creating Strong Readers

Without doubt, reading with children spells success for early literacy. Putting a few simple strategies into action will make a significant difference in helping develop children into good readers and writers:

- Read from a variety of children’s books, including fairy tales, song books, poems, and information books.

- Through reading aloud, providing print materials, and promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can have a powerful impact on children’s literacy and learning.

- Invite your child to read with you everyday.

- Read your child’s favourite book over and over.

- When reading a book where the print is large, point word by word as you read. This will help the child learn that reading goes from left to right and understand that the word he/she is says is the word he/she sees.

- Read many stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat. Invite the child to join in on these parts. Point word by word as he/she reads along with you.

- Discuss new words. For example: “This big house is called a palace. Who do you think lives in a palace?”

- Stop and ask about the picture and about what is happening in the story

- Reading well is at the heart of all learning. Help make a difference!

Library K1

Dear Parents,

Today K1 visited the library for the very first time. Each child signed out a library book that they will be bringing home to share with you. Please take time to read the book with your child and return the book for our next library visit, which will be next Friday. Our library time will fall on a Friday until the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Reading,
Mrs. Cano and Mrs. Sidheri

Academic Readiness Goals to Work On

Fine Motor Skills

Ø  Puzzles

Ø  Buttons and Zippers

Ø  Writing name and other letters

Ø  Visual matching activities (match shapes, letters, numbers)

Ø  Identifying and copying basic shapes (horizontal and vertical lines, circles, squares, triangles)

Language

Ø  Vocabulary development both receptive and expressive

Ø  Learn colour names

Ø  Learn the name of various body parts (“point to your _____”)

Ø  Spatial terms (e.g. in, on, under, between, over, in front of etc.)

Ø  Encourage and model how to ask questions (what, when, where, why, how, who)

Ø  Listening to a simple story

Ø  Retelling a simple story (with a beginning, middle and end)

Ø  Simple sentences (expand on words said, if the child says “flower” say “Yes, that is a pretty yellow flower.”)

Number Concepts

Ø  Count by ones from 1-10, 10-20 etc.

Ø  Understand common descriptive terms (big, bigger, small, smaller, little, most, a few)

Ø  Concept of ‘half’

Ø  One-to-one correspondence

Library

Dear Parents,

Today K2 visited the library for the very first time. Each child signed out a library book that they will be bringing home to share with you. Please take time to read the book with your child and return the book for our next library visit, which will be next Monday. Our library time will fall on a Monday until the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Reading,
Ms. Sharman and Ms. Bennett

Welcome To Kindergarten!

A Poem About Our Classroom: 'Just Playing ~ By Anita Wadley

When I’m building in the block room,
Please don’t say I’m JUST Playing.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play;
about balance and shapes.
Who knows, I maybe an architect someday.

When I’m getting all dressed up,
Setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don’t get the idea I’m JUST playing.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint,
Or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay,
Please don’t let me hear you say “she’s JUST playing.”
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m expressing myself and being creative.
I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me “Reading” to an imaginary audience,
Please don’t laugh and think I’m JUST playing.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs,
Or packing my pockets with choice things I find,
don’t pass it off as JUST play.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle,
or some plaything at my school,
Please don’t feel the time is wasted in play.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to solve problems and concentrate.
I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods,
Please don’t think that because I enjoy it,
it is JUST play.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to follow directions and see differences.
I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run,
and move my body,
Please don’t say I’m JUST playing.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning how my body works.
I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I did at school today,
And I say, “I JUST Played”,
Please don’t misunderstand me.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to enjoy and be successful in work.
I’m preparing for tomorrow.

Today, I’m a child and my work is play.