The Old Pad

Week 23

Important Dates and Information:

• February 6 - Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 7 - PTA Cosmic Bowling, Information went home on Tuesday (1/29)
• February 18 - President's Day, Student Holiday - No School
• February 19 - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday - No School

Just a reminder that we do have a time for a healthy snack during the morning, so if you would like your child to have a snack you need to send it in with them each day.  The school does not provide snacks.  We (teachers) have been providing snack for those that have not remembered their own, but we cannot provide it any longer.  Some healthy snack ideas:  fresh fruit, crackers, and pretzels. 

We are having a special Valentine's Day activity in the classroom.  Please refer to information sent home on Tuesday (1/29).

Thank you!

Supplies Needed:  headphones to use during the computer lab and glue sticks.

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  handwriting, letter l, main idea and details, literary elements (author, illustrator, character, setting), narrative writing, editing marks, beginning/middle/end sounds, sight words, computers, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, today, yesterday, tomorrow, tens, ones, daily number work, season - winter, power line, graphing), numbers 0 -20, review ordinal numbers, tens frame, positional words, math problem solving, math journals, Groundhog's Day/shadow activities

Social Studies:  Where do I live?  How can I located where I live on a map?  What kinds of places are in a town?

Guidance:  Who Goes First

Ways to help at home!

Practice home mailing address - use checklist sent home on January 22 to help practice, read nightly, continue studying sight words, practice handwriting, and allow students to write in a journal at home.

Contact Information for Ms. Discepola:  naomi.discepola@cobbk12.org

Blog Address:  http://dowell.typepad.com/black/

Dowell Elementary:  2121 West Sandtown Road  Marietta, GA  30064 Phone:  678 594 8059

Dowell Elementary Website:  http://www.cobbk12.org/~dowell/

Breakfast of Champions

Congratulations to Taylor! Character Education - Resilience

Week 22

Important Dates and Information:

• January 18 - 28 - Book Fair
• January 22-25 and January 28 - Conferences, Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 6 - Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 7 - PTA Cosmic Bowling
• February 18 - President's Day, Student Holiday - No School
• February 19 - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday - No School

Please do not drop of your child at school until 7:15am.  There is nobody supervising children until 7:15am.  Thank you!

Wednesday - Happy 100th Day of School!

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  rhyming words, handwriting, letter v, main idea and details, narrative writing, editing marks, computers, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, today, yesterday, tomorrow, tens, ones, daily number work, season - winter, power line, graphing), numbers 14-20, 100th Day activities

Social Studies:  Where do I live?  How can I located where I live on a map?  What kinds of places are in a town?

Ways to help at home!

Practice home mailing address, read nightly, and continue studying sight words.

Contact Information for Ms. Discepola:  naomi.discepola@cobbk12.org

Blog Address:  http://dowell.typepad.com/black/

Dowell Elementary:  2121 West Sandtown Road  Marietta, GA  30064 Phone:  678 594 8059

Dowell Elementary Website:  http://www.cobbk12.org/~dowell/

Week 21

Important Dates and Information:

• January 21 - MLK Day, Student Holiday - No School
• January 18 - 28 - Book Fair
• January 22-25 and January 28 - Conferences, Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 6 - Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 7 - PTA Cosmic Bowling
• February 18 - President's Day, Student Holiday - No School
• February 19 - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday - No School

We are having a great week in the classroom!  If you have not confirmed your conference date and time please return signed form as soon as possible.  New sight words will be sent home on Friday.  We are going to preview the bookfair as a class on Friday.

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  Phonics (initial consonant sound, ending sounds, segmenting, CVC words), handwriting, letter u, main idea and details, Writer's Workshop, narrative writing, editing marks, computers, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, today, yesterday, tomorrow, tens, ones, daily number work, season - winter, power line, graphing), ordinal numbers, numbers 11, 12, 13, matching numbers, number words, math journal, and problem solving

Social Studies:  What makes up a community?

Ways to help at home!

Read nightly and continue studying sight words.

Contact Information for Ms. Discepola:  naomi.discepola@cobbk12.org

Blog Address:  http://dowell.typepad.com/black/

Dowell Elementary:  2121 West Sandtown Road  Marietta, GA  30064 Phone:  678 594 8059

Dowell Elementary Website:  http://www.cobbk12.org/~dowell/

Behavior Management Plan

The behavior management plan that was in place with Mrs. Black with purple, green, yellow, and red will continue to be implemented in the class.  We have also begun a positive reinforcement plan in addition to the colors.  The students have been doing great earning green strips this week!  Please see below for more details.

Positive Reinforcement -Students earn and lose strips of paper individually and as a team.  Students will learn to use self-control, as well as what it takes to work together as a team.  Students earn strips for answering questions correctly, listening to instructions, keeping their tables clean, and so forth.  Students lose strips by not following instructions, being noisy in line, and so forth. Students sit at desks/tables and are grouped together to form teams.  At the end of each day the strips of paper are counted.  Tables will compete against each other.  For example, team/table 1 against team/table 2.  The team/table with the most strips at the end of the day will earn a point for that day.  When a team/table reaches five points they earn a treat and begin earning points again.

In addition to the table teams, the students will work together as a class community to earn compliments.  The compliments will come from other faculty, staff, parents, etc. and earned by the class for great line behavior, listening while in large groups, cafeteria behavior, etc.  Students will earn a point for each compliment they receive (other than from us).  Once the class earns ten points the whole class receives a treat and then begins earning compliment points again!

Contact Information for Ms. Discepola:  naomi.discepola@cobbk12.org

Blog Address:  http://dowell.typepad.com/black/

Dowell Elementary:  2121 West Sandtown Road  Marietta, GA  30064 Phone:  678 594 8059

Dowell Elementary Website:  http://www.cobbk12.org/~dowell/

Breakfast of Champions

Congratulations to Brenda! Character Education - Compassion

Week 20

Important Dates and Information:

• January 21 - MLK Day, No School
• January 23-25 and January 28 - Conferences, Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 6 - Early Release - Dismissal at 12:20pm
• February 7 - PTA Cosmic Bowling
• February 18 - President's Day, No School
• February 19 - Teacher Workday, No School

Welcome back!  I am thrilled to be working in kindergarten as we SPLASH INTO LEARNING! 

Folders and behavior management plan that Mrs. Black was implementing in class will continue to be used.  Please make sure to check your child's folder for important information and notes.  If you have notes to send to us please send them in the folder as well.

Important conference information went home this week with the date and time of your scheduled conference.  Please complete, sign, and return form as soon as possible.  You will receive your child's report card at your scheduled conference time.  I look forward to meeting with you!

Students really enjoy cooking, but we cannot do it without your support.  We will continue cooking activities as long as we have needed supplies.  If you would be willing to send in supplies please place a note in your child's folder. 

Thank you!

Highlights from the Classroom:

Language Arts/Reading:  Phonics (initial consonant sound, ending sounds, blending, and segmenting words), handwriting, letter x, main idea and details, Writer's Workshop, narrative writing, and book buddies

Math: Daily Math RAP (calendar, months of the year, days of the week, today, yesterday, tomorrow, tens, ones, daily number work, season - winter, power line, graphing), measurement, math journal, and problem solving

Social Studies:  What makes up a community?

Guidance:  Topic - Review of I Messages

Ways to help at home!

Read nightly and continue studying sight words.

Contact Information for Ms. Discepola:  naomi.discepola@cobbk12.org

Blog Address:  http://dowell.typepad.com/black/

Dowell Elementary:  2121 West Sandtown Road  Marietta, GA  30064 Phone:  678 594 8059

Dowell Elementary Website:  http://www.cobbk12.org/~dowell/