Don't forget!

Mathathon forms and money are due by Friday! Blankets won't be picked up from school until Friday, 2/5, so if you forgot to send some in, you still have a few days.

Nourish and Flourish!

The Longfellow Wellness Committee is promoting good sleep and a healthy breakfast this January. Kindergarteners need 10-12 hours of sleep every night. This helps with both positive behavior and learning the following day. While tired adults feel slow and sluggish, tired children often appear hyperactive and have trouble focusing.
Longfellow is having a poster contest with prizes for all participants. Posters should promote the benefits of sleep and/or a healthy breakfast. More details are on the bulletin board outside the Media Center.
Friday, January 29th is Pajama Day at school. Students are welcome to wear pajamas. They should be appropriate for school. (Please remember we have P.E. in the afternoon.) That same day, students are also welcome to bring a healthy breakfast to eat at school! Some healthy breakfast suggestions:

• fruit salad
• yogurt
• granola
• whole wheat toast
• oatmeal (I'll bring an electric kettle for hot water)
• fruit smoothies
• low-fat cottage cheese
• low-sugar cereal
  

Don't forget milk, a spoon, or a bowl if you need it!

Assessing

I've been assessing students in their language arts and math progress. 2nd trimester report cards don't go home until March 12th, but our second parent-teacher conference is coming up the week of February 1st (sign up sheets to go home this week!) I'll let you know how your child is doing and if he or she is on track for making 2nd trimester benchmarks.
A few things I'm checking:

• counting syllables
• identifying beginning and ending sounds
• blending and segmenting words
• letter-sound correspondence
• sight words
• invented spelling and a story sentence
  
• concepts of print and pointing while reading
• counting to 70 by 1s and to 100 by 10s
  
• counting back from 12
• identifying and writing numbers to 20
• 1:1 correspondence to 21 (accurately counting objects)
  

100th Day of School

Our 100th day of kindergarten is fast approaching! We will celebrate on Thursday, February 4th. We've been keeping track of our days of school everyday during our calendar time. We use straws to practice counting by 10s and 1s and to learn about place value. We've also kept track with dimes and pennies to practice counting money. Everyday we count a little bit higher by ones.
Do you have a collection of 100 of something? Bring it into school! Stickers, buttons, popsicle sticks? Bring in 100 of something on 2/4/10. Your collection should be able to fit in your backpack.
I am preparing a Voice Thread to publish our work. I'll let you know when the link at the left is ready so we can begin collecting 100 comments from neighbors, friends, and family! Students have had fun making up pen names for internet safety.

Blanket Drive

Longfellow's 4th grade is sponsoring a blanket drive for those who sleep outside in this cold winter. If you have any new or gently used blankets, they would be greatly appreciated. Please bring them in by the 29th.

Welcome back!

Happy 2010!
We are getting back into our routines at school. Please welcome Ajamu, our new student who just moved to Oak Park from Idaho! We are happy to have a new friend in class.
A few reminders:

• If you signed up for the Math-a-thon, you are welcome to send in forms and money raised, though it is not due until the end of the month. The workbook does not need to be returned.
• December Book It! calendars can now be turned in for a personal pizza coupon. January calendars will go home tomorrow.
  
• Don't forget to have gym shoes on Mondays and Fridays for P.E. and library books on Mondays for book check-out.
• Please dress appropriately for the weather: coats, hats, gloves, boots. Snow pants are even better! Keep practicing tying (and untying) shoes as they go on and off more frequently now that boots are involved.
  
• The cold season is upon us! We try to keep our hands washed, but also remember fresh fruits and vegetables are welcome as a snack to help boost the immune system. Water bottles are also welcome. Water only, please.