Mrs. Finotti & "Abe" Lincoln

On Wednesday, February 17th, the boys & girls in K1 discussed President's Day while reading our TIme For Kids newspaper. The children were interested to learn that if alive, Abraham Lincoln would be celebrating his 101st birthday this year & that our first president, George Washington, was even older than Abe Lincoln.
We talked about what it might have been like to grow up in 1809 & discussed the differences from their childhoods (toys, home life, & school) to a child's life in 2010. We also learned about Abraham's love for reading. Did you know he once tried to read a book while plowing the field for his father? George Washington also lived on a farm & we learned he liked to study. Did you know Math was his favorite subject?
Last winter, while visiting the Pittsburgh Auto Show, I had the opportunity to meet an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. When I told him my Kindergarten class would love a picture of him, he was happy to pose with me!

Buddy Bingo

On Friday, February 12th, our 5th grade Buddies came for their third visit. We had a great time playing Valentine Bingo. We love it when our Buddies come to see us & our time together goes by so quickly!! Check out our K1 - Candid Pics for slides of K1 Kids & our Buddies.

Pinky Dinky Doo

Pinky Dinky Doo is another great find from our Computer Specialist, Mrs. Witkowski. This awesome website is for pre-k through first grade students only. The site is based on a PBS show of the same name. The website has fun activities for kids to take part in including word games, story podcasts, videos, and a place for students to create their own story podcast. Pinky Dinky Doo loves making up stories and teaches students that every story has a beginning, middle, and end. The stories are often full of metaphores and similes and often have a great message for kids too. Every story also has one giant fancy word like “collaborate” or “gracious” teaching students rich vocabulary as well.

Online Flash Cards

Here is another computer site that might be beneficial for your child & any older children in the family. I haven't had time to personally play with this website or completely check it out, but when I heard about this I immediately thought this could be a great way to make flashcards for all the words we have learned in Kindergarten this year. These words were posted in an earlier entry.
Flashcard DB provides students with two excellent study methods. Students can create their own flashcards or you could create a set of flashcards for students to study.

Free Online Flashcards with Spaced Repetition: FlashcardDB

Parent Website

Welcome to Kinderteacher!

This link is for parents................ there are all kinds of activities listed for you to do with your child. Mrs. Critchell's Kindergarten is a website filled with great ideas for Kindergarten teachers as well as parents of Kindergarten students.
According to the homepage, Linda Cricthell was a teacher for 36 years with ten of those years spent in Kindergarten classrooms. Mrs. Critchell's Kindgarten is very well organized with activities and lesson ideas categorized by months and by major holidays.
In addition to resources for teachers, Mrs. Critchell's Kindergarten has great resources for parents of Kindergarten students. The parent page has activities students can do at home to develop fine motor skills as well as educational craft activities. The parent site also has a list of educational websites that Kindergarten students can use at home.

ABCya!!

Thanks again to Mrs. Witkowski for finding this great educational website!! I'm adding it to my favorite links section & you can also find it on the Keystone Elem. web page at the Student Stuff link listed under Fun & Games. ABCya! is a leader in free & exciting computer activities for elementary students to learn on the web. All educational computer games and activities were created or approved by certified teachers! Activities are modeled from primary grade lessons and enhanced to provide an interactive way to learn. The activities incorporate content areas such as math and reading while introducing basic computer skills. Many of the kindergarten and first grade games are equipped with sound to enhance understanding. You can also find great elementary holiday activities here! Holiday activities available in grade level sections! http://www.abcya.com/index.htm

100th Day, Valentine's Day & Teddy Bear Clinic

Lots of things are 'a happening this month...

We will be celebrating the 100th day of school this Tuesday if the snow doesn't get us again!!! Your child will be bringing home a note today (2/3) w/directions (& suggestions) about bringing in a 100 collection share with the class. Please make sure this "collection" will fit inside their backpack!

We will celebrate Valentine's Day on Friday, February 12th & on Thursday, February 18th, all Keystone Kindergarten children will participate in the "Teddy Bear Clinic" presented by the Clarion Hospital.

Information on the Teddy Bear Clinic was sent home last week & Valentine info went home on 2/2. Please be sure to check your child's folder for all these important papers. A class list for making Valentine's has been provided as well as a few simple instructions about this special day.

As always, if you have any questions about the above mentioned events, please email or give me a call @ home.

100th Day Information

100th Day of School........ Woooo Hoooo!!!

On Tuesday, February 9, our class will be celebrating the 100th day of Kindergarten!! Each day at Circle we count together and talk about how many days we have been going to school, so this 100th day will be very special! I am planning on doing some fun math & reading activities to help us celebrate.

Please help your child find 100 of “something” to share with our class on that date. Make sure the 100 items are contained in a bag and will fit into your child’s backpack. (Examples: toothpicks, pennies, cotton balls, buttons, mini marshmallows, paper clips) We are looking forward to seeing and sharing everyone’s collection!

Please check your child's folder on 2/3 for a hard copy of this information.

In your child's folder on 2/3, you will find a blank Valentine’s Heart traced on cardstock. Please help your child color (using crayons, paints, or ??), decorate, & cut out their Heart as a family “home” project. Yes, you are being encouraged to help your child complete this project!!
Be as creative as you like using assorted glitters, 3D items, pictures from magazines, noodles, or ??? for decorations.
Please return your family “Heart” project by Tuesday, February 9th. Thanks for all your help & support at home.

Valentine's Day - Information

Our Valentine’s Day Party will be held on Friday, February 12th. We will celebrate by trading Valentine cards, playing some games, and sharing treats. (No Valentine box is needed – we’ll make Valentine holders in school.) You may begin sending your child’s Valentine’s to school after February 10th.
If you would like to donate a special treat to help us celebrate, please be sure to keep the school’s nutrition policy in mind. Also, remember - do not send in candy for Valentines Day, even if it is part of the Valentine (a lollipop or a smartie). Treats may be sent to school with your child or dropped off in the Office on the 12th. If you have any questions about the nutrition policy, please contact the school office.
Please check your child's folder on 2/2 for a hard copy of this information.

Thanks You,
Melanie Finotti



Our Valentine Class List
Please have your child sign their name on each card & print their classmate’s names on the envelopes, so they can read the names & pass the Valentines out themselves. This is a great opportunity for them to practice printing & to recognize their classmate’s names!! Don’t try to do all this in one night – it might wear them out!!

1. Mariah 9. Hannah H.
2. Tahara 10. Bryan
3. Nicholas C. 11. Cooper
4. Kadence 12. Andrew
5. Xander 13. Hannah S.
6. Derik 14. Nick W.
7. Kiara 15. Sabrina
8. Gunnar