I am so glad to be back in the classroom- I missed my kiddos! A huge thank you to Mrs. DiNoia for taking the reins and leading room 103❤. Because of the shorter week and being at K screening, I do not have many pictures from last week...but just wait until the end of this week!
We will be wrapping up our Ocean theme. To conclude our Ocean theme, we may watch a Magic School Bus in the ocean episode with popcorn one afternoon. Then, we will be focusing on a zoo animal theme for the next week and a half...that will take us to the last few days of school! The children will be designing maps for their own zoo, solving zoo animal number stories and writing a fiction "story" about what the animals do at night in the zoo in the upcoming week/next week!
Speaking of the last few days of school...this time of year can be quite confusing for 5 and 6 year olds. Everyone is suggesting that the end of school will be exciting because of summer vacations, etc. For many children, they will miss the structure and routines of what has become very familiar to them and this can cause some sadness. Do not be surprised if your child acts out or has had bigger than average feelings as the school year comes closer to the end. I definitely see it in the classroom! It can be difficult for the little ones to express how they are really feeling, especially if they are "supposed" to be excited for summer vacation. This may really hit them when they come to school Monday and see the June calendar and the "last day" marked- it makes it more real to them.
One thing I tell all my kindergarteners is that I will always be their teacher...even when they go to high school and beyond! I have an open door to all my students and I remind them about how many former students come to room 103 for a quick hug or chat (they see the older kids come in frequently). I even have LMS and LHS students visit! In fact, I am working with a former student (she is in high school now) on her "Girl Scout Gold Award"! Room 103 will always be THEIR classroom and I will always be THEIR kindergarten teacher and I am here for them no matter how old they are💖. I also tell them it is ok to feel sadness as well as excitement. They may see a few tears from me, too!
Sometimes, once they hear this message, they feel a little more secure about moving on...
We have a busy week ahead:
Monday- FIELD DAY! Here is a note from Mr. Bentley:
Please make sure:
- Kids have a full water bottle
- Kids wear a hat (if they bring one)
- Kids are wearing sunscreen or have some sort of sun protection before coming to school
- kids are wearing sneakers
Thursday- Book Swap
FRIDAY- we are going to the ZOO!! The long range forecast looks like it will be warm! We will be wearing our Shaker Lane Fun Run t shirts to the zoo! 
VERY IMPORTANT INFO REGARDING OUR FIELD TRIP:
- Chaperones must be in the classroom by 8:30 to go over the itinerary for the day, etc. This is much easier to do before the children arrive (they start to come in by 8:40). If you need to bring your child with you, that is fine. Please bring a backpack to hold your group's water bottles, snacks etc..
- 🥪 Lunch-If packing a lunch please pack it in a labeled DISPOSABLE bag with your child’s name printed on it with a DISPOSABLE water bottle, no larger than 20 oz.-All students should pack additional snack-School lunch will be offered as a bag lunch (these have already been ordered-if you did not order, send a lunch from home!)💧Water bottle - DISPOSABLE no larger than 20 oz.⚫ NO extra money please (children are not allowed to purchase any food/rides on field trips)⚫ Students DO NOT bring backpacks to school or will leave them at school if needed.👟 Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes with socks to comfortably walk in all day🌞- please apply sunscreen on at home before school if needed😴 A good night’s sleep!
wear your Shaker Lane Fun Run t-shirt to the zoo!
- IF you plan to change your child's dismissal plan from the one you gave me (long time ago now!), PLEASE do so in writing that morning. I will not have time to check emails during the day to check pick up patrol, etc...
Here are some pictures from last week:
Lots of math games, measuring and comparing the length of a sea turtle, great white shark and a blue whale, making a rainbow fish and sequencing the story The Rainbow Fish
