Family Learning Activities, 5/12-5/15

ß Create a May family art project to display in the classroom all month. The theme can be a special day or holiday in May (e.g., someone’s birthday, “May Day is Lei Day,” Mother’s Day, Memorial Day).
ß Find shapes in the world around you. Remember: A ____ is a ____. When you add some ____, it turns into a ____. Take a picture or draw what you see and bring it in to share with the class.
ß Experiment with shapes and designs using other materials. (In class we’re using pattern blocks, Play-doh, and Geoboards.)
ß Have Game Night and play board games as a family.
ß We’re going to listen to the Middle School Concert Band this week. Make your own instrument to share, or bring in a book about instruments (fiction or non-fiction) to share.

Posted at 8:18 AM| Permalink

Kahalaopuna

The children were terrific at our Kahalaopuna rehearsal and performance on Thursday! The all-school rehearsal was the first time anyone saw the opera in its entirety. We all got chicken-skin watching the students perform. Family and friends will be amazed at the poise and skill of the children. The middle school and high school students and teachers enjoyed the afternoon performance, and it was wonderful for the students to have an audience. All the children are excited to perform for family and friends tonight and tomorrow night. 
This week in math, we continued working on our Shape Books. We began experimenting with Play-doh, Geoboards, and pattern blocks. We practiced making different shapes with Play-doh and then on Geoboards. Everyone made a design with pattern blocks and recorded the design with paper pattern blocks. The pattern block designs were given a title/name and will be added to the Shape Books.

The students are continuing to build their Manoa town. It is wonderful to see them so focused as they work on their individual parts – animals, plants, natural surroundings, school, clothes, food, sports/games, transportation, and shelter/buildings. We can’t wait until we put all the parts together!

The kindergartners are practicing for 1st grade in many different ways. We notice that:
- attention and participation during group activities and lessons are improving.
- writing is improving, with attention to detail and grown-up spelling.
- the students are becoming more and more confident and independent as they move about the classroom, requiring fewer promptings and reminders from the teachers and performing or leading classroom routines.
Parents, you can help your child develop confidence and independence by bringing them to school before 7:30 a.m. Your child will be able to socialize with his/her peers in the dining hall and then walk to the classroom with the teacher and class. It also helps the flow of classroom routines when the class is able to start the day together.
The teachers acknowledge these practices daily to encourage the students in their performance. Way to go, Kindergarten!

Upcoming events and important dates to remember:
Friday and Saturday, 5/9-5/10 – Kahalaopuna performance
Wednesday, 5/14 – The Middle School Concert Band will give us a mini-concert and introduce us to the instruments they play.
Thursday, 5/15 – last visit of the year to Manoa Senior Care
Friday, 5/16 – Conference prep day for teachers (NO SCHOOL for students)
Thursday and Friday, 5/22-5/23 – Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences (NO SCHOOL for students, but students attend their conference)
Monday, 5/26 – Memorial Day holiday
Tuesday, 5/27 – Student Recognition Assembly
Wednesday, 5/28 – 5th grade leavetaking ceremony, pizza lunch, end-of-the-year celebration
Thursday, 5/29 – Field Day (last day of school)

REMINDER! Newsletters and family learning activities will now be posted on Fridays. If you subscribed to the blog, you will receive an email notification when the blog is updated.

All of our math games are available in the Math Center daily. Also, if you are interested in learning how to play any of these games, let us know, and we’ll be happy to send a game board home. You may either make your own game materials, or you may borrow our classroom materials. Your child will be able to explain the rules and objectives of the games.

If you have any recyclable items we can use in our art center, please send them with your child. Items need to be stored on a shelf in our classroom, so please, no bulky items. Suggested items include paper towel/toilet paper rolls, styrofoam pieces, and fabric/wallpaper squares. Thank you!

The new set of Family Learning Activities has also been posted. Some items have been removed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go back to them and complete the activity. Remember, these activities are optional; please enjoy them, as your family’s schedule and available time will allow.

Posted at 8:16 AM| Permalink