Sharing: The Piglets will share this week. Please check the new topic: Toys on Parade on this website under the "More" tab.
As we enter the second semester we will have additional homework for the kindergarten students to help them prepare for First Grade. These additional homework packets will contain practice in language arts, math and fine motor skills. There will be directions included in each packet given on Mondays and due Fridays. I will review and correct these homework packets each week.
All students will complete the regular homework we have been doing since August and we will review this homework every Friday. Please make sure your child is completing their own homework to the best of their ability with only gentle parent guidance following the included checklist. It is important that the children develop independence, pride and good work habits in relation to their homework. Please make sure that all homework is kept in their folders and returned every Friday.
Dress for the Weather:
January is a cold and rainy month. Please have children dress in layers as the classroom is warm (hopefully) but it is cold outside. On rainy days please have children wear rain boots, rain coats and bring umbrellas. Include a change of shoes for the classroom as it is hard to sit "crisscross" on the carpet in wet rainboots. On rainy days we eat in the classroom. If you choose to have your child purchase lunch from the cafeteria, please be aware that they will have to walk up and get their lunch and then return to the classroom to eat.
New Curriculum:
As we enter the second semester we will add to our curriculum. In addition to our Handwriting Without Tears book, we will begin working in the Kick Start to Kindergarten book which includes smaller capital and lower case letter writing practice, smaller pictures to color for increased fine motor control and short sentences to read and write. We have completed our Numbers 1-10 books and will expand our math program with more problem solving activities, new worksheets, continuing to use our math journals, games and technology software.
We will begin to practice S.T.E.M. activities in science, expand our sentence writing, add easel painting and dramatic experiences with puppets and use our musical instruments.
Healthy Learners:
Starting the day with a protein rich, low-sugar breakfast helps children enter the classroom ready to learn. Healthy children have more school success and one important way you can help is to provide healthy (low-sugar) snacks and lunches including fruits (cut in portion sizes easy for children to eat), vegetables, and protein help children maintain learning energy for the second half of the day.
There has been a lot of research lately regarding the impact of sugar and this is of particular interest to me. I would like to share a few things I have read.
The Case Against Sugar
Sugar: Does It Really Make Kids Hyper?
How to Stop Sugar from Sneaking into your child's diet
American Heart Association
I am not an expert, but am always interested in learning more about staying healthy. I can absolutely see the change that happens to children in terms of energy and ability to focus when their snack contains sugar. I encourage you to read ingredients and stick to non-processed foods as much as possible. This is a great way to support your child's learning!

In math we will work in small groups playing games, utilize manipulatives and work in our math journals in addition to some new math problem-solving worksheets.
We will continue to support learning with parent volunteers and as much small group instruction as possible to differentiate learning for all of the children
Thank you all for everything you do to support Room K and I sincerely wish you a very Happy New Year!