February 2, 2012                                                 

 

Dear Parents,

 

There are so many exciting things happening this month, here’s another upcoming activity we will have in our classroom.

 

Valentine’s Day is Tuesday,February 14, 2012.

 

On February 14, 2012 please send in21 (plus 3 for Mrs. Marchand, Mrs. Brodsky and Mrs. Moskowitz,if you wish)Valentine’s Day cards addressed AND signed by your child

 

Please write the names of each child in our class on the cards by the “to” and EVERY card is to have your child’s name in the “from”, WRITTEN BY YOUR CHILD!

 

We are making “mail bags” in the classroom for each child, and they will “deliver” their cards to each other on Valentine’s Day.

 

Please either attach a sweet treat to the cards or send in some Valentine’s Day treats for them to drop in the mail bags too.

 

Please remember to have your child  wear a red  shirt OR a Valentine’s Day shirt and black bottoms that day.

 

 

Thanks again for your continued support,

 

Mr. I. Levine

 

We need some help! By Monday, we need paper towel tubes for 21 children ( the inside cardboard cylinder from a roll of paper toweling)

 

10 bags of “Hershey Kisses”

 

Large Ink Pads in colors

-pink

-purple

-red

-black

 

Double Sided tape

 

Valentine Food Decorations

-sprinkles pink/red/theme shaped

-food coloring

-white frosting

Decorating tubes of frosting

-assorted edible heart/love/ Valentine’s day decorations

 

 

If you can donate anything, PLEASE contact

Reyna Behar

@ (305) 439-8207

 

 

 

 

The 100^thDay of School is coming!

 

     We are planning a big celebration for this event.

 

     On Thursday, February 2, 2012, please plan to send in 100 items of one kind, Ziploc bagged in groups of 10. (Each child will bring in 10 bags containing 10 items in each bag to total 100.)

 

     A food item is great, 10 bags containing 10 small food items are fine ONLY wrapped food items, (NO unwrapped food item) or anything you can think of like: stickers, pencils, and erasers as well,

BE CREATIVE!!

     Your child will be exchanging their 100 items with other children in the classroom. They will pick 10 different bags, thus having 100 items in groups of 10.

 

   Almost 100 days of kindergarten have passed, and we are on our way to becoming first graders!

 

    A Hundred Thanks,

 

    Mr. Levine

I would like each child to bring in a pumpkin next week (NOT decorated or carved) so that we can create our own mini pumpkin patch.  Feel free to send in more than one if you’d like.  I would like different sizes, so I am leaving it up to you on what you pick out.  I know some parents will find the biggest and most uniuque ones they can carry in without a forklift. (Hint hint)

Some “Save the Date” and Reminders:

October 3-5^th

Bring in pumpkins for pumpkin patch

Sunday, October 16th at 10:00am

(Planting our Butterfly garden)

Monday, October 17th at 5:00 p.m. plant vegetable garden with your children

Monday, October 24^th at 9am

Students present their Bat Projects

Monday, October 31^st at 1:00pm

(Parent dress-up day with treats for all the kids, more info to follow)

 

 

Our First Research project is due

Monday, October 24, 2011.

   

Go Batty, over bats, and get ready to share bat information with the class.  I will also have our projects on display in the media center.

 

Here are some helpful things to keep in mind.

·       Your child will present facts to the class that they found on the web. They need to explain what they put on their display.

 

·        Pictures from web sites must be included

 

·       Help organize the information on a rigid poster board or display so it can be on display in our Media Center.  BE CREATIVE!

 

·       This project will be graded and recorded in several subject areas. 

 

·       This is their first time researching and presenting, please encourage, help, explain and rehearse at home. And most of all make it a fun family experience!

 

Find out more information about bats. You will investigate: (you MUST include at least 3 facts in your project)

Examples:

·       the different types of bats

·       how bat mothers care for their babies

·       echolocation

·       unique bat characteristics

·       why bats are important to the world

 

Please be sure to include facts that your child found interesting, so he or she will be motivated to talk about their project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some resources for you to explore, there are many, many, more! BE CREATIVE!

 

 

 

Bat World

http://www.batworld.org

 

Echo the Bat

http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/intro/story.html

 

http://www.bats4kids.org/

 

 

 

 

Links about Bats (for kids)

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/13-animals/12-bats.html

 

 

And the names are………..

Hence forth, the name of one of the fish (gold and silver/white one) will be:

Goldie     

This name was submitted by 7 different children.

The name of the other fish (the one with the black fins and tail) will be:

 Bubbles   

 

Thanks to all the children who submitted names.

This is not mandatory.

We have two new additions to our classroom that don't have names yet. If your child would like, they may submit a name for each fish. Both are fancy goldfish. One is black and gold and the other is gold with silver/white. The names can be nonspecific in gender representation, however if they are, make one appropriate for a "boy" fish and the other for a "girl" fish. Taken with my
I-phone, one fish is on the top and the other is on the bottom of this page. I'm not sure why it came out sideways.

If your child would like to participate, have them bring in the names tomorrow, Friday, September 2, 2011. Please make sure to have your child's name on the paper as well.

I don't believe in "one size fits all" in the task of educating the children in my classroom, however I do believe in differentiated instruction. After some informal assessments, I placed children today into 4 different reading groups. Not every child had the same reading homework. This is a starting point, and no child is locked into any group as I continually assess and move children to best meet their individual needs in reading instruction. In a few days we will begin some more formal assessments as per state mandates in both Kindergarten readiness and reading. (The reading instruments will assess vocabulary, listening comprehension, to include both explicit and implicit comprehension, as well as letter sound comprehension and phonemic abilities). I will use the results to pull skill groups to meet the needs of the various areas that necessitate small specific skill group instruction so each child works to their full potential, and is successful. I will also be administering the STAR reading comprehension test within the next two weeks, to ascertain further information regarding their reading comprehension, and with those results they will begin taking AR (Accelerator Reader) books from our Media Center and work on their individual reading levels.

I will let you know when "Ticket to Read" is online, so your child can practice their reading skills at home. This internet base program provides child with fun and engaging activities and practice using graphics and a coin/ticket reward to keep the children highly motivated.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please stop by, email for an appointment, or text.

I know together we can plant the seeds of success!

Mr. Levine