A movie Mrs. Vicky made of the Pre-K's and Kindergarten's (the music is Mrs. Vicky playing the piano!!)

November 23

Hello

As I am sure all of you are aware the Pre-K class will be closed until further notice.  Therefore, our American Thanksgiving party will be postponed until next Thursday December 2nd.  If you have questions or concerns you can contact myself or the office.

Take care

Braedon

November 19

Friday, November 19, 2010

            

Time just keeps flying by and soon we will be getting ready for our Christmas break.  We have been busying this week making porridge and acting out Goldilocks and Three Bears.  The students have really enjoyed the nursery rhyme unit so far.  

I have completed my second reading observations and I am so happy with all of the progress that the students have made with regards to literacy.  Keep reading as much as you can to your child and as I said during the parent teacher meetings, it doesn’t matter if you are reading English or Chines; reading is reading.  I prefer English of course but reading in Chinese will transfer over to English.  Also, when reading with your child, try to get them to help you read by saying the sight words they already know.  They love helping and showing how they can read as well. 

            

This week I sent home Ii and Jj books.  I didn’t have time for the students to color them so if you have time at home could you help them complete the coloring.  I also sent home the word rings.  Could you please quiz your child on the sight words and praise them on already knowing so many words.  These word rings took a lot of time to make so try to be kind to them and could you bring them back to school early next week.

Reading Tips

Tip 5 –  Talk About Books

Talking about the books you read is just as important as reading them. Discussing a story or a book with your child helps your child understand it and connect it to his or her own experience of life. It also helps enrich your child's vocabulary with new words and phrases.

Here are some ways to help your child acquire skills in comprehension, reasoning, and critical thinking:

·         Ask your child about the kinds of books he or she would like to read.

·         Talk to your child about your favourite books from childhood, and offer to read them.

·         Encourage your child to ask questions and to comment on the story and pictures in a book – before, during, and after reading it.

·         Look at the cover and the title of a book with your child, and ask your child what he or she thinks might happen in the story.

·         Encourage your child to think critically about the story. Does he or she agree or disagree with the author? Why?

·         Think out loud about the story as you read, and encourage your child to do the same. For example, ask, "Does this make sense? Why or why not?"

·         Give your child time to think about the story, and then ask him or her about it again a few days later.

Reminders and Notices

1. “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.
2. There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November 25 at 11:30 and parents are welcome to join us.
3. Beauty and Beast performance will be December 10^th at 7:00 (more details will follow)
4. Word rings need to be brought back to school early next week.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Cut and Paste sight words game.
2. Pocket chart poems.
3. Computer story “The Paper Bag Princess.”
4. Making sight words using Lego.

Math Centres

1. Little Red Riding Hood board game.
2. Gingerbread Man matching.
3. Gingerbread Man game.
4. Puzzles and dominos.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. 

Chinese Proverb

November 12

Friday, November 12, 2010

I just want to thank the parents that came in this week to meet with Vicky and me. It was great to sit down and discuss all of the progress that your children have accomplished thus far in the school year. If you couldn’t make it this week or you want to meet again I can always find time to have a meeting.

This week we have begun to speak only English when sitting on the carpet. This is the first step in our goal to only speak English when inside the classroom. Could you please go over this rule with your son or daughter and stress the importance of it to them.

I have started word rings in the class. They are all of the sight words that the students learn put onto a ring. Since we learn one or two new words every week the word ring will grow and grow. On occasion these word rings will go home and could you please quiz your child on the words. High frequency words are essential to know and use in both reading and writing. When children have a number of high frequency words under control they can read them in text and then focus their attention on solving new words. The same occurs in writing.
Also this week we have begun practicing for our Christmas performance. The entire elementary school is performing Beauty and the Beast. The Pre-Ks will be involved in one song and dance. More information will follow regarding to times and costume but it’s very exciting for our class to be in something that the entire school will be performing.

Reading Tips
Tip 4 – Set an Example
As a parent, you are your child's most important role model. If your child sees you reading, especially for pleasure or information, he or she will understand that reading is a worthwhile activity.
You can also share many daily reading activities with your child. Here are some ideas:
• Read recipes, food labels, schedules, maps, instructions, and brochures.
• Read traffic signs and signs in stores and restaurants.
• Look up information in cookbooks, manuals, phone books, atlases, and dictionaries.
• Read greeting cards, letters, and e-mail messages to and from relatives and friends.

Reminders and Notices
1. “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.
2. Any art activities or paper put in the plastic folder can be kept at home.
3. There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November 25 at 11:30 and parents are welcome to join us.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres
1. Cut and Paste sight words game.
2. Pocket chart poems.
3. Computer story “The Paper Bag Princess.”
4. Making the alphabet using the big blocks.

Math Centres
1. Math text activity books.
2. Math sequencing cut and order sheets.
3. Creating towers and drawing them.
4. Puzzles and dominos free play.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers
Braedon

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.

Willa Cather

November 5

Friday, October, 22, 2010

Thanks to all the parents that came out for our Halloween party last Thursday. It was great to see everyone dressed up and in the Halloween spirit. After the parade and singing the students participated in many different activities put on by the teachers in the school. It was a wonderful day for everyone in the school!

Time just keeps passing and we are now already into November. This month our unit is nursery rhymes and we will be covering Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs and the Gingerbread Man. In Math we are studying sequencing, one to one correspondence and representing whole numbers to 10.

We have also grown in the Pre-K class and our newest student is Jerrick. Please welcome him and his parents into the Pre-K family.

This month I have started to implement English inside the classroom. We are going to start very slowly and gradually build up our stamina. Could you please talk to your son our daughter about speaking English when inside the classroom. At lunch and recess or anytime outside the classroom I will allow them to speak their native languages. This is a very important step in learning English and it will benefit the students immensely.

Reading Tips
Read Every Day
Children love routine, and reading is something that you and your child can look forward to every day. By taking the time to read with your child, you show him or her that reading is important and fun for you too.
Try to read with your child as often as possible. It's the best thing you can do to help him or her learn at school! It also allows you to spend time together in an enjoyable way and to build a strong and healthy relationship.
• Start reading with your child when he or she is very young.
• Set aside a special time each day when you can give your full attention to reading with your child.
• Choose a comfortable spot to read, where you can be close to your child. Make it your "reading place"! Set aside a special shelf in that area for your child's books.
• Choose a variety of books.
• Vary the length of reading time according to your child's age and interests. For young children, several short sessions (of 10 minutes each) may be better than one long session (of 30 minutes).
• Read slowly so that your child can form a mental picture of what is happening in the story.
• Praise your child for his or her ideas and participation!
• When you and your child are away from home, take along books, magazines, and books-on-tape for your child to read and listen to.
• Keep reading to your child even after he or she has learned to read. By reading stories that will interest your child but that are above his or her reading level, you can stretch your child's understanding and keep alive the magic of shared reading.

Reminders and Notices
1. “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.
2. Any art activities or paper put in the plastic folder can be kept at home.
3. There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November at 11:30 and parents are welcome to join us.

What we did in our centres this week.
Literacy Centres
1. Cut and Paste sight words game.
2. Putting our poems in the pocket chart.
3. Computer story “The Paper Bag Princess.”
4. Making the alphabet using blocks.
Math Centres
1. Math text activity books.
2. Math sequencing cut and order sheets.
3. Creating towers and drawing them.
4. Puzzles and dominos.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers
Braedon

I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.
Eartha Kitt

Make a digital scrapbook

October 22

Friday, October, 22, 2010

            

              It’s almost Halloween and we have been getting ready in the Pre-K class.  We have made scary skeletons, ghost necklaces and a few Halloween banners.  We also made our leaf print t-shirts.  They turned out really well and I can’t wait to see the students wear them.  Next Wednesday the 27^th will be our Halloween party.  From 9:00-9:30 you are welcome to come by watch the festivities. We will be singing some songs and having a short parade.  So if you have some time come by and enjoy the party with us! 

            

             Just to clarify some things - if I send home an art project, math sheet or anything else it can stay at home.  Only the letter books (Aa, Bb, Cc etc) need to be returned.  Also the homework can stay at home until Friday.  So if you see some paper in the clear folders your child takes come daily then you can take keep it.  You could always ask your child about it or get them to explain it to you.  This is always a good chance for them to share what they did in class with you. 

Reading Tips

Make Reading Fun

Reading aloud can be a lot of fun, not just for parents but for all family members. Here are some ways to get the most out of reading to your young child:

·         Read with drama and excitement! Use different voices for different characters in the story. Use your child's name instead of a character's name. Make puppets and use them to act out a story.

·         Re-read your child's favourite stories as many times as your child wants to hear them, and choose books and authors that your child enjoys.

·         Read stories that have repetitive parts and encourage your child to join in.

·         Point to words as you read them. This will help your child make a connection between the words he or she hears you say and the words on the page.

·         Read all kinds of material – stories, poems, information books, magazine and newspaper articles, and comics.

·         Encourage relatives and friends to give your child books as gifts.

·         Take your child to the library and look at interactive CD-ROMs and the Internet, as well as books.

·         Subscribe to a magazine for your child. He or she will love receiving mail!

·         Read books in your native language, it doest always have to be in English. 

           The more you enjoy the reading experience, the more your child will enjoy it!!!!

Reminders and Notices

1. Library books need to be returned to school by Wednesday.
2.  “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.
3. Any art activities or paper put in the plastic folder can be kept at home.
4. There will be a Halloween party the Wednesday October 27^th and parents are welcome between 9:00 and 9:30am.
5. There will be no school October 28^th, 29^th and November 1^st.
6. Report cards go home Wednesday October 27^th.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Guided reading with our letter books.
2.  Halloween activity books.
3. Computer story “Tooth Fairy Witch.”
4. 5 Little Pumpkins poem, fill in the blanks.

Math Centres

1. 1-10 ordering with objects.
2. Computer pattern game.
3. Pattern books.
4. Dice and sand game.

As always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon

The most important thing about education is appetite.
~Winston Churchill