The Weather Outside May Be Frightful But We Will Be Warm Inside With Our P.J.'s On!

Wednesday, December 22nd is P.J. Day in Kindergarten. Please be sure that your child wears their p.j.'s over top of their clothes and wears appropriate shoes to participate safely in P.E. 

Holiday Centers

Showing Team Spirit!

Go Team!

Calling All Mystery Readers!

We have the following dates avilable for Mystery Reader:
Morning Class: February 2nd from 10:30-10:50.

Afternoon Class: February 2nd,16th, and 23rd from 1:20-1:40

If you are interested in reading to our kindergarten friends please E-mail me the dates.  This is first come first serve.  I will contact you with a schedule as soon as possible.

Thank you for making learning fun!

Show Your Team Spirit!

This Friday, December 17th please wear a t-shirt or jersey from a team that your were on or you can wear a t-shirt or jersey of your favorite team.

What did we learn today?

 Today we worked on learning to write the letter Hh the school way.  We practiced pulling down our letters and staying on the lines. I also read a great book to the students called I Love My Hair.  We practiced Think, Pair, Share about things we love about ourselves.  Tomorrow we will be writing in a four square format all about what we love about ourselves.

Timelines Tomorrow!

Parents,
If you have not already sent in your child's baby picture please make sure that you send it in by tomorrow (Friday, December 10th).
Thank you!

Celebrating Kwanza In Rainbow Valley!

We are so lucky to have so many wonderful volunteers that help us to enjoy learning about Kwanza. Ask your child about what he or she has learned.

Happy Holidays from your friends in Rainbow Valley!

Music Time With Mrs. Gordon

Our kindergarten friends were singing many holiday songs and dancing along to those songs.

Introducing EM Games

Your child came home last week with their EM game log on information and password.
Please be sure that homework time includes playing the many math games. If your child is successful in the Early Childhood section please allow them to move on to the other levels.  
Currently in math we are learning about patterning, counting and identifying teen numbers, counting backwards, comparing teen numbers (Number Top-it is great for this), exchanging coins, finding objects that have symmetry.  

Children Helping Children

Toys For Tots Drive From December 6th-10th.  Please send in a new, unwrapped toy for a child. 
No swords or weapon like toys.
This is a great cause.  Please donate. :)

SCHEDULE

Our class specialist schedule is as follows:


Monday's : Guidance -8:10-8:40 and 12:30-1:00


Tuesday's: Computer Lab-8:15-8:50 and 12:45-1:25


Wednesday's: Music- 8:10-8:40, 12:30-1:00, P.E.- 9:50-10:25, 12:00-12:30, Mystery Reader: 10:30-10:50, 1:20-1:40


Thursday's:Gifted -8:10-8:40, 12:30-1:00


Friday's: Library-8:10-8:40, 12:30-1:00

The Book Fair is Coming!

Parents: 
Please bring your child to a great family event on Saturday, December 11th from 8:30-11:30AM.
If you can not make that event you can join your child on December 6th and 7th from 10:30-10:45 (am class) and for the pm class 11:15-11:30 and shop with them at the book fair.  
Please note that the book fair is open each day, however we will not be using our instructional time to go to the book fair.  We have set aside these times for you to shop with your child.  

When: December 6th and 7th
AM CLASS: 10:30-10:45
PM CLASS: 11:15-11:30

Globally Aware Learners and Citizens

Today we enjoyed learning all about Hanukkah in the morning and afternoon class. We really enjoyed  having Durant's Mom, Emilie's Mom, our very own PTA President, and former Rainbow Valley Room Mom, Laura Kanter.

Book Fair

Parents:
Please bring your child to a great family event on Saturday, December 11th from 8:30-11:30AM.
If you can not make that event you can join your child on December 6th and 7th from 10:30-10:45 (am class) and for the pm class 11:15-11:30 and shop with them at the book fair. 
Please note that the book fair is open each day, however we will not be using our instructional time to go to the book fair.  We have set aside these times for you to shop with your child. 

When: December 6th and 7th
AM CLASS: 10:30-10:45
PM CLASS: 11:15-11:30

Word Masters

Congratulations to all of our kindergarten friends who have learned their sight words and become word masters. If you don't know about Word Masters ask your child. 
The children are enjoying posting their name on the Word Master Wall for all to see. 
Please remember to have your child practice his or her sight words as often as possible.  I will be assessing the second set of sight words after the holiday break. 

December Newsletter

Our Thanksgiving Feast

Our Kindergarten Friends enjoyed feasting on the foods that they made.
We shared what we were thankful for before we enjoyed our meal. I am thankful for having such kind students in my class.  It is truly an honor to be their teacher.

Creating a Thanksgiving Feast

The students in Rainbow Valley enjoyed creating a Thanksgiving Feast.

They made sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and corn bread.
One of our volunteers even made a turkey!

We are so thankful

Our First Thanksgiving

The students are enjoying learning about the first Thanksgiving.

This week we will take a virtual field trip to Plimoth Plantation. 
First, the students will embark on a voyage across the sea on the Mayflower.  Here they will learn about the challenges the pilgrims faced.  Once they reach land they will be introduced to the Indian people and will learn how they worked together to survive and celebrate the First Thanksgiving.  

Report Cards

Report Cards went home to each family on Friday.
Please sign and return your child's report card envelope. You may keep the report card and all other paper work that was included in the envelope. 

Twin Day!

Many of our kindergarten friends enjoyed dressing up for twin day. Mrs. Chiaverotti and Mrs. Stinard dress alike by wearing their favorite MLB team jerseys GO YANKEES!  (Ok so maybe not this year... ;)

Celebrating Geography Week

Many of our kindergarten friends enjoyed celebrating special places that they have visited by wearing t-shirts and sweat shirts with place names on them.

What we have learned about trees..

Today in the computer lab the children showed us what they learned about trees.
over the last few weeks the children have learned about what trees need in order to grow and the many parts of a tree.

Happy World Geography Week!

In honor of Geography Week, we are asking students and staff to wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt with the name of a place on earth on Wednesday, Nov. 17th. This is a whole school event!

New Word Study

New word sorts are going home today.  Please help your child complete his or her homework.

Special Days

Parents:
In celebration on Geography Awareness Week please have your child wear a name or place t-shirt or sweatshirt on Wednesday, Nov. 17^th




On Friday November 19th-Dress up with a friend or group of friends in the same outfits, it's TWIN DAY!

Parenting Seminar

Check out this opportunity~

Thank You Veterans

Rainbow Valley learned all about Veteran's Day

Silent Auction

Please send in your contibution for the Silent Auction basket no later than Nov. 19th. 
Thank you!

NO WORD STUDY THIS WEEK

Due to the short week there will not be any word study.
Please ignore the homework sheet.  
Please work with your child on the math homework.  (The small half book.)

Q is For Duck?

Q is for Duck... Why?  Because they quack.  
Mrs. Law introduced the students to a creative thinking lesson where the students share their favorite thing.  This could be a favorite thing to eat, something they like to wear, something they enjoying doing, a special person etc..
Then they had to think of a letter that went with their favorite thing. The only rule was that the letter could not begin with the same letter as their favorite thing.  Then, they had to tell why.
Here is an example from one of our kindergarten friends: J is for candy corns.  Why??? Because I like junk food.  

Learning Time In Library

The children have been visiting the library each week for wonderful library lessons with Mrs. Hardesty.
Today they learned about a book series written by Cynthia Rylant.  We love learning about different authors!

Followers,posting comments, pinged! OH MY!

Many parents have asked how do I become a follower, post comments, and how do I get "pinged" when you update the  blog?
Great questions...Here is a quick answer from one of our Rainbow Valley parents.

You just have to use a google or other account as a follower – very easy, anyone can get their free Goggle acct and use it. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Parents Help

Wow!  I had some of the most amazing conferences today.  Thank you to all of the parents who came to meet with me.  I look forward to meeting with more of you over the next few weeks.
Today many parents shared great ideas and "tips" that they use when working with their children at home.  I thought it would be great to share some of those ideas with everyone.  :)
Practicing sight words: Place all of the sight word cards in a bag.  Have your child draw a card form the bag.  When reading a story tally on the back of the card the number of times your child recognizes that word while reading onto the back of the card.  This way you can keep a "running record" if you will of the number of times your child practices each word.

Time, time, time...many parents shared how they set a timer when their child is working.  Start off by saying, "I am going to set the timer for 10min.  at the end of 10min. I expect you to have _________done. If you finish your work you may....."(some sort of reward it earned).

My child doesn't follow directions. I have to say things over and over again.
Helpful tip...Give a direction, say why do you think I am asking you to go and put on your coat and shoes?  Wait for a response and  say, tell me what I just asked you to do... (Hopefully you receive the response you were looking for.) Now, please go and do it.

Please feel free to comment on our blog and share what is working in your home.  :)  You can also E-mail me as well.  :)

We are only as strong as one another. :)

Calling All Parents!

PARENTS!! PARENTS!! PARENTS!!

SMART DISCIPLINE

PROGRAM for PARENTS

Coming to JOHN B. DEY

Do you want to learn effective ways to help your children behave at home and at school? You are invited to attend this nationally acclaimed workshop which will provide you with ways to get your kids to listen the first time, cooperate with others, and build self-esteem in all of them. The program is presented by Burt Segal and it is known as America’s most well-attended seminar!!

WHO: Parents interested in gaining insight and tips to maintain a happy, healthy, respectful family

WHAT: The most popular parenting program in America~~

SMART DISCIPLINE PROGRAM for PARENTS

WHEN: Thursday, November 18, 2010

6:30pm-8pm

WHERE: John B. Dey Elementary School

Cafeteria

We will provide child care with games and activities for school-aged children during the presentation. Please mark your calendar, and plan to attend this fabulous workshop brought to you by our JBD guidance department. An RSVP opportunity will be coming soon!! We hope to see you there!

News Letter

November and December Reading

Beginning November 1st all kindergarten classes will be participating in this wonderful reading program.

Our Five Senses Science Lab

Great Website

I can across a fun site about matter.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/sorting_using_mate.shtml

State Of The Schools Address

VBCPS  Superintendent Dr. James G. Merrill delivered a "State of the Schools" presentation. Check out his message at http://www.vbschools.com under"Headline News". I know many website viewers do not live in Hampton Roads, Virginia, or even the East Coast. His message is a great way to learn about our school system.

Trees, trees, and more trees.

Our science, math, and language arts intergrated unit on trees is underway.
Please review the following vocabulary words with your child:
leaves, branch, root, trunk, bark, fall, shape, size, taller, shorter.
For all of the children who are Word Masters (Those children who have learned all of their blue sightword flash cards are to be practicing these words as enrichment.)

Ask your child to tell you the parts of a tree and what a tree needs in order to stay alive.

More Fall Fun...

Counting our scary spiders!

Will it sink or float?



Using our sense of taste!




Graphing our ghostly flips!




Making predictions