♫ Where Do You Start Your Letters?♫

Here is the printing song (from Handwriting Without Tears) that we have been using to remind us to always start printing our letter at the top...

Where Do You Start Your Letters?

...and here we are dancing to it!

💚Green Choice/Red Choice🛑 and Stayin' on the Star!

Today we started talking about GREEN CHOICES and RED CHOICES. This is a system of expectations that I use to help make concrete all of the rules that we have in a school and classroom. The students quickly understand that we make choices all day long and some of those choices are kind, safe, helpful and considerate. Sometimes we also make red choices, which can be unsafe, inconsiderate and even hurtful. We use this language of green and red choices to help us learn how to be a part of a classroom community. I attached the posters below if you'd like to review some examples with your child. Feel free to also make a list of green and red choices that are specific to your own family and home. Don't forget to talk about green and red choices that even adults can make!

Along with learning about school expectations, we started our Star Behaviour program in kindergarten.  It is a system that serves as a reminder for students to follow all of the (strange and new) rules that come along with starting school.  It is simple and effective. It has built-in consequences and incentives and it's my favourite way to manage twenty energetic 4- and 5-year olds who are getting used to raising their hands, changing into indoor shoes, and asking to use the bathroom.  I use a punch card as a way to communicate with parents about how their child's days are going, and as a way to reward students who make an effort to follow classroom expectations.  After seven days on the star, your child will get to pick a ticket which will give them a prize like staying in at recess with a friend, eating their snack at the teacher's desk, or wearing a costume to school.  Track your child's school behaviour by asking them, "Did you stay on the star today?"

Name Practice and Finger Muscles

We did some tearing and gluing today to decorate our names.  They look awesome! Tearing paper is a really good way for little writers to strengthen the muscles in their hands.

Terry Fox Run

Buddy Reading

We had our first Buddy Reading session with the Grade 4s & 5s and we got to meet our partners. We will do many exciting projects together this year. We are happy to know some of the bigger kids when we go out at recess.