This week just flew by. It will be March before we know it. Just a few notes on what we have been doing.
We finished up Chapter 6 in our Math book and are on to Chapter 7 which will cover Time and Money-this includes the months of the year, days of the week and important terms like today, yesterday and tomorrow as well as time to the half hour and recognizing the coins and begin counting simple combinations of coins. We are writing our numbers to 100 and doing a great job. Everyone also counts to 100! Yea!
We are reading like crazy. The little books are coming in at a rapid rate! Great Work Parents!!! They are just like sponges and are soaking up the rhyming and ending sounds, learning about CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words, word families, and have pretty much mastered most of the first 12 sight words. Keep practicing and reading at home because it makes such a difference here in the classroom!
We are also beginning to write words and sentences. We are learning about spacing, capitalization and ending punctuation and will begin keeping a journal next month. They are sounding out words to spell and doing a great job on handwriting most of the time.
Just a note that if your child came home with a green or yellow today-it was mostly for talking. We are still having a tough time some days remembering to listen when Mrs. King is talking instead of visiting with our neighbors. Not a huge deal, but we do a great job for a while and then slowly we work back into the talk, talk, talk mode again.
We had a great visit from one of the other kindergartner's dad who is a dentist this week. They got to see inside the dentist office and learn all about exactly what happens when you go to the dentist. Each child also go a bag of goodies to take home. It was a fun presentation.
Thanks to all who participated in the cookie dough fundraiser for PTO. They really do a lot for the school and every penny made goes right back here to Simonton. We all appreciate all the work they do for us!
Also thanks for all those who helped with our Valentine Celebration last week-they children really seemed to enjoy it so THANKS!!!
Please read the All Kindergarten Parent Post about the t-shirts for the celebration. Remember our color is yellow. It doesn't have to be from Michael's if you have another source please feel free to use it. Also I can't stress enough if there is a budget issue at your home, please contact me!!! I don't want this to be another burden on your family. We have several avenues we can pursuit to get the shirts.
Hope you all have a great weekend and I will see all your lovely, wonderful children back on Monday morning!
I will be watching baseball on Saturday! MY FAVORITE!
Mary Wolters
Hi! My name is Mary Wolters. This is my seventh year teaching at Simonton. I taught second grade for four years and this is my third year teaching Kindergarten. I have 3 children; ages 22, 20 and 17. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Reading Endorsement and an ESL Endorsement. I am looking forward to an awesome year with your children!
Trisha Wright
Welcome to kindergarten students and parents. It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you. My name is Trisha Wright and this is my sixth year teaching kindergarten at Simonton. I am a graduate of Arizona State University with my bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. Kids and teaching are my passion and I look forward to working with each and every one of you. I am excited to start a fun filled school year with your child and would like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s first year in school.
Kelly Trowbridge
Welcome to Kindergarten! My name is Kelly Trowbridge and I was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Elementary Education in 2006, a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education in 2008, and a Masters degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement in 2009. This will be my third year of teaching at Simonton. This is my second year of teaching kindergarten but my first year of teaching an am/pm session. Teaching is my passion and I cannot imagine doing anything else. I am very excited and enthusiastic about getting the opportunity in helping your child start or continue his or her educational career.
Joline King
Welcome Kindergarten at Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary School. We are so excited to be your partner in educating your child. My name is Joline King and this is my twenty-first year teaching, my eighth for the J.O. Combs District. I am a fourth generation Arizonian and have made the East Valley my home with husband, three children and our beloved dog Salvador for the past twenty-three years. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood after completing an Associates Degree from Eastern Arizona College. I also have a Master's Degree in Adult Education and Distance Learning. My children, both at home and at school are my greatest joy! I have three children that are almost grown: Matthew 24, Jennifer 20 and Bryant 18. I look forward to a great year full of fun and lots of learning.