Star of the Week

Dental Hygiene

Thank you to Christopher's Aunt Sandy McCaffrey from Jim Patterson's dental office for speaking to our kindergartners about dental hygiene, and bringing great goodie bags!

Pumpkin Centers

Today we had fun participating in different Halloween and pumpkin-themed centers. Thank you to the parents who came in to help: Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Richards, Mr. Mills-Low, Mrs. Copper and Mrs. Kimball. THANK YOU!

Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Today we made pumpkins with homemade pumpkin pie playdough. If you want to make some at home, it's really easy:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 c. water
1 tsp. vegetable oil
food coloring
1 can pumpkin pie spice

Star of the Week

Pumpkin Pancake Recipe

We used a pancake mix. Make the mix as directed, and add 1/4 c. canned pumpkin, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and a 1/4 tsp. nutmeg. Cook pancakes as you normally would. Serve with syrup or whipped cream. Yum!

Star of the Week

Pumpkin Pancakes yum!

Today we made pumpkin pancakes and the class loved them! I will post an easy recipe.

Room Moms

A big thank you to Nancy Wheeler and Chandra Richards for agreeing to be Room Moms in our classroom. If you are contacted by either of these ladies, it's because I've asked for their help in getting your help. :) Thanks for all of your support!

Stations on Halloween

On Halloween day, Monday the 31st, we will rotate through several fun stations. This will include things such as pumpkin measuring, painting, a math game, etc. We would love parents to help monitor these stations, or to help by bringing a snack or a "favor" for kids to take home at the end of the day. If you can help, please contact Mrs. Piltz at piltzt@billingsschools.org or Nancy Wheeler at nmwheeler@hotmail.com by 10/27/11.

Stations:
We need 4-5 parents to help. Thanks to those of you who have already volunteered!
Snack:
Parents who would be willing to bake pumpkin muffins or cookies for snack would be greatly appreciated.
Favors:
Anything you would like to contribute as a "favor" for the end of the day.

Thanks for your help!

Book It!

Our class will be participating in Pizza Hut's Book It! reading incentive program. More information will be coming home soon. Please encourage your kindergartner to participate!

Big Pumpkin

Here is the song from one of our favorite books, Big Pumpkin, by Erica Silverman. Enjoy!

Eating our Bannock

Making Bannock

Today Ms. Faber read the story I Can't Have Bannock But the Beaver has a Dam" by Bernelda Wheeler. After the students read the book, about an American Indian family making traditional bread (bannock), the students helped Ms. Faber make bannock and then tried it. Many of them enjoyed it!

The Orange Song

The Green Song

The Brown Song

Our trip to J and K Farms Pumpkin Patch

Star of the Week

October 10-14th

Pumpkin Patch

We had a fantastic time at J and K Farms today! Thanks to Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Calame and Mrs. Eliason for their help. Video and pictures will be posted soon.

All of the kids loved picking pumpkins and took home some great ones! Here is a recipe for delicious roasted pumpkin seeds.

"This is a pumpkin patch!"

Helpers in our Room

We are excited to have two new helpers in our room. Mrs. Eliason will be joining us as an aid in the mornings. I am so excited to have her help! Ms. Faber, a student at MSU-B, will be with us for several weeks as part of her junior field practicum.

The kids are enjoying getting to know them both.

Walk and Ride to School Safely Activity

Idea from Journeys for Home:

Sit with your child and watch this 30 second video: http://www.youtube.com/user/jfhmontana
Ask your child, “What did you see taking place?” Just listen, and let your child share what she knows. Do not offer any information or comments.

Be patient.

Watch the second video (45 seconds) Encourage your child to read the words with you.

Ask, “What did taking you see place?” Discuss where to stop and what to look for and why.

Ask, “What do you do before you enter the street?” (Stop at the edge, look left, look right, look left again. If no cars are present, walk and keep looking.)

Go to the street!

You stand back about five steps; ask your child to show you what he knows about crossing the street. Be patient. Be positive, point out the correct actions. If something is missing, ask,“What else could you do?” If need be, model the correct behavior and practice the procedure with your child. Practice often, let your child take the lead and you be the shadow.

Star of the Week

Star of the Week is a great time for students to share a little about themselves, as well as practice speaking in front of their peers. We also spend a lot of time talking about asking good questions while students share their posters and their show and tell. Every student will have the opportunity to be Star of the Week sometime this year.

Book Orders Due 10/5/11

Book orders are due this Wednesday, 10/5/11. You can return the order form and payment to class, or order online. Thank you!

Bus Safety Field Trip

We will be taking a bus safety field trip on Wednesday the 5th. In order for your child to participate, please return the permission slip that was sent home last week. The kindergartners will watch a safety video and take a short trip to practice safety rules.

Poem Books

Poem books were sent home on Friday. Please read the poems with your child, sign the reading log and return to school. Each week we add more poems and they will be sent home almost every Friday. This is a great reading tool!