Week of Sept. 20-24

password: the
focus letter: Aa

Poem: (tune BINGO)

There was a tree that grew a fruit
and APPLE was it's name-oh
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
A-P-P-L-E
And APPLE was it's name-oh

Important Dates:
Thursday, Sept. 23rd is school picture day. Send your child in their Sunday best. You may bring clothes for them to change into if you wish.

Also, please send your child to school with an apple by Wednesday. We will be doing an apple taste test and if enough apples are brought we will make homemade applesauce! Mmm, delicious!

Welcome Back Dinner

Don't forget tonight is the Welcome Back Dinner starting from 5-7pm. The Bookfair will also be open (it closes tomorrow at 12pm). We'd love to see you there!!!

Homework Ideas

Story Time:
· Discuss the author & illustrator. Take a picture walk (look at the pictures before reading and talk about what is happening in the pictures). Make predictions about what will happen in the story
· Ask your child to retell a story in their own words
· Discuss story elements (title, author/illustrator, setting, main characters, problem and solution)
· Have your child come up with a new ending
· Look for the kindergarten passwords in the book
· Have your child draw their favorite character from the book
· Act out favorite parts from a book
· Read to your child every day

Language Arts:
· Go on letter hunts to look for different letters of the alphabet
· Make an exciting vocabulary list: (Ex: Instead of happy use elated or excited. Instead of sad use blue or upset)
· Practice Nursery Rhymes (read, act out, look for passwords)
· Make letters out of playdoh
· Practice writing name in shaving cream
· Paint name and passwords
· Build words out of magnetic letters
· Come up with a word for each letter of the alphabet (Ex. L is for lion)
· Practice the sounds that letters make
· Practice rhyming (man, dan, can, san)
· Discuss sequence as you do every day activities (EX: Unloading the dishwasher. First we take the clean dishes out. Next we put the clean dishes in the cabinets. Last we put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.)
· Use vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary!

Technology:
· www.starfall.com
· http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
· http://pbskids.org/
· http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
· www.funbrain.com
·

Math:
· Practice sorting objects into groups (by color, shape and size)
· Practice writing numbers
· Practicing counting to 20 and backwards from 20 (use objects to help)
· Practice skip counting (counting by 5s, 2s, and 10s)
· Count objects to 20 (or more of course)
· Use math vocabulary words to locate objects (Ex: Look above the table. Put your toys to the left of your bed)
· Go on a color scavenger hunt
· Use describing words to describe objects (big, huge, tiny, small, medium, heavy, light)

Science:
· Go on nature walks during the day and at night, discuss what you see around you

Just for Fun:
· Cook with your child
· Watch their favorite cartoon or tv show with them (Don’t read a book or do another activity – sit with them and watch it.)
· Talk them on a walk
· Ride your bikes together
· Go shopping together
· Play a board game (Candy Land, Hungry Hungry Hippos, etc)
· Play a card game (Go Fish, Uno)
· Work on puzzles
· Spend time together J

Password Homework Ideas

Passwords for this 6 weeks: I, can, in, am, we, like, the, a, be, itThe following are ideas you can use for homework to help your child learn their passwords:

• Make passwords out of playdog
• Encourage your child to search for their passwords in books, newspapers, magazines, etc
• Practice spelling passwords
• Use bathtub crayons to write passwords in the tub
• Write passwords in simple sentences (Ex: We can swim. I like the dog. I am in the park.)
• Quiz your child over the spelling of passwords
• Put passwords in a hat, bag or sock and have your child read the passwords as they pull them out
• Rainbow write passwords (Ex: like)
• Use magnetic letters to build passwords
• Play "I Spy" with passwords
• Highlight passwords in newspaper

Practice passwords daily - this will help your child become a successful reader! :)

Welcome Letters

Welcome to Mrs. Conine’s Class!

I am really excited about working with your child this year. I am a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University. This is my 16th year teaching Kindergarten at Charlotte Anderson. Other experience includes: 3rd grade language arts/elementary art grades 1-5, 4 year old nursery school, 3 year old nursery school and 1 year of 6th grade (not a good match for me).
I am married to Chuck and we have two adult children. Mitchell, his wife Julia, and our grandson, Grady, live in Temple, Texas. Aimee and her husband Greg, live in Phoenix, Arizona. I am active with my church, the Ulster Project and I love to go antique shopping. Please let me know if there are any questions that I can answer for you.
You can call me during my conference period (10:25-11:15), write me a note, or email me at DixieConine@misdmail.org

I am looking forward to a great year!

Mrs. Conine

***

Welcome to Mrs. Byzar Williams’ Class

I am really excited about working with your child this year. I am proud to say that this will be my 20th year at C.Anderson! It is my 27th year to teach. I have an undergraduate degree in elementary education with endorsements in special education from Texas Christian University. My Masters degree is in Elementary Education with emphasis in Special Education, from East Texas State University.

My husband Steve is Director of Managed Care for an ambulance company in Dallas. We have two grown sons. Our oldest Armen was married to Aimee last March. They reside in Frisco. Armen is chasing his dream of being a sportscaster. Aimee is a 4th grade teacher in the Prosper ISD. Our other son Jordan graduated with a laser optics technology degree from Texas State Technical College in Waco. He presently works at Lockheed Martin and lives in Mansfield. They both started their academic career at C.Anderson!

Please let me know if there are any questions that I can answer for you. You can call me during my conference period (10:20-11:20), write me a note, or e-mail me at ByzarWilliams@misdmail.org. I am looking forward to a great year!!!

Mrs. Williams


***

Welcome to Mrs. Ogunleye’s Kindergarten Class!

My name is Elizabeth Ogunleye (pronounced “Oh-gun-lay-yeh”). I am thrilled to begin another year here at Charlotte Anderson. I am even more excited about working with your child this year. It is my goal to help your child reach their full potential. I hope we can work together to make kindergarten the best experience for your child.

Here is a little bit about myself. I have a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas at Arlington. I also recently got married this summer! My husband works in Ft. Worth as an engineer at Lockheed Martin and we live in Arlington.

When I am not teaching I love traveling around the country. One of my passions is getting to see and experience different cultures. I have had the privilege of teaching and working with children in different places such as Mexico, Spain, and Romania.

Please let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you. Feel free to call me during my conference period (10:20-11:20), write me a note, or email me at elizabethogunleye@misdmail.org. I am looking forward to a wonderful year together!

Your teacher,
Mrs. Ogunleye

***

Dear Kindergarten Families,
First of all, WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN! My name is Kristen Hendrix and I am both honored and excited to be your child’s kindergarten teacher. This is my 6th year at Charlotte Anderson and I am also the Team Leader for the kindergarten team. One of the many reasons I love Charlotte Anderson is because it is an extremely diverse campus that is dedicated to being a family, not only for your children but for you as well. I also want you to know that working with children is my passion because I truly enjoy watching them grow and experience life.

Since you will be sharing your child with me let me tell you a little about myself. I graduated from Texas Wesleyan with a BA in Early Childhood Education. I am both ESL, English as a second language, and Gifted and Talented certified. I have a wonderful husband named John. We have two fun and active boys, Gabriel (who is actually my stepson) and Kain. Gabriel is 4 ½ and is starting Pre-K at Cross Oaks Elementary, located in Denton County. Kain will be two on September 18th and you will often see him with me at CAE events. We also love animals and have four pet family members. Leni, Tino, and Aiyo are our little dogs and we have one cat named Sukko. I can proudly say that 3 out of 4 of our animals were adopted from a shelter. Needless to say, I love my family very much!

Please feel free to participate in your child’s kindergarten year as much as you are able. Helping hands are always needed and appreciated. Whether it is reading a story to the class, helping with reading groups, cutting out projects at home, or any other participation would be greatly appreciated.

I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can send me a note in your child’s folder, email me at kristenhendrix@misdmail.org or call me at (817) 299-7760. We also have a class blog that I would love for you to follow, http://hendrixkindergarten.blogspot.com/.

I am looking forward to a wonderful and exciting year with you and your child!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Hendrix

***

Mrs. Richardson's letter coming soon...

Kindergarten Orientation

Thank you so much for all of you who were able to attend Kindergarten Orientation Night. We had a very successful turn out. We are all excited to begin our journey with you and your child!!!

Welcome, Bienvenido, حفلة استقبال, Sự Hoan Nghinh!

Welcome to the CAE Kindergarten Blog! On this website, you will be able to read the weekly newsletters. We will also use this resource to keep you informed on the most up to date information. We recommend that become a follower and that you read this website at least once a week.

Please feel free to contact your teacher anytime through email, phone, and of course, by commenting on the blog.

Thank you,

The CAE Kindergarten Team

Mrs. Hendrix: kristenhendrix@misdmail.org
Mrs. Conine: dixieconine@misdmail.org
Mrs. Richardson: debbierichardson@misdmail.org
Mrs. Williams: byzarwilliams@misdmail.org
Mrs. Ogunleye: elizabethogunleye@misdmail.org