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

Oct 15

Friday, October, 15, 2010

            

The Pre-K class has been busy this week with apples, leaves and Halloween activities.  We have now finished our apple unit and have started our leaves and Halloween theme.  During the week of October 25^th the Kindergarten class will be having a Halloween party.  Details will follow shortly but now is a good time to start making or go out and start looking for a Halloween costume for your children.  Homework is going really well and the students are very eager to tell me how they love completing it.  Also Treasure Bag has been a big success and its something that we all look forward to during the day.

Reading Tips

What tips can I use to help my child learn to read?

Tip 1 –  Talk to Your Child

Oral language is the foundation for reading. Listening and speaking are a child's first introduction to language. Talking and singing teach your child the sounds of language, making it easier for him or her to learn how to read.

Here are some things you can do to help your child build an appreciation for words and language:

·         Tell family stories about yourself, your child's grandparents, and other relatives.

·         Talk to your child as much as possible about things you are doing and thinking.

·         Ask your child lots of questions.

·         Encourage your child to tell you what he or she thinks or feels.

·         Ask your child to tell you about his or her day – about activities and games played.

·         Be patient! Give your child time to find the words he or she wants to use.

·         Sing songs, such as the alphabet song, and recite nursery rhymes, encouraging your child to join in.

·         Play rhyming and riddle games.

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. There will be a Halloween party the week of the 25^th.
4. On Monday I will send home some pattern sheets; please review and this can stay at home.

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. Sequencing, seeds to apple trees.

Math Centres

1. 1-10 ordering with objects.
2. Making pattern necklaces with string and paper.
3. Sorting pasta by shape, size and numbers.
4. Making pattern necklaces.

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

Learn from the masses, and then teach them. 
Mao Tse-Tung 

Kristopher's Birthday Party

Oct 7 with Pictures

Friday, October, 8 2010

            

          Another exciting week in the Pre-K class has passed.  Last Friday we had a great time making our apple crisp and it was fun to see the students in the class that have a sweet tooth!  This week we did more activities with apples.  We used apples and carrots to decorate a big apple for our classroom and we also learned and labeled the inside and outside of an apple. 

I hope the homework is going is going smoothly.  Just a reminder that you can keep the homework package during the week and it only has to be returned by Friday.  Also library books only have to be returned by Wednesday.  Children at this age love re-reading books over and over again.  The repetition helps with comprehension and overall enjoyment of the book.  I could read some books every day for the entire year and the students will never get tired of them. 

Starting this Monday we will be starting Treasure Bag.  Treasure bag is a version of show and tell.  Every night the treasure bag will go home with a student and they will have a chance to bring something special to them to school the next day.  Instructions will be enclosed in the bag and they are in English and Chinese. 

Reading Tips

How can I help my child?

As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. When you help your child learn to read, you are opening the door to a world of books and learning.

Reading aloud to children is the best way to get them interested in reading. Before long they will grow to love stories and books. Eventually they will want to read on their own.

With the help of parents, children can learn how to read and can practice reading until they can read for their own enjoyment. Then they will have a whole world of information and knowledge at their fingertips!

Reading can be a family activity. Spending time with word games, stories, and books will help your child to:

·         gather information and learn about the world

·         learn how stories and books work – that they have beginnings, endings, characters,     and themes

·         build a rich vocabulary by reading and talking about new words

·         learn how to listen and how to think

·         learn the sounds of language and language patterns

·         fall in love with books

It's natural to want to compare your child's reading abilities with those of other children of the same age, but not all children develop reading skills at the same pace. What's important is that you are aware of your child's reading level so that you can choose books and activities that will help him or her improve.

Reminders and Notices

1. Library books need to be returned to school by Wednesday.
2. Keep brining in those white t-shirts for our fall leaves project.
3. “Aa, Bb” books also need to be brought back to school.
4. There is no school this Monday October 11^th as it is a professional development day for teachers.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.  Guided reading with our letter books.
2. Play dough recreating scenes from the story “10 Apples Up On Top”.
3. Computer story “Tooth Fairy Witch.”
4. A-Z floor puzzle

Math Centres

1. Finishing Math apple books.
2. Making patterns using toys in the classroom.
3. Sorting pasta by shape and size.
4. Making pattern necklaces.

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

We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. 
B. F. Skinner 

Oct 1st Pictures, Apples Apples Apples!