Erin Crowe
May 14, 2012
Dear Parents:
Thank you all for the flowers and notes during Teacher’s Appreciation Week. I truly appreciate all of the support my parents have shown me this year. I can’t believe the year is almost over; just four more weeks to go.
We will be finishing up our last reading unit by the end of May. Continue to read with your children. Our last Decodable book, “We Did It”, came home with this week’s homework packet. We will be sending home a complete list of high frequency words for you to review with your child. It is good to review the list during the summer as well.
Math Topic 14: Time will be ending this week. Our curriculum only covers time to the hour, but all of our students know how to count by 5’s and have been introduced to the half hour. I encourage you to use an analog clock at home and ask them the time. Most of them know our schedule very well at school and have shown a lot of interest in telling time. Next week we will move onto Topic 15: The Calendar. We have been learning the Calendar all year in class, so this Topic will be some review for the students.
Field Day is this Friday, May 18th. This is also a minimum day for the school, so dismissal will be at 12:00 noon. Please remember to pack a snack for the day. Field day is a lot of physical activity and the children get very hungry. It is a very fun day, and a great day to volunteer, so if you are still looking for ways to get hours, please contact Mrs. Hammond, our PE teacher @ r.hammond@oursaviorsonline.com.
Open House is next Tuesday, May 22nd. This is a night for your child to show off their class to you. The evening begins @ 6:00 pm.
Our LegoLand field trip is coming up on Tuesday, May 29th. I will be sending home the driver/chaperone list by next Wednesday, May 23rd. We will need to bring sack lunches on our field trip as well.
Lastly, I will be out of the classroom on Thursday, Friday and next Monday. My daughter is graduating from Georgetown University on Saturday, so we are flying out to Washington DC. Mrs. Cooper will be subbing for me for the whole time. She has subbed for me before and most of the children know her from pre-school as well. I will let her know of the usual carpools, but if you have someone else picking up for you, please be sure to send a note in with your child to give to Mrs. Cooper.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me.
Mrs. Crowe
May 2, 2012
Dear Parents:
We had an exciting week last week ending with a fun-filled day, as our “new” principals kept everything hopping and wet!
We will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo on Friday, May 4th. The children may wear red, green and white or a traditional outfit from Mexico (sombreros, ponchos, etc.) instead of their regular uniform. They may also wear their jeans and spirit shirts or regular uniform as well. There will be activities at lunch and recess.
The church and school are doing a drive for personal items for Lutheran World Relief. Please donate lightweight bath towels, soap, or wide tooth combs. You may also send in a check for $15.00 made payable to OSLC, memo : LWR kits. There is a bag in our classroom for the donated items. Thanks so much for your support in this drive.
We are looking forward to Field Day on May 18th. The activities will begin at 9:15 and there will be an early 12:00 dismissal. More information about the particular activities and volunteer opportunities will come home with your children. If you plan on volunteering please contact Roxanne Hammond at r.hammond@oursaviorsonline.com. Volunteers are needed right after opening at 8:30. Daycare is available that day.
Open House is on May 22nd at 6:00 pm and that day will also be an early 12:00 dismissal. There is daycare available that day. Remember that the children are to come to Open House to take you on a tour of the class and to show you their hard work! It is also a great opportunity to go and visit the grade level your children will be in next year. My room will also be open during the Pre-School Open House, May 15th @ 6:00.
Finally, the LegoLand trip will be on Tuesday, May 29th. The children are all so excited for this! More information regarding drivers, lunches, etc. will be coming home later this month.
We will begin reading Unit 10: Windy Days. The theme focuses on how wind is created, how it changes, and how it can make our lives easier or more difficult. Through their own investigations, they will observe and experiment with wind as they try to determine how it works. We will learn the long Ee sounds and review both the long and short sounds of Aa, Ee, Ii, Oo, and Uu. Our new high frequency words will be be and she.
In Math we are beginning Topic 14, Time. We will be looking at More and Less Time, Order of the Day, Order of Events, Finding Numbers on a Clock, Telling Time to the Hour, and Times of Events.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Mrs. Crowe
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April 16, 2012
Dear Parents:
Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed their week off for Spring Break. All of the children came into class today with fun stories about their week off and excited to be back at school. I would like to thank all of the parents who helped at, and those who donated items to, our Easter Party. I appreciate all of the support our activities have had throughout the year.
We began Reading Unit 9: Red, White and Blue today. The theme focuses on Patriotism as we learn about our country. We will learn the long Oo and long Uu sounds and read Decodable books that incorporate these sounds. Our new high frequency words will be boy, out, do, little, then and when. We are also reviewing our past high frequency words, color words and number words 1-10.
In Math we are finishing up Topic 12, Length. If our homework pages ask for something to be measured with cubes and you don’t have any cubes at home, please feel free to use some other item or a ruler. We will begin Topic 13, Capacity and Weight, next week.
Our Kindergarten Field Trip to LegoLand is scheduled for May 29th. This is an all day activity and all parents are invited to join us for the fun. We will be sending home an information letter and permission slips this week.
I am so proud of all of your children for the fantastic job they did with our play on Respect and The Sword of the Spirit. They were very excited, but a little nervous, to perform the play for the whole school. During our practices they supported each other and helped each other with lines and remembering their props. Together, they made our play a success.
Mrs. Crowe
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March 30, 2012
Dear Parents:
The third quarter ended today and report cards will be sent home next Wednesday, April 4th. We have a minimum day, 12:00 dismissal on Friday, April 6th. Spring conferences are not mandatory and I will be contacting parents by email if I would like to meet with them. If I don’t contact you and you would like to meet with me, please email me and we will set up a time.
The children have been working very hard rehearsing their Chapel play for next Wednesday. They are doing a wonderful job and are excited to perform it for the school. Continue to practice their lines with them and thank you for all of your support with our play.
Our share for next week is for the Letter Xx. I realize this is a difficult letter for share. For this reason, the children are allowed to bring whatever they would like for share. They do need to be able to tell us the beginning letter of the share.
We just finished Topic 11-Geometry in Math and are starting Topic 12-Length next week. Topic 12 introduces the children to attributes that can be compared, ordered, and measured. We will be using different measuring tools, such as paper clips and crayons. Please continue to use the math vocabulary we have been learning all year with the children, reiforcing the other Topics we have learned so far.
In Reading we will be finishing up Unit 8-Ready, Set, Grow next week. After Spring Break we will be starting Unit 9-Red, White and Blue. We will continue to learn the long vowel sounds, additional high frequency words and the number words six-ten.
Friday we will be having our Easter party in class from 11:00 – 12:00. Spring Break is from April 9th-13th and school resumes Monday, April 16th. I wish everyone a very Happy Easter and a great Spring Break.
Mrs. Crowe
March 20, 2012
Dear Parents,
What a busy two weeks we have had in Kindergarten. During Lutheran School’s week we
deliveredM&M’s to all our preschool classes, enjoyed Luther Pop’s from Mrs. Shaw, discussed
how we can be disciples, and enjoyed Crazy Hair and Free Dress day. The week was topped off
with Grandparent’s Day. We had many visitors in our classroom and the children did a great job
of showing them around the classroom and completing our Grandparent’s Day packet. Everyone
seemed to enjoy the day.
This past week we had our second Meet the Masters class where the children learned about Paul
Klee and made beautiful fish paintings. The artwork is hanging in our windows near the lunch
tables. We also enjoyed a visit from the Traveling Naturalist on Friday, and the children learned
all about mammals and met a rat, a chinchilla, a possum, and a bunny. The speaker was
fantastic and really engaged the
kids!
In Math, we started Topic 11: Geometry. We will learn about rectangles, squares, circles,
triangles, solid figures and flat surfaces of solid figures. Geometry, the study of shapes and
spatial relationships, is important because it offers children opportunities to relate math to the
real world.
In Reading, we started Unit 8: Ready, Set, Grow, which will go right along with our plant study in
Science. In this unit, the children read a variety of selections that teaches them what it means
to be alive and how different living things grow. We will be learning the long Aa and the long Ii
sounds. We will add said, that, down, they, some and there to our high frequency word list.
I have sent home a part for each child to memorize for our Chapel Play. They are doing a great
job learning their lines, but please continue to practice with them. The play date is April 4th.
The end of the 3rd quarter is Friday March 30th and is a full day of school. Report Cards go
home the following week on April 4th. Conferences are optional this quarter. I will contact you if
I think we should meet. Of course, if I don’t contact you and you would like to meet with me,
please email and we will schedule a time. That Friday, April 6th is a minimum day and the
beginning of our Easter Break. School resumes on Monday, April 16th.
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Crowe
March 4, 2012
Dear Parents,
Starting Monday we are celebrating Lutheran School’s week. We have several fun activities planned for
the whole school. The theme is “Celebrate who you are; build disciples.” We decorated our door to
demonstrate the theme as our Monday activity. On Tuesday, Mrs. Shaw will give out Luther pop
popsicles at lunchtime. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will be visiting the preschool classes with bags
of M&M’s and telling them about the “Many and Marvelous” things that we do to help our community.
Thursday will be crazy hair and free dress day. Encourage your child to celebrate who they are or what
they want to be when they get older. They may wear an outfit that shows who they are now or what
they want to be. For example, they may wear a t-shirt from their favorite sports team or sporting
activity, they may wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt from the college they may want to go to, or they may
dress like what they want to be when they grow up. Crazy hair is just CRAZY HAIR. Do what you would
like, but remember, we have Grandparent’s Day the next day. Sometime the spray on hair color doesn’t
come out so easy!
Grandparents’ Day is on Friday. Three important things to remember are: WEAR FORMAL UNIFORM, it
Is a minimum day (12:00 dismissal), and please pack a snack even though we get out at 12:00.
In Math, we are on Topic 10: Patterns. We will be looking at color and shape patterns, comparing
patterns, using patterns to predict what comes next, extending patterns, and creating patterns. The
thought processes used by children to recognize, extend, describe, and create a variety of patterns are
the beginnings of algebraic reasoning processes that lead to extending sequences of numbers and
creating equations to describe numerical relationships.
In Reading, we are starting Unit 7:Teamwork. In this unit, the children read a variety of selections that
teaches them the value of teamwork in reaching a goal. Through their own investigations, children
begin to understand how teams work and to appreciate their own talents and the talents of others on a
team. We will be learning the letters and sound of w , k, e, q, y and v. We will add look, with, her,
what, was and there to our high frequency word list.
The children really enjoyed the visit from David Schwartz. It was a great experience to see a “real”
author right in front of us. His presentation was very kindergarten friendly, and I think everyone in our
class enjoyed it. Ask your children about the bag of popcorn! I will be sending home a color copy of the
page that your child illustrated to contribute to our classroom adaptation of “If Dog’s Were Dinosaurs”.
The whole book is still on display in K-1’s windows that face the lunch area, so please come take a look if
you haven’t already seen it.
If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to call or email me.
Mrs. Crowe
February 23, 2012
Dear Parents,
What a busy time we have had in Kindergarten. The children had a great time at their Valentine’s party.
This is one of their favorite holidays. They enjoy sharing their valentines with their friends and teachers.
Thank you very much for all the Valentine treats. Mr. Crowe says thank you also!
We are very excited about the visit from David Schwartz next Tuesday, Feb. 28th. We have finished our
adapted version of his book, If Dogs Were Dinosaurs. It turned out great! It will be displayed in one of
the windows on campus, so please come take a look.
On Tuesday Mary Hill, who often uses a scooter to move around, came to class with her Canine
Companion, Indy. Indy was “on duty” and demonstrated to the children how she helps Mrs. Hill open
doors, pick up dropped items, carry packages and even hand things to store clerks. She also showed
them how she alerts people if Mrs. Hill needs assistance in any way. This was a great opportunity for
the children to see an amazing example of February’s character trait, “Responsibility”. Mrs. Hill also
stressed the responsibility needed to take care of pets.
Grandparents’ Day is coming up quickly and we have been practicing our song for the Chapel Program
that day. Please let me know if you need additional invitations to send out. It is a very fun and special
day! If grandparents live too far to come, you may invite aunts, uncles or close family friends.
The Annual Spring Auction is just around the corner. This is a great evening of fellowship that includes
dinner and dancing. There are many items to bid on, including teacher baskets. Mrs. Wilcox (from K1)
and I will each have a basket for a movie and dinner night. Each basket will include a movie at the
Krikorian Theater and dinner at Wahoo’s for two children. We will go on our outing as a group. There
are classroom baskets to bid on as well. The program will be coming home and is available on line to
preview. Tickets are also still available on line.
In Math, we are on Topic 9: Numbers to 30. The children are counting to 30, estimating, reading and
writing numbers through 30, comparing and ordering numbers and estimating sums and differences of
big numbers. We are still focusing on the 10-frame as a useful tool to grasp numbers through 30. Early
work with estimating quantities depends on children’s ability to recognize and understand tens and
multiples of 10.
In Reading, we are finishing up Unit 6: My Shadow. Please continue to read the decodable books each
night until it is “easy” for them. Also, while reading other books, have your child pick out the high
frequency words they see on the page. They are getting very good at finding them.
If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you!
Mrs. Crowe
February 7, 2012
Dear Parents,
February is a very busy month. David Schwartz, the author, will be visiting our school on Feb. 28th. We have read his books, Supergrandpa (a true story) and If Dogs Were as Big as Dinosaurs. We also watched his video, How Much is a Million. As a class project we will be illustrating our own version of If Dogs Were as Big as Dinosaurs. We are excited for his visit and the information he has to share. A flyer has gone home detailing how to purchase his books so they can be signed by him personally while he is here for the visit. Contact the school office, if you need more information.
In Math we are finishing Topic 8: Numbers to 20. We are counting, reading, and writing the numbers 11-20. The curriculum uses a ten-frame to visualize that the teen family is ten and 1, or ten and 2, etc., etc. Hopefully the students will then connect that the number 14 is one group of ten and four more and 20 is two groups of ten. This will help them connect the language to the two-digit symbol.
On Groundhog Day last Thursday we began discussing shadows, our Unit 6 Reading topic. We will read about how shadows appear, why they sometimes appear in front of us and sometimes behind and what makes a shadow change in shape and size. While introducing the unit, I was amazed at how much the children already knew about what makes a shadow and how that relates with the sun and the earth. Many of them could already tell me why it is daytime on our side of the earth and night on the other. In this unit we are learning the sounds for the letters j, f, u, x, and z. Our new high frequency words will be for, but, up and all. As we progress in the year, our decodable books are becoming more challenging. It is very important for the children to read the books each night until it is “easy” for them to read the book on their own.
Our Valentine’s Day party will be on the 14th. Melissa Hill will be sending out reminder emails to all those who volunteered to bring items or help out with the party. The main event at the party is handing out Valentines to our classmates. Please remember to bring one for every classmate, a total of 11 in all, not counting one for your own child. To make things easy, they do not need to be addressed to individual classmates. If you want to though, that is ok also.
Lastly, we have a four day weekend beginning February 17th. Hopefully everyone came home last week and explained their water cycle bracelets to you. If you have any questions on any of the above, please contact me @e.crowe@oursaviorsonline.com or through the school office.
Thank you for all of your support.
Mrs. Crowe
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January 22, 2012
You should all be so proud of your children. The children did a wonderful job together reciting their verse on Peace and Citizenship, Philippians 4:9 in chapel last week. It is very exciting to see how much each child has grown this first half of the year.
In Math we completed Topic 6 on Addition and we are halfway through Topic 7, Subtraction. We will be concluding Topic 7 this week, just in time for the end of the 2nd quarter. We still do a lot of comparing of numbers, so using the math vocabulary with your child is extremely important. Again the word fewer seems to throw them for a loop! The more they hear it, the more they will get comfortable with it. In addition to our Math curriculum, we have also learned to count by 10’s and by 5’s to 100. We have also introduced time to the students (to the hour and ½ hour at this point) and coin money (the penny and nickel). If you only have digital clocks at home, it is a good idea to get an analog clock for your child’s room so they can practice telling time at home as well.
In Reading we have started Unit 5, Stick to It. This unit is all about perseverance. We talked about our bible story last week, Noah and the Ark, and how Noah showed perseverance and faith to build an ark because God asked him to. The children will discuss why it is important to stick to an activity, what might make us want to give up, and what helps us stick to a goal. We are learning and blending the sounds of Bb, Cc, Oo, Rr, and Gg.
The children have done a great job learning their addresses and learning to write their last names. I do quiz them on their addresses and phone numbers about once a week, but asking them once in a while at home will also keep it fresh in their minds. Please have them write their last names on their homework packets also.
February brings many exciting events. We will have Valentine’s Day, the 100th day of school, and President Lincoln’s and President Washington’s birthdays. We will be having a Valentines party on Tuesday, February 14th @ 2:00. At the party the children will hand out their Valentines (this can take a long time), and then eat some of the treats they receive. If your child is bringing Valentines, they should bring a signed Valentine for all of their classmates. We have 12 students in our class. They do not need to write their classmates names on the envelopes, in fact it is easier for them if they don’t, but if they want to, that is fine also. We will have plenty of parent helpers to help them read the names. We will be making bags in class for them to use to bring their Valentines home.
I know this is a lot of information. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me either by email or phone. If you would like to meet and talk about your child’s progress, please email me and we will set up a time.
Thank you for all of your support so far this year.
Mrs. Crowe
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January 2, 2012
Happy New Years to all! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas Break. January is a busy month in Kindergarten. We will begin to learn our addresses (house # and street name, city, state, and zip code), we will finish up learning to write our lower case letters and will begin to write our upper case letters, and we will also begin to learn how to write our last names. We will memorize and recite a verse in Chapel on January 18th, and will begin our Meet the Masters Art Program on January 31st. The second quarter ends the last full week of January and report cards will be sent home on February 1st. No formal parent/teacher conferences are scheduled with this report card, but if you would like to meet with me, please email me and we will set up an appointment.
In math, we have been comparing numbers through 10. We finished up Topic 5 just before the break and learned about one more, one fewer, two more, two fewer, and ordering numbers 0-10. Try using the language of “fewer” with your children: “What is one fewer than seven? I have three apples, what is one fewer?” The more comfortable they become with the language, the easier it all becomes. It has been exciting to see that when the children see objects in the ten-frames, they no longer count them; they just know that 5 is the top row, 10 is the whole thing, 9 is one missing, etc. All of these basics will help the children excel in math next year! We will begin Topic 6/Addition, tomorrow.
We are on our 4th unit, “By the Sea”, in our Reading/Language Arts program. The aim of the unit is to provide students with an opportunity to explore the concept of the sea. We will be learning the answers to the following questions:
-How are sea animals different from land animals?
-How is ocean water different from freshwater?
-Why is it important to learn about the ocean?
Our different stories and poems will introduce us to many new vocabulary words. We will be concentrating on the Letters Hh, Tt, Nn, Ll, the short Ii and blending all these sounds together. We have graduated from pre-decodable books that had pictures and high frequency words, to decodable books that have replaced the pictures with words to sound out, introduce new high frequency words, and continue to review our other high frequency words we have already learned.
The school’s vision screening is on Thursday, January 12th. If you are interested in having your child tested, please contact the office. I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.
Mrs. Crowe
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November 27, 2011
Dear Parents and Students:
Thank you very much for the Coffee Bean gift card, birthday wishes, flowers, donuts, and cards. It was a wonderful start to a great week off. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday and time off as well.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our Thanksgiving Friendship Lunch and FAM lunches so successful. I think the children really enjoyed making lunches for others and also enjoyed the opportunity to make lunches to share with K1. Hopefully it was a meaningful way for them to begin their Thanksgiving break.
The children are busy practicing their Christmas Musical songs with Ms. Weinzetl. The Christmas Musical is the evening of Monday, December 5th @ 7:00. All children should dress in their Sunday best dress clothes unless asked by myself to dress otherwise. Please keep in mind it gets hot on the stage with the lighting. Short sleeves and light clothes are always best. That evening, the children need to be in their classroom by 6:40. This event is very well attended, so you may want to get here early with your student to get a good seat. If anyone has questions, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email or through the school office.
Thank you,
Mrs. Crowe
November 3, 2011
Dear Parents:
Thank you to all my parents who volunteered at our annual Barnyard Bash. It was a great success and is always one of our favorite days in Kindergarten.
November has arrived and we have already entered the busy holiday season, even here at school. Thank you for making the time during Parent Teacher conferences to meet with me. Your child’s education is a partnership between family and school and I appreciate all of your feedback.
In Social Studies we are discussing needs, wants, and Thanksgiving. We have decided to try a new Thanksgiving feast this year and will have a Friendship Lunch on Friday, November 18th along with K1. I will send more information about our luncheon home in their folders next week.
In reading we are concentrating on the sounds that the letters make and separating words into syllables and beginning, middle and ending sounds. Even for the child who is already reading, these are important skills to practice. Our letter of the week/share for Thursday, November 10th is Gg.
In Science our unit topic is the weather. We will discuss the different tools scientists use to measure weather and also the water cycle. We will learn about the different seasons and their different types of weather. This will also lead into migration and hibernation.
In Math we are wrapping up Topic 4 before we break for Thanksgiving. When we return we will start Topic 5 where we compare and order numbers.
For future planning, we do have a Grandparent Day celebration every year at OSLS. This year it will be March 9th. The Grandparents are invited to come to school and spend the morning with their grandchildren. I know some grandparents live a distance away, so I like to give my families time to make arrangements.
Thank you-
Mrs. Crowe
October 14, 2011
September is over and we are into October. This is how the Kindergarten year goes...FAST! We will be saying our first verse in front of the school in chapel this Wednesday, October 19th. Please sit in the back of the church if you come to watch.
Part of our Kindergarten curriculum is helping your child learn their phone number and address. In the first quarter we will concentrate on phone numbers. They will learn their addresses in the second quarter. Many families have home numbers, cell numbers and work numbers. Please pick the number you would want your child to call you at if they need to get a hold of you. With this week’s homework is a form to fill out to let me know which phone number you would like your child to learn. Please complete and return by Monday, October 17th.
Mark your calendars because OSLS will be celebrating it’s annual Barnyard Bash Friday, October 28th! The children are looking forward to dressing as a farm animal, a cowboy, a cowgirl, or a farmer. This event is from 10:00-12:00 on the playground and includes games and food. Parents are encouraged to come enjoy the festivities as well. This is a minimum day and school will be out at 12:00. Mrs. Hill will be reminding those who signed up to help with our class game the time they are working. Thank you again for volunteering.
Report Cards for the first quarter will be sent home on November 2nd. Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Wednesday, November 2nd and Thursday, November 3rd. I will post a signup sheet on the bulletin board by my door on the playground beginning next week. I do like to meet with every parent, so please drop by and sign up for a time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call.
Thank you,
Mrs. Crowe
September 22, 2011
Dear Parents:
Thank you for joining me at Back to School Night last Tuesday. It was great to see everyone and review the year we have ahead of us in kindergarten. You will be surprised at how quickly the year will go.
Our first class activity requiring parent volunteers is Barnyard Bash. Barnyard Bash is our annual harvest celebration. The children are encouraged to dress up as farmers, cowboys, scarecrows, and farm animals. The weather is typically on the warm side and this is an outside event at school, so please keep that in mind when choosing a costume to wear. Barnyard Bash will take place on Friday, October 28, which is a minimum day. The activities usually start around 10:00. We have some entertainment, play games and eat lots of food. We need volunteers to help with our bowling game. This activity does require some bending down to reset our bowling pins, so the more volunteers the better. We usually do 15 minute shifts and at this point only have one volunteer. Please contact our room parent, Melissa Hill to sign up.
We have just begun our reading curriculum in class and reviewing the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make. In math we are practicing writing the numbers 1, 2, and 3 and also learning the number words. I will be introducing the addition facts for those numbers as well. With fall just beginning, we will be talking about the fall season in science and many of our fall holidays in social studies. Our handwriting program has now transitioned from lines and circles to actually forming letters.
Again, the easiest way to contact me is by email or by phoning the office @ 492-6165 and leaving a message with Lisa or Julie. They will be sure the message gets to me.
I look forward to a fun year.
Mrs. Crowe