Sunday, August 15, 2021

Back to School Shopping List

     It won't be long before school starts now!  I've been diligently working on unpacking and setting up the classroom!  If you're interested in what your child needs for school, here's what I ask parents to send to school...

Must Haves

  • Standard Size backpack (must be able to fit a standard size pocket folders).
  • Healthy Snack (as of this moment, I have not been informed of any food allergies).
    •  If your child has a food allergy, please let me know via email, the Meet and Greet, or at the Screening.  
    • Same goes if your child has some other allergy or other health concern.  Sometimes information from the doctors don't make it to school until after the first day!
  • Lunch (unless your child will be getting a school lunch)
  • Change of Clothes in plastic shopping bag labeled with your child's name - accidents happen (bathroom, spilt milk, paint spills, yogurt explosion, fruit cup spill, etc).  It helps having a change of clothes that your child is familiar with.  It is also helpful if your child is too hot or cold and needs another pair of clothes.  We will keep it in the room and return it at the end of the school year!
  • Sneakers or footwear with ankle straps - with the woodchips on the playground, it's best that students wear sneakers every day or at least footwear that has an ankle strap for them to run around in.
  • Extra Mask
  • Water Bottle
**** The district or I will provide all other materials - crayons, pencils, erasers, markers, glue sticks, scissors, communications folder, classroom folders, etc. ****  

Items for Home for Homework and Projects
  • Crayons
  • Pencils
  • Erasers
  • Scissors
  • Glue

See you soon!  If you have any questions ahead of time, please feel free to email me!

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Getting Ready for Kindergarten!

Here are some ideas to help you and your child get ready for Kindergarten...

Language Development 
  •    A child learns vocabulary and basic rules of language through talking and being exposed to reading.
  •    Have your child practice reading and writing their first name.
  •    Read to your child 15-20 minutes a night. 
  •    Socialize with your child using different vocabulary.
  •    Have your child socialize with peers - give them opportunities to talk, play, and share with peers.
  •    Write their name on things around the house so they can recognize their name. 
Getting Ready for Math
  •    Have your child practice identifying basic shapes and colors.
  •    Have your child practice counting to 10.
Activities to Develop Fine Motor Skills
  •    Have your child practice cutting, gluing, and drawing.  
  •    Play games where they need to pick up small objects.
  •    Food Activity - put snack food in a cup - then they will need to reach in and pinch to get the food out.
Here are some things you will need for Kindergarten:
  • Extra Change of Clothes in a bag labeled with your child's name - we will store it in the classroom.
  • Standard size backpack - large enough to hold a standard size folder.
  • Sneakers every day please!
  • Healthy Snack and Drink 
  • Lunch - (School lunch available as well!)
  • For Home - Pencils, Glue stick, a pair of child safe scissors, box of crayons for homework and take home projects.  Your child will have a set of supplies in school.  They do not need to carry supplies to and from school :).

Thursday, June 1, 2017

ck vs. k vs.c in Spelling!

      Last week, we talked about how the /k/ sound can be made by c, k, or ck.  We had learned previously that ck happens at the end of words or syllables.

  • We learned that ck is only used at the end after a short vowel (like in duck, back, sick).  
  • We learned that k is not used after a short vowel.
  • We learned that c does not usually end words.

Little Writer App


App Name: Little Writer

Devices: iPhoneiPad

Cost: $0.99

Description:  This has students practice writing letters, numbers, shapes, and words. I like how its customizable, so you can add your own pictures and words. 

Skills: Letter Writing (upper and lower), Letter ID / Sound ID, and Word Building. Also used for Number Writing, Number Recognition, and Shapes.

Subjects: Language Arts, Math

Stars (x/5): 5

Sight Words: Kids Learn App


App Name: Sight Words: Kids Learn

Devices: iPadiPhone

Cost: Free, $8.99 (download the free version, then upgrade)

Description:  Students identify sight words called out, practice writing sight words, and use sight words to build sentences. The free version give access to 25 words, while the paid version gives access to 300 sight words. I'm not sure if its worth $8.99 when there are so many other Sight Word apps out there for less.

Skills: Sight Word Recognition, Spelling Sight Words Practice, Writing Sight Words


Stars (x/5): 5 for Free, 2 for Paid (cause of cost vs what your can get elsewhere).

Sight Words Games & Flashcards App


App Name: Sight Words Games & Flashcards App

Devices: iPhone, iPad, Google Play, Amazon

Cost: Free (iPhoneiPadGoogle PlayAmazon), $1.99 (iPhoneiPadGoogle PlayAmazon)
        (To purchase for iPhone/iPad, download the free version, then upgrade.)

Description: Students do different activities with sight words. Students choose sight words that are announced, or build sight words, or find matching pairs, or can review sight words with flash cards. The sight words in this app go up to 3rd grade. There's the option to have multiple student accounts with this. 

Skills: Sight Word Recognition, Spelling Sight Words Practice

Stars (x/5): 5 for Free, 5 for Paid

Moose Math App


App Name: Moose Math

Devices: iPhone, iPad, Google Play, Amazon

Cost: Free (iPhoneiPadGoogle PlayAmazon)

Description: Moose Math engages kids in a mathematical adventure and teaches counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, geometry and more. While playing 5 multi-level activities in the Moose Juice Store, Puck’s Pet Shop and Lost & Found, kids can earn rewards to help build their own city and decorate buildings. This app, you can create seperate accounts for each child in your house! 

Skills: Counting, Adding, Subtracting, Sorting, Geometry / Shapes


Stars (x/5): 5