Kindergarten Picnic

Our class will join the other four kindergarten classes in a day of fun across the street at Longfellow Park on our last day of school, Tuesday, June 10.  Our class will head over to the park at 9:45 after music and Spanish classes.  We will come back to school for lunch.  After lunch we will head back to Longfellow Park for the afternoon, except for P.E. from 1:20-1:50.  Families are welcome to join us for any portion of our day there!

While the forecast could certainly change, next Tuesday is expected to be sunny with a high of 75 degrees.  Students should bring and wear sunscreen.  Hats and shorts are recommended.  Kids may want to bring or wear a swimsuit as the sprinkler will be on.  Feel free to bring outside toys such as soft balls, Wiffle bats, jump ropes, etc.

Something for Nothing!

Fair warning: free days can be BUSY! I believe Chicago Public Schools on a traditional schedule get out June 19th, so you might consider going before then. Please visit each website to double check dates.

Adler Planetarium 
Free June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12

Art Institute of Chicago 
Free every Thursday from 5-8pm
Children under 14 are always free.

Lincoln Park Zoo
Always Free!

Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier
Free for everyone – Every Thursday evening, 5-8pm
Free for ages 15 and under – First Sunday of every month

DuSable Museum of African American History in Hyde Park
Free on Sundays

Field Museum of Natural History
Free June 4, 5, 9

Museum of Science & Industry in Hyde Park
Free June 1 - 6

National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen
Always free!

The Oriental Institute in Hyde Park
Always free!

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park
Free on Thursdays

Shedd Aquarium
Free June 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17

Garfield Park Conservatory
Always free!

And last, but not least:
Millennium Park concerts - Ms. Vietzen's favorite thing about Chicago, you might see her there!
Free concerts several nights a week, so bring a picnic.  (I think this is a great way to expose children to music and concert-going without splurging on an expensive ticket.)  The green and blue lines will get you close, and, if you can keep a secret, parking in the Aon building is a good deal if you're in between 3pm and 6pm.

1st Grade Word Wall Words

You can find a list of the first grade sight words here.  There are a lot more in first grade than in kindergarten!  You may want to take some time over the summer to get started.

Summer Fun Without a Screen!

I hope you make LOTS of time for play this summer! Try many types of activities: board games, card games, dice games, paper and pencil games, outdoor games, ball games, imaginative games. While some games are "better" than others, they can all be of some value. Some are great for fine motor skills, reading, math, spatial orientation, and building strategy. In addition, following all types of directions and rules for different games better prepares children for understanding directions for something new.

Sorry!
UNO
Spot It!
Chutes and Ladders
Memory/ Concentration
Bingo
Blink
jigsaw puzzles
crossword puzzles
word searches
word scrambles
Legos
mazes
Chess
Checkers
Trouble
bike riding
hidden picture puzzles
"What's Different?" pictures
I Spy books
Zoobz/ K'nex
pop beads
journal writing
shoe tying

Also consider art projects with coloring, cutting, and gluing to develop fine motor skills.
Don't forget about the OP Public Library Summer Reading Program and Longfellow's Super Summer Math, run out of Maze Library.

In addition, your Lexia account will still be up and running this summer, too. If you need the directions again, just let me know. While I would limit a young child's screen (TV, computer, etc) time to 30-60 minutes a day, these games can keep their brains going to maximize learning retention. 

Super Summer Math and the OPPL Summer Reading Program

If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for Super Summer Math!
Super Summer Math is designed to keep math fresh in the kids’ minds over the summer. The free program for Longfellow students is held at Maze Library   We will be meeting Tuesday evenings 6-7pm or Thurs mornings 10:30-11:30am at the Maze Library from June 10-July 24. Come as often as you can!  Kids earn prizes for doing math packets and will play fun math games. Parents/guardians can help coordinators distribute materials and volunteer to run math activities at the library.

The deadline has passed to sign up and get your books before school lets out.  HOWEVER, you can attend any  SSM session and sign up there.

Questions contact Heather Radzinski at heatherrad01@yahoo.com

The public library's summer reading program, Fizz, Boom, Read, starts Monday, June 9!  You can sign up at the library - I hope you do!

Longfellow Family Garden Club

You can join the Longfellow Family Garden Club. If you want to participate you can either RSVP for the May 12th meeting at 6:00 PM in the auditorium or you can email Jill Niewoehner at pto@newwanderer.com.

The Longfellow Family Garden Club is a group comprised of Longfellow families who believe in good food, and want to learn to grow their own. They plant and maintain the vegetable beds on the south side of the building (across from the new greenhouse donated by the Girl Scouts). Families in the club sign up to maintain the garden for a week or two over the summer. There are optional evening meetings in the summer to learn about taking care of the garden from each other. Families learn about soil, weeding, planting, and the best part, HARVESTING! The members of the garden club share in the bounty, and the leftover produce is donated.

A to Z Countdown

Can you believe it?!  There are only 26 school days left!  Thus begins our A to Z Countdown.  These activities are encouraged, though not required.  The ones in bold include an item you might bring from home.

5/5 A-Animal Day: We’re headed to Lincoln Park Zoo!  Learn a new fact about an animal there so you can write about it when we come back.  We’ll share all the things we learned!

5/6 B-Baby Day: Bring in a picture of yourself when you were a baby.

5/7 C - Crown Day: We’ll crown the kings and queens of kindergarten!

5/8 D- Dancing Day: We’ll dance today during recess!

5/9 E- Equipment Day: Bring your favorite playground toys: soft balls, jump ropes, Frisbees, and Wiffle bats.

5/12 F- Favorite Book Day: Bring in your favorite book to share/read during stations.

5/13 G- Game Day: Bring in your favorite game to play. (No electronics)

5/14  H- Horticulture Day: Today we will walk to the Oak Park Conservatory.

5/15 I- Inside Out Day: Wear something inside out!

5/16 J- Jersey Day: Wear your favorite team jersey for Sports Day and Olympic Day.  It might be a professional team, a school team, or your team!

5/19 K- Kindness Day: Share some extra kindness today.

5/20 L- Lollipop Day: What’s your favorite flavor?  We’ll graph them.   I’ll provide the lollipops.

5/21 M- Music Day: We’ll listen to a variety of different music today.

5/22 N- Nickel Day: Bring a nickel to school. We’ll sort and graph them by year.

5/23 O - On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!  We will have races at recess.

5/27  P- Puzzle Day: We’ll do puzzles today…crossword, search & finds, word searches, jigsaws and more!

5/28 Q- Quiz Your Teacher Day: See if you can “stump” Ms. Vietzen with a hard question.

5/29 R- Read-a-thon Day: Tally how many books you read today.

5/30 S- Sidewalk Chalk Day: Today we will go outside and draw with sidewalk chalk.

6/2 T – Tying Shoes Day: If you have them, wear shoes with laces and we’ll practice tying.  If you already know, you can help a friend!

6/3 U- Unforgettable Day: Share your favorite experience in kindergarten. What will you miss next year?

6/4 V- Video Day: Today we will watch a video.

6/5 W- Wear Longfellow Gear: Wear Longfellow clothes today 

6/6 X- eXtra Fun Hat Day: Wear your favorite hat for Hat Day at school.

6/9 Y- Year End Cleaning: We’ll clean our tables, room, and cubbies!

6/10 Z- Zip and Zoom: Today is our last day of school so we’ll celebrate by zipping and zooming around Longfellow Park.  Have a great summer!

News from Mrs. Patterson in P.E.

- ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) will take place Wednesday, May 7th, 2014.  All grades will participate in different activities.  Students need to wear gym shoes.

 

- The ANNUAL DISTRICT FUN RUN will take place May 10th, 2014 at Lindberg Park.  This event is different than the PTO Fundraiser Fun Run in the Fall.  The Annual District Fun Run is free of charge and for all boys and girls in District 97.  Check out the digital backpack for more information and to sign up.  A signup sheet went home today as well.

 

- Olympic Day will be held on May 16th, 2014.   Kindergarten will participate in the afternoon.  Students will participate in many activities including a climbing wall.  Please make sure your child wears gym shoes, shorts or pants (no dresses), and sun screen.

Gymnastics in the Gym!

During the next two weeks students will have gymnastics during P.E.  Please make sure they wear pants or shorts and have long hair tied back.

Feinstein Challenge

From the OPRF Food Pantry:

Each spring philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein challenges food agencies across America
to collect as many food items and cash donations as possible. To spur donations, 
Feinstein donates $1 million dollars to feed the hungry. Those funds are divided 
proportionally among competing food pantries based on the total number of donations 
(monetary and food donations) during the months of March and April.

People in our community are hungry. Last year there were over 40,000 “reasons” for your 
help—that’s how many people the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry served in 2013.

Pickup from homerooms will be Thursday, April 17.  Monetary donations also accepted!

The OPRF Food Pantry is in need of:

Non-Perishable Items

Protein

Beans

Beef Stew

Peanut Butter

Ravioli

Tuna/Salmon

Grain

Cereal

Pasta

Fruits and Vegetables

Canned Fruit

Canned Vegetables

Miscellaneous

Condiments

Beverages / Coffee / Tea

Jelly

Macaroni and Cheese

Pasta / Tomato Sauce

Potatoes

Rice

Snacks

Soup

Tomatoes

Specialty Items

Low Sodium

Gluten Free

Whole Wheat

Cleaning Supplies

All Purpose Cleaner

Dish Soap

Laundry Detergent

Window Cleaner

Baby Items

Baby Food

Diapers

Formula

Toiletry Items (full size preferred)

Adult Diapers

Feminine Hygiene Products

Laundry Soap

Moisturizer

Razors

Shampoo / Conditioner

Shaving Cream

Soap

Items the Food Pantry Can’t Accept:

Expired Items

Homemade or home-canned foods

Medications (prescriptions / over the counter)

Open Items

Products not in their original packaging

Two Field Trips in May

On Monday, May 5, the Longfellow kindergarten will go to Lincoln Park Zoo.  Thank you to the PTO for the buses, which makes it a free trip to students!  A permission slip will go home soon.  I would love for several chaperones to join us.  Please email if you can!

On Wednesday, May 14, our class will walk to the Oak Park Conservatory.  We have been studying seeds and plants.  I'd love to have one or two parents walk with us.  We'll leave around 9:10 and will be back before lunch.  Email me if you're interested in going.

Fantastic Fridays

Every year Longfellow's Student Council presents Fantastic Fridays.  Here is the schedule:

Stuffed Animal Day (April 11)
Bring your favorite inanimate fuzzy friend to school.

Mismatch Day (Thursday April 17)
Wear clashing clothes, like stripes with plaid or polka dots.

Weird Hair Day (April 25)
Gravity defying do’s? Pink, green or blue streaks? Give it a try!

Mustache Day (May 2)
Handlebar, horseshoe, Dali, Fu Manchu: try a mustache on for size!

PJ Day (May 9)
Come dressed in your pajamas. (Make sure they are appropriate for school.)

Sports Day (May 16)
Now is the time for all that sports paraphernalia!

Multiples Day (May 23)
Did you ever want to be a twin, triplet or quadruplet? This is your chance!

Minion Day (May 30)
Celebrate minions – ahhhh –hahahahah!

Hat Day (June 6)
Break out your favorite hat!

Flip-Flop Day (Tuesday, June 10)
FINALLY! Celebrate the end of the school year by wearing your favorite flip-flops!

Science Night

Longfellow's Annual Science Night will be Wednesday, April 23rd from 6-7:30pm in the gym.  All are welcome.  The Science Night committee is in need of paper towel and toilet paper rolls.  As you use them up, please send them in!  Thank you!

Lost and Found

There are MANY items currently displayed on the Lost and Found table set up in the hallway by the office.  Sweatshirts, gloves, hats, boots - you name it!  If any of your children have lost anything over the winter, I would take a look!  There is also a smaller Lost and Found outside the lunchroom.

Math Facts

With the new Common Core State Standards, kindergarteners are expected to be fluent in math facts to 5 by the end of the year.  Right now, they might be using their fingers, but by June should only have to think briefly about the answer.  I tell the kids they should know the math facts like they know their sight words.
There are 42 facts to know (21 addition and 21 subtraction.)  By "math facts to 5," it means when adding, the sum (answer) won't be more than 5, and when subtracting, the first number won't be more than 5. While we have been practicing in class with objects (counters, fingers - anything!) good, old fashioned flash cards are a good way to build automaticity.

Turn Off the Screens!

Postcards went home today to encourage a day without any screens: TVs, movie theater, computer, tablet, Kindle, DSI, or phones.  A day-long challenge?  Two days?  A week?  A kindergarten challenge?  A family challenge?  You decide when, who, and for how long.  Postcards should be returned by Monday, March 3.

We came up with a list of things students could do instead of turning on a screen, though you are certainly not limited to this!

read
Legos
art project

toys
cars
board game
card game
go to the theater
dolls
stuffed animals
cook

have a contest

go ice skating
go to a water park

have a pillow fight

play with friends, brothers, sisters, pets

play tag

play outside

practice an instrument

color or draw
travel
have a race
play sport

visit

dance

play make believe: school, house, president, police, travel, water park, hospital

Cassette Player Needed

If you have an old tape player that still works and you don't need it anymore, I would be very grateful for a "new" one!  I have a large listening library on tape, but both my cassette players broke in the same week.  Thank you in advance!

Updates

• Longfellow's annual Harambee festival has been postponed due to a family matter with the director.  Please watch for information on a new date, likely in March.
• February's Nourish to Flourish theme is movement and exercise.  To celebrate, Longfellow's Wellness Committee encourages families to pick a day and TURN OFF THE SCREENS!  Students will receive a postcard to decorate and return to school.  They can create a picture showing what they did instead of staring at a screen.
• Tomorrow's Family Reading Night will have a different storyteller than originally advertised.  Our new storyteller is Linda Gorham.  You can check out her website at http://lindagorham.com/
• It is not too late to donate books to the Book Swap at tomorrow's Family Reading Night.  Bring them to school tomorrow and I will get them to the Swap.  Come yourself tomorrow night and pick out a "new to you" book!  I hope to see you there!
• The PTO is still looking for donations of prizes for the Winter Carnival on Saturday, March 8.
• The last day of school is Tuesday, June 10.

Written Responses to Books

Most days, we have centers when students have the chance to work in small groups and rotate around different work stations.  One of those is the listening center.  Up to now, students have listened to a story and followed along in a book.  Recently, however, you may have seen half sheets of scrap paper coming home.  We are trying to write a response to the books we hear.  If it is a nonfiction book, we write down something we have learned.  If it is a fictional book, we write down something that we liked or didn't like.  

This can be a difficult skill!  You can help your child with this by asking for oral responses to the books you read at home.  Just saying out loud what they liked or what they learned can be a big help in developing a plan for what to write down.  If they are in the habit of orally responding to a book, it becomes easier to write a sentence in response to a book.

At the listening center, I encourage students to do their best sounding out for most words.  They can use the book to copy words they need, but we've talked about not copying whole sentences.  We will keep at it!

100th Day of School

The 100th Day of School is a day to celebrate in kindergarten!  With all of our unexpected days off, it keeps getting pushed back, but for now, the 100th day should be Tuesday, February 11.  Students are encouraged to bring in a collection of 100 somethings.  This collection should be able to fit in their backpack.  In the past, students have brought a baggie of 100 Cheerios, 100 pennies, a creation made from 100 Legos, an art project of 100 marshmallows, or a design of 100 stickers.  You can find something you have around your home (beans, grains of rice, paperclips) or get really creative!  We'll also have fun that day with activities centered around the number 100.  (There are 76 days left AFTER the 100th day!)

Purple Asparagus

Please look for a form (double-sided) going home about Purple Asparagus and return it by this Friday.  This program partners with Whole Foods to teach children about food.  They will visit Longfellow's kindergarten once a month until the end of the year.  The form sent home is regarding allergies and a photo release.  Even if your child has no allergies, please mark "n/a," sign, and return.  We need all forms filled out in order for all the homerooms to participate.  You can visit www.purpleasparagus.com for more information.

January Nourish to Flourish

Every winter, Longfellow's Wellness Committee has a monthly theme.  This month's themes are sleep and a healthy breakfast.  We've been reading about these in school.  On Friday the 17th, breakfast was served for hot lunch!  To celebrate the end of the month, we'll have an all-school Pajama Day on Friday.  Students are welcome to wear their pjs to school.  (Please make sure they are school-appropriate.)
Also on Friday the 31st, students may bring a healthy breakfast to eat at school.  Think of all the time you'll save in the morning when you don't have to get dressed or eat breakfast!  Please bring anything you will need (a bowl, utensils, etc.)  It should be low in sugar, fat, and salt.  Some examples might include whole wheat muffins or bagels, a hard-boiled egg, a whole grain cereal, low-sugar yogurt, or a fresh fruit cup.