Friday, November 30, 2012

Maps and Countries


Hello People of Room 116!

For the past week Room 116 has been learning and writing about different countries. The students have expressed interest in learning about the different people of the world and about making maps. Please take some time during the next week or so to talk to your child about the country they live in, the country they are from, and/or the countries they have visited. On scrap paper at home encourage them to make a map to share with the class. Don't forget to add title, legend, and labels.

Room 116 welcomes any pictures you may have from your travels. Thanks!

Mr. Grady & Ms. Richa

WINNERS!

Hello People of Room 116!

Congratulations to Room 116 for donating 119 cans to the Warden Woods Food Drive. 119 cans was the most cans brought in by any class in the Kindergarten division. This means that the class will receive a PIZZA PARTY!!!

I will let you know the details when I find out more.



Thanks to everyone who participated. Your donations go towards families in need.

Best Regards,

Mr.Grady & Ms. Richa

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Fruits and Vegetables!












Hello People of Room 116!

Since visiting the farm the students of 116 have expressed interest in learning more about food. Yesterday the students talked about different questions they had about fruits and vegetables. Here are some of your students inquiries:

-Why are fruits and vegetables different colours?

-Why do fruits and vegetable taste different from each other?

-Which is the biggest fruit? Which is the biggest vegetable?

Please take some time to research these questions with your child. Encourage them to draw or write their ideas and bring them to school to share with the class.

Here is a website about fruits and vegetables they can try at home:

http://www.foodchamps.org/

Here is an alphabet video (using fruits and vegetables)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJWwOta-5ig&playnext=1&list=PL818D73E0A824C6D7&feature=results_video


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Pumpkin Patch!

Hello People of Room 116!

Thanks again to all the parents who volunteered to come on the trip today. I also apologize to any parents who wanted to go on the trip, but were turned away because there was no room left on the bus.

It was cold and muddy, but Room 116 did an amazing job! Here are some pictures:

















Thursday, October 11, 2012

Potluck Notes

Hello People of Room 116!

Here are a few areas Ms. Richa and I wanted to highlight at tomorrow's potluck party. I am posting them here for those families that were not able to make it.

 1. HANDS OFF!
      We have had many discussions within our class about not hitting and keeping our hands to ourselves. Ms. Richa and I have been using the phrase "Hands off" during these discussions. It would be helpful if you used similar language when talking to your child about not putting their hands on other students.






2. HEALTHY SNACK
     Most students are now bringing in healthy snacks and lunches. Fruits and vegetables are your best bet. Chips, candy, donuts, and cakes are delicious, but they will not sustain your child through a long day of school. Please continue to send fruits and vegetables with your child.





3. NAME PRACTISE
    JK parents continue to practise your child's name with them at home. Talk to them about the letters in their name and ask them what other words begin with those letters.





4. PLAYTIME & TIDY UP
       Currently your child participates in at least 1 hour of centre time per day. During this time they are working and playing with other students at a variety of centres. Please take some time to talk to your child about what it looks like when they are playing with others students. Ask them what it should sound like in the classroom. Ask them about who their friends are and what they like to do. Continue to engage them in conversations about their day as much as possible.

     At home please encourage your child to clean up the messes they make. They do it at school, they can do it at home.

5. INDEPENDENCE
      Winter is coming! Now is the time for your child to start practising getting ready by themselves. You can help them by not helping them with things they can do. Your children are capable of doing their own zippers, buttons, snowpants, hats, and gloves, but you have to give them the opportunities. Will they be slow? YES! Kids are so slow when getting ready! But the more we practise things the better we will get. Good luck!
    

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Tumble Books Password

Hello People of Room 116!

Here is a great website that you can check out!
Go to www.tumblebooks.com

The username is: Oakridgejr
The password: books

You can read hundreds of books with your child. ENJOY!

Mr. Grady

Sunday, September 30, 2012

October 1 - 5, 2012

Hello People of Room 116!

This week we will be continuing to look at our families. Thanks to all the students and families that have already sent in family photos to share with the class. Over the next few weeks please continue to encourage your child to share pictures and stories about their families with the class.

"Homework" - Thanks to everyone for supporting their child with their Borrow-a-Book. I have been really excited by how many book bags have been coming back each day with quality work inside. JK PARENTS - Please remember that this work is for your child to do. DO NOT DRAW THE PICTURES FOR THEM or WRITE FOR THEM. The purpose of the Borrow-a-Book is for you to read with your child and then let them strengthen their fine motor skills.

Hands-Off -Please take some time this week to talk your child about keeping their hands off other students. It is common for new Kindergarten students who have not interacted with other kids to not understand personal bounderies. Ms. Richa and I will be working with our students on respecting one another. We encourage you to continue this conversation with them at home.

Writing - JK parents - please continue to work with your students on name recognition and name writing at home. SK parents - Thanks for all the writing that your students have brought into share with the class. Please continue to encourage them to write short sentences, letters, and stories that can be shared with the class during group time.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

September 23 - 27, 2012 (Includes Toronto Public Library Info)

Hello People of Room 116!

Last week was our most sucessful week to date. Many of the students are getting used to the routines, staying awake for the full day, making new friends, and having lots of fun learning!

Last week we focused on our 5 senses (hearing, seeing, taste, smell, and touch). This week we will begin exploring "families," but I encourage you to continue to talk to your child about their senses and to ask questions about things they see, hear, smell, taste, and smell everyday.

Family - Oakridge is a diverse community and is home to many diverse families and backgrounds. In the coming weeks Room 116 would like to explore the differences and similarities that make our families unique and special. We will be doing this through sharing and story time, centres that focus on families, and story books that talk about a wide variety of families. I hope you can take some time this week to talk to your child about their family and encourage them to draw, write, or share something about their family with the class.

Pictures - During the JK intake I was able to snap a few pictures of JKs and family members. I don't have pictures of many of the SK families and I would like to have pictures so we can make a family tree in class. If you have an extra picture of your child with their family that you would like to send to school. Please do so as soon as possible. I will be trying to snap a few pictures during drop off and pick-up this week as well.

Homework - The SKs have begun receiving their borrow-a-books and I am very proud of the work they have been doing already. I have confidence that we will see a huge improvement in their reading ability by the end of this year. Keep up the good work! JKs will be receiving their borrow-a-books this week as well. I have included in their bag a yellow folder with some name practise sheets. It is very important that you take 10 minutes each evening to practise your child's name.

Library- Even though I will be sending small books home with your student each night. I strongly encourage you to take your child to the library on a weekly basis. At the library your child will be able to choose from a wide variety of high interest books. Here are some links to libraries near you:

Albert Campbell: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMLIB03&R=LIB03
Beaches Library: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMLIB025&R=LIB025
Cliffcrest Library: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMLIB033&R=LIB033
Danforth/Coxwell: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMLIB035&R=LIB035
Main Street: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMLIB062&R=LIB062

You are also fortunate because the Toronto Public Library Bookmobile visits the parking lot outside the Oakridge Community Centre every other week. Next visit is OCTOBER 4th!

Thanks again for all that you do People of Room 116! Keep being the great parents/guardians/students that your are. I look forward to the week ahead.

Mr. Grady

Sunday, September 16, 2012

September 17 - 21, 2012

Hello People of Room 116!

The first full week of school has come and gone for our Kindergarten students!

This week the students will continue to build on their awareness of themselves through learning about their five senses. Ms. Richa and myself will be setting up a series of centres that allow students to experience and use their sense of sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. You can support your child's learning by asking them questions at home about their senses. Ask them:
-What does dinner taste like? What kind of things can you smell on your way to school? What kind of things do you hear in your apartment/house?

Keep giving your child opportunities to talk at home and extend their learning!

Borrow-a-Books (IMPORTANT) - I had mentioned at the JK intake that I would be sending home the borrow-a-books this week, but after our first long challenging week adjusting to the Full Day program Ms. Richa and I have decided to hold off for at least another week. We will begin working with the students on their literacy skills in class and we suggest you do the same at home, but we are not sure our students are ready for another new routine yet.

Name Writing- JK parents please continue to work with your child on writing their name and recognizing their name.

Thanks. I look forward to week 2!

Best Regards,

Mr. Grady

Sunday, September 9, 2012

September 10 - 14th, 2012

Hello People of Room 116!

The first few days of Kindergarten have been challenging and exciting! As your child gets used to the full day program Ms. Richa and I encourage you to talk to your child about some of the routines they will be following in class. You can ask them:

How are you supposed to walk down the hallways?
How are you supposed to sit on the carpet?
How do you treat a book?
What does your voice sound like inside the classroom? In the hallway? On the playground?

Also ask them about some of the things they are doing in the classroom: Ask them?

What are some of the centres you went to today?
Who are some of your friends in class?
What books did your teacher read to you today?
Did you learn any letters or words today?
What songs did you sing?

If you are excited about their school day then they will be too!

Best Regards,

Mr. Grady

Monday, September 3, 2012

September Calendar and Important Info (Printable Documents)



Hello People of Room 116!

I have added two links to documents you will be receiving during the first two weeks of school. In case these documents are lost or damaged in some kind of terrible disaster (EX: The Great Juice Box Spill of 2011) then you can print new ones through Google docs. If you are having difficulty opening these files you may need to start a Gmail account. I recommend this since I will be sharing many of my documents this way. 

Click on the links below to get documents:
(Eco-Tip: Print on the blank side of an old piece of paper!)

Important Oakridge Kindergarten Info

September Calendar

Things Your Student Will Need Everyday!

Things Your Student Will Need Everyday!
















Hello People of Room 116!

Your student will need the following everyday at Oakridge:

2 Healthy Snacks

1 Healthy Lunch (If student is staying for lunch)

1 Pair of indoor shoes (These shoes will stay in the classroom)

1 Pair of outdoor shoes (These shoes will go home on your child's feet)

1 Backpack big enough to carry snacks, lunch, and their borrow-a-book.