Terry Fox Run
 

On Thursday, September 28th, we will be participating in the Terry Fox Run. 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

Book A Day Program

Dear Parents,

Today your Senior Kindergarten child was sent home with a book bag. We will be sending their book bag home daily so that your child will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills every evening. Please listen to them read, offering guidance and assistance when necessary. Remember to be patient and encouraging.

When your child has finished reading, discuss the story together. This will reinforce what they have read and improve comprehension skills. Date and sign the reading log and make sure your child returns both the book and reading log to school the next day in order to receive a new book.

The more your child reads, the more confident they will become while developing a life-long love of reading.

Thank you for your cooperation in our program.
Ms. Sharman and Ms. Bennett

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!

Dear Parents,

 

Thank you for making Curriculum Night such a success. 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. If you haven't done so already, please send in indoor shoes and extra clothing for your child. Please remember to check your child's backpack daily and to check our blog weekly. Also, please register for School Cash Online at www.schoolcashonline.com. On-line payment will be the only method of  payment for field trips and pizza lunches.

Have a great weekend!

 

Scholastic Book Club
 

Today we sent home a Scholastic book order form with your child. If you would like to order any of the items, please fill out the order form and remember to follow the Ontario (ON) pricing. There are two ways to make your payment, either online with your credit card (see order form for details) or by cheque. If paying by cheque, please make cheques payable to Scholastic Canada and attach the cheque to the order form. We kindly ask that you return the form and payment by September 29th.

 

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 we 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!!

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.

September 2017

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

Welcome to all returning children and to those of you who are new to Clairlea! My name is Cindy Sharman and I am very excited to be your child’s Kindergarten teacher. This year I have the privilege of sharing the role of teaching your child alongside Denise Bennett, a certified Early Childhood Educator.

 In this letter you will find important information regarding our classroom routines. Please check your child’s backpack each day and read all notices sent home so that you and your child do not miss important information and dates. Any information the office would like to convey is sent home in this fashion. As much as possible, we like to avoid sending paper home and more often post important information on the classroom blog: http://clairleakindies.blogspot.com, so please check it on a regular basis.

 School begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. Children need to bring a backpack to school each day as well as healthy snacks for snack time in both the morning and afternoon in addition to their lunch. Please try to make it as clear as possible what should be for snack and what is for lunch.

 Lunch time is 11:30 a.m.—12:25 p.m. All students are expected to go home for lunch unless their parents are working or attending school full time. However, if this is not possible, a supervised lunch program is run in each kindergarten classroom. Students who stay are expected to bring their lunch. Please note, all drinks, cutlery and straws must come from home and will not be provided by the school. If you have questions or concerns about your child staying for lunch, please speak directly with one of us. 

 Healthy options only please! The Full-Day Kindergarten program strongly emphasizes the importance of healthy living and healthy eating and as such we like to use snack and lunch as an opportunity to discuss what is good for us and what is not. We would also strongly encourage you to send a litterless snack (we are an eco-school and try to produce as little garbage as possible) by using a lunch-bag or other container clearly marked on the outside with your child’s name so we don’t have any mix-ups. Water is strongly encouraged as most others encourage ants if spilled.

Some great ideas for snacks are: (Please keep in mind Clairlea is a nut free environment so please do not send any food with peanut butter or that may contain nuts)

       Apples- cut or whole     

       Orange- preferably peeled

       Banana

       Grapes

       Berries

       Melon

       Carrots and celery sticks

       Snow peas

       Cherry tomatoes

       Broccoli

       Cucumber

       Cheese and crackers

       Granola or Nutrigrain bars

       Yogurt

       Applesauce

Please make sure to send your child with a water bottle as there is no water fountain in our classroom and kids tend to get thirsty throughout the day.

 Our classroom is a busy place where children are encouraged to get fully involved in their activities. Please send a full set of extra clothes in a labeled plastic bag to be kept at school in your child’s cubby. Rubber soled shoes, are required for gym and outdoor activities. A pair of running shoes should be left at school this year. Please choose slip on or Velcro closures so that your child can put on and remove his or her shoes independently. Please do not send shoes with laces. Please write your child’s name on their shoes in a place that is clearly visible. Many children will have the same shoes as your child and this will help to know which shoes belong to which child. It is important to label all clothing, especially boots, shoes, outdoor coats, sweaters, hats, mittens and scarves with your child’s name.

 Our classroom is full of wonderful opportunities to keep your child busy. Although we encourage children to share, we ask that toys and treasures from home are not brought to school. They are frequently misplaced, damaged, or a distraction which causes upsets. If something is needed for a special day, an invitation to contribute will be extended to all of the children in the class.

 It is our goal for the children to LOVE school and have fun. In order to do this, we strive to provide a positive learning environment that is safe for your child. An expectation of your child in the Kindergarten program is that she or he grows to be independent. To encourage this, you are asked to say goodbye at the Kindergarten gate and have your child enter the gated area by him/herself. In addition, to ensure the safety of your child, please wait outside the Kindergarten playground until your child is dismissed by a teacher on duty. If you need to speak to one of us, please wait until the entire class has been dismissed. Students will not be released to anyone but the approved caregiver unless the school has been notified in writing or in person.

As we will be establishing routines in our classroom, it would benefit your child to establish these positive routines and practices at home:

       Early and consistent bedtimes

       Read to and with your child often

       Nutritious eating habits

       Independence to dress and to help with simple household chores

       Use good manners (especially pleases and thank yous)

       Respect for oneself, others and things

       Spend time talking with your child and play games (alphabet, word, number games, puzzles etc.)

Don’t forget! You are your child’s first and foremost teacher!

Thank you for your support. Please feel free to contact us at 416-396-6165 or cynthia.sharman@tdsb.on.ca  if you have any questions. We look forward to getting to know you and your child.

Sincerely,
Ms. Sharman and Ms. Bennett
Junior/Senior Kindergarten Teacher and Early Childhood Educator, Room K2