K1 Visits Miss Sadie

I just found this class picture & realized I'd forgotten to post it on our K1 Class Blog. This group shot was taken on the morning we did our walking trip to the Knox Pubic Library. On our way back to school we took a little side trip & stopped to visit my puppy Sadie. During the month of May she rode to Knox with me each morning where I dropped her off at a friend's house to spend the day.
Now that school is out, Sadie & I have been very busy doing some of our favorite things... learning to swim, running errands, "chillin" on our deck w/GIANT ice cubes, & picking up/chewing tree limbs that fall in the yard.
I hope your children are having a fun summer vacation as well. Is everyone remembering to practice their flash card words & counting to 100 every now & then? I'd hate for anyone to forget all the things they learned in Mrs. Finotti's Kindergarten class over their summer break!!

And just in case you haven't heard the news - it's official. I'm now retired ... as of the end of our 2010 school year.
My entire life has evolved around the Keystone School District starting first as a Keystone student myself many years ago & now ending with 35+ years as a Keystone teacher. Who could have ever guessed that??
Teaching will always be in my heart & even in retirement I'm taking on a different kind of teaching job... training Miss Sadie!! I'll certainly miss the students & my faculty friends at Keystone, but plan to stop in for plenty of visits. Take care, everyone, & be sure to say "Hello" when you see me in places other than school!!

BrainPop Jr. - Games

Here's another good computer site from Mrs. Wit................. free educational games for the K - 3 crowd!! http://www.brainpopjr.com/games/

Summer Activities - I Can't Think of Anything To Do!!

K1 Parents:
I'm posting this "Summer Activities -- I Can’t Think of Anything To Do!!!" list but will also send a copy of it home in your child's report card. I hope your child has fun with this little list. Maybe your family can add more ideas to it!!

1. Eat breakfast with your other hand.
2. Count cars as they go by.
3. Find 2 toys that you no longer use & give them to charity or donate them to a
hospital play room.
4. Try to draw your face by sitting in front of a mirror.
5. See if you can name a word for each letter of the alphabet.
6. Make some paper bag puppets, alone or with a friend. Put on a puppet show.
7. Count backwards from 15 to 1.
8. Sing the “Wheels on the Bus” song.
9. Count the number of windows, doors, and rooms in your house.
10. Eat a celery stick with peanut butter.
11. Write your ABC’s in upper & lower case letters.
12. Find a toy or game you haven’t played with in over a month. Use it!!!
13. Ask someone if you could be of help to him/her.
14. Ask someone to read you a story.
15. Sing the “Little Teapot” song.
16. Say something nice to everyone you meet.
17. Name 5 things you like to do. Then, do one of them.
18. Let some people know how much you like them without saying it.
19. Look at your baby book then draw a picture of what you’ll look like now.
20. Sing the “6 in a Bed” song.
21. See how many words you can name in 3 minutes that begin with D. (or pick any
letter)
22. Learn a new word and what it means.
23. Sing the “Little Boy Blue” song.
24. Touch your nose with your big toe.
25. Find 3 throw-away items and make something with them.
26. List all the things you can think of that are green. (or pick any any color)
27. Find a neat hiding place and eat your lunch there.
28. Wear a funny hat all day!
29. Put a pencil between your toes and write your name.
30. Make a new friend.
31. Have someone put any 10 items on a tray, show them to you for 1 minute, then
take them away. Try to name all 10 items. No peeking!!
32. Sing the Alphabet Song.
33. Name all your relatives – grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
34. Play the “I See Something” game.
35. Count up to the largest number you can.
36. Think about Mrs. Finotti and guess what she is doing during her summer vacation!!

Classroom News

If you are looking for computer activites for your child(ren), be sure to visit our Keystone Elementary Home page. Check out the Student Stuff link along the left side. This site has many wonderful, educational, & safe websites linked there. You can find anything from ABC practice to counting practice sites on this page.
I know your child(ren) will enjoy visiting this page!!!

Thank You ......... K1 Parents!!

Dear Parents:

Thanks for all your help, patience, understanding, guidance, treats, gifts, & support throughout the 2009 - 2010 school year. I have really enjoyed working with your child & watching him/her grow. It has been a productive year that has certainly gone by quickly! Enjoy the poem below – it holds a wonderful message. Thanks again for everything! Have a great & safe summer with your child. I'll be looking for all my kiddos this summer as we encounter each other @ the grocery store or where ever our paths may cross!! As far as the big question about retirement... I'll know for sure after the 21st of June. :)
Thanks again,
Melanie Finotti

I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child’s mind,
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher: the tools she used
Were books, music, and art.
One, a parent, who worked with a guiding hand
And a gentle, loving heart.
Day after day the teacher toiled
With touch that was deft and sure,
While the parent labored by her side
And polished and smoothed it o’er.
And when at last their task was done,
They were proud of what they had wrought;
For the things they had molded into the child
Could be neither sold nor bought.
And each agreed he would have failed
If he had worked alone,
For behind the teacher stood the school,
And behind the parent……… the home.
- Anonymous

Math Arcade on Fun Brain

Mrs. Witkowski, our Instructional Technology Specialist, is always on the lookout for good educational activities & this one is super! Math Arcade is a great website to help students practice math facts and skills. This might be a little difficult for some K1 kids, but I'm sure there are a few who will be able to do these activities soon or with a little help from an adult. If you have older children, this website is great for them as well!!
There is enough variety on the site to keep kids interested. The game board atmosphere gives students a goal to complete - they have to successfully play all 25 games to reach the end. Students can progress through the site based on their math ability. Math Arcade would be a great site to bookmark so your child can access it throughout the school year. I've added Math Arcade to the "Favorite Links" area on this blog!

BCC - School Science Clips

Check it out... another interesting computer site from Mrs. Witkowski. The BCC science clips are a collection of science related activities & games for students who are 5 - 11 years old. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6.shtml
Students can grow virtual plants, experiment with pushes & pulls, hearing & sound, forces & movement, electricity, rocks & soils, simple machines, light, solids & liquids, friction, habitats, life cycles, changing states of matter, reversible & irreversible changes, forces, & much more. The site is organized well, by age group, & has several activities at each level.

Fish World - Computer Game

Younger children will enjoy creating their very own fish tank where they can add starfish, crabs, & turtles. This is a great game for kids learning to use the mouse or for kids who just want to be creative. http://www.prongo.com/fishtank/

Our Day at the Erie Zoo

Our trip to the Erie Zoo on 5/27 was a GREAT one as you can see by the smiling faces!!! The weather was a little on the HOT side, but all-in-all we had a wonderful day.
The children & parent chaperones had the chance to see rhinos, giraffes, penguins, monkeys, reptiles, & many other animals.
My biggest thanks to all the K1 parent chaperones...Amanda Ashbaugh, Shawna Bish, Heather Cosper, Shana Heeter, Jimmy & Kim Smith, Bobbi Wolfgong, Crystal Watkins, and our super duper bus driver/parent chaperone Amanda O'Neil!! Your help on this special day was greatly appreciated; I know your child was very excited to share this Zoo day with you! I hope you all had as much fun as your child did.

New Computer Site - Check It Out!!

This looks like a good one to check out..."www.mrnussbaum.com - A thousand sites in one!! Welcome to http://www.mrnussbaum.com/ is an interactive website designed specifically for students in grades K - 8. On this site you will find dozens of interactive games, activities, worksheets, and teacher tools that pinpoint essential skills. MrNussbaum.com was created and developed by a teacher!" I looked at it a little & saw where you can search for skill areas in a specific grade level, but I didn't see alot for Kndergarten. One thing to remember..... your child will soon be entering 1st grade, so you may find more skills on the 1st grade level.

K1 Visits the Fire Hall - Walking Trip # 2

All of the Keystone Kindergarten classes were invited to visit the Knox Fire Hall on May 20th for a tour of their fire station.
The children learned about the different types of fire trucks & what each one does, they saw the radio control room, & saw demonstrations of the differnt kinds of tools fire fighters use during rescue/fire fighting situations. As a special treat, the children had the opportunity to actually get inside 2 of the fire trucks to have a look around!!
During the visit, the children learned never to be afraid of a fire fighter when he is dressed in his special "gear" & to never hide from fire fighters if they are trapped in a burning house. Another very important lesson the children learned was to stand way back from fire trucks because the drivers will not be able to see them if they get to close to the fire engine.
Coming up later this week.... our visit to the Knox Public Library.

Words We've Learned in Kindergarten

It's hard to believe - after today, we only have 13 days of school left until summer vacation!! With that in mind, Sadie Lou & I've composed an updated list of words your child has used on our CircleTime Chart throughout the “K” school year. For a fun & challenging activity, make flash cards & practice these words with your child! Keep practicing them throughout the Summer, so your child will remember these words when they pop up next year in First Grade!

WORDS WE’VE LEARNED IN “K1”
a - and - are - Art - August - black - blue - boys - children - Computer - days - December - do - for - Friday - go - good - girls - green - Gym - has - he - Hello - helper - Hi - I - is - it - kids - learn - Library - listen - look - March - May - Monday - morning - Mrs. Finotti - Music - November - October - of - orange - our - red - said - see - September - she - special - the - that - Thursday - to - today - Tuesday - was - we - weather - Wednesday - white - with - yellow - you - 2009 - 2010

And while I'm at it, here is a listing of other things your child has accomplished n Kindergarten...

* Doing a great job using my "KidWriting" skills
* Counting to 100 (or higher)
* Writing my numbers 0 - 20 (or higher)
* Zipping, buttoning, & learning how to tie a shoe
* Recognizing & naming the value of a penny, nickel, dime, & quarter
* Saying & writing my phone number
* Saying & writing my initials
* Saying & writing my first, middle, & last name
* Saying my home address
and
* Walking a "low" balance beam, bouncing & catching a ball atleast 5 times, galloping, skipping, & hopping

Walking Trip # 1

Coming up this Friday... Our 1st of 3 walking trips. We are going to the Post Office. Please be sure to dress your child for the weather of the day & make sure they are wearing comfortable shoes for walking.

All About Bunnies

In Kindergarten, we have just completed a hands-on Science Unit called "All About Bunnies". During our unit, we explored how rabbits look, what they eat, how they communicate, where they live, and of course, how to care for a pet rabbit! We wrapped up our study on Tuesday with a classroom visit from a real rabbit named Valentine!

The class is pictured wearing the masks we made to show different breeds of bunnies.

May Events

Hi Parents..........

Just wanted to give you a quick reminder post about 4 upcoming special Kindergarten events that will be taking place during the month of May.
On Friday (May 14) we'll be taking our first walking trip to the Knox Post Office from 2:15 - 3:15PM. Please remember to send in an envelope with the correct postage by Thursday May 6th. The children will be writing a note to a classmate & mailing it during our visit. It should be an exciting time when you tell them ... you've got mail!

On May 20th, we'll be walking to the Knox Fire Hall & on May 25th we'll be taking our final walking trip to the Knox Public Library. The exact times for these trips haven't been determined as yet. There are no alternate dates scheduled for any of the walking trips, so if the weather is rainy that particular trip will be cancelled. If possible, we'll see if there's a chance to rescedule the visit.

Thursday (May 27) is our "big" field trip to the Erie Zoo. There is no rain date for this trip, so we'll be going rain or shine. Zoo information handouts have already been sent home. I hope you paid close attention to the information about lunches & the time to be at the school to pick-up your child.

For all these trips, (Zoo, Post Office, Fire Hall, & Library) please be sure to dress your child for the weather of the day & make sure they are wearing comfortable shoes for walking.
If you have any questions about this information, please give me a call or send an email.

Meet ..... Miss Sadie

My husband & I are "new" parents! We brought home the newest member of our family last week... a 9 wk. old minature Teddy Bear English Goldendoodle puppy named Sadie.
The fast approaching end of our school year now has some added excitement for me - middle of night trips outside along with hours of fun & doggie games every evening.
I'm sure my retirement days will be busy ones now that I have this little buddy to keep me company!

An Afternoon Down on the Farm

As a culminating activity to our Farm Unit, all 5 sections of Kindergarten had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the Gene Smith Farm near Strattanville.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith told the children a little bit about their farm, the animals, & the crops they raise. As we toured the farm, the children got to see beef & dairy cattle, baby pigs, chickens, & a horse. Also, as a special treat, each child got their picture taken as they sat on the driver's seat of a big John Deere tractor!!
It was a wonderful day "down on the farm" & we greatly appreciate Mr. & Mrs. Smith letting us all come for a visit!

IXL MAth & 101+ Web Resources

Thanks (again) to Mrs. Witkowski, our Technology Specialist, for these sites. Even though your child is only in Kindergarten, both sites look like keepers!! Bookmark them now ... IXL Math would make a great site to use during the summer to review skills learned this year & to get a jump start on what's coming up next year. The 101+ Web Resources site may not be something your Kindergarten child is ready for now, but it looks especially interesting... might be of interest to older children or even yourself!

IXL Math - IXL Math is a helpful math site that provides all of the math skills (pre-K thru 6th grade) that are learned in a particular grade level. Students can click on each skill to receive a set of practice problems. This resource appears to be helpful and parent-friendly. This would make a great site for summer reviewing! :)

101+ Web Resources for Students - 101+ Web Resources for Students is a great listing of different sites for students. The sites are organized by topics such as Almanacs, Encyclopedias, and Style Manuals. It is a good site to share with your students as a starting point for them when doing research or needing help.

K1 Kids - Candid Pics

It's time to check out the "K1 Kids - Candid Pics" section to see a few new classroom photographs.

SOS - Help for Parents

Recently, I heardd about an excellent book on behavior management called SOS Help For Parents by Dr. Lynn Clark, Clinical Psychologist. I was intrigued enough to check out the author's website to see if there might be some ideas I could use with my students.
If you are interested in learning some behavior management tips to use with your child(ren), visit http://www.sosprograms.com/index.html to see video clips of parenting methods and skills that Dr. Clark describes in his book.
Also, check out the Child Behavior link at the top for chapter samples. There are many good ideas listed for: Ways of Increasing Good Behavior, Major Methods for Stopping Bad Behavior, & Helping Your Child Express Feelings. This might be just the book for us all!!!
You might also visit http://www.freebehaviorcharts.com/charts/#chart for free behavior charts to print off & use at home.