Week 6: Friday, October 8-12, 2012

Chance says good-bye to one of our
Painted Butterflies.

Kinderbees

News
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS  

We had a very busy week with butterflies who emerged from their chrysalises on Monday,  Color days and the introduction of sounds and letters throughout the week, a field trip on Thursday and as I write this yet to come, Fire Prevention day and an ELF class on Friday.  

We draw the final stage in the
Butterfly Lifecycle.

On Monday our butterflies had hatched from our chrysalises and we set to work drawing and writing about the last stage in the Butterfly lifecycle in our science journal page.  Your children enjoyed observing and documenting the change. We sat on the circle rug and watched them flitter and flutter inside their screened in habitat.  We reviewed the process of metamorphosis and discussed how the the caterpillars wove their chrysalis then transformed into butterflies. To complete the cycle we talked about how they will lay their eggs on leaves which will hatch new caterpillars. 

This week we started a color study celebrating a different color every day. We are working our way up the rainbow starting with red and will finish on Monday with purple. Each day the children were asked to think about different things that are made up of each of these different colors.  They illustrated and created sentences using their imagination. Each color day now has its own book which will make its way home to you to read with your child. Remember to ask them to point out different things they notice and maybe frame a sight work such as A, is, or are.  

Along with Jolly Phonics which is a language arts  reading and writing program that I am familiar using, I will be using Fundations.  This week I introduced the letters t, b, and f. The sounds are /t/, /b/ and /f/. Parent letters are included in your child’s Friday folder which will explain more details. Because I am introducing the letters following the sequence of Fundations, please have your child do the corresponding pages in their The Jolly Phonics workbook.   The purple Sound Book and reference tips for parents are included in the zip lock bag.  These will go home with your child on a daily basis.  Please sit down with your child and have them practice their letter sounds (and letter names) daily.  As we build on these letter sounds (roughly 3 per week) it will be important for them to practice them so that as new ones are added, the previously introduced ones are not forgotten. 

Tanner takes a big bite!

Our field trip to Spring Brook Farm was a lot of fun. We arrived around noon and met our host, Mr. Rob who gave us a brief introduction to the farm.  We walked across the road and learned how to expertly pick ripe apples. He told us it is important to gently cup the apple and give it a twist.  It should easily come off the branch and into our waiting hands.  Each group was given a crate and we set to work picking the apples.  The children enjoyed crawling beneath the apple trees and picking from underneath its canopy.  We quickly filled our 7 crates (4 children to each chaperone).   Thank you to Stacey Wilber for being a parent chaperone! See Calendar for next week Apple Day: Thursday, 10/18. 

It was quite windy and cold, so we took toured the barn, meeting its many cows and several calves.  Left over apple cores from our snacking were gladly given to the cows who enjoyed the unexpected treats.   Spring Brook Farm is having an Open House this weekend from 10-5pm, so if your family is looking for something fun to do, stop by. It is off Rte. 106 in Reading between Reading and South Woodstock and worth the trip! 

Keira and Kerridwyn chat with a baby calf . 

Share: The children this week brought in some fun /s/ shares! We had a slinky,  Lego soldiers, Strawberry Shortcake, squirrell, a favorite stuffy, outer-spaceman figures and a Lego Superman!  Next Week Share theme is the sound /t/. Please brainstorm with your child some things that begin with the sound /t/ and help them choose a share that fits the theme. Thank you! 

Calendar:

• No School: Wed., October 17th, Teacher inservice Day.
• Apple Day: Thursday, October 18. Mrs. White and I are planning a lot of fun apple activities as an extension to our field trip. If you can come in to help please let me know. Many thanks!
  
• Color of the week: We are celebrating the different colors of the rainbow.  Monday: Purple.  Please have your child wear clothing that matches the color of the day if they have them.  We will do fun learning activities related to colors.
  
• Lebanon Opera House: If you haven't already, please send in $5 for the upcoming LOH show as soon as possible.  Feel free to send in $10 for both shows (March 2013), if you prefer, as we will keep a record of payment. Thank you! 

HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS:

• Group Snack: Thank you to Maeve’s family for contributing this week’s healthy snack! We enjoyed wonderful choices throughout the week:,  cheese, Crispy apples, carrots, Annie’s Goldfish, plums, and homemade butter cookies! Next week’s snack will be provided by: Bryant’s family.  Many thanks to everyone for signing up and making our group snack possible! 
• I am currently reading: Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson. I’d like to create a book discussion group with parents and caregivers throughout the year. Please let me know if you are interested so we could choose a time to meet on a monthly basis. 
• Outerwear: Please send your child to school with rain boots and raincoats if it is raining as we will be going outside for recess rain or shine. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bodnar