December 3rd 2009

Happy December! I find it very hard to believe we are already here.

During this holiday season, many cultures use lights to celebrate or commemorate special occasions. Our class will be learning about some ways light is used during different holidays. Be sure to ask your child to share some of the things he or she learns about these special occasions. If your family has a special celebration or tradition, I would love for you to share it with the class. Let me know, and we can set up a time for you to come to our class.

The first Holiday was introduced on Wednesday; it was Mexico. Did you know that in Mexico, children enjoy nine days of celebration before Christmas Day? In a special ceremony, the children parade down the street holding lit candles. They are in search of lodging, and at the end of the procession, they will gather around a manger. After the ceremony, there is merrymaking and the breaking of a pinata. We also read a wonderful story about a family that lives in Mexico. The story takes place on Christmas Eve. Mama loses something special. Ask your child what Mama has lost. Is Christmas Eve ruined?

Our class will also study the winter solstice {the darkest day of the year}, the Swedish festival of lights known as Luciadagen, the Advent wreath, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, St. Nicholas Day, the tradition of the pickle ornament in Germany, in India the Hindu Festival called Diwali....

In literacy, the children will be working in small groups reading books and learning phonics skills. Each child has his or her own individual skill folder to work with at center time. Parents are welcome to look at their child's folder. Each child will bring his literacy book home to share when we complete the lesson. Next week I will be sending home book bags. (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THEIR LITERACY BOOKS!!!} The book bags contain activities that children and their families can do together. The bags are meant to be fun. Most of the kits contain a hands-on activity using manipulatives along with a journal recording sheet that needs to be returned with the bag to school. I understand your days and evenings can be crazy, so feel free to keep the bag for a week. Please help your child to be responsible and return the bags with all the materials they contained. A child will not receive a new bag until all materials are returned. Please let me know if you have any questions.

In math, the children are working on number fact families, skip counting, and addition and subtraction. The Mother Goose Rhyme next week will be Old Mother Hubbard.

The children are very excited to share with you the completed vests they made for the Frog and Toad stories. Each child had to sew {with my help) two buttons onto their vest. They also used lots of glue and glitter along with permanent marker to decorate them. It was so much fun...I had glitter from my toes to my head!

Please remember Barnes and Noble this weekend. Please have your child there at 10:15. Check your Quick Notes for details.

The Frog and Toad play is Wed., December 16. No parents are needed.
Jack-Tales will be at Hollins on Tuesday, December 8. No parents needed; we will walk.

Last Day of school Party: December 18. We will be making Gingerbread houses. If your child is a girl, please send in a bag of candy to decorate with. Boys, please bring in 2 cans of white frosting. We will decorate in the morning at 10:30. Please let me know if you would like to help. I also need a parent to bring in drinks for the class and a holiday cookie for each child.

Thank you for letting me teach your child. I truly love my job. All of your children give me much joy!!! Enjoy your holiday season. They are only little for a short time. Thanks Beth