I am available to chat at arrival in the morning and at afternoon dismissal.  You can also reach me by writing a note and putting it in your child’s folder.  Here is my email address:  thawkins@stpatrickssi.org
      Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I look forward to hearing from you!
 

       If you would like to order from the Scholastic book club, visit the following website:
         scholastic.com/readingclub
Our class code is:
                        PR8C8

Friday 3/27
I can't believe another week has come and gone!  It's been so nice hearing from so many of you.  I LOVE seeing what my little friends have been working on, and I hope you have been passing my messages on to them.   
If I haven't heard from you yet this week, please email me by tomorrow with work samples from each day this week so I can take "attendance".  If there is a problem, please contact me the same way you would if your child was absent from a regular school day.     

Calendar / Science:   I hope you are all keeping up with your March calendars!  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  It's spring now.  Ask your child if they think today feels like a spring day?  Have them explain their thoughts.

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.  Use these tips whenever your children are writing!

Read Aloud:   Let your child choose a story for you to read to them.  Refer back to the information from last week for questions to ask and concepts to review.  In class, we began discussing fantasy and reality.  Ask your child which they think their book is and why they think that.  

Literacy:  Review all the letters we have learned thus far.  Be a letter detective today!  Look for the letter Uu in the books you read. 

Math:  Be a shape detective!  Go around the house searching for items that are shaped like squares and rectangles of different sizes (ex: boxes, cell phones).  Talk to them about the difference between squares and rectangles.  How do you know if it's a square?  How can you tell if it's a rectangle?  At school, we talked about how a square's sides are all the exact same length, but a rectangle has 2 longer sides and 2 shorter sides.   Help them practice their fine motor skills by tracing and then cutting out these squares and rectangles.  Finally, have your child create art work using them.   Write down what they say about their creation.  


Thursday 3/26
Parents, please check your email for a UPK update I just sent out to all of you.  Let me know if you have not received it.  

Calendar / Science:   I hope you are all keeping up with your March calendars!  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  It's spring now.  Ask your child if they think today feels like a spring day?  Have them explain their thoughts.

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.  Use these tips whenever your children are writing!

Read Aloud:  Go to youtube to view the following story: Curious World- Books - Rain! by Linda  Ashman (Momtivities 3:24).  How do the characters feel about the rain at the beginning of the story?  How do they feel about it at the end of the story?  How do you know?  Do they feel the same at the beginning of the story as they do at the end?  If they feel differently, what made them change?  How do you feel about the rain?  What do you do/ wear in the rain?  After you listen to the story and discuss it, retell the story by acting it out.  

Literacy:  Uu is for umbrella!  Make a rainy day umbrella picture.  Have your child write their name and the letters Uu on their paper.  Cut an umbrella out of construction paper for them to glue on.  Have them complete the picture by drawing whoever they want out in the rain under that umbrella.  Ask them about their picture once its completed and write down what they say.  To add rain to the picture, you will need your math index cards.  Have your child randomly pick a number from the cards and carefully add that many rain drops.  If you still have your water drops hanging around the house (from Monday), use them as the rain drops and glue the proper number onto your paper.  If not, cut some more out or draw them.  Have your child write the number of raindrops on their paper as well.  

Math:  Review numbers 1-11 and practice writing the numbers.  Don't forget to encourage your child to use the proper grip.  

Rhyme Time!:  Play a rhyming game with your child.  If you have a whiteboard or blackboard draw a picture for your child of simple things like grass, a tree, the sun, a cloud, a flower, etc.  Give your child the eraser and tell them to erase the picture that rhymes with the word you say.  For example:  If you say "see", they would erase the tree picture.  If you say the word "fun", they would erase the sun.  



Wednesday 3/25

It's SHARE DAY!  I loved the work you all shared with me over the weekend!  Let's do it again!  I can't wait to hear from you!

Calendar / Science:   I hope you are all keeping up with your March calendars!  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  It's spring now.  Ask your child if they think today feels like a spring day?  Have them explain their thoughts.

Literacy:  Write Uu today.  If you would like to find a printable worksheet for the letter, try the following site: first-school.ws  
Scroll down and click on alphabet printable activities or handwriting printable activities to find a variety of worksheets to choose from.  Feel free to do one or as many as your child would like.  Remember, this is just an option.  Do not feel that you have to use a worksheet unless it is your preference.  

Math:  Review your index cards for the numbers 1-11.  Mix them up and give them to your child to put in the proper order.  Once that is done, use this as your number line.  I've explained to your children how a number line works - that the lower numbers are to the left, and the greater numbers are to the right.  Pick a number and then have your child name the numbers that are less than the chosen number.  After, have your child name the numbers that are greater than the chosen number.  The students enjoy naming very high numbers when asked for a greater number than one we pick on our number line. 

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.

Read Aloud:   Let your child choose a story for you to read to them.  Refer back to the information from last week for questions to ask and concepts to review.  In class, we began discussing fantasy and reality.  Ask your child which they think their book is and why they think that.  

Science:  Let's talk about spring flowers!  Go to youtube and watch the following video:  Lifecycle of a Flower (octofinn 1:42).  When it's over, talk about how a flower grows.  Create your own illustration like the one in the video that shows what you learned about flowers.  Use crayons, markers, play-dough, or anything else you can think of.  Be creative!   Look out your window for inspiration.   Are there any spring flowers growing in your own backyard? 





Tuesday 3/24

Calendar / Science:   Use your March calendar again.  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  It's spring now.  Ask your child if they think today feels like a spring day?  Have them explain their thoughts. 

Literacy:  Calling all letter detectives!  Make a Uu basket.  Find as many objects from around the house that start with the letter Uu and put them in the basket.  Then, go and search through the kitchen cabinets for the letter Uu on cans and boxes.  Put those on the kitchen table.  Before you do either, have your child make a prediction as to how many items you will find around the house that begin with the letter and how many will have the letter Uu on the label.  Which group will have a greater number?  Which group will have fewer items?  Ask them to explain their responses.  

Math:  Review all the numbers 1-11.  Have your child count out groups of 11 objects.  Use different household items and toys as counters (pasta, blocks, crayons, etc.).

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.

Read Aloud:  Have your child recall all the places they found water yesterday.  How many do they remember?  Go back around the house and find the water drops.  Did they miss any?
The story for today is "Water Dance" by Thomas Locker.  On youtube you can find a reading of the story for your child.  The one I previewed was- "Water Dance by Thomas Locker" (Melissa Febus 5:15).  After the story, discuss the story and the pictures.  Where can we find water outside our homes?  Please be sure to monitor your child closely while they are watching the short video of the story reading.  If you choose not to show them the reading I have previewed or to show them a second reading by another person, please preview it before you share it with your child.  

Art:  In response to the story, ask your child which picture from the story was their favorite.  Encourage them to recreate it using water paints.  If you do not have water paints, use tempera paint, finger paint, crayons, markers, or colored pencils.  When they complete it, ask them about the story.  What do they remember?  Then, ask them about their work of art.  Write down what they say about the story and their picture.  


Monday 3/23

Thank you so much to all the friends who emailed me work samples over the weekend!  It was so nice to hear from you and see the works of art your children created over the past week.  Let them know I miss them all! 

Calendar / Science:   Use your March calendar again.  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  It's spring now.  Ask your child if they think today feels like a spring day?  Have them explain their thoughts. 

Literacy:  This week's special letter is Uu!  Brainstorm words that start with the letter Uu.  Listen for the sound Uu makes at the beginning of the word.  If you have a magazine or catalogue, thumb through it looking for pictures of words that begin with Uu.  Have your child cut them out and glue them to construction paper.  Have them write their name, the letter Uu, and the words for each picture to the best of their ability just like they would for the weekly homework (see "Writing" section to review the proper skills).  When you are done, review all the letters we have learned so far this year.  For each letter, the students have been taught the name, the sound, and a word.  

Math:  Review the numbers 1-10 using your index cards from last week by mixing them up and having your child identify each digit.  Then give them a group of 11 objects to count.  Write the number 11 on an index card and show it to your child.  Add it to the rest of the cards and see if your child can find the 11 in the pile.

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.  

Science:  Water is all around us!  Cut blue paper into the shape of little drops of water for your child.  Have your child go around the house and hang a drop of water anywhere they find water in the house.  

Read Aloud:   Let your child choose a new story for you to read to them.  Refer back to the information from last week for questions to ask and concepts to review.  In class, we began discussing fantasy and reality.  Ask your child which they think their book is and why they think that.  

Our first week of learning at home has been very interesting!  I hope your children have been busy each day learning, playing, and having meaningful conversations about the world!  Today, please help your child select one of the assignments from this week.  It could be something they enjoyed doing the most or something they created which made them feel proud.  Please email me a picture of that work so I can see it too!  Remember: It should be ONE picture of one (or a couple if they fit in the photo) of the tasks I have assigned to you this week.
I can't wait to hear from you!   

Literacy:  Review all the letters we have learned thus far.  Be a letter detective today!  Look for the letter Tt in the books you read.  

Math:  Be a shape detective!  Go around the house searching for items that are shaped like circles (ex: the bottoms of cans and cups).  Help them practice their fine motor skills by tracing and then cutting out these circles of different sizes.  Finally, have your child create art work using the circles.  Write down what they say about their creation.  

Read Aloud:  Let your child choose a new story for you to read to them.  Before reading the story, discuss the book cover information.  What does an author do?  What does an illustrator do?  What is a title?  What do you think the story is about based on the title and cover illustration?  While reading the story discuss the characters.  What are they doing?  Why are they doing it?  How are they feeling?  How do you know?  What would you do if you were in the same situation?  What do you think will happen next? 
Your child has been learning about these topics and how to answer questions like these.  Give them time to think and share their ideas.  
Don't forget to be a letter detective and look for the letter Tt in the print.  Listen for the Tt sound.  Read a page to your child and ask them to give a thumbs up when they hear the Tt sound.  When they do put up their thumb, stop and ask them to repeat the word with the sound.  

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.  

Science:  Use your March calendar again.  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  Is the weather more like a spring day or a winter day? 

Literacy:  Review all the letters we have learned so far.  Get a box or a basket and take a tour of your home.  Find as many objects that start with Tt as you can to fill your basket.  

Math:  Practice writing the numbers 1 - 10.  Don't forget to use the proper pencil grip!

Read Aloud:  Let your child choose a new story for you to read to them.  Before reading the story, discuss the book cover information.  What does an author do?  What does an illustrator do?  What is a title?  What do you think the story is about based on the title and cover illustration?  While reading the story discuss the characters.  What are they doing?  Why are they doing it?  How are they feeling?  How do you know?  What would you do if you were in the same situation?  What do you think will happen next? 
Your child has been learning about these topics and how to answer questions like these.  Give them time to think and share their ideas.  

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.  

Science:  Use your March calendar again.  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  Is the weather more like a spring day or a winter day?  It's another wet morning today!  If your child hasn't already drawn their rainy day picture after looking out the window, please have them do so today.

Rhyme Time:  Listen to the song "Down by the Bay" again.  Help your child come up with their own simple rhymes to add to the song.  Illustrate your favorite!  

Literacy:  Have your chld draw a picture of something that starts with the letter Tt.  As we do in school, they should write the letter and the word on their paper (to the best of their ability).  

Math:  Take out your number index cards again.  Let your child randomly pick a card, then count out objects in that amount.  Repeat, so you have 2 groups.  Compare the groups the way we do in school, using the words greater and fewer.  

Read Aloud:  Let your child choose a new story for you to read to them.  Before reading the story, discuss the book cover information.  What does an author do?  What does an illustrator do?  What is a title?  What do you think the story is about based on the title and cover illustration?  While reading the story discuss the characters.  What are they doing?  Why are they doing it?  How are they feeling?  How do you know?  Your child has been learning about these topics and how to answer questions like these.  Give them time to think and share their ideas.  

Writing:  Have your child practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  Remember, they should be writing their names in a line, left to right.  It should have one capital letter at the beginning and the rest should be lower case.  If they are writing using an improper grip, correct it so they are holding the pencil between their thumb and pointer finger, resting on the middle finger.  Their hand should be resting on the paper.  

Science:  Use your March calendar again.  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Have your child draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  Is the weather more like a spring day or a winter day?  

Spring:  You have been acting like scientists and observing the world as winter turns to spring.  Ask your child what will happen to trees in spring.  Show them pictures of trees in winter and trees in spring and ask them to compare the two.  How are they the same?  How are they different?  Write down what they say.  Have them fold a piece of paper in half.  On one half, they should draw a picture of a winter tree.  On the other half, children should draw a spring tree.  

Remember:  We are encouraging the students to do these things to the best of their ability.  Nothing is meant to be perfect, but the work is meant to be their own.  What is important here is the process, not the product!  The learning / discovery comes to them in the discussions of how the world works and how letters sound, etc.  Sometimes we ask a child to draw something and they automatically say they can't.  Encourage them to try by breaking the goal down into small steps.  Start with color.  What color do you see?  What kind of line would you draw - straight or curved?   What shape is that like?  It is in the observing / planning / and implementation of that plan that they learn.  Try not to write or draw on their paper.  If you want to help, get your own paper and model the process for them.  In that way, you are encouraging the mastery.  Praise them for their independence and efforts!  Then, when they are done, complement the finished product.  Be specific!!!  Don't just say, "Nice job!"  Tell them exactly what is so nice about it.  For example: "All your hard work really paid off!"  "See, you thought you couldn't do it but you did!"  "I love the way you used a rainbow of colors to make those beautiful flowers!"  "It's amazing how you turned that rectangle into a tree trunk!"  

Dear Parents,

Here are some activities to do with your child throughout the day.  This will help you keep them busy, aid retention of their skills, and master some new skills.  

Literacy:  Our special letter this week is Tt!  Practice writing both the upper and lower case letters Tt.  Review all the letters we have learned so far this year.

Math:  Write the # 1-10 on index cards for your child.  Practice naming them.  Mix them up and have your child put them in order.  

Read Aloud:  Let your child choose a story for you to read to them.  Before reading the story, discuss the book cover information.  What does an author do?  What does an illustrator do?  What is a title?What do you think the story is about based on the title and cover illustration?  While reading the story discuss the characters.  What are they doing?  Why are they doing it?  How are they feeling?  How do you know?

Writing:  Encourage your child to practice writing and spelling their first and last names.  

Science:  Print out a blank March calendar for your child.  Count the days leading up to today.  What day is today?  What is today's month / date?  Look outside and observe the weather.  Draw a small picture in today's box to illustrate (ex: a sun, clouds, or rain).  Is the weather more like a spring day or a winter day?  

Feel free to make a folder of the work your child is doing so they can bring it into school to share with us upon their return!

Try out these fun websites for educational games: abcya.com
                                                                                starfall.com

Stay safe & healthy!  Tell your children that they are missed!  

 

      Here is a list of snacks that have been approved for distribution on birthdays or holidays.  We will only distribute non-food items or snacks from this list.  
                   Kellogg’s Rice Krispy Treats (plain)
                   Nabisco Oreo Cookies (regular)
                   Hostess Twinkies (plain)
                   Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Crackers (cheddar)
                   Lay’s Potato Chips (plain)
                   Philly Pretzels (no dipping sauces)
                   Cupcakes from KIDDIE CAKES BAKERY ONLY (718) 356-3111

There are 20 students in the class (10 boys and 10 girls).  We will only give out treats and invitations if there are enough for the entire class.  

As per Mr. Sadowski, no goody bags are to be distributed.