The upside down Rainbow!

On Monday, February 4th we had some amazing things happening on our playground.  It was a very cold day and there was a lot of snow for us to play in.

First thing in the morning we noticed something very special in the sky. As we were getting ready to line up at bell time we noticed a rainbow in the sky. It wasn't an ordinary rainbow.  It was an upside down rainbow.  The children said it "looks like a smile!"  It didn't fall downwards either.  It was a joyful smile in the highest part of the sky.  The colours were not in the usual order for a rainbow-they were in the opposite order!


Upside down rainbows, or 'circumzenithal arcs' as they're properly referred to, are a rare optical phenomenon similar in appearance to a rainbow.  However, their make-up couldn't be any more different.

Unlike common rainbows which form when light reflects through raindrops, mist, or sea spray, a circumzenithal arc develops when ice crystals high up in the atmosphere bounce the rainbow's light rays back up into the sky.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! 

Welcome back to a brand new year.  It is exciting to welcome the children back to Kindergarten after a refreshing break.  My experience with this age group reminds me that January brings many exciting developments.  The children returned refreshed and rested and ready to face new exciting challenges.  We will witness eager learners who will start reading and writing words all over the classroom and we will watch with excitement as children begin to pick up books and discover, "hey, I can read this!"

 

The wonderful thing about a new year is that we can make new resolutions and a fresh new start.  We will challenge the children with new goals and new aspirations.  How can you help with our fresh new start?  In the most important way......

 

As always, thank you for your help and support in your child's education.

You are your child's most important teacher.

O Christmas Tree

One day last week Kayla wanted to draw a Christmas tree.  She thought that having a tree to look at would help her to draw it.  Yesterday we set up our tree in the classroom.  Kayla was so happy to be able to look at a tree for her drawing.  The boys and girls talked about what they would like to hang on the tree:

• ornaments
• decorations
• stars
• lights
• candy canes you can eat
• balls
• lights

Today we opened some decorations to hang on the tree.  Jada organized the children who wanted to help into a circle.  The boys and girls took turns to hang the decorations.  They hung the ornaments one at a time.  They watched each other carefully.  When someone new joined the fun they explained that they were taking turns.  It was beautiful to watch them work cooperatively together.  After all the store bought decorations were hung they wondered what to do next.  It wasn't long before they were all gathered around in the Art Studio.  They carefully coloured and cut out decorations.  They made little holes in the paper decorations and strung yarn through them to hang.  Hunter made paper candy canes in all different flavours.  Alex made a beautiful star for the top of the tree.  We turned out the classroom lights.  They all ooohed and aaahed at their beautiful efforts.  We will post a photograph for you to see!

Teddy Bear Picnic!

The big day is almost here! Thursday is our Teddy Bear Picnic day.  Please have your child pick out one teddy bear to bring to school.  Your child should come to school in pajamas.  You may wish to send in slippers and a bathrobe.  We will be going on a bear hunt, teaching our bears all about school, having a special snack and reading to our bears.  Thank you for helping your child prepare!

Play-do volunteers

One of the favourite centres this year is the play-do centre.  Your child has maybe told you a little bit about the centre.  Has your child mentioned the pumpkin pie play-do?  That has been a favourite during the month of October. 

The play-do centre is an important piece in your child's development.  Your child is building small muscles in her hand, communicating with friends, sharing play-do tools, using his creativity, and collaborating at this centre. 

As it is a very popular centre we go through a tremendous amount of play-do!  I am looking for volunteers to help make the classroom play-do.  The recipe is simple (flour, salt and water) and takes very little time to make.  If you are able to make a batch once a month please let me know.  Thank you!

Trick or Treat house

The boys and girls have decided to close the fruit and vegetable market.  They have decided that they would like to turn the drama centre into a 'Trick or Treat house'.  We have been reading books to give us some ideas for what we might need.  Yesterday the children came up with this list:

• candy
• decorations
• costumes
• lanterns
• scary pumpkins
• scarecrows
• pumpkins
• trick or treat bags
• super big pumpkin
• halloween words
• spiderman costume
• princess costume
• vampire costume

They have already begun making various items to put into the trick or treat house.  Today there is a surprise waiting for them in the house!  If you have anything to donate for our trick or treat house, please send it in!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Tomorrow is our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  Children should arrive at school at the regular time.  The bus will be leaving Rose Seaton at 10:00 AM.  Volunteers are asked to arrive at school at 9:45.  Please come to the classroom to assist with bus line-up.

Parents are reminded to check weather conditions and dress your child accordingly.  As it has been very wet the farm will probably be very muddy.  Rain or snow boots are highly recommended.

The children will be eating lunch on the farm.  We will not be participating in pizza day.  Please keep lunch simple.  Thank you!

The Very Strange Day at Rose Seaton

Mrs. Goodwin visited us yesterday.  We explored more about books and stories.  She brought in a magical book, pop-up books, little books, big books, and even a book that her daughter wrote.  We enjoyed our time with Mrs. Goodwin.  She helped us to write a book about a day at Rose Seaton.  Please click on the link below to read our new book!

http://issuu.com/goodwik/docs/the_very_strange_day_at_rose_seaton

Self-Regulation

Self-Regulation is a key to success in school.  It is the best predictor for academic success.  The work we do every day in Kindergarten (e.g., playing, role-playing, sharing) is key in developing your child's self-regulation.

One important piece of self-regulation is learning the different 'zones'.  The children have been learning the following four zones: blue, green, yellow and red.  They have been learning how to identify different emotions connected to these zones. 

The children are learning that no zone is a 'bad' zone.  All the zones are normal states for children and adults.  The green zone is the optimal zone for learning.  We are learning how to identify what zone we are in.

We will learn how to get ourselves back to green when we are in yellow or nearing red. 

Talk to your child about the different zones.  Help your child by naming emotions.  Look into a mirror with your child and make different faces for different emotions.  Ask your child to name your feelings.  Help your child by talking about good strategies when feeling sad, angry, or frustrated.

Need more information?  Please talk to Mrs. Thomas.

Star of the Day

During the months of September and October we had a different star of the day each school day.  Each child had an opportunity to be the star of the day.  The star helped with attendance and other small jobs throughout the day.  The children interview the star of the day to learn more about each friend.  We learned how to spell each name and then posted the names on the word wall.  This book is all about the star of the day.  We hope you enjoy it!
Please click on the following link to read our first book:
http://issuu.com/sjthomas23/docs/star_book

The Market

The children discovered fruit and vegetables in the sensory table.  They enjoyed naming the fruit and vegetables and talking about favourites.  They started sorting the fruit and veggies by kind.  Next, the children decided that they wanted to change the house centre into a market.  What would it look like?  What would we need? 
The children made a plan.  Mrs. Thomas recorded their thoughts onto chart paper.
-We looked at photos and videos of the market in Ridgeway
-We packed up the items in the house centre that we didn't need
-We labelled the boxes so that they wouldn't get lost in the school
-We turned the house furniture around
-We carried over the baskets of fruit and veggies

The children soon realized that they needed things like paper money; coins; wallets and purses.  They also realized that they didn't have pumpkins or cookies like they saw in the market photos.  They set to work making all the additional items they would need.  The children used paper to create coins, bills, and pumpkins.

While the children were creating the paper bills and the coins for the market they ran into some difficulty.  Sophie realized that she couldn't remember how to make a number 5 and she wanted to get it just right.  We looked around the classroom for a resource that could help us.  We found a number book.  Sophie took the book to the writing centre and carefully copied the number 5 from the book.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Kinder friends and family.  I hope you are enjoying a lovely long weekend with your family.

Terry Fox Walk

Every year children around the world participate in the Terry Fox walk.  This year, Rose Seaton will be holding our annual Terry Fox walk on Friday, September 28th.

Kinders will be walking at 10:00.  We will walk the big field behind our school.  We will walk until we are tired and then we will walk some more!  Terry Fox never gave up.  Not when he was sick.  Not when he was tired.  He is a true Canadian hero. 

Please send your child to school dressed in our school colours: blue and orange.  We are asking that each child donate two dollars for cancer research.

Thank you for supporting this very worthy cause.

Preparing your child for Kindergarten

The crickets are chirping; the nights are growing cooler; and the school supplies are on display at Wal-Mart.  It must be almost time for back to school!  Your JK child is about to embark on a very exciting adventure: starting school.  You and your child will be filled with different emotions about the big day.  Your child may be wondering...what will I do all day at big school?  Will I have a friend?  What will my teacher be like?  To help transition your child into school consider a visit to the public library or book store.  You will find many titles that will answer your child's questions and help to prepare for the big day.  Here are just a few recommended titles:

Welcome to Early Learning in Mrs. Thomas' room!

Let's Meet the Oxford Reading Tree family!

This year the Kinders will be learning to read using the Oxford Reading Tree series. It is a very popular reading series, used in many different countries. Your child will be introduced to the Oxford Reading Tree family that includes three children and a lovable dog, Floppy. Throughout the year your child will read many different stories with this family. The stories are fun and engaging and involve familiar activities and experiences. You can introduce your child to this family by watching the short video that is attached.

Friendship Fruit Salad

Mixing and mixing is what we will do. Working together will see us through! On Monday, June 25th we're planning to make a friendship fruit salad. Please help your child to wash, cut and measure one cup of their favourite fruit. Have your child bring the fruit to school on June 25th as we will be mixing the fruit together to make a friendship fruit salad! Yummy, yummy!

Luau Day!

Monday, June 25th is our Luau day. Most of the activities will go ahead regardless of weather. We will be wearing our Hawaiian clothes; dancing to Hawaiian music; playing Hawaiian games and eating our friendship fruit salad. We will make a decision on Monday morning regarding the Water Play Day portion of our day. Weather permitting: please send your child to school with sunscreen, a bathing suit and a towel in a plastic bag

Happy Mother's Day!

Every Kinder loves his/her Mommy!  We prepared for Mother's Day by reading a book entitled, The Night Before Mother's Day.  The book gave us lots of wonderful ideas!  We made beautiful heart presents; poems and drawings.  We used our poems and drawings to create a beautiful class book.  Please click on the link to read!
http://issuu.com/goodwik/docs/sk_book/1

Jackie the Snail

One day recently the Kinders came in from outdoor play with great excitement.  Leah had discovered a shell, which we thought was empty.  We placed the shell into a magnifying container and put it aside for later.  Off we went to library and the room was dark and quiet.  When we returned we had a surprise waiting for us, a visitor was poking her head out of the shell.  We became the proud Kinder parents of a sweet little snail.  All sorts of questions came about, but the most important was: what will she need?  We found an empty terrarium for her in the cupboard and started to add things to it that we thought she would like: (e.g., grass, a rock, grapes, dandelions, drops of water).  We discovered that she likes to travel throughout the terrarium, so we covered it with plastic. 
The next day we thought she would need a name.  We gathered all the different ideas for names and then we voted.  In the end the winning name was Jackie.  A perfectly fitting name for a snail, don't you think?

Today we started to read more about snails in a non-fiction text.  The children know that we can get real information from a non-fiction text.  We looked at the content page and decided what we should read about.

The Kinders have lots of questions about Jackie:
Why are snails different colours? (Connar)
Why do they come out in the rain? (Devin)
Why do they eat with their tongue? (Sean)
How do they play video games? (Colin)

As we read more about snails we will hopefully discover all the answers to our burning questions.