last school day of the year

First, thank you so much for the generous gifts.  I am always overwhelmed by my students families generosity.  You are very kind.

Second, I wish you all a wonderful two weeks filled with fun family time.  For those of you celebrating Christmas, I wish you a Happy Christmas.

Looking for a project while your children are at home.  Try this:

Mixed-Up Menagerie

What you will need: pipe cleaners in lots of colours and thicknesses, pencil, index card, markers

With pipe cleaners, make animals you are familiar with.  Then make and name the mystery animals.  Do a little mixing and matching, and create an animal with a giraffe's neck, a tigers body, and a monkey tail - or what-ever you can come up with!  Round shapes can be made by twisting the pipe cleaners around pencils and compressing the spirals.  When the menagerie is complete, make name cards for each animal with index cards and markers.  Invite visitors to admire your experimental zoo!

Have a wonderful holiday!  I can't wait to see you all in the New Year.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, we will go to the gym to sing Christmas carols with the whole school.  We have health with Miss McGregor and will get new library books with Ms. Dykstra.  We will act out Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, match magnet upper and lower case letters and make letters with play dough.  I will read with seniors and we will all do writing folders.  In the afternoon, the juniors will begin math folders and we will talk about the numbers the kids have found in their home.  At least that is the plan - there may not be enough hours in the day.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

a crazy week

This week before the holidays is always a week of interruptions.  Although I try hard to continue teaching and maintaining routine.  Today, with the concert dress rehearsal and then performance, I'm not sure what teaching and learning will happen.

On Friday, we will have a party to celebrate the upcoming holiday.  It will be in the afternoon.  feel free to send in a treat for your child to share with their peers.

:)
Miss Mynes

this weeks theme

This week, our anchor text is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  The focus will be the alphabet.  In Math, we are working on writing numbers, today we will be walking around the school looking for numbers and talking about what the numbers are used for.

In the morning the whole school will gather in the gymnasium for Christmas carols.

:)
Miss Mynes

germs, germs, germs

There is a terrible stomach virus going through our class, and also the rest of the school.  After suffering with it yesterday, I know how terrible it is.  If your child is complaining of an upset stomach or is throwing up, please keep them at home so we can stop this virus in it's tracks.

Washing your hands is the best defense,
Miss Mynes

indoor shoes

As it gets colder, some children are wearing boots to school.  If your child wears boots to school, please send a pair of running shoes for them to wear inside the school.  Your child will be more comfortable in the classroom and will be safer participating in physical education.  Your child can bring their indoor shoes home each day or leave them at school until boot season is over.

:)
Miss Mynes

The Milk Program is up and running and many children are enjoying their daily carton of milk.  If you would like your child to recieve a carton of milk - white or chocolate - each day please contact the office (416-396-6365) and see if you can join in mid-month.  I believe it works out to 50 cents a day.

:)
Miss Mynes

rain, rain go away

A rainy day is a perfect day for an after school activity.  Try this one:

Tees, Please

Gather a cotton t-shirt in any colour, pictures cut out from printed fabric of cars, aircraft, horses, stuffed animals, flowers, etc, scissors, dual sided fusible interfacing, fabric paint in tubes, wide pieces of cardboard

Wash and dry the tshirt first, don't use fabric softener.  Cut out the pictures and other shapes from the fabric.  Plan your original design.  Then cut out interfacing to match the fabric pieces.  Iron the interfacing onto the fabric pieces onto the tshirt.  Slip cardboard form into the tshirt to make the fabric taut before painting.  Using fabric paint in tube, outline all edges of the pictures.  Let the paint dry, and then outline the edges again.  Let dry for 24 hours.  Avoid using fabric softener in the wash later because it could loosen the fabric pictures.

Happy Crafting,
Miss Mynes

PS In class today we will be decorating paper caps and practicing to print the number 4 amongst other things.

next week

Next week, our anchor text is Caps for Sale by Slobodkina.  It is a classic tale of a peddler who has to deal with some frustrating monkeys.  On Friday the 14th, we will have Hat Day.  The children can wear their favourite hat on this day.  If you have any old baseball caps laying around the house, it would be great if you could donate them to the class.

Have a great weekend.
:)
Miss Mynes

P.S.  Lola, the Leopard gecko, is back.

Math Folders

The senior kindergarten students have begun math folders.  This is a way for students to learn and practice their math skills.  Most math is taught with hands on, play based activity but representing mathematical ideas in a traditional, pencil and paper way is an important skill to develop.  Right now, they are working on printing numbers and identifying numbers.  Junior kindergarten students will begin math folders in the new year.

:)
Miss Mynes

Lola Returns

Tomorrow, assuming all goes according to plan, I will be bringing Lola the leopard gecko back to the school.  Lola will live with us until Christmas.

Ask your child about Lola tomorrow.
:)
Miss Mynes

Albert Campbell Library

Just a reminder that we will visit the Albert Campbell Library on Wednesday morning.  Also, Friday is a Professional Development Day where all teachers in Toronto attend a conference.  There is no school for the children on Friday.

Have a good day,
Miss Mynes

next week

Next week, our anchor text is the book Can I Keep Him? by Steven Kellogg.  It is about a young boy who brings home a series of outrageous pets but him mom doesn't let him keep them.  We will work on our comprehension, print awareness, oral language and so much more.  If possible, visit a pet store with your child.  Before leaving, make a list of the pets the children expect to see.  Take the list and check off the animals the children actually see.  Your linguistic and naturalist learners will love it.

If you have any pet materials (animal collars, pretend bones, dog bowls and accessories, a fish bowl etc, feel free to donate them to the class.

Have a great weekend,
Miss Mynes

Cinderella

Today, the primary division will head to the Young Peoples Theater to see Cinderella.  If you have the book Cinderella at home, read it to your child tonight and talk about how the play was the same or different.

:)
Miss Mynes

tomorrow

Tomorrow, the primary division will all go to the Young Peoples Theater to see Cinderella.  Thank you to those of you who have volunteered to help supervise the trip.  If you are yet to return your child's permission form, please do as soon as possible as I cannot allow your child on the trip without the permission form.  If you are not allowing your child to go on the trip, please return the "NO" portion of the permission form.

Thank you,
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, the children see Miss McGregor for physical education.  In class, we will focus on the alliteration in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, discuss how to predict what's coming next in the book, turn the book into a song, and act it out.  In Mathematics, we will work on our estimation skills, comparing quantities of different sized items.  Also, I will be reading with seniors and we will all write in our writing folders.

Looking for another after school activity?  Try this:

Record Achievement

You will need: newspaper, inexpensive 20x25cm picture frame and cardboard liner, discarded CD, acrylic gold paint, paintbrush, small games pieces or metal charms, clear gel glue, white paper, pencil, low-plush velvet fabric remnant, gold glitter marker, rubber cement

Spread out newspaper, and lay CD and picture frame on it (you don't need the glass from the frame).  Set cardboard liner from the picture frame aside.  Paint 1 side on CD and the frame gold.  When frame is dry, use clear gel glue to attach metal trinkets to the outside of the frame.  While trinkets dry, trace around the cardboard liner on the white paper.  Cut it out and use it as a pattern to cut out the velvet.

Practice writing on velvet scraps with the gold glitter marker.  Plan what to write, be brief.  Write the name of the person receiving the award first the then kind of award.  Brush back of velvet and the front of the cardboard liner with rubber cement.  Then put them together and let dry.  Next use rubber cement to glue the CD to the top center of the velvet.  Be sure there is enough room around the edges to put the piece into the frame.  Write information on the velvet with the marker.  Let the words dry, and put it in the frame.  Surprise your achieving friend!!

Happy crafting.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today we began our focus on the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.  We read the book.  We stregnthened our oral language skills while learning the american sign language signs for the animals in the book.  We worked on our segmentation skills by clapping to the words of the story.  We made a class book of the story.  And finally we used magnet letters to make some of the words from the book.  The children see Mr. Baron (Miss McGregor is away) for music and physical education.

:)
Miss Mynes

Friday

Today is the day we are in the classroom all day.  In the morning I will read with the seniors and we will all write in our writing folders.  In the afternoon, we are going to make patterns with feathers.

Are you looking for an after school project to do with your child?  Try this idea!

A Green Valentine

You will need a table covering, small or medium size pot, potting soil, spoon or small trowel, ivy plant, ruler, a roll of florist wire, scissors and red ribbon.

Cover the table you will be working on.  Pot the ivy according to the plant directions.  Measure and cut three 100 centimetre long pieces of florist wire,  Match up the ends and twist the three pieces together into 1 strand.  Bend the twisted strand of florist wire into a heart shape, with the loose ends forming the V at the bottom of the heart.  At the bottom of the V, twist the ends together, leaving about a 12 centimetre stem to stick into the potting soil.  Stick the heart into the pot near the base of the plant.  Tie a red bow at the top of the heart.  Loosely wrap strands of the ivy around the heart.

Have fun!

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, the students will see Miss McGregor for music and then again for physical education.  In class we will read Bob and talk about the book, we will use farm animals and props to retell the story.  We will able "walk the line", moving like the animals in the story.  It will be a great day for the linguistic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic and naturalist learners.

Try to remember, or help your child to remember, to return their zipper folder every day.  This is how I distribute paperwork to the students and if your child isn't returning their bag regularly it may be taking a long time for you to receive important forms.

Thanks for your support,
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, we will sing Old MacDonald Had a Farm using all the animals from the book Bob.  We will make an abstract art piece to represent the character Bob and also finger paint the names of the characters from the book.

Mrs. McGrath will be off all week mourning the loss of her mother in law.  We anticipate her return next week.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, the children see Miss McGregor for drama and dance and then again for physical education.  With me, the children will begin our unit based on the book Bob.  We will learn Bob's Song, move like the animals in the book, discuss onomatopoeic words and discuss the story to deepen our comprehension.  I will read with the seniors and everyone will write in their writing folders.  In the afternoon, we will continue working on our numeracy skills by learning to recognize familiar patterns to speed up counting (an example is the way numbers are arranged on dice, you don't need to count because you recognize the patterns).

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes 

our song on the week

Next week, we will learn Bob's Song.  It is to the tune of Five Little Ducks.

Bob's Song

Twenty-two hens were sitting in a coop.
A hungry brown fox came around to snoop.
A hen for dinner sounded so good to him,
So he snuck right up through moonlight dim.

One brave rooster couldn't go to sleep,
So he saw the fox was about to leap,
"Cock-a-doodle-do" he shouted out,
But the fox didn't even turn about.

The brave little rooster tried again,
Using the language of his friends.
"Meow," "woof," "ribbit," "moo, moo, moo,"
and the terrified fox: back home he flew.

next week

Next weeks anchor text is a book called Bob by Pearson.  It is about a rooster who leaves the coop to find his voice.  If possible, visit a farm and list all the animals you see on your trip.  Ask your child "Do any of the roosters look like Bob?"  Your linguistic and naturalist learners will love this.

:)
Miss Mynes

blueberries for us

In continuation of our unit based on the book Blueberries for Sal, we are making and painting with dye made from blueberries.  In math, we will continue our numeracy work by reading the book Ten Black Dots and then making our own pictures with dots and turning it into a classroom book.  The children will see Miss McGregor twice, once for drama,  dance and music and once for physical education.

:)
Miss Mynes

much ado about nothing

Well, this reporting period has been stressful but after a clarifying conversation with Mr. Vlahos, I handed out the report card envelopes.  Every child received and put in their backpacks or communication folders their report card and/or interview time.  Please call the office 416-396-6365, if you need to change your interview time.

:)
Miss Mynes

report card day

Today, all my senior kindergarten students should receive a report card and an interview time.  Junior kindergarten students should receive an interview time.  My Vlahos, with the assistance of Mrs. Wray, has taken charge of this process.  If your interview time doesn't work for you, please contact the school office to reschedule.  Beyond that, direct questions to Mr. Vlahos.  If you are unable to find an interview time that works for you, let me know and I will find a time that works for both of us.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, we read Blueberries for Sal and we talked about the vocabulary in the book, the similarities and differences between our kitchen and Little Sal's kitchen, we drew pictures of Little Sal and baby Bear on opposite sides of the mountain and this afternoon we will graph our favourite ways to eat blueberries. 

The children will have physical education but Miss McGregor is at home with her sick child so an occasional teacher will be teaching them today.

:)
Miss Mynes

report cards

On Tuesday, senior kindergarten students will be receiving their report cards.  Although briefer than usual, Mr. Vlahos found them acceptable and signed them.  He has since taken them back and I believe he intends to distribute them to the students himself.  I'm not sure why.  If you do not receive your senior kindergarten child's report on Tuesday, let me know and I will send you a copy home.  I will also have copies available at the parent teacher interview if you choose to attend the scheduled interview.  I am required to schedule an interview for every kindergarten student this term.

Have a great day!  The radio says sunny and 16 degrees on Sunday so it should also be a great weekend.
:)
Miss Mynes

next weeks unit

Next week, we will be doing a unit based on the book Blueberries for Sal.  we will be doing many fun activities like painting "blueberries" with soap and paint bubbles, making and painting with dye made from blueberries, graphing our favourite ways to eat blueberries and so much more.

:)
Miss Mynes

Miss McGregor

In case you haven't heard yet, Miss McGregor is back from maternity leave and is teaching all the primary students drama, dance, music, health and physical education.  She is a very talented teacher and although I was sad her staffing assignment was changed from kindergarten to a specialist role, I am happy that she sees my students almost every day.

Welcome back Miss McGregor!!

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about tomorrow

Tomorrow, we continue our Be Brown! unit.  We will pretend to be dogs and do tricks.  We will also explore the number 5 by making paw prints.

:)
Miss Mynes

our Olympic visitors

I forgot to let you all know the names of the Olympians who visited us on Friday. 

martin Reader - beach volleyball
Rosie MacLennan - gold medal in trampoline
Tyler Miller - gold medal in wheelchair basketball

a little about the week

Tomorrow, we will have a visit from the community police officer.  On Wednesday, we will be visiting Albert Campbell Library at 9:15 - feel free to join us.  On Friday, we will be having a Remembrance Day assembly at 10:35, feel free to join us for that too.

:)
Miss Mynes

in support of our unit....

Next week, we will be talking about dogs.  If possible, visit a veterinarian's office or a pet store.  Ask the veterinarian or the pet store employee to talk to your child about dogs.  Your linguistic, naturalist or interpersonal learner will love it!!

A little about next week

Next week, our unit will be based on a wonderful book called Be Brown! by Barbara Bottner.  It is about a bossy little boy who meets a rambunctious puppy that simply will not obey the boy's commands.  We will paint dogs, write about our feelings, pretend to train dogs, pretend to be dogs and paint paw prints just to name a few activities in support of this unit.  If you know the song My Dog Rags, we will be learning that song as well.

Let's hope the Halloween hangover isn't do bad today,
:)
Miss Mynes

special events

Tomorrow, starting at 2:10 pm, we have our monthly reward assembly - The Great Golden Bear Assembly.  This month we are honouring our most responsible students.  On Friday morning, at 9am, we will be visited by Olympians and Paraolympians.  Please join us for these events if you are available and interested.

Have a safe and fun Halloween,
Miss Mynes

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Halloween.  In the afternoon we will have a party to celebrate.  Feel free to send in a peanut free treat for your child to share with their classmates at the party.  The children can wear their costumes but I encourage you to not send their full costumes, maybe just a modified version.  Mrs. McGrath and I will be happy to help the children who stay for lunch change into any costume or costume accessories they bring with them.  If you don't want to send in your child's costume, not to worry, your child can use our drama center clothing to create a costume if they wish.

Let's hope it doesn't rain for the Trick or Treating!
:)
Miss Mynes

indoor shoes

With the week of rain ahead and snow to come, I want to encourage you to have a pair of indoor shoes, preferably running shoes, for your child to keep at school.  Dirty boots really make the classroom messy and we sit on the floor a lot.  Writing your child's name somewhere on the shoe is helpful as well.

:)
Miss Mynes

scientist in the school

My apoligies to our families who are celebrating Eid today and their child is therefore missing our Scientist in the School morning.  In my defense, I booked this in June and didn't even consult a calendar.  Lesson learner, always consult a calender!  For the children who were absent today, they will be invited to join room 10 when they have their Scientist in the School visit later in the school year.

I hope you are having a wonderful day and I look forward to hearing the children talk about their celebration on Monday.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today is a day 2 which is the day we are in the classroom all day.  To fill our day we will use the shakers the children made with Mrs. McGrath to play along to classical music, we will go see our school "orchestra" to see and hear the different instruments.  In math, we will work on our operational sense using 5 frames to make numbers.

Bear Wear sales are today.  If you want us to assist your child to purchase a garment, just send us a note and the money and we will try to help your child choose something appropriate.  Feel free to bring your child to the gymnasium yourself to choose a garment if possible.

:)
Miss Mynes

for next week

Next week, our anchor text will be Beatrice's Goat by McBrier.  In support of this unit, if possible, visit a zoo or farm or some other location where children can observe goats.  Ask your child What do they eat? What colour are they?  Explain to the children what a goatee is.  Your linguistic, logical-mathematical or naturalist learner will love it.

:)
Miss Mynes

reuse.....

Here are some things we would love you to save and send into the classroom: tin cans of any size and plastic bottles of various sizes.  We will use them to make musical instruments.

Thank you for your continued support,
Miss Mynes

Bear Wear

On Thursday and Friday this week, Mr. Webster is selling Bear Wear.  I encourage you, if possible, to bring your child to the gymnasium yourself to guide your child in their selections.  If this is not possible, Mrs. McGrath or myself will do our best to guide your child to pick a clothing item that fits and is attractive.  Please direct all Bear Wear questions to Mr. Webster as I have no idea what the details of the sale are.

:)
Miss Mynes

our weekly theme

This week, we are learning about the orchestra.  Bringing your child to see an orchestra play, if possible, would make your logical-mathematical, musical, naturalist and intrapersonal learner very happy.

Also, if you use margarine, sending in the containers when they are finished would help me out with our Discovery activity this week.

Thanks,
Miss Mynes

communication folders

I have been struggling trying to come up with a new way to send home papers now that I am in a classroom that does not have room for student cubbies.  I like the children to learn to pack their own backpacks but I have discovered that simply cannot work in room 9.  In order to organize sending papers home, I have purchased zippered bags.  If your child brings their bag home, empty it out and send it back the next day.  In this way, I am sure any papers that need to get home will get home to you.

Thanks for your support,
Miss Mynes

a fun day

What a day we are going to have in room 9 today!  In the morning, we will try to keep it calm with regular routines - reading with seniors, writing folders etc.  In the afternoon, we have Everybody's Birthday Party.  We will have games, music, cake and general good times.  I'm sure your child will come home talking about it.  We will have a happy day, just like Alicia in Alicia's Happy Day.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today we see Mr. Burgess for drama, dance and music as well as physical education.  We also have the vision clinic this afternoon.  We are continuing our unit about Alicia's Happy Day by making Helado de Coco (coconut ice cream) just like Alicia eats in the book and we will use finger paint paper to write Happy Birthday just like the sky writing in the book.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today we continue our week based on Alicia's Happy Day.  We will list all the different things we call our parents - Alicia calls hers mammi and poppi.  We are going to dance to salsa music, just like Alicia does in the story.  We will also use our fine motor skills to cut paper "oranges" into a ribbon of peel, just like the orange peel ribbon Alicia receives on her happy day.  I will read with the seniors, we will write in our writing folders, see Mr. Vatsolas for Health and Ms. Dykstra for book exchange.  As always, a busy day.

Tomorrow all students in the school will have their vision tested.  Kindergarten's test will be at 1pm.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

Thursday

On Thursday afternoon we are having an Everybody Birthday Party in room 9.  Each child has invited a friend or teacher within the school to join in on the party.  We will have decorations, cake and party games.  This goes with our theme based on the book Alicia's Happy Day.  Today we made invitations for our guests and will be making ice cream patterns in the afternoon for Mathematics.

:)
Miss Mynes

fundraiser

Mr. Jennings has started his annual UNICEF fundraiser. 
Check out the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's website.

http://www.unicef.org/

Mr Jennings requests that you send in pennies and other coins that he will collect on UNICEF's behalf.  I know he appreciates you supporting this cause.

:)
Miss Mynes

timetable change

Ms. Dykstra has canceled our day 2 library period so she can do library administration during that time.  That means we will be getting new library books during our partnering period on day 5.  The children are allowed up to 4 books out at a time and will be denied new books if they have an overdue book.  I will send home a note with the names of the overdue library book.  If you cannot find it, write me a note.  Sometimes books are not checked into the library properly and can be found on the shelf, even when the computer believes they are checked out.

There has been a lot of coughing in our class this week.  When possible, we encourage you to keep your child at home to rest when they are ill.  I know that often they want to come to school but germs spread quickly in a classroom environment and out of courtesy to their classmates, they should stay home.

Thanks for all your support,
Miss Mynes

apple voting

Luckily I am nosey by nature and I discovered the apples the students are to use to vote for their favourite apple from our Thursday apple sales in the office - thank you to the parent council for that initiative.  Unfourtunately, the students selling the apples didn't know what type of apple they were selling and I am embarrassed to say I am not as able to identify apples without those handy labels as I had hoped.  Luckily, we had an apple tasting in the classroom where we tasted and graphed our favourite apple based on tasting a red, green and yellow apples.  I hope parent council doesn't mind if kindergarten goes on a tangent and votes on our favourite from that class activity.  That being said, after school today, come into the school and check our which colour apple is our favourite.  You can find the trees in the hallway outside the staff room.  I know I will be voting for green apples.

:)
Miss Mynes

Fire Drill Day

Today will be our first fire drill of the school year.  When you see your child after school, ask them about the fire drill.  Use it as a jumping off point to discuss what to do if there is a fire in your home.

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend.  I did but as always, I am happy to get back to work.

:)
Miss Mynes

next week

Next week, we being a focus on the book Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming.  In it, a goose chasing a butterfly through the barnyard creates a rhyming and rhythmic ruckus among the animals that live there.  We will use this text as an anchor to strengthen our oral language, phonological awareness and comprehension.  We will do some special activities that tie into the book like playing Duck, Duck, Goose.  If possible, go on a nature walk and see if you can find any butterflies before they are gone for the season.  Also, a trip to a local farm where you list farm animals from the book with your child and then check off the animals on the list as you find them.  Riverdale Farm is a great place!

Have a wonderful long weekend!
:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today is a day 3 which makes it a busy day.  We see Mr. Vatsolas for drama, dance and music and then again for physical education.  In room 9, in the morning, we will be writing in our writing folders and in the afternoon we will be doing an art project with apple seeds.  Mrs. McGrath always has fun activities going on too.

Starting next week, we will being our mathematics program in earnest.  Keep an eye on your child's backpack for fun activities you can do with your child at home in support of the concepts we are learning in class.  This is not homework and is not required or needed to be reported back.  The ideas are just for family fun at home.

Have a great day!
:)
Miss Mynes

Thursday apple sale

I forgot to mention that tomorrow there will be an apple sale.  I believe it is $0.50 for one.  The children have really enjoyed the apples so far!!

:)
Miss Mynes

apple art

Today, after we visit the Albert Campbell Library, we are doing apple based activities.  We will finish our apple prints and then we will be tasting a yellow, red and green apple and graphing our preferences.  Our songs this week are Johnny Appleseed and Apples and Bananas.

Because of our visit to the public library, we may miss book exchange at the school library today.  We will try to fit it in today or later in the week.

:)
Miss Mynes

Albert Campbell Library

Tomorrow, for 9:15, we will be visiting Albert Campbell Library.  Feel free to come along with us.

:)
Miss Mynes

the plan for tomorrow

Tomorrow, me, and perhaps Miss McGrath, will be attending an in school meeting about Model Schools.  Miss McGrath has worked in a model school for many years but it is all new to me so I hope to learn a lot in the morning meeting.  In the afternoon, we will make apple cider!! Yummy.

:)
Miss Mynes

Apples Here

Next week, we are focusing on the book Apples Here!  If possible, take your child to an apple farm or simply visit a produce stand or store.  Ask, How many different kinds of apples are there?  When you get home, you could write a story about your visit or a list of apples that you saw.  Encourage your child to draw a picture of their favourite part of the trip.  If your child is a linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial or interpersonal learner, they will love this activity.

Have a weekend as amazing as the weather is today,
Miss Mynes

Scientist in the School

On the morning of October 26th, the Scientist in the School will be coming to implement the Young Friends of the Earth presentation.  The Scientist in the School is an excellent way for your child to learn science concepts in a fun way.  For this, we need 4 volunteers to come into the classroom and help the scientist run the activities.  If you are available, send me a note, email me or mention it to me in person.

Have a great day!
Miss Mynes

Great Golden Bear time change

Please note: the Great Golden Bear assembly time for tomorrow has been changed to 9:25 to accommodate preparations for the staff BBQ at lunch.  I'm so sorry for the inconvenience but I'm only the messenger.

I'm also happy to discover that after the tech reimaged my computer yesterday, my blog is working properly and, most importantly, spell check.  I'm a horrible speller, I'm sure you have noticed, and now that spell check is working my posts won't be riddled with errors.

:)
Miss Mynes

preparation for next week

Next week is all about apples.  To help us out, could you please save every apple seed you can and send them in as soon as you can.  We need a ton so I hope you will cook with and eat apples a lot.  A win-win for all of us.

Also, if you have film canisters around the house - I know, so old school but none the less - we could use them next week, send them in and we will make good use of them.

:)
Miss Mynes

Day 2

Today is day 2 which means we have library and get new library books.  Children are allowed a maximum of 4 books signed out at once and if they have an overdue book, they are not allowed to check out any books until it is returned.  You can return library books on day 2 or at anytime before.  I prefer that you return them on day 2 so I can be sure they are signed in correctly.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, we see Mr. Vatsolas twice.  Once for music, drama and dance and once for physical education.  We will also be looking at pictures of spider and sorting them according to different attributes.  We will be making numbers using unifix cubes.  On top of that we have all our usual stuff.  This week we are learning a song about Anansi the Spider.  Ask your child to sing it for you.

:)
Miss Mynes

Meet the Teacher BBQ

The cancelation of the Meet the Teacher BBQ is disappointing for all of us.  Please know that you can contact me at anytime to ask questions.  You can call, email, or drop by before or after school.

:)
Miss Mynes

Terry Fox Run

http://my.e2rm.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=293911

Here is the link if you wish to fund raise or donate online.  The Terry Fox Run is an international fundraiser to raise money for cancer research.  Check you child's back pack for more information.  Please feel free to join us for the Terry Fox Run.  You can run or walk in support of finding an end to cancer.

:)
Miss Mynes

Next Week

Next Friday, we have a Great Golden Bear assembly in the morning.  This month we will be honouring our monst responsible students.  In the afternoon, we will be participating in the Terry Fox Run.  This fundraiser raises fund for cancer research.

Our theme next week is based on Anansi ans the Talking Melon.  Anansi is a trickster spider who tricks elephant into thinking a melon is talking to him.  We will discuss vocabulary, taste melon, have conversations to deeping comprehension, play spider melon roll, learn a song about Anansi and sooo much more.  You can support this unit by visiting a produce store with your child to find melons, counting the different kinds, finding the type from the story (cantalope), weighing them and looking at the cost of them.  This is great if your child is a logical-mathematical or naturalist learner.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Miss Mynes

tomorrow

Tomorrow we will wrap up our Amazing Grace unit.  We will write about something we do amazingly well.  We will  pretend to fly to the music from Peter Pan.  Tomorrow is a day 4 so we have physical education.  We will also use unifix cubes to create something and then trace around it and see if someone else can recreate it.

Have a great evening,
Miss Mynes

a busy day

Today is a busy day.  We start with Wake Up Wednesday where we exercise for 20 minutes with the whole school.  We will also get new library books.  I will be reading one on one with the seniors.  We will read Amazing Grace and talk about the story.  We are going to pretend to fly, working on our ability to play a character.  We will graph all the characters we know and choose our favourites.  We will read The Little Engine That Could.  Finally, we will use unifix cubes to build and discuss height and legnth.

Tomorrow is Apple Thursday.  Last week we had delicious McIntosh apples.  I can't wait to see what this weeks apple will be!  Send your child with a dollar if you want your child to have a healthy snack and participate in voting for their favourite apple.

I hope your day is a fun filled as ours.
:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today is picture day.  Hopefully we will all take our very best photo.  Never fear! If your child doesn't take a great picture today, there is a retake day in a few weeks.  We will also be reading Amazing Grace and talking about a time someone hurt our feeling.  Then we will write and draw about it.  Finally we will use unifix cubes to make a dog.  we will talk about height and quantity.

The children see Mr. Vatsolas twice, once for music, once for physical education.

:)
Miss Mynes

Red and White Day

On Thursday, in the morning, an Olympian is coming to visit our school.  Dress you child in red and white if you are able.

:)
Miss Mynes

a translation

http://translate.google.com/#

This is a website recommended by the English as a Second Language teacher as a tool to translate anything but especially those important documents from shcool.

:)
Miss Mynes

School Clothes

Sometimes, at school, we get wet or have accidents.  If you have old clothes you could donate to the class, that would be much appreciated.  If your child wears school clothes home, launder them at you leisure and send them back.

Thanks,
Miss Mynes

next week

Next week, we are focusing on the book Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman.  It is about a little girl who wants to play the lead in the school play and is made to doubt herself by her peers.  If you are able to bring your child to see a live play with your child, it would be great for your child, especially if they are a linguistic, musical or interpersonal learner.

Thank you for your support the first few weeks of school.  We are having a great year!  Could your kids be any cutier?

:)
Miss Mynes

class list

Here are the names of your child's classmates.
Nabiha
Talitha
Isaiah
Tsering
Tanisha
Adiba
Cassandra
Yuki
Olivia
Elizabeth
Evan
Antony
Livia
Alvi
Smiti
Ibrahim
Mailini
Rane
Courtney
Ryan

Next week

Next week, we will be focusing on the book Alphabet Soup: A Feast of Letters by Scott Gustafson.  It is about an Otter who find a soup pot in his new home.  He invites 26 friends to a pot luck house warming party.  Each guest brings a soup-worthy ingredient that starts with the first letter in their name. 

If you are able, take a trip to the zoo this week.  Work with your child to find an animal for each letter of the alphabet.  If your child is a linguistic, logical-mathematical, naturalist or interpersonal learner, they will love learning about letters this way.

:)
Miss Mynes

another thing for the first week

Also, in support of our Abiyoyo unit, we need boxes, paper towel tubes, and other materials to challenge our students to build the town in the story.  The children will be invited to re-enact the part of the story where Abiyoyo is coming to town.  This is great for the spatial, bodily-kinesthetic and interpersonal learner.  Please send them in as soon as you can.

Thanks again,
Miss Mynes

a fun idea for the first week

The first week of school, we will be reading Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger.  It is a South African folktale about a boy and his father who, after being banished from town for making mischief, are welcomed back when they find a way to make the scary giant, Abiyoyo, disappear.  In support of this unit, visit a music store with your child.  Examine the ukuleles and other srting instruments.  Point out percussion and wind instruments.  Ask your child how these groups of instruments are different from string instruments.  If your child is musical or a naturalist, they will really love connecting to our unit this way.

:)
Miss Mynes

if anyone is reading

I want to do an activity the first week of school that requires the cardboard tube often found on the bottom of hangers from the dry cleaners.  I am trying to find a dry cleaner who will donate some or an online source to purchase them but I thought I would try the environmentally friendly way and see if we can't recycle some.  If you could collect any that you have around the house and donate them to room 9, we will make something fun and educational with them.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer,
Miss Mynes

Hard to say goodbye...

I know I haven't posted on here very much but I have always thought of it as being Miss Mynes blog and I'm happy that she invited me in having the opportunity to use the blog to keep you informed. Sadly this will be my last post to the blog but I will be checking in regularly to see what wonderful ideas I can borrow for my Kindergarten students at Pape avenue.

A special thank you to Miss Mynes for opening up the classroom and making me feel welcomed from day one and a special thank you to all the parents for entrusting me with your children everyday. It was a pleasure getting to know the families and teaching the children. I take away from Workman lots of fun stories and lots of great ideas and I know my new students and teaching partner will hear all about them.

Have a great summer and feel free to keep in touch.

Cheers,
Mr. Pate
john.pate@tdsb.on.ca

the last day

Yikes!  Spell check not working!  Please be kind as my spelling is bad and so is my typing. :)

This day is always a day of mixed emotions.  Of course, I'm excited to take time off, who wouldn't?  But I love your children and next year, all but two of my seniors will be with a yet to be named teacher and 2 will be with Miss House (YAY!).  I see your children as my children and I am so sad to not have them around me every day.  I will spend part of the summer preparing room 9 for myself and my juniors - who will be seniors! and the incoming juniors who I can't wait to get to know.

It has been a privielge teaching your children and I hope their kindergarten experience has been one filled with happiness, a sense of belonging and, of cousre, learning.

Have a wonderful summer.  I hope we all come back in September filled with great stories to tell and an invigorated readiness to learn.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about tomorrow

Tomorrow will be a crazy day and I will do my best to outline it here.  In the morning, the seniors will be visiting Miss House or Mrs Kanarellis and Mrs. Sampson and the junior will stay with me.  Mr. Vlahos organized this Meet Your New Teacher morning where the children will do Back to School activities.  He is concerned that the children will be nervous on the first day of school if they have never met their teacher before and hopes meeting them before next year will alleviate these fears.  Luckily, in a small school, all the teachers know almost all the children by name and all the children by sight or have taught them before.

In the afternoon, Mr. Jennings has organized a Play Day.  The classes will be split into two teams and play against each other in various fun activities.  Mr. Jennings is concerned some of the activities will be too difficult for our youngest students but Mr. Pate and I will be there to be sure the kids are safe and participate to the best of their ability.

I'm sure your children will be tired tomorrow and ready for a good night sleep before the last day of the school year.

:)

Miss Mynes

oops

Sorry everyone, but report cards don't go home till Wednesday.

Sorry for spreading misinformation.
:)
Miss Mynes

the last week

I can't believe next week is the last week of school for the year.  I have loved teaching your children for the last year, or two.  I can't believe my seniors will be moving on to grade 1 with Mrs. Kanarellis.  I am going to miss them like crazy!!

Every student will bring home a report card on Monday.  Feel free to approach me with any questions you may have.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Miss Mynes

a weekend idea

http://www.toronto.com/event/646984--toronto-international-dragon-boat-race-festival?gid=684520

Come see Miss D'Heureux and I race for gold in The Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival!  Out boat is sponsored by the Elementary Teachers of Toronto and is called A Stern Warning.

:)
Miss Mynes

some summer fun

http://www.scholastic.com/summer/

Check out this link.  Have fun with reading this summer with you children.

:)
Miss Mynes

the last day party

On the last day of school we will celebrate our accomplishment of the year with a party in the afternoon.  Feel free to send in a snack for your child to share with their peers.  If it is a hot day, we will have a water fight so your child can also bring accessories for that.

:)
Miss Mynes

another Superman story

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/about_us/media_room/Room.asp?show=allNews&view=detailed&self=33715

the primary field trip

On June 21st, we will be going to Rouge Valley Conservation Area for an Eco-Adventure.  Please return your permission forms as soon as possible.  Even if your child is unable to attend the trip, we need the form with the no section filled out.

Miss D'Heureux has planned this wonderful trip and I look forward to a fun day.
:)
Miss Mynes

so busy

These last few weeks of school are filled with disruptions, fun disruptions but disruptions none the less.  This morning, Mr. Pate and I will be out of the class for the Welcome to Kindergarten event in the library.  Then we will bring our students to room 9 to allow my incoming JKs and their families to observe a snapshot of our kindergarten day.  At lunch today, your child may be participating in the graduation committee fundraising BBQ lunch.  This afternoon, the whole school will gather for our annual Panoramic photo.  All that and I haven't even mentioned health, music, reading assessments, writing, partnering with Miss Parton and math folders.  What a day!!

:)
Miss Mynes

fyi

You may have noticed that room 10 is packed up and I know some of you are wondering what is going on.  I will be teaching kindergarten in room 9 next year and my current juniors will be coming with me for the 2012/2013 school year.  Then in the 2013/2014 school year, the students from room 9 will be moved to room 10 and assuming Mr. Vlahos assigns me to kindergarten for that school year, I will move back into room 10 with the children.  I just wanted to be sure that this information was being shared accurately.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

June Calendar

On the weekend, I suddenly realized that I forgot to send home the June calendar - oops!  Sorry about that.  I will get that out to you as soon as I can.

:)
Miss Mynes

oops

I tend to be quite organized when it comes to the classroom Scholastic orders but for some reason I got a book that I don't know who it is for.  It is a Barbie mermaid book.  If your child ordered this and you didn't receive it yet, please let me know.

Thanks!

next week

Next week, we focus on strengthening our oral language skills using Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow.  Eileen has written a whole series based on her silly monkeys and kids love reading along.

Miss Parton is expecting that all library books are returned to the library.  Book sign out is over for this school year.  Please return all library books as you find them in your home.

:)
Miss Mynes

Miss Mynes on CBC Radio

Here is Miss Mynes' radio interview for CBC Radio with Laura Di Battista:

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Radio/Local_Shows/Ontario/Here_and_Now_Toronto/1775764786/ID=2242570128

Cheers.

check us out!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/06/05/toronto-gecko-video.html

Check out room 10!!

Superman on CBC

Mr. Vlahos has informed me that our Superman story will be airing on CBC News Toronto tonight at 6:20. If you miss it, don't worry because you can catch it online. CBC posts the last half hour of their broadcast online later in the evening.

It will be airing across the country on various supperhour newscasts.

Superman is putting J.G. Workman on the map!

all are welcome

If you know anyone with a child who will be in kindergarten next year and wants to come to full day kindergarten at JG Workman PS, tell them to call the office and register.  Our kindergarten classes are open to optional attendance for the 2012/2013 school year.  If we don't get our numbers up we risk having the 2 kindergarten classes collapsed into 1 in the early Autumn.

:)
Miss Mynes

a few things...

The brand new J.G. Workman P.S. reusable water bottles are here!  They are stainless steel and have the new school logo on them.  Order yours today for $10!

Tomorrow is Smoothie Day in support of the grade 8 graduation.  For $1 your child can buy a smoothie.  Orders are taken in advance so send in your order form today.

Next week, I will be at Camp Wahanawin with the grade 8 class.  Mr. Vlahos has booked an occasional teacher for me but I do not know who it is.  I love going to camp with the grade 8s (this years grade 8s were my first kindergarten class) but I hate leaving my class for 4 days.  Please be patient with the occasional teacher as things rarely go smoothly when I am absent or at least they are different.  Mr. Pate will be here so seek him out if you have any questions or information to share next week.

Enjoy this wonderful taste of summer today!
:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, the students have physical education with Mr. Kirsi and Mr. pate.  We will also go to the library to get new library books.  In the classroom, we will be playing a board game that strengthens both science and math skills.  It is called Follow the CCaterpillar and it takes the children through the life cycle of a butterfly.

Have a great day,
Miss  Mynes

butterfly week

Today, we are going to learn to make symmetrical butterflies and write rhyming words from Lois Ehlert's Waiting for Wings on the wings.  In the afternoon we will play a game called Number Race.  This fun game allows children to practice writing numbers.  The children will be seeing Mr. Kirsi for physical education.

:)
Miss Mynes

it finally happened

Finally, our butterfly project begins.  Our caterpillars have arrived and they are eating steadily, building stregnth for thier big transformation.  Next week, we will be talking about butterflies so ask your child all about it when they get home from school on Tuesday!
:)
Miss Mynes

next week

Next week, we will be working on sequencing events using the book Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand.  We will also continue representing numbers in Math.

:)
Miss Mynes

Family Math Night

Tonight is Family Math Night.  Feel free to join many of the teachers and staff, visiting the classrooms, enjoying fun Math experiences.  The evening begins with food in the gymnasium at 5:15.  Then Mr. Vlahos will speak.  Finally, you will be allowed to flow from classroom to classroom with your child having fun with Math.

:)
Miss Mynes

tomorrow

Tomorrow, we will continue our work on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star  by learning how to draw stars and writing our wishes.  We will also begin a unit on representing numbers, making sure we are forming numbers legibly and correctly.

We also have library so send in your library books.

:)
Miss Mynes

next week

Next week,  our language work will center around the book Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Iza Trapani.  Our focus will be on identifying words.  We will also continue working on patterning.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

This morning, we will do a follow up activity related to our trip to Forest Valley.  In the afternoon, we will write about something that might happen in kindergarten and something that would never happen it our short probability unit.  The students will have health with Mr. Kirsi and music with Ms. Piazza, of course, Mr. Pate is always there to support the children.  We will all be going to see Miss Parton this afternoon and we will write about our favourite Blue Spruce award nominee.  I know which one was my favourite.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

ready, set, go green!

Here are some tips for taking care of our planets plants and animals at home.
1. Grow your own vegetables and flowers in your backyard or in pots.  Plant a tree in your backyard.
2.  Sponsor an endangered animal.
3. Carefully cut up the plastic holders from six-packs of soda before throwing them away.  This way, birds and other animals won't get tangled in them.
4.  If you are out hiking, pick up any trash you see along the trail.  This will help protect the forest habitat, which is home to many plants and animals.  Remember, don't leave anything behind, even food scraps.
5.  Save trees by reducing your use of paper products.  For example, use washable cloths for cleaning and spills instead of paper towels.  Avoid using paper plates and paper napkins whenever possible.  Send e-cards instead of buying paper ones!

Have an eco-friendly day,
Miss Mynes

NEXT WEEK

Next week, we will read Over in the Meadow by Jane Cabrera.  We will focus on enhancing the fluency of the children's reading by having them read along with me using this familiar text.  We will also write rhymes in a similar style to the rhymes in the book.

:)
Miss Mynes

tomorrows feild trip

Tomorrow we are off to Forest Valley, an outdoor education sight.  We will take a walk in the woods and look for signs of spring.  We will also help Forest Valley staff restore the trails through their woods.  Your child should arrive at school at the regular time, 8:40, and you can pick them up at regular time, 3:30.  Please pack a litterless lunch as Forest Valley is a Platinum Ecoschool.

Thank you to our parent volunteers - we couldn't do it without you!
:)
Miss Mynes

this week....

Today, we will be having a dress rehearsal for tomorrows Eco Concert.  The Eco Concert will begin at 12:45 and you are welcome to join us to watch the children preform.  Thursday is our trip to Forest Valley.  Please get your permission forms in as soon as possible.  Anyone who is available to volunteer, we would love to have you with us on the trip.  On Friday, the school will work as a team to clean up the school property of garbage.  There is Running Club on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.  There is Yoga Club on Thursday.

:)
Miss Mynes

Our Next Language Unit

Next week, we will begin using books of read-along songs and rhymes.  Our learning goals are:

- building fluency with repeated readings of familiar verses, songs, and poems
- reading with expression
- making simple inferences regarding the order of events and possible outcomes of a story
- discussing setting, main characters, main events, sequence, and problems in stories
- relating stories to personal experiences
- stimulating oral language development
- understanding level-appropriate sight words and vocabulary
- enjoying great rhyming, sing-along books

We begin with the book The Eensy-Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman.  With this book, our main focus is sequencing.

Have a wonderful, sunny day.
:)
Miss Mynes

tomorrows lessons

Tomorrow, we will revisit Lois Elhert's Top Cat and focus on rhyming words.  In the afternoon, we will be making a huge graph of the number of people in our families.  We will get new library books and see Mr. Kirsi for physical education.  Also, tomorrow is International Pink Day which is a day we all declare we will not bully by wearing pink.  Encourage your child to wear pink tomorrow.

:)
Miss  Mynes

the next few days

Today, we will be making "cookie sheets" filled with "cookies" as we learn to organized letters into words and words into sentences.  We will also be counting the number of people in our family and graphing the results.

Tomorrow, I am taking the grade 8 co-ed volleyball team to a tournament but not to worry as Mr. Pate and an occasional teacher will be here with the children.

Thursday is PJ Day!!!!  Send your child to school in their cutest pajamas.

:)
Miss Mynes

next week's focus

Next week, we will use the book The Cookie-Store Cat by Cynthia Rylant to look at organizing letters and words.  We will be doing many fun activities like making our own "cookie sheets" to "bake", graphing favourite cookies and maybe making cookies.  It's going to be a fun week in room 10!

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about tomorrow

Tomorrow, in the morning, we will be awarding the Great Golden Bear awards for Honesty.  We discussed honesty in the classroom and the children voted on who they thought was the most honest student.  I'm happy that we will be awarding more than one award tomorrow.

In the afternoon, the Toronto District School Board will be honouring Earth Hour from 2 to 3pm.  We will be unplugging everything in the classroom except the clock and the gecko lamp and Ms. Piazza and Mr. Pate will be doing a special Earth Hour activity with the children.  I hope you will all be honouring Earth Hour as a family on Saturday.

Have a wonderful day,
Miss Mynes

It's Monday!

Today, the children have music/drama/dance with Ms. Piazza and Mr. Pate.  We will be writing about this weeks Top Cat and finishing our alphabet books.  In math we are using dominoes to play a game about the concepts of more and less.

Have a great day!
Miss Mynes

book bags

All senior kindergarten students should have a book bag.  Our book bags are large Ziploc bags with small books inside that should be easy for your child to read.  Also, the bag should have a sight word ring which is a metal ring with words on it that your child can practice reading like flash cards.  Once a week, whatever day works for your family, your child should bring the book bag back to get new books.  If your child have lost their book bag, please send me a note and I will make them a new one.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Thursday's are our busy days.  Outside of the classroom we have health with Mr. Kirsi and partner with Miss Parton in the library (right now we are reading and writing about the Blue Spruce award nominees in order to vote on which book should win the award this year).  Ms. Piazza comes to the classroom to teach drama/dance/music.  This morning, we are watching Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken.  Louise goes on many adventures, including joining the circus.  We will be making connections between the movie and our book of the week Olivia Saves the Circus.  We will also be writing about the letter X - not an easy task.  We are 3 days away from finishing our alphabet books.  When complete, the children will have a choice between taking their books home or putting them into our classroom book collection.

Have a wonderful day, I know we will.
:)
Miss Mynes

some upcoming events

Since Pyjama Day was a surprise for the kindergarten division, the communication problem has been fixed and now we are fully informed of upcoming Spirit Days.

March 29th - Twin Day
April 5th - Pyjama Day
April 13th- Animal Print Day


Also, tomorrow, Mr. Pate and I will be attending the Kindergarten Professional Learning Community Carousel where we will be showing our favourite resources and seeing great resources used by our colleagues.  Mr. Pate will be absent in the morning and I will be absent in the afternoon.  There will be an occasional teacher in the afternoon covering for me.  I will see you all again on Friday.

:)
Miss Mynes

the holiday is upon us

I hope everyone has a fun March Break!  Let's hope for beautiful weather.  We will all come back refreshed and excited for the final portion of our school year.  When we get back, we will be reading Olivia Saves the Circus and focusing on sound spelling.

:)
Miss Mynes

our busy Thursday

On Thursday's, we have health with Mr. Kirsi and music with Ms. Piazza, and Mr. Pate of course.  We also see Miss Parton in the library to read and write about another selection for the Blue Spruce award.  So far all of the books have been amazing!  Choosing our favourite will be difficult.

:)
Miss Mynes

illustrarions

Today, we will be searching the illustrations of Alphabears  for other things that start with the letters of the alphabet.  Illustrations are often so rich and encouraging your child to investigate them thoroughly deepens their understanding of the book and it's fun, too!

:)
Miss Mynes

It's Tuesday!!

Today, we will sort our names based on different criteria - beginning letter, ending letter, number of letters, etc.  We will write about things that start with the letter Q.  I will read with some seniors and we will all write in our journals or writing folders.  In math, we will represent more, fewer and equal amounts.  The children will have physical education with Mr. Kirsi and Mr. Pate.

:)
Miss Mynes

a little about today

Today, we will be focusing on our names and our peers names.  We will be writing about the letter P.  We will also, finally, launch our math unit on the concept and equality.

:)
Miss Mynes

Thanks!!!

Thank you so much for all the fruit and vegetable donations for our Fruit and Vegetable Tasting Party.  We have so much healthy food that we have enough for lots of snacking today.  Do not worry if your child doesn't eat their snack today, they most likely filled up on fruits and vegetables.

Thanks for your support,
Miss Mynes

next week

Next week, we begin a focus on the book Alphabears by Kathleen Hague.  We will work to recognize letters and names.  At home, help your child to write their siblings names, their names, your name.....children love to know how to write these things and it motivates them to practice writing letters and words.

:)
Miss Mynes

Fruit and Vegetable Tasting Party

Tomorrow is our Fruit and Vegetable Tasting Party.  Thanks in advance for sending in a fruit or vegetable for us to taste.  I love doing this activity with the children.  It can make them more open to healthy food, makes them aware of letter sounds of the words they use every day and expands their vocabulary.

Tomorrow, after school, ask your child what fruits and vegetables they liked best.

:)
Miss Mynes

next weeks theme

Next week, we return to the book Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert.  We will be identifying fruits and vegetables to expand their vocabulary and hopefully increase the fruits and vegetables they are willing to try and maybe even enjoy.  We will have a fruit and vegetable tasting party - with your help - and record our top 5 fruits and vegetables.

In Mathematics, we continue with our numeracy skills.

:)
Miss Mynes

a bit about today

Today, we have health with Mr. Kirsi and Mr. Pate in the morning and music with an occasional teacher and Mr. Pate in the afternoon.  We will write about "I things" in our alphabet books and make a class alphabet book about snacks.  In the afternoon, we will read a book nominated for the Blue Spruce award and vote on our favourite book so far.  We will also play a math activity called Shake and Spill to reinforce our operational sense.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

a little about today

This afternoon, a nursing student will be teaching the children about healthy eating.  Also, there is physical education with Mr. Kirsi.

This morning, we have library.  Your child will be bringing home new books for you to read together.  We will also be writing about things that start with H.

:)
Miss Mynes

a busy morning

What a busy morning we have today!!  We are readin Mouse Mess  and doing an activity based on beginning letter sounds.  Then we are writing about this weeks Top Cat.  Next, we will write about G things in our alphabet books.  Then I will read with some seniors and finally we will write in our journals and writing folders - and that is just the morning...wow!

I hope your morning is as productive as ours,
Miss Mynes

School Clothes

As my students grow, our school clothes shrink.  If you have any old clothes you don't need anymore, I encourage you to donate it to the classroom.  Sometimes, we get wet in class or at recess and having dry clothes to change into feels good.

Thanks a bunch,
Miss Mynes

Tuesday in Math

On Monday, our Math activity is called Boxcar Mystery.  Using interlocking cubes, working in pairs, the seniors will make a train with 5 cubes.  The student then hides the train behind their back, snap off cubes from the train and shows their partner what is left.  The partner has to guess how many cubes are hidden behind their partners back.  It's a great activity, working on their operational sense.

:)
Miss Mynes

Next Week

On Tuesday, we begin a focus on beginning letter sounds based on the book Mouse Mess by Linnea Riley.  We will talk about all the foods in Mouse Mess and their beginning letters.  We will write about a snack we like and the letter it starts with and put that writing into a class book.

Have a great long weekend,

:)
Miss Mynes

Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and room 10 will be having a party in the afternoon.  Feel free to send in a treat for your child to share with their classmates. 

The junior kindergarten students will be receiving report cards and interview times if you requested an interview.  All senior kindergarten students will receive an interview time, as required by the Toronto District School Board.  I am so happy that I have such a wonderful class this year, with no concerns.  If you also have no concerns or questions about your child's progress, you can call Miss Warener at the office to cancel our scheduled interview.  You can contact me at any time with your concerns or questions, either by phone, email or you can schedule an interview outside of the designated interview times.  I just want you to know that you have options if Thursday night or Friday morning don't work for you.

Happy Valentine's Day Eve,

Miss Mynes

Thursday is busy....

Today, we have so many things to do.  We will write about the letter C in our Alphabet Books.  If time permits, I will read with the seniors and do journals and writing folders with all students.  The children have Health with Mr. Kirsi.  After lunch, we will continue our numeracy work by working with 5 frames.  We will read, write about and vote on a Blue Spruce book with Miss Parton in the library.  We also have music with Ms. Piazza.  Wow!  What a day.  Hope yours is as productive.

:)
Miss Mynes

Alphabet Under Construction

We are learning about letters and phonemic awareness using the book Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming.  We are constructing our own alphabet books.  Today, we do the letter C.  Talk about the names and sounds of the letters with your child using both upper and lower case letters.  Knowing the sounds of the letters will help your child when we move onto beginning letter sounds next week.

Have a great day,
Miss Mynes

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, I will be at a volleyball tournament with the grade 8 girl's volleyball team.  That's assuming my sore throat doesn't keep me at home   :(   Either way, there will be an occasional teacher covering me for the day but not to worry, Mr. Pate will be here so the children have a familiar adult.

:)
Miss Mynes

a big thanks

I just wanted to thank Justin's family for the wonderful animal presentation and pizza lunch yesterday.  I still can't believe we had all those amazing animals right here in our classroom!  I hope all of your children came home and told you all about it last night.

:)
Miss Mynes

This Week's focus

This week, we will use the book Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault to learn more about letter-sound relationships.  We continue to do hands on activities to reinforce our numeracy skills.

:)
Miss Mynes

the weather thwarts my plans

My unit based on Lois Ehlerts Snowballs has been cancelled due to a lack on snow.  Who would have guessed we wouldn't have snow in January.  Next week, I plan to begin a unit based on Lois Ehlerts Waiting for Wings.  This assumes that the caterpillars that we will grow into butterflies arrive as expected.  Bare with me.  I hate not knowing what the plan is but one must be flexible.

Today we have library and physical education.

:)
Miss Mynes

our feild trip

Check your child's backpack for the permission form for our Field trip to the Scarborough Historical Museum.  Please return the form as quickly as possible so we can be prepared for Monday.

Today, we are walking over to Albert Campbell Library to visit with the children's librarian.

I have sent home a counting game you can play with your child.  It isn't homework or required in any way.  It's just a fun game you can play if you wish.

:)
Miss Mynes