Mrs. Thomas' Kindergarten

We are down to the last few weeks of school!  They will surely fly by!  As we begin to wrap up our year we are busy reviewing all we have learned in kindergarten and also getting ready for first grade.  The students are constantly hearing me say things like, “Read like first graders, write like first graders, act like first graders..” I am so proud of all they have learned this year.  These kiddos impress me every day!  Thank you for your continued support as we have a fabulous ending to our kindergarten year!

Dates of Interest

May 13^th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip) Five Senses!

May 18^th– SAVE THE DATE! First Grade Night!  6:00-7:00 (Parents and kindergartners are invited to meet the first grade teachers and learn ways to keep their children learning this summer.) – Please return green RSVP form ASAP.

May 20^th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 (PM students may attend with their parents) “I Draw Cartoons and So Can You!”

May 20^th – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion- Snow Cone Party

May 25^th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.

May 26^th – Field Day- Kindergarten will be participating during their normal ½ day session. Please send a water bottle and don’t forget to check the weather and apply sunscreen if needed.  Students MUST wear SNEAKERS on this day!

May 27^th– Mini Relay- Collecting coins in milk bottles for the American Cancer Society.  Please return milk bottles by this day.

May 30^th– NO SCHOOL

June 1^st– Kindergarten End of Year Picnic- Parents and siblings are invited.  Please pack a sandwich and drink.  Bring a snack/dessert to share.  Don’t forget something to sit on.  (This will be held in the Brecknock Memorial Garden which is in between the 4^th grade wing and the 6^th grade wing, near the “big kid” playground.  The ladies in the office will direct you where to go.)

AM Class:  10:00-11:00 Outdoor activities & 11:00-11:30 Picnic

PM Class:  1:00-1:30 Picnic & 1:30-2:30 Outdoor activities

June 2^nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for AM students.

June 3^rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school.  9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for the PM students.

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

Things we are working on in kindergarten:

*Reading harder books

*Learning about vowel pairs and silent e

*Reviewing all of our kindergarten high frequency words (reading and writing)

*Writing longer and longer stories- Challenging students to write 2 pages in their journals!

*Practicing writing smaller and neater (Writing like first graders!)

*Learning about our 5 Senses!

*Reading short vowel CVC words quickly (like a grown up… saying the sounds in our brain)

*Adding and subtracting using dice, dominos, blocks and our fingers

We are down to exactly one month of school left!  I can’t believe it!  It is going to be a very busy month and I will try to keep you updated as much as possible! One new item on our dates of interest is on May 18^th– SAVE THE DATE- The first grade teachers will be hosting a night where you and your child can come to school to meet the first grade teachers and learn about ways you can continue to practice reading, writing and math over the summer.  It should be a fun night!  More information will be coming home soon!

Don’t forget Thursday, May 5^th  the kindergartners will be eating in the cafeteria.  I am still looking for a couple blue forms back to find out if your child will be packing or buying.  Please return them tomorrow if you haven’t already.  I know the children are very excited about this day!  (They keep asking me when it is!)

Dates of Interest

May 5^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L   8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family

May 5^th– Kindergarten eats lunch in the cafeteria (Lunch money due by May 3^rd)

May 6^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z   8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family

May 6^th– Scholastic Orders are due.  These are the last book orders of the year! Stock up for summer!

May 6^th, 7^th, 8^th– Barnstormers Reading Nights- Order your tickets online and use the vouchers that were sent home.

May 10-12^th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017

May 13^th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip)

May 18^th– SAVE THE DATE! First Grade Night!  6:00-7:00 (Parents and kindergartners are invited to meet the first grade teachers and learn ways to keep their children learning this summer.) – More information coming home soon!

May 20^th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 –( PM students may attend with their parents) “I Draw Cartoons and So Can You!”

May 20^th  – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion- Snow Cone Party

May 25^th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and a drink.

May 26^th – Field Day- Kindergarten will be participating during their normal ½ day session. Please send a water bottle and don’t forget to check the weather and apply sunscreen if needed.  Students MUST wear SNEAKERS on this day!

May 27^th– Mini Relay

May 30^th– NO SCHOOL

June 2^nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for AM students.

June 3^rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school.  9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for the PM students.

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

Some highlights of the things we are working on in kindergarten right now:

• Reading and writing “ING” words
• Compound words
• Writing stories with 3+ sentences
• Addition number stories and number sentences
• Reading words “like a grown up” (saying the sounds in our head)
• Reviewing how to read and write ALL of our kindergarten high frequency words
• Reading harder and harder books! J

PTO is looking for interested parents to join them at their meeting on Monday, May 2^nd at 7:00.   There are a few officer positions for next year that they are looking to fill and would love to see some new faces join them.  The PTO does so much for the students, the school and the teachers here at Brecknock.  We really appreciate all of their hard work and all of the time put in by our parent volunteers.    Please consider joining them at their meeting on Monday and learn more about Brecknock’s amazing PTO and all that they do for our Brecknock community.

Dates of Interest

April 29^th– PTO Art/ Music Gala in the evening

May 2^nd– PTO Meeting in the Brecknock Library @ 7:00

May 5^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L   8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family

May 5^th– Kindergarten eats lunch in the cafeteria (Lunch money due by May 3^rd)

May 6^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z   8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family

May 6^th, 7^th, 8^th– Barnstormers Reading Nights- Order your tickets online and use the vouchers that were sent home.

May 10-12^th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017

May 13^th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip)

May 20^th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 –( PM students may attend with their parents) “I Draw Cartoons and So Can You!”

May 20^th  – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion- Snow Cone Party

May 25^th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and a drink on this day.

May 26^th – Field Day

May 27^th– Mini Relay

May 30^th– NO SCHOOL

June 2^nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for AM students.

June 3^rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school.  9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for the PM students.

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

We are learning…

This week we are learning our final 2 kindergarten high frequency words:  where and come.  For the remainder of the year we will review and practice reading and writing all of the “word wall words” we have learned this year.  I remind students that these are the “rule breaker” words and we can’t sound them out.  These are the words we just have to practice and memorize.  Please continue to practice these at home as well.

We are also working hard on writing.  The students are now expected to write three sentences independently.  I am really impressed with their writing this year.  I am challenging many of them to write even more.  We took a peak at our journals the other day and looked at our first writing compared to our current writing.  The children were really proud of themselves… and they should be!!!  Ask your child to write you a story at home too.  I bet you might be able to figure out what it says without them reading it to you! J

Lunch in the Cafeteria!!

Coming home today is a paper in your child’s folder regarding a special day I always set up for the students as we approach the end of kindergarten.  The students will have the opportunity to eat lunch in the cafeteria on May 5^th.  Mrs. Marilyn Martin, from the cafeteria will talk to the students and explain to them how things work in the cafeteria.  They will learn where they will put their lunch money, how to walk through the lunch line, carry their tray to their tables and how to clean up when they are done eating.  They will also talk to them about the rules in the cafeteria as well.  The students may pack or buy lunch on this day but all students will walk through the lunch line so that they have experience with that before the first day of first grade.  If you would like your child to buy lunch please return the bottom portion of the blue paper with your child’s name and $2.20.  If you have any questions please let me know.  (Weather permitting we will also play on the first grade playground!!!)

PSSA Spirit Weeks

The students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the PSSA test from April 12-21.  To encourage the students to do their best we are having PSSA Spirit Week and the kindergartners may also participate to show our support of the “big” kids! J

April 14^th– We’ve got taking the test down to a “T.” T-shirt Day!

April 15^th– We’re taking the PSSA… No Sweat!  Sweat Pant Day!

April 19^th– Hats off to our test takers- Hat Day!

April 20^th– We’re all geniuses! Wear Jeans!

April 21^st– Show your BRECKNOCK pride!  Wear a Brecknock shirt or blue & gray.

Dates of Interest

April 15^th– Scholastic Orders due

April 22^nd – STMath Party- 45% completion

April 29^th– PTO Art/ Music Gala in the evening

May 5^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L   8:15-8:45

May 5^th– Kindergarten eats lunch in the cafeteria (Lunch money due by May 3^rd)

May 6^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z   8:15-8:45

May 10-12^th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017

May 13^th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip)

May 20^th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 – PM students may attend with their parents

May 20^th  – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion

May 25^th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack.

May 26^th – Field Day

May 27^th– Mini Relay

May 30^th– NO SCHOOL

June 2^nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for AM students.

June 3^rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school.  9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for the PM students.

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

This week is flying by already and I just wanted to update you on a few things:

Specials this week:

Wednesday:  STEM

Thursday: Art

Friday: Library

Monday:  Music

PSSA Spirit Weeks

The students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the PSSA test from April 12-21.  To encourage the students to do their best we are having PSSA Spirit Week and the kindergartners may also participate to show our support of the “big” kids! J

April 12^th– We’re RED-y for the test!  Wear RED!

April 13^th– Sock it to the test.  Crazy Sock day!

April 14^th– We’ve got taking the test down to a “T.” T-shirt Day!

April 15^th– We’re taking the PSSA… No Sweat!  Sweat Pant Day!

April 19^th– Hats off to our test takers- Hat Day

April 20^th– We’re all geniuses! Wear Jeans!

April 21^st– Show your BRECKNOCK pride!  Wear a Brecknock shirt or blue & gray.

Dates of Interest (from now until the end of the year! WOAH!)

April 8^th– Report Cards coming home

April 22^nd – STMath Party- 45% completion

April 29^th– PTO Art/ Music Gala

May 5^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L   8:15-8:45

May 6^th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z   8:15-8:45

May 10-12^th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017

May 13^th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House Program)

May 20^th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 – PM students may attend with their parents

May 20^th  – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion

May 25^th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack.

May 26^th – Field Day

May 27^th– Mini Relay

May 30^th– NO SCHOOL

June 2^nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for AM students.

June 3^rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school.  9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink.  This will be the last day of school for the PM students.

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

This week we are learning:

Our last vowel!  Uu  Please practice reading and writing words like fun, spun, fun, up, dump, shut, bus, dug…

Here is a song we will be practicing this week to help us remember the short vowels and the long vowel sounds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TjcT7Gto3U&index=8&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se

We will be starting our final math unit this week.  It is an important one… focusing on addition and subtraction!  This unit will be our main focus during the entire fourth quarter.  We will work hard to learn addition and subtraction facts up to 10.  At the beginning we will be using many types of objects to help us figure out the math problems.  Please find ways to practice his at home and use the vocabulary:  addition, subtraction, add, subtract, minus, plus, equals, sum, total, number sentence…   We will be sending home a new Math newsletter soon.

Specials this week:

Wednesday-STEM

Thursday-Art

Friday-Library

Monday- Music

Tuesday-Gym

Dates of Interest:

March 30^th – Students dress like Mrs. Epler/ Mr. Brandt (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

March 30^th– End of Third Marking Period

April 1^st – Day of Service donations due

April 1^st– Book Exchange Day

April 6^th– Box Tops Store

April 6^th– Dress like a Ninja day (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

April 8^th– Report Cards coming home

April 15^th– STMath Party- 45% completion

April 29^th– PTO Art/ Music Gala

May 5^th/6^th– Mom’s and Muffins (Mark your calendars… more information coming home soon)

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

Dates of Interest

March 24-28 No School

March 30- Students dress Mrs. Epler/ Mr. Brandt (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

March 30^th– End of Third Marking Period

April 1^st – Day of Service donations due

April 1^st– Book Exchange Day

April 6^th– Box Tops Store

April 6^th– Dress like a Ninja day (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

April 8^th– Report Cards coming home

April 15^th– STMath Party- 45% completion

April 29^th– PTO Art/ Music Gala

May 5^th/6^th– Mom’s and Muffins (Mark your calendars… more information coming home soon)

Have a wonderful Easter break with your family.

Changes in red!

Dates of Interest:

March 18^th– PTO Spaghetti Dinner, Talent Show & Basket Raffle (Mark your calendars… one of my favorite nights of the year!)

March 18^th– ST Math Celebration- 30% complete to attend- moved to Monday, 3/21

March 18^th– Book Exchange (bring a gently used book to trade for a “new” book… please label with sticky note)

March 18^th– Dress like a Super Hero Day (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

March 21^st– ST Math Celebration- 30% complete to attend

March 21^st– Science Explorers Assembly- 2:30-3:15 – AM students are invited to attend with their parents in the PM-CANCELLED- will be rescheduled

March 24-28 No School

March 30- Students dress like ninjas (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

March 30^th– End of Third Marking Period

April 6^th– Box Tops Store

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/

This week we are focusing on the letters Jj and Ww!

Practice reading and writing these words: jet, wet, Jen, Will, west, nest, job…

New High Frequency Words:  yellow, blue, green

Here are some videos to help your child learn how to spell these words:

Yellow- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGYLqvfygE&index=6&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se

Blue- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMfOhv0Qm0&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se&index=7

Green- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzgY_S7rEoo&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se&index=5

We have been working extremely hard on our writing lately.  The students are impressing me with how much they can write.  At this point in the year I am looking for three sentences independently.  Ask your child what they have been writing about in school and ask them to write you a story at home.  We are focusing on capitals, periods, using spaces between our words, writing smaller and neater, making sure our letters are touching the line (not floating away), adding lots of details to our story, and most importantly stretching out words and writing all the sounds we hear.

FRIDAY!  Brecknock’s Annual Spaghetti Supper!  Basket raffles, yummy food, talent show with student performances… fun night for all!  Hope to see you there!

Specials:

Monday- Art

Tuesday- Library

Wednesday- Music

Thursday-P.E.

Friday- STEM

Dates of Interest:

March 18^th– PTO Spaghetti Dinner, Talent Show & Basket Raffle (Mark your calendars… one of my favorite nights of the year!)

March 18^th– ST Math Celebration- 30% complete to attend

March 18^th– Book Exchange

March 21^st– Science Explorers Assembly- 2:30-3:15 – AM students are invited to attend with their parents in the PM

March 24-28 No School

March 30- Students dress like ninjas (Jump Rope for Heart reward)

April 6^th– Box Tops Store

In other exciting news…

I am happy to share with you… our family is expecting our second little GIRL in early September!

Mrs. Kelly Thomas

Kindergarten Teacher

Brecknock Elementary

http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/