Ray’s Ramblings
September 25, 2008
Dear Parents,
Lots of important things coming up at the Village! Read carefully!
Picture Day will be Friday, October 3. We are scheduled to have our pictures made at 10:30 and at 2:30. Remember, pictures are to be prepaid. If you have not sent in your payment and need another picture order envelope, please let me know and I’ll send another home.
IMMUNIZATION DEADLINE: The date for turning in immunization records has passed. I have a number of students who have not turned in a current immunization form. These names have been given to me by the office. You will be receiving notices very shortly (if not with this letter). Your child will not be able to return to school without a current immunization form. If you know you are one of these students, please make an appointment with your physician as soon as possible.
LIBRARY BOOKS: The computer in the library was down yesterday, therefore, we are unable to send library books home this week. We are keeping them in the classroom since we have no records of check-out. Next week we should be up and running as normal.
FIRE SAFETY: This week, the specials teachers have had lots of exciting activities surrounding fire safety. Next week, we will follow this up in the classroom.
HANDWRITING: Please continue to work on the letters we have been practicing in class. We have covered:
• the “c” family: c, o, a, d, g, q
• the “down” family: l, i, j, t, f
• the “slant” family: v, w, x, y, k
• the “bounce” or “trampoline” letters: r, n, m, h, p, b
Next week, we will spend time reviewing these letters. As you practice them at home, remember to have your child say the name of the letter as they write. Letters ALWAYS start at the top and come down.
I have had questions about how we are learning all letters at one time, yet the homework packet is taking the letters in order. Please use these letters as a chance to practice the handwriting. Remember, I did not design this packet. It is the best overall packet for ‘across the board’ practice at multiple academic levels. You are always free to do activities NOT in the homework packet. Additional practice in handwriting or kidwriting practice would be great!
VOCABULARY WORDS and ABCs: I gave everyone a copy of the popcorn words. I am sending ABC flash cards home today. As your child brings home the little independent reading books, find the vocabulary words that are found in that particular book. Work with them on these words. Get two paper lunch bags. Label one: “Words I know” and the other one “Words I need to Know”. As you work on the words, put them in the “I know” bag. The next night, add the words from the next book. Review the words from the night before. If they remember them, keep them in the “I know” bag. Continue this through the year and they will quickly build a sight word vocabulary! (Do the same with letters!) I have checked all children on capital and lowercase letter recognition. I am very pleased that almost half of the class already knows all the letters! If your child does not know the letters, please be working on these nightly. We will be targeting letter sounds and letter sound assessment next week.
FIELD TRIP TO PUMPKIN PATCH: Thank you for all the quick responses with the permission slips and payment. Remember, if you are willing to pay for a child who is unable to pay, please note that on the permission slip or send a note (if you’ve already sent the slip in.) Any adults planning to accompany the class on the trip MUST be registered as a volunteer in the Family Resource Center.
Be reading upcoming school newsletters for upcoming activities in October. We have a Book Fair coming soon, as well as one of our most popular Family Fun Nights of the year – the Hoedown!!!
Thank you to all my WONDERFUL volunteers! I depend on you to help with the independent book check-out. I am fortunate enough to have enough volunteers so that we can check out books every night of the week. As far as I know, I am the only classroom at the Village who is able to do this! Your children will benefit greatly from this program!!
