Hoot#2 -- Kinder News and Homework

I have enjoyed getting to know the children the last 6 days. Here are some fun conversation "nuggets" overheard in class.

"So, you two girls like each other? It's great to have a new friend, right? (Miss Jutka)
"We are cousins!" (girls)
So it turns out, they are not cousins...

"What an amazing butterfly you drew, XY! It has a bunch of legs!" (Miss Jutka)
"Yes. It's an African butterfly. Butterflies in Africa have more than six legs." (XY)
"Amazing! How do you know so much about African butterflies?" (Miss Jutka)
"I used to live in Africa." (XY)
I'd be interested to find out...

"Here is how to tell that the bug you are looking at is an insect. Every insect has 6 legs. (Miss Jutka)
"Not every insect does." (ZW)
"???" (Miss Jutka)
"Centipedes have a hundred!" (ZW)
Great entomologist in the making!

CURRICULUM update: how to be a TISA student, "Me," our class pet "Tickles", nursery rhymes and traditional stories, art/elements of design: self-portraits, lines, literacy: Tt, math: counting up, sorting and classifying

SHARE-WARE
I hope you have a chance to explore our class blog at least once a week. I will be emailing you links to each student's individual electronic portfolio so that you can watch them grow and celebrate their learning at home this year.

HOMEWORK
I am usually assigning homework Monday through Wednesday. There will be no homework assigned Thursday through Sunday. I ask that you keep reading with your child at least 20 minutes each day on those days as well.
DO on Monday (due on Tuesday): bring an object that starts with a T
DO on Tuesday (due on Wednesday): draw a picture of your family and label each member with their first name
DO on Wednesday (due on Thursday): draw a picture of your room. This time instead of labeling with words, label with numbers (e.g. 1 -- if you have 1 window, 3 - for 3 stuffies, 5 - for 5 socks, etc.)
Weekend -- no homework (continue with daily reading)

FIELD TRIP FORM
We will be going on walking field trips to Filemon Sanchez Park (by softball field) and the Eco Park.
Please stop by our room to sign the form in class

VOLUNTEERS
Welcoming volunteers for our reading activities between 9 and 10 am. Please let me know if you are interested.

HEALTH
We have had a few questions about sickness. Here is what I recommend.

Students should not be sent to school if they are showing signs of illness, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, constant coughing, sore throat or untreated infected skin patches / rashes.  It is advisable that students with a fever are kept home until he/she is fever free for 24 hours, without benefit from a fever-reducing agent.

Parents should notify the school whenever their child is going to be absent from school due to illness or injury.

During school hours if your child feels ill or is injured, the teacher will determine if your child needs to be taken home by checking the following signs or symptoms:

• Temperature of 99.7°F or above with complaints of moderate to severe illness or pain

• Difficult or rapid breathing 

• Severe coughing

• Eyes that are red, swollen and draining

• Vomiting / diarrhea

• Severe pain

If any of these conditions exist, the office staff or teacher will notify the parents.  Parents are responsible to pick up your child or arrange for a designated person to pick up the child promptly. 

If your child has a long-term medical condition (such as asthma, severe allergies or anaphylaxis, diabetes, seizures, etc.) please make sure it is noted on the Emergency Information Card and Health Survey Form.  In addition, please check with the office manager to obtain other forms that may need to be filled out.

HELP
please bring in extra clothes for your child in a Ziploc bag (many children need them)
prize box items (our prize box needs some fresh goodies)
Tickles (Our gecko eats 12 crickets or 1 container of meal worms. They can be bought at Taos Blue pet supply store, across from McDonalds. Please let me know if you can help with that.)