We have received a few donations to assist us to get the winter wonderland centre ready. If other families come across a few items over the holidays that would be wonderful. Ensuring your child's name is on all items will ensure you receive the items returned.

 

 

Also some time in the new year I want to create a new centre called the take apart centre. I have two or three clocks that no longer work and a CD player. I will provide the students with some screw drivers for them to take things apart in order to see what is inside and try to figure out how the items work. If you have any old things around the house that you no longer care about that we can take apart that would be great. Some items are: alarm clock, answering machine, cell phone, telephone to name a few.

 

 

I also want to take this opportunity to wish all the families a very Merry Christmas and all the very best in 2014. I will look forward to seeing everyone on January 6th. I probably will not be working on the blog until January 4th or 5th.

SANTA

 

There was true magic and the biggest surprise ever  in the Kindergarten room this morning and in every classroom at Meadowvale School. Santa arrived in the morning and it was a surprise to all the children, teachers, the secretary and even our Principal.

 

This was not just any SANTA, this was the real Santa from the north pole. He was asked by the children, "are you the real Santa or the store Santa". To which Santa allowed the children to touch his beard and his hair. The children were in totally amazed and excited beyond words.

 

Santa showed the children how he had his special book with him, the one that included his nice list and announced that all the kindergarten children's names were on his list so they would be getting a present from him.

 

Just in case there are those who are reading this blog and think to yourself the real Santa how can that be, he is too busy to come to school. Not this year and I have the proof a picture of the real Santa. So you be the judge is this the real Santa or the store Santa?

 



Reading

 

I love to read. I read biographies, fiction and sometimes non-fiction. My Mother gave me many gifts (non-material gifts) in my life. However, I believe the greatest gift she gave me was the gift of reading. Every year for Christmas and my birthday she made sure I had the gift of a new book. It would be wrapped in the most elegant paper and always included ribbons and a big bow. When I was young the book always came from Santa. My mom explained that she wanted me to know that Santa saw reading as important too. As she handed me the gift she explained this is one of the most important gifts you will ever receive. An author took his/her time and wrote this book especially for you the reader. As the reader you have some important jobs associated with this book Karen. First,  is to take care of it and treasure each page as you turn it. Second, find a character and place yourself in the shoes of the character. Third, open your mind and imagination and paint the pictures from the book like you are hired to be the illustrator.

 

My Mom read her whole life, whenever she had time to do so. She always read for at least a half an hour before bed and after she retired if she had no plans for the afternoon she read in the day time. Also, after she retired she volunteered at a Nursery School and went in twice a week to work with the children, but also to read to them. She wanted to pass on the gift of reading.

 

The reason I tell you about this part of my life is, to this day I love to read. I love to hold the book and turn the pages. I know the new age is a digital type of reader but that is not for me. This is why I have a teacher read aloud for the Kindergarten students every day, so I can pass on to them the joy and love of reading. My hope is that Santa will remember to bring each child a book for Christmas. So the children can learn first hand that books are wonderful gifts to receive! It is best to find out what your child is most interested in and then to purchase a book about what interests them! Then they will truly treasure the gift and the book. Happy book shopping! 

Winter Wonderland Dramatic Play Centre

 

At the end of next week I want to start to set up the winter wonderland. So at this time I am asking for donations of little stuffies that are Arctic animals or winter type animals, various snowmen, snowflakes and any other materials or suggestions that you can think of to make the centre more interesting.

 

The students love the dramatic play centre and it generates plenty of oral communication, role playing, sharing, and leadership skills. I always let the students determine what the next theme of the dramatic play centre will be and after three of four suggestions a vote is completed. The suggestion with the most votes becomes the winner. We did not have a winter wonderland last year. So suggestions to make it an effective centre would be welcomed! 

The Last Week of School 2013

It is very hard to believe we are near the end of the school year of 2013. Where has the time gone, flown by in a flash that is where. It is a short week next week and an exciting one for the Kindergarten students and parents. Monday is the Christmas concert where the Kindergarten students show their parents all the hard work they have done in order to prepare for the performance. It is also a very proud moment for me, because when the students sing the songs I actually got goose bumps. It is a very proud moment for me. One that sometimes brings a tear to my eye because of all the the hard work and dedication on the part of each student. Be sure to compliment your child on their performance.

 

 

The Jolly Phonic sound for next week is the l sound.

Some of the words are: let, lot, log, lap, leg, led, lid, lad, lip, lug, link, lock.

 

The By Heart words for this week are: like and my.

There are a few children are write letters to the elf or their parents and these two words are often needed.

 

The focus in the area of reading will be listening to stories related to Christmas.

 

 

 

Mathematics

 

The focus will continue to be measuring for the next four days and will also continue into part of January. Measurement encompasses measuring the length and width of items, capacity which is how much water or sand various containers can hold, and mass which is measuring various materials by weight. This is why measurement will take the majority of the month of January.  



January

 

I know January seems a long way off and parents are probably say, "January, let's get through Christmas before we talk about January. However, planning takes a long time, especially when I want to follow what the students want the Dramatic Play Centre to be. They have decided a Winter Wonderland, where they can make snowmen, mittens, gloves and other winter things. They also want to bring in their winter stuffies, such as polar bears, penquins, seals, and any others they can think of. Please remember to have your child's name on anything you let us borrow. If you can share some other ideas that would be wonderful.

 

 

Christmas Concert

 

Just a reminder the Christmas concert is on Monday, December 16th at 6:30 pm. There will be an afternoon performance at 1:40 and if as many of the morning students could attend the afternoon to assist with the voices that would be wonderful. The students have been doing a fabulous job. In fact many times their sweet and tender voices have given me goose bumps. I am so very proud of each and everyone of them. Hopefully they will perform for all the parents in the same manner as they practice. You will be blown away by their singing. It doesn't matter anyway because Kindergarten children are just so cute. If the students could wear some red or green or any Christmas clothing will be fine. 

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

 

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Kindergarten classroom, thanks to the hard work and dedication of many of the creative students. The classroom door is decorated like a cookie sheet with gingerbread boys and girls, good enough to eat!

 

The windows in the classroom include paper chains, wreaths, christmas trees, stockings, bells and glass stained creations. The wonderful creations will be sent home sometime next week for parents to enjoy.