All Aboard!

Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

Polar Express Train

What a fantastic train parade we had!!  So many creative train cars!  Thank you for making this a memorable day for your child! Here are just a few pics!  More to come!!

Just a Reminder

Here are some things to remember:
Tomorrow is Polar Express Day:
-Kindergartners can wear their pajamas to school.
-Don't forget to bring your train car for the Polar Express Parade.
-The parade will be at 8:50 tomorrow morning.

Friday:
-On Friday we will have our holiday party.
-If you were asked to bring any particular item, please make sure to do so.
-Each child needs a wrapped book that is $5.00 or less for the book exchange.

Thanks for all of your help in making our last 2 days before the holidays exciting and fun!!! Happy Holidays!

Focus Letter Cc

Next week, GFAA Kindergarten will be focusing on the letter Cc. Here are some ideas of things you can do at home.

• Make a list of as many words as you can that begin with the letter Cc.
• Scavenger Hunt: Look through your home for things that begin with Cc. For example: cake, camera, can, candle, canoe, car, card, carpet square, carrot, chalk, clock, clothespin, clown, coat, comb, cookies, corn, cotton, cowboy hat, crayon, crown, calculator, camel, cat, caterpillar, chicken, cow.
• Have a snack of candy corn, Cheerios cereal, Cap’n Crunch cereal, Cracker Jacks, cheese and crackers, carrots and celery, cranberry juice.
• Read books about Camping.
• Use arts and craft supplies around the house to create a critter.
• Make Cotton Ball C’s. Cut large letter C shapes out of heavy paper. Dip cotton balls into clue and place them all over the shape.  Variations: Instead of cotton balls glue on corn kernels, cornmeal or dried coffee grounds.
• Read the following books: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault; Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward; The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle; Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? By bonnie Lass.
• Play Candyland, Checker, or counting board games.
• Go camping.
• Make a collage of things that begin with Cc. For example: Cat Collage or Car Collage.
• Help fold Clothes.
• Count the cans in the pantry.
• Clap the steady beat of the music.
• Crawl like caterpillars or crabs.
• Make Christmas Cookies.
• Have Chili and cornbread for dinner.

Have an COOL connection!!

Holiday Party Book Exchange

Friday, December 16th is our Holiday Party. If you would like your child to participate in the book exchange, please send a wrapped book by Thursday, December 15th. 

Please purchase a book that can be either for a girl or or a boy, with a spending limit of $5.  

If your child doesn't bring a book, they won't be able to participate in our exchange!

Polar Express Train Parade!

Dear Parents,

For this month’s family project, we are asking that you and your child create a train car for the polar express. We will be having a Polar Express Train parade throughout the school. To make their train car, you will need an empty box big enough for your child to stand in (see below). Then you will need to cover the box and decorate your train car. Attach straps for your child to carry their train car in the parade. Some ideas to cover your box are, use wrapping paper, construction paper, Christmas placemats or even a Christmas table cloth. You can use whatever you like to decorate. Below are examples of some pictures of a Polar Express train parade at other schools.  Please send your child’s train car on Thursday, December 15. We look forward to seeing everyone’s fabulous train cars on Polar Express Day!

Thanks,

GFAA Kindergarten Teachers

December Family Project!

We are going to be making a Polar express train this year.  We need each child to save a box and decorate it for  a Polar Express Parade! The box needs to be big enough for your child to step into and carry around (see examples below)  Get in the spirit and help your child decorate a box!  Be Creative!  

Stay tuned for when these need to come to school.

A Week of Thanksgiving Activities at GFAA

 Making Native American Vests

 Making Our Handy Turkeys

 Writing About What We Are Thankful For

 Dressing Up For Lunch

 Making Text-to-Self Connections by Sampling Pie

 YUMMY

  Learning How to Draw a Turkey

Making Pumpkin Pie

Sight Words

This weeks sight words are:

go
dog

Please make sure you are frequently reviewing all of our sight words with your child.

Tom Turkey is Hiding Out at GFAA

 

Tom Turkey does not want to be eaten for Thanksgiving. He has shown up in the  GFAA Kindergarten hallway disguised as lots of interesting characters.

Focus Letter Ii

Next week, GFAA Kindergarten will be focusing on the letter Ii. Here are some ideas of things you can do at home.

• Make a list of as many words as you can that begin with the letter Ii.
• Scavenger Hunt: Look through your home for things that begin with Ii. For example: ice cream, iguana, inchworm, igloo, insects, Indians, ice skates, ice cube tray, icicle, infant, ink, iris, iron, ironing board, ivy.
• Play I Spy.
• Have a snack of ice-cream, iced cookies, or Mike and Ike candy.
• Read books and learn about Insects. Write about some of the interesting facts you learned.
• Create “Inkblot Pictures”. Use a piece of white construction paper. Squeeze drops of colored ink or food coloring on the paper. Help your child fold the paper in half. Have them gently rub across the paper and then unfold them to reveal the inkblot designs they created. Encourage your child to tell what they think their inkblots look like.
• I Is for In Game: Play a game by putting all their toys IN the toy box. Put all their dirty clothes IN the laundry basket. 
• Inches – Show your child a ruler or a yardstick and point out the inch marks. Use the ruler to measure such things as a pencil, a piece of yarn or a finger. Measure and find out how tall your child is in inches.
• Crawl like inchworms.
• Make Kool-aid ice cubes.
• Create imaginary insects with collage materials.
• Make an initial necklace.
• Make homemade ice cream.
• Pretend you are an inventor. Invent something new to help out your family at home.  

Have an INTERESTING interlude.

Jackets Jackets EVERYWHERE!!

Please label your child’s sweaters and jackets. We are having some mix ups!  Help your child with learning how to  put on their own jackets and to button, zip and tie!  

PIE!!!

We will be doing a fun lesson next week with the story I know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie. We need Parents from each class to donate a pie for the students to eat that day. If you would be willing to donate a pie, please bring it by next Friday, November 18. THANKS!!

Focus Letter Tt

Next week, GFAA Kindergarten will be focusing on the letter Tt. Here are some ideas of things you can do at home.

• Make a list of as many words as you can that begin with the letter Tt.
• Scavenger Hunt: Look through your home for things that begin with Tt. For example: spinning Top; teddy bear; tiger, turkey or turtle stuffed animals; tape player; telescope; tractor; train; treasure chest; truck; Tyrannosaurus Rex; tablecloth; tambourine; tape; teapot; telephone; television; tennis racket; ticket; toothbrush; tray; tree; triangle; tricycle; T-shirt; toothpicks; tulips;toolbox.
• Play Tic-tac-toe.
• Have a snack of "Tootsie Rolls”; “Trix” cereal; “Twizzlers”; “Triscuits”; tomatoes.
• Read books and learn about trains. Take a trip on the Dart Train.
• Create “Tissue Triangle Art”. Cut triangles out of different colors of tissue paper. Set out brushes and diluted glue; Take a piece of wax paper. Brush glue on the wax paper and place the triangles on top of the glue. Encourage them to work on small areas at a time and to overlap their triangles to create new colors. For a shiny effect, brush more glue over the papers when they have finished. Attach construction paper frames. Then punch a hole in one corner of each frame and hang the papers near a window.
• Timer Game: Place several items (perhaps Tt items) on the floor next to a bag or box. Have the child name each of the items. Then have the child close their eyes while you hide one item in the bag or box. When they open their eyes, set a kitchen timer for the desired number of seconds and have the child try to guess which item you have hidden before the timer rings.
• Use colored toothpicks to practice sorting, making patterns or creating 2 dimensional shapes like, triangles, squares, and rectangles.
• Have a Tea Party with your child.
• Play “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear”. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn around. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, stand tall now. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, take a bow. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch your nose. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, tap your toes. Think of some more things that Teddy Bear can do!
• Paint with old toothbrushes.
• Go to the park and play on a teeter-totter.
• Make a terrarium.
• Talk about favorite TV programs
• Walk on tiptoe.
• Have Tuna Sandwiches for dinner and toast for breakfast.

Have a TERRIFIC time.

Can Food Drive

GFAA Kindness Club is collecting canned and boxed foods for a local Food Pantry. Please send as many items that you can. The class that collects the most will win a pizza party.

Shape Show and Tell

We are learning about the attributes of shapes this week in math.  Please have your child bring the following items to school.

Tuesday-Something in the shape of a Rectangle
Wednesday-Something in the shape of a Square
Thursday-Something in the shape of a Circle

Thank you

Red Ribbon Week

Don’t forget that a drug free life rocks.

Here are some Kindergarten students in their Rock Star attire.

 

Red Ribbon Week

Today we wore silly socks as a reminder to “Sock it to Drugs”  Responsible people always try to do the right thing, even though it may be difficult.  A friend that tries to talk you into a situation that is wrong is not your friend.  Today you received a bookmark as a reminder that you have better things to do then drugs.  Make a list of things that you enjoy doing for fun.  Make sure that reading a good book is on your list.

Pumpkin Heads

 Today we read Pumpkin Heads! by Wendell Minor. We discussed the reoccurring literary theme.  Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes — some tall, some small, some dressed up like cowboys, or snowmen, or witches. Pumpkin Heads! is a beautiful Halloween treat that will inspire you to carve your own imaginative pumpkin head! It inspired our class to create a pumpkin head from construction paper and markers!

Red Ribbon Week

Today we wore hats as a reminder to always use our head when it comes to drugs.   Remember to only take medication from a trusted adult.  Never ever take another person’s medicine.  It could make you very sick.  Today we received a Red Ribbon pencil.  Use your pencil to make a list of things that you can do to take great care of your body.  Responsible people are responsible for their bodies.

Where's My Mummy?

Today we read this gently spooky read-aloud treat. Little Baby Mummy wants just one more game of hide-and-shriek with Big Mama Mummy before bedtime. The night is deep and dark, full of friendly creatures that click their clacky teeth and whoosh past on flippy-floppy wings. But who will comfort Little Baby Mummy if a small, scritchy-scratchy someone gives him a scare? Big Mama Mummy, of course! 

Fresh, comical illustrations complement this ever-so-slightly suspenseful story with a satisfying ending.

Then the children wrote about what their "Mummy" does when they get scared. 

 

 

Red Ribbon Week

Today we are wearing pajamas as a reminder to “Follow Your Dreams”  

Take the time today to make a list of goals that you have for yourself.   

What are your goals for this school year?  

For the next 5 years?  

Where do you want to go to college?  

What do you want to do when you grow up?  

Drugs can prevent you from reaching those dreams.   

Be responsible. Don’t do drugs.  

Red Ribbon Week

GFAA Kindergarten is fighting the war against drugs.

(Students wearing camouflage. )

Texas Rangers Are In the World Series

 GFAA Kinders celebrated the Texas Rangers 

being in the World Series. 

We wore our Texas Ranger's shirts on Friday.

Kinder Conference Night

Parents please read the following letter. It is about our Kindergarten Conference Night on Thursday, November 3rd.  Please copy and paste the bottom section of the letter into a word document or email to fill out that portion. Then email the completed information to your child's teacher.

Let's Celebrate the Letter Pp

Tuesday, October 25, the entire GFAA campus will be wearing Pajamas to school for Red Ribbon Week. Kindergartners will be allowed to bring a pillow too. We will celebrate the letter Pp in "Pampered Style".

Science Night

Each class sent home notes about what we need for Science Night. Science night will be next Thursday, October 27. Please help us make this night a success by donating the items on the flyer sent home. Thanks!!!

Frankie Friend Glyph

We made these cute "Frankie Friend Glyph's" today. The students created their Frankie by answering the following questions:
1.What kind of costume are you wearing for Halloween? Scary-Black Jacket, Not Scary-Purple Jacket
2.How old are you- number of hair pieces
3. Which Halloween book did you like best: (books were determined by class) pink cheeks, or no cheeks.

Kindergarten Needs

We have Breakfast in the classroom every day.

We have gone through our supply of "Baby Wipes" and "Clorox Sanitizng Wipes".

If you would like to donate some to your child's classroom, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

Focus Letter Pp

Next week, GFAA Kindergarten will be focusing on the letter Pp. Here are some ideas of things you can do at home.

• Make a list of as many words as you can that begin with the letter Pp.
• Read books that have  a Pp word in the title: The Bear’s Picnic by Stan and Jan Berenstain, Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie De Paola, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? By Bill Martin Jr. 
•  Scavenger Hunt: Look through your home for things that begin with Pp. For example: stuffed animals (parrot, pelican, penguin, pony, porcupine, puppy), patterns,  pencils, pens, paint brushes, pears, pie, pizza, plums, pumpkins, “Power Ranger” toys
• Play with “Play-Doh” or puzzles. 
•  Have a snack of peanuts, peppermints, popcorn, “Pop Tarts”, pretzels, Popsicles or pudding. 
• Make a pattern with popcorn and pretzels. 
• Have Pizza for dinner. Or even Pancakes. Yummy.
•  Make mashed potatoes. 
• Serve a meal on paper plates. 
• Have a pillow fight. 
• Take the family to the park and have a picnic.
• Learn the “Pizza Song”. Tune is Bingo. “ I know a word that starts with P, and pizza is its name-o, P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, and pizza is its name-o.”
• Play Peek –A –Boo with a little brother or sister. 
• Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 
•  Wear Pajamas to school on Tuesday. 
• Bring Pennies to school for the Penny Wars. 
• Make a place mat for the table at home.

Have a “PERFECT” time.

Mrs. Hoover's Class is going to the Library

Parents please send your child's library book tomorrow. Our class is going to the library. THANKS!!!!

RED RIBBON WEEK: October 24-28

A Red Ribbon Week Newsletter is coming home. Check your child's folder. There will be a whole week full of Dress-Up Days. The entire school will be having a Penny Wars. Be sure and read the directions. If you send pennies with your child, please put them in a Ziploc baggie and label it for the Penny Wars.  There is also a description of the Guidance Lesson that will be presented to the students. On the back, check out Tips for Talking with Kids about Drugs and Alcohol. Your child is not too young to start opening those lines of communication. We are looking forward to an exciting and fun week.

SPIDERS!!

This week we've been learning about spiders by reading expository text. This is a circle map that one class made that shows some of the things we've learned.

Ghost Galore!

Here are some pictures of the ghost we made. If you look under the ghost you can find out who is hiding!

Dress Up Days This Week

Kindergarten has three dress up days this week.

• Wednesday, October 19: Wear a PATTERN to school.
• Thursday, October 20: Wear a COLLEGE shirt. (This is optional. If your child doesn't own a college shirt, then they need to wear clothes that follow dress code.)
• Friday, October 21: Wear a RANGERS shirt to celebrate the team making it to the World Series. (This is optional also.)

Tomorrow is Pattern Dress Up Day!!!

Have your child wear something with a pattern on it.  They can wear a shirt with stripes.  If they do not have any clothes with a pattern, they can make a pattern necklace or bracelet out of beads, fruit loops, etc.  Be creative and have fun.

Otis Spunkmeyer Delivery Day- October 27th

Come pick up your Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser products on October 27, 2011

Location: Media Center/Library
Time: 3:00-6:30

If you have questions contact Niki Claybrook at niki.claybrook@gmail.com

Focus Letter Ss

Next week, GFAA Kindergarten will be focusing on the letter Ss. Here are some ideas of things you can do at home.

• Make a list of as many words as you can that begin with the letter Ss.
• Imagine that you are a scientist and you discover something new. Write and draw about it.
• Scavenger Hunt: Look through your home for things that begin with Ss. For example: sailor hat, seal, shark or spider stuffed animal, Silly Putty, spoons, sun visor, sunglasses, scale, scissors. shirt, shoe, soap, sock, suitcase
• Play the card game Skip-Bo Jr.
• Learn to skip.
• Have a snack of "Skittles", strawberries, sunflower seeds or "Sweet Tarts."
• Read books and learn about the Solar System.
• Research and find a fun and easy Science Experiment to do at home.
• Stellar Pattern: make a pattern with stars.
• Read the story and make Stone Soup.
• Sponge paint or spatter paint.
• Sing your favorite songs.
• Sort seeds, shells or socks.
• Got to the park and play on the swings and slide.
• Practice making the letter Ss in sand or salt.
• Have spaghetti for dinner.
• Make a sock puppet.

Have a SUPER time.

Scholastic Book Fair

By now your child has brought home a Book Fair Flyer. The book fair is open until Tuesday, October 18th. The Book Fair is open from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm. If you are unable to attend the book fair with your child, you can send money for them to attend during the school day. Please send money in a zip-lock baggie. Also don't forget to include tax for the purchase. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

October 17-21

Letter of the Week: S,s
New Sight Words: Like, In

Wednesday October 19 is Pattern Dress Up Day!!!

Have your child wear something with a pattern on it.  They can wear a shirt with stripes.  If they do not have any clothes with a pattern, they can make a pattern necklace or bracelet out of beads, fruit loops, etc.  Be creative and have fun!

I'm So Smart! - Family Homework - Reminder

I'm So Smart - Family Homework Projects are due Tuesday, October 11.

Dress Up Day

Today was Dress Like Your Mom or Dad Day

Here is  Kindergartner telling 

her class about her mom.  

"My mom dresses like this because 

she works in a dentist office."