Glowing Kinders : Thursday, September 26

Hello Families!

We had a great week in Kindergarten! Here are some highlights:

Basic Routines:

Ask your child what they did at school. What came first/last? What is their favourite part of the day? If your child often gives the same answer or "I don't know" our twitter feed gives a daily snapshot which will help you cue your child about activities they participated in.

Names

We have spent a lot of time talking about our names and the importance of our names. If you have a story about how you picked your child's name, I would love to share it with our class. Please send me an email with your story.

Math
We continue to work on sorting objects found in our classroom and in the real world. We have sorted objects by whether the wind can blow it, it makes a sound when dropped and winter/summer clothing. Children also have been playing with objects in our classroom and determined their own sorting rule. Ask your child how they sorted their objects.

Terry Fox:
This week we discussed Terry Fox and the impact he has made on Canadian history. We have been training for our run in our gym classes and we were excited to participate in the run. Morning Kinder had a Kindergarten Terry Fox Run where we ran 3 laps around the school and had a Terry Fox cheer. Afternoon Kindergarten participated in the whole school event where we watched a video about Terry Fox and then completed our runs. I am so proud of our Kindergarten friends and their dedication and determination. Way to go Kinder!

Facebook Page
We have a Facebook page run by our Parent Association. Check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsofAS/

Orange Shirt Day:

On Monday, September 30th we will have "Orange Shirt Day." This day was designed to educate people and promote awareness about the residential school system and the impact this system had on Indigenous communities for more than a century in Canada. It is held annually on September 30 in Canadian communities with students and staff being encouraged to wear an orange shirt to school that day. This is one of the many opportunities we have throughout the year to grow our understanding, and to show our support towards reconciliation. We are very fortunate at Andrew Sibbald this year as we have a resident artist who will be in the school to help deepen our understanding and appreciation of Indigenous ways. Elder Shirley Hill (Anatsipi'kssaakii) will work with our school community on Sept 30, Oct. 2, 4, 7, 9, Nov 13 & 15. During these visits, Elder Shirley will share some of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) teachings through dance, craftwork, beading and storytelling.

Activities to try at home:

Literacy

-Alphabet scavenger hunt (e.g.: where do you see the letter ‘S’ while out for a walk? ...stop sign etc.)

-Have your child create a menu for supper. Have them draw a picture and label it with the initial sound of the food (ex: M for macaroni).

Sorting

-Have your child sort/organize their toys

-Have your child help empty the cutlery from the dishwasher

-Have your child help with the laundry

Fine Motor

-We are continuing to build hand strength and form our letters/drawings with increased overall neatness. If this is an area your child struggles with…practice, practice, practice…. exposure is key! Try using a fat crayon or mini marker, as the wider base will increase their control. If needed have your child place their paper on a slanted binder this will support proper hand positioning. Build shoulder strength by letting them use an easel for drawing. Have them practice printing shapes remind them the lines need to touch and to print/draw slowly.

-Scissors! Scissors! Scissors! Have your child practice their cutting skills frequently. They can practice cutting out shapes etc. If this is challenging have them practice cutting play-doh or straws. Remind them their thumb needs to point up to the sky. Remind them when cutting they should remain seated with their feet on the floor to increase their overall stability.

Self-help Skills

-Some students require adult support to get dressed. Have your child practice the dressing routine. Have them practice doing up their zippers so we can further their independence. This will become even more important as we head into the winter months and have more layers to put on each day.

If you have any questions, please send me an email. Have a great weekend!