Spirit Week

Looking Ahead to Next Week

I will be sending home a paper copy of November's recommended 'Homework' calendar, as well as an assessment I completed with the children on their knowledge of the Word Wall Words (WWW) we've studied so far this year.

I hope many of you were able to join the other Lion's in the gym on Friday night and celebrate Halloween. I hear it was quite the event. Our WWW for this upcoming week support the excitement of the Halloween 'season', and I look forward to having the children use these words in their discussions and writings about Halloween (my favourite holiday)!

WWW

• fun
• night
• out
• on
• my

Our Learning Explorations for the Coming Week

Oct. 29-Nov. 2

The 'subjects' will be integrated as much as possible.

Religion & Social and Emotional Learning (Health) & Social Studies

BE WELL

• “We Wish You Well”
• Safety

BE COMMUNITY

• “We Wish You Well”
• Bucket Fillers
• Family & Roles

ZONES OF REGULATION

• Identifying and recognizing the Zones
• Choosing Calming Strategies

We'll revisit some familiar calming strategies learned in Kindergarten and explore some new ones, such as the 'Hot Chocolate Breath'.

GROWTH MINDSET

Math

Numeration

• Continue to identify, represent and build numbers in as many different ways as possible (ie. ten frames, dice, tally marks, arrays, dominoes, number sentences, drawings, etc.) with a focus on the teen numbers.
• Skip-counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's

Patterning

• Continue to work on identifying pattern core, creating and/or extending patterns with one attribute (colour, shape, size, thickness) change.

Literacy

WWW-fun, night, out, on, my

Reading-using the Eage Eye (picture clues) strategy; independent reading, shared reading, poems, read-alouds, guess the covered word, guided reading groups.

Working with Words-CVC words (consonant vowel consonant), syllables, beginning sounds

Writing-SUPER SENTENCES...using our WWW's, inventive spelling using our phonemic awareness, capitals, finger spaces, and punctuation (.!?). We'll also focus on left to right progression in writing vs. 'list' style writing. 

Science

• Changes in Nature

Visual Arts

• Line Design
• Halloween Crafts

Music

• Patterns and beat.
• Singing familiar songs

Phys. Ed

• Gross motor movement
• Cooperative games

Happy Weekend!

Erin Riley

October 15-October 26

The past two weeks have been busy in the classroom as we get to know one another and continue to reestablish routines and expectations toward our learning environment and one another, all the while delving deeper into our learning.

Here are some snippets of learning from the past two weeks for you to enjoy:

We are working hard at settling our bodies after recess; finding some books we think we'll enjoy, a cozy spot away from our friends, and really immersing ourselves into the joy of literature. For our non-readers & ermerging readers we are looking for picture clues, and familiar letters/WWW's, and reinforcing literacy skills and behaviours.

Playing games with our sight words reinforces the memorization and comprehension of these words, which is key as these are high-frequency words that 'pop' up (you may here your child reference them as popcorn words) in print a LOT, and many of these words do not follow traditional phonetic rules your child is learning, which means they are not easy to decode.

We spent a lot of time on building and representing numerals to ten the past two weeks, using a variety of math manipulatives and loose parts. We have also started our patterning unit.

In visual art, we have been exploring the concept of Warm Colours, and using a variety of line design to add details to our work. The children enjoyed linking our learning on Fall / Science with art. We've been working on creating fall scenes, and using a variety of media (wax, marker, paint) to create leaf rubbings and wax relief. We discovered that marker 'reveals' the leaf better than the paint did.

Looking forward to next week!!

Erin Riley

An Introduction

Hello dear parents and guardians,

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Erin Riley (the children call me Mrs. Riley) and I have been filling in for Mrs. Isenor, who is currently on leave, since mid-October. I have been thoroughly enjoying getting to know your children and the staff at St. Anne. What a wonderful place to work and play, regardless of your age!!

I have taught Kindergarten since 2010, and hold membership both with the Ontario College of Teachers and with the College of Early Childhood Educators. I have also taught grade four and five for two years with another school board.

I have a keen interest in deep, authentic learning and learning through play for children, outdoor learning, and in social and emotional health. My goal is that your children are excited and ready to learn and want to be at school EVERY DAY!

I also have children of my own; two little boys that grace my husbands' and my life with their love, joy, and vibrancy.

I welcome and invite communication between home and school, so please, do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or information pertinent to your child's success.

Thank you,

Erin Riley