Mrs. Polteno's Garden of Learning

Homework and what can I do as a parent to help

2011-09-16T06:59:00.002-06:00

Parents:

Please refer to the calendar sent home at the beginning of the month so you know when homework is sent home and when homework is due. It is essential to send homework back in the homework folder because it is hard to decipher what is homework with all the loose papers that are in your children's backpacks.

When you do the homework with your child it is so important that you sit down with them and monitor what they are doing. Especially with the letter writing. They need to know which direction they should be writing the letters and many times can be writing them wrong if trying to figure it out on their own.

Please review the letters and sounds that are on the front of the homework packet every day. As it states on the homework packet, I test the children every day their homework is due to see what letters and sounds from the week they know. They are expected to know the sounds and letters from that weeks homework and previous weeks.

I often get asked, "My child is having a hard time learning the letters and sounds, what can I do to help them?". The answer is to just simply continually review review review. Just keep doing it every day and the repetition is key in helping the child to learn the letters and sounds. It may help to purchase flash cards at the store and to review in that way. Or, as you drive down the street, find signs such as the McDonalds sign and say, "oh wow what letter is on the McDonald's sign?" the child may or may not know it and say "an M". If they do not know it wait three seconds for them to figure it out and if they do not get it tell them it is and M, and ask them again what letter is on the McDonald's sign. They should then get it and feel some accomplishment by knowing the letter (even though you gave them the answer).

You can do the same activity but with things found around the home like cereal boxes. Have them look for the letters that they are working on for homework on the boxes. Finding things familiar to the child will get them excited about learning the letters and be more of an incentive to learn them.

Thank you for all the hard work you as parents are doing at home with the homework. It is so important for the child to get the extra help at home. As an educator I have seen great growth in students who apply their learning outside of school and at home.

Keep up the good work!!!! I am excited to see what the children learn this school year, they are amazing.

Mrs. Polteno

Welcome to Kindergarten!!!

2011-07-27T12:24:00.000-06:00

Hello!

My name is Melissa Black Polteno and I am your child's Kindergarten Teacher this year.

I am so excited for this school year.

This is my 7th year teaching at Lincoln. It is such a great place to be every day and I am so excited to see your children learn this school year.

Please make sure to be at your child's Kindergarten test the first week of school. It will either be on the 22nd, 23rd, or 24th of August. The first day of Kindergarten will be on Thursday, August 25th.

I have a list of things that I need donated to our classroom so that we can do our many fun activities. Those things are:

Quart size ziplock bags
Gallon size ziplock bags
Kleenex
Glue Sticks (a lot of them)
Glue (a lot of bottles)
Copy Paper
Fruit loops pretzels

gold fish crackers

I am excited for this school year and to watch each child learn and grow!!!!

Love,

Mrs. Polteno

Mi nombre es Melissa Negro Polteno y yo soy maestro de su niño de kindergarten de este año.

Estoy muy emocionado por este año escolar.

Esta es mi enseñanza 7 º año en el Lincoln. Es un gran lugar para estar todos los días y estoy muy emocionado de ver que sus hijos aprendan en este año escolar.

Por favor, asegúrese de estar en la prueba de jardín de infantes de su hijo la primera semana de clases. O bien será el 23 22, o 24 de agosto. El primer día de jardín de infantes será el jueves, 25 de agosto.

Tengo una lista de cosas que tengo que donó a nuestro salón de clase, para que podamos hacer nuestras actividades divertidas. Esas cosas son las siguientes:

Quart bolsas ziplock tamaño
Bolsas ziplock tamaño galón
kleenex
Barras de pegamento (muchos de ellos)
Glue (una gran cantidad de botellas)
copia en Papel
Fruit Loops
pretzels
gold fish crackers

Estoy muy emocionado por este año escolar y ver a cada niño a aprender y crecer!!

Mrs. Polteno

I will be out Monday, March 21st and Tuesday, March 22nd

2011-03-20T18:25:00.001-06:00

Parents:

I am taking some personal days and will not be with your wonderful children on Monday and Tuesday. I guarantee they will be in great hands.

I will see you on Wednesday!!!

Love,

Mrs. Polteno

St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-13T22:26:00.000-06:00

Parents:

Thursday, the 17th of March is St. Patrick's Day! Wear your green and make sure your child wears green. Hopefully we can catch the leprechaun!!!

Love,

Mrs. Polteno

Short Day Friday and No School Friday

2011-02-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

Parents:

Remember Short day on February 17, 2011 and NO SCHOOL on February 18th!!!

End of Term is February 18th and report cards will be sent home next Wednesday, February 23rd.

Our Valentine's Day Party was a success. Definitely crazy, but the kids enjoyed it and had fun playing the heart games and frosting cookies. Thank you to everyone who donated different things to the class for the party.

No Costumes for the Halloween Party!!!

2010-10-27T19:17:00.000-06:00

Remember, do not wear costumes on the 28th for our Halloween Party. It is a rule at Lincoln that we are not allowed to wear costumes, crazy hair, or face paint. Please do wear your orange and black!!!!

I hope you all have a safe Halloween weekend!!!

Mrs. Polteno

Another Tonsillectomy Update

2010-10-16T20:58:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am amending my previous post. It was a really hard and rough week. I thought the first few days of recovery would be the hardest. I was wrong. After careful consideration I have finally figured out that I truly needed two weeks away from work to fully recover. The wishful thinking by me was that I would be better by Monday the 18th. I could not have been more wrong. I have not been able to eat, talk, or really have energy or strength to walk. Every day is getting better, but I unfortunately will not be back to work until the 22nd of October.

I am so sorry that I will not be with your kids. I am definitely getting better day by day, but to continue the teaching that I have planned, I need to get myself better. Please know I think about you and your children daily.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Polteno

Tonsillectomy update!!

2010-10-09T14:06:00.000-06:00

Parents:

Well, here I am in bed recovering from the craziness from the past few days. First things first!!! I miss your children tremendously. They are amazing kiddos. Mrs. Bagby is taking great care of your kids. She is constantly asking questions, making sure she is doing everything she can for them. I get many updates on the kiddos and I am so grateful for that. Mrs. Bagby brought a stack of get well cards from the kids to my house yesteray. It was so sweet and definitely has helped me keep my spirits up through this ordeal.

On to the fun of the recovery. I am in a lot of pain. It hurts a ton. I can see why they said that I needed time off work. I have no energy, and am on a lot of medication for pain. I have been told that I will be getting better and then on about day 5 of the recovery I will hit the wall and be worse again. So, I cannot say the worst is over.

In the hopes of keeping your kids up to date on their learning, I have decided to only teach half days the 18th through the 22nd of October. I did this so that I can recover faster. The substitute will be Mrs. Bertolina. She is a 3rd grade teacher at Lincoln that does not work in the afternoons.

Thank you for your kind words to me before my surgery. It means a lot to me and is helping carry me through the recovery process. You are all wonderful. I look forward to seeing you when I get back to work on the 18th.

Love,

Mrs. Polteno

Homework!!!!

2010-10-01T22:47:00.001-06:00

Parents:

Homework is a wonderful way for you to spend time with your child and watch them learn. It is also a good indicator of what letters and sounds your child needs to work on the most. There are activities that go along with the homework that cannot be completed on their own. They NEED your help to achieve maximum success in their homework completion.

Please review the letter names and sounds that are on the front of the homework packet DAILY!! I check every Friday what letters and sounds they know. They should have mastered the letters and sounds on the front of the packet by the Friday the homework packet is due.

Please take the homework seriously. Do it on a nightly basis not only to finish the pages in the packet but to review the letters and sounds which is essential to achieving in school.

What wonderful kids you have. I am so grateful to be their teacher.

Mrs. Polteno

Los padres:

Los deberes son una manera maravillosa para usted pasar tiempo con su niño y mirarlos aprenden. Es también un indicador bueno de lo que cartas y suena a su niño debe trabajar en el más. Hay actividades que acompañan los deberes que no puede ser completado solo. NECESITAN su ayuda a lograr éxito máximo en su terminación de deberes.

¡Revise por favor los nombres de carta y sonidos que están en la frente del paquete de deberes DIARIO!! Verifico todos los viernes qué cartas y sonidos que saben. Deben haber dominado las cartas y los sonidos en la frente del paquete por el el viernes que el paquete de deberes es debido.

Tome por favor los deberes gravemente. Hágalo en una base de todas las noches no sólo terminar las páginas en el paquete pero para revisar las cartas y los sonidos que es esencial a lograr en la escuela.

Lo que niños maravillosos que usted tiene. Estoy tan agradecido ser su maestro.

Mrs. Polteno

Mrs. Polteno will be gone for a few days in October!!

2010-09-18T14:07:00.000-06:00

Parents,

Just to make you aware, I will not be at school teaching your wonderful children on the 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of October. I just found out that I must get my tonsils out. I am nervous about this!!! In previous school years I would miss up to two weeks of school throughout the year for the same illness, tonsilitis. My doctor yesterday told me enough was enough and that I needed to get them taken out. It will be a tough time for me not being with your children. I enjoy showing up to work and being with them daily. I promise that it will be better in the long run.

I have hand picked the substitute. My dear friend Mrs. Bagby who taught 3rd grade at Lincoln over the last three years will be the substitute. Your children will be in great hands and I am extremely confident that their learning will continue just as if I were there.

If you have any questions about this, please let me know.

Mrs. Polteno

Scholastic book orders

2010-09-18T13:54:00.002-06:00

Parents:

Oh goodness. I just noticed that the Scholastic website just barely changed their login and order procedures for their book orders. You need to go to the website
http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/parent_landing.htm
and enter the class code number which is GV4WX. I expect the order to be received between the 27th of September and the 1st of October!!! Go to the website and then click register/sign in on the left side of the page. I extended the due date for the bookorders to Monday the 20th of September. Use the code number I included. Also, you can use this page the rest of the school year to buy books. This is a good way to buy books for your student. The books are cheaper than if you go to a bookstore!!!!

Mrs. Polteno

Fundraiser packets!!!

2010-09-12T19:21:00.000-06:00

Parents,

Please make sure that you return the fundraiser packets. If you do not return them you will have to pay $20.00 for each booklet not returned. That ends up being $100.00. Please take directly to the office.

Los padres,

Aségurese por favor de que regresa los paquetes de recogedor de fondos. Si usted no los regresa usted tendrá que pagar $20,00 para cada folleto no regresaron. Eso acaba por ser $100,00. Tome por favor directamente a la oficina.

Than you,

Mrs. Polteno

School is starting!!!

2010-08-10T12:02:00.001-06:00

Hello! My name is Melissa Black Polteno and I am your child's Kindergarten Teacher this year.

I am so excited for this school year. You will be receiving information regarding our class at Back To School Night, which is during the SEP conferences for the rest of the school.

At this Back to School Night you will be receiving information about this school year that is extremely important. You need to be there.

I am excited for this school year and to watch each child learn and grow!!!!

Love,

Mrs. Polteno

¡Hola! Me llamo Melissa Black Polteno y yo soy Maestro del Jardín de la infancia de su niño este año.

Yo tan soy emocionado para este año escolar. Recibirá información con respecto a nuestra clase en Educar Atrás la Noche, que está durante las conferencias de SEPTIEMBRE para el resto de la escuela.

En esta Espalda para Educar la Noche que recibirá información sobre este año escolar que es muy importante. Debe estar allí.

¡Soy emocionado para este año escolar y para mirar a cada niño aprende y crece! !!!

El amor,

Sra. Polteno

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL

2010-05-28T20:04:00.000-06:00

I refuse to allow the kindertartners to move onto 1st grade. I am so sad that this year is ending. I have enjoyed this year too much.

Monday, May 31: No School Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 1: Normal School Day
Wednesday, June 2: Last Day for Backpacks!!!! Normal School Day
Thursday, June 3: Field Day The time for both classes is 8:10 - 11:15 AM. Also, I will need a ton of parental help with this. So parents, if you are available please consider volunteering.
Friday, June 4: Last Day of School Both classes are to be at school from 8:10 - 10:15 AM. You will be receiving report cards today.

If you have any questions, please ask!!!!

Beach Party!!!

2010-05-28T20:02:00.000-06:00

I am so pleased with how well the Beach Party turned out. The kids enjoyed themselves and overall had a wonderful time. It was fun to get our inner surfer dudes and dudettes come out. What a blast!!!!!

Thank you to the parents who volunteered to come and help!!!!!

Surf On!!!!

Beach Party Thursday!!!

2010-05-24T22:53:00.000-06:00

Just checked the weather and it is supposed to be 78 degrees on Thursday. Perfect weather for the Beach party. Please remember to send your child to school with a beach towel and their "treat" needs to come to school with them on Wednesday so I can put the snack sacks together for each child.

Let's get ready to Party!!!!!!

Thank you for coming to kindergarten testing!!!!

2010-05-21T17:50:00.000-06:00

Your kindergartners are fabulous!!!! I hope you enjoyed coming in and seeing what your child has learned this year! I was very impressed with their test scores. We had 86% of all parents come. That is a great turn out. Thank you for your support through the year, and good job kindergartners.

Let's gear up for the Beach Party to celebrate the successes.

Mrs. Polteno

Remember Testing This week!!!

2010-05-16T11:52:00.002-06:00

Please remember your testing time this week. If you have question about when your time is, please click on the link at the top of the page. This will take you to the class calendar. Click on each day of testing and find your child's name.

Mrs. Polteno

Schedule of coming events the last few weeks of school!!!!

2010-05-12T17:55:00.002-06:00

Monday, May 17 - Friday, May 21: Kindergarten Testing. Please refer to the newsletter sent home to find your child's testing time!!!
Thursday, May 27: Short Day and Beach Party. Please bring a beach towel today and sign up for a snack to bring to share with the rest of the class. I will need some parent volunteers for this! : )
Friday, May 28: No School
Monday, May 31: No School Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 1: Normal School Day
Wednesday, June 2: Last Day for Backpacks!!!! Normal School Day
Thursday, June 3: Field Day (I am double checking with the principal to make sure that the afternoon class can come in the morning to join in the festivities) If that happens the time for both classes would be 8:10 - 11:15 AM. Also, I will need a ton of parental help with this if it happens. So parents, if you are available please consider volunteering.
Friday, June 4: Last Day of School Both classes are to be at school from 8:10 - 10:15 AM. You will be receiving report cards today.

If you have any questions, please ask!!!!

Mrs. Polteno

Lunch was a success!!!

2010-05-12T17:29:00.000-06:00

Parents,

It was so fun seeing the students on Wednesday eat lunch at school. They were so excited. It was definitely a success. A special thank you goes out to Milena Pehar, who was in charge of sending the notes home and organizing the lunch!!!!

Mrs. Polteno

Gone Monday, May 10th

2010-05-09T22:00:00.000-06:00

Parents:

I will be absent Monday, May 10, 2010. I personally selected the substitute that will be teaching on Monday. Her name is Angelina Jacobsen and she is wonderful. Your children will be in great hands!!!!

Mrs. Polteno

Why is there a week off for kindergarten testing? And why are there not more fun projects the last few weeks of school.

2010-05-06T22:46:00.000-06:00

Before I answer the question, "Why is there a week off for kindergarten testing?", I have to tell you that the last few weeks we have been working so hard at getting ready for the testing to happen. Your kids have asked me during class, "again?" in reply to reviewing concepts necessary for the end of year test again and again. There has not been too much time to do much else except for reviewing the concepts we have learned over the past year. Parents, think back on your school years whether it be Jr. High, High School, or College. Remember that big end of term test that you needed to study hours and hours for? Think of these last few weeks of school before testing as your children studying for their big test. So, the fun projects that I would like to do before Holidays, such as Mother's Day, there is not time for. Being a half day kindergarten, there is only so much time in the day to fill with as much learning as possible. Believe me, I wish I could do more, but I want your children to learn as much as possible so they are more prepared for the test and 1st grade.

No on to the question at hand, "Why is there a week off for kindergarten testing?"

I have had some parents asking why there is a full week off for kindergarten testing. That is definitely a valid question. It may seem like a long time for the kindergarteners to have school off. It is important for this to happen. At the beginning of the year we did an assessment on all incoming kindergartners. This assessment showed what the children know at the beginning of the year and the same test is given at the end of the school year to show the growth each student has made. Each test takes about 20 to 30 minutes per child. Each test is done on an individual basis. I as a teacher, need a full week for the assessments to ensure that every child is tested. If you add up 20 to 30 minutes per child that adds up to about 800 minutes (13 hours and 20 minutes) to 1200 minutes (20 hours) to test every child. The whole week is essential for me as a teacher to test, fill out district bubble sheets, report cards, cumulative evaluation folders to be passed on through the 12th grade, and placement cards. That is why the full week is required to do the testing.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to test each child individually. It is a great culminating moment to celebrate the growth that each child has made.

I look forward to meeting with you on your assigned assessment day.

Mrs. Polteno

Lunch on Wednesday, May 12, 2010

2010-05-05T17:56:00.001-06:00

Please make sure that you pay the money necessary for your child to eat lunch at school on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. This is a fun day to get your child ready for first grade and experience eating lunch at school for the first time!!! It is so much fun!! If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Pehar at the office. 385-646-4894.

Thank you!!!!!

Mrs. Polteno

What to study for the end of year assessments!!!

2010-04-28T23:18:00.000-06:00

TEST REVIEW FOR KINDERGARTEN

Parents please note that next week you will be receiving a two week

review packet for homework. Please review every day in preparation for our testing during the week of May 17 - 21.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Alphabet letters and sounds: Review the letters and the sounds daily. Make sure your child can say the name of the letter as well as the sound.

Beginning/Ending Sounds: Say some words and have your child identify the beginning and/or ending sound (not letter) of each word you say.

Segmenting words: The children have practiced this a lot in class by using their “sound arms”. They segment the words on their arms. For example bat would be /b/ touching shoulder, /a/ touching the inside of their elbow. /t/ touching their wrist. Practice this with your child using many words with three sounds.

Blending sounds: This is just the opposite of the segmenting. You will give them three sounds they must blend into a word. . . you can do the same type of activity as above, but you provide the sounds, /m/ /o/ /p/ and then, they will move their hand down their arm blending the sounds together.

Sight words: Practice sight words sent home every day.

Forming CVC words: Say one of the following words to your child and see if he/she can spell the word by sounding out the sounds.

bat cap hen pig fin log mop sun fun

MATH

Patterns: Have your child complete patterns by using household items. An example is that you get forks and spoons and make a pattern with them fork, spoon, fork, spoon, fork, spoon etc. What is next?

Story Problems: Here are some ideas, you can make up your own as you go about your day in your home, at the store, outside. You can also have your child draw pictures to represent the story problems or use tally marks or some type of manipulative (bears, crayons, counters of some kind).

There is a rule o our playground that no more than 7 children that can play with the basketball. There are 5 chldren playing now and 2 more want to join. Can they? Have your child answer and then explain how he/she knows. He/she should be able to explain that 5 and 2 equals 7 or something like that.

We have 5 apples and we decide to eat 2 of them. How many do we have left? Again , have your child answer and explain how he/she knows.

Writing Numbers: Have your child write numbers in random order. . . 3 14 20 6. etc. Use the numbers 0-30. Write numbers to 30 daily.

Counting to 30: Practice counting with your child to 30 or more.

Comparing groups: Show your child two groups of items (beans, conters, etc.) Ask your child which group has more and which one has less. Try the following numbers to compare. If they have the same, please make sure that your child can identify if they have the same amount also.

3 and 5 7 and 8 6 and 5 4 and 3 5 and 5

Shapes: The students need to know the following shapes, circle, triangle, square, and rectangle. They need to identify and draw.

Sorting and Classifying: Give your child a group of different objects that he/she can sort by different attributes (for example, you could sort beans or buttons by color, size or shape).

I hope that this list of things to review will help your son/daughter to be ready for the test and to be able to do his/her best. Have fun practicing and help him/her to understand that it is not something scary. It just helps us see how much he/she has learned this year. I think of the test as more of a celebration of just how much growth has taken place!!!

Thanks!!! Mrs. Polteno

Field Trip Friday April 30th from 8:10 - 11:30 A.M.

2010-04-28T23:07:00.001-06:00

Parents,

Please note that the field trip will happen

Rain

Or Shine

Please wear the appropriate attire for the weather. Monitor the weather on the news so you know how to dress your child.

If you have any questions about the field trip let me know.
Remember the TIME CHANGE!!!
Be at school at 8:10 and pick up your child at 11:30.

THANK YOU!!!!! Mrs. Polteno

Welcome to Mrs. Polteno's Kindergarten Class Blog

2010-04-25T18:34:00.002-06:00

I have decided to set up a blog for my kindergarten class. I will not post pictures of children or specific information about children. Privacy is so important to me in protecting the rights of my classroom community.

I am so excited for this opportunity to Help keep you, the parents, up to date on what is going on in the classroom. Paper costs so much for newsletters and I do not feel that I communicate enough with you that way.

Also I will keep a calendar up of what is going on school wide and as a class. http://www.localendar.com/public/melissabblack

If you have any questions or comments of what you would like to see on the blog, please leave a comment.

Also, a disclaimer, we need to keep this website professional and in a manner that is appropriate. If comments are left that are unkind or not of the caliber of a school community your comments will not be welcome.

Thank you!!!!

Mrs. Polteno