WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!  Mrs. Calabrese ~ Blue Pod ~ Room B108      I would like to welcome you to the 2009-2010 school year!  For many of you, this is your first experience at JTPS, and it will surely become a familiar and welcoming place.  Welcome back everyone else! :)  Let me introduce myself...I am Mrs. Calabrese and I live in Watertown with my husband and three children, Luke is 8, Felicia is 7, and Gianna is 4.  I began teaching in 1997 and I love my job!  I am so excited to begin this school year.  Kindergartners display AMAZING growth in all different ways. I feel honored to be a part of such an important time in your child's life. Thanks for sharing him/her with me!       What Did You Do Today? When children come home at the end of one day, the question they're asked as they scurry to play is "Tell me, what did you do today?" And the answer they give makes you sigh with dismay. "Nothing, I did nothing today!" Perhaps nothing means that I played with blocks, or counted the number on our clocks. Maybe I painted a picture of red and blue, or heard a story about a mouse that flew. Maybe I read a book today, or went outside to play. Maybe today was the first time my scissors followed a straight line. When you're only five and your heart has wings. NOTHING can mean so many things!     ~MARCH'S CONVERSATION TIME~ For the month of March, I would like to give the students the choice of presenting what they would wish to their peers.  For open conversation time, I have had some students writing stories and drawing pictures to go along.  It could be presented as a book or on just one piece of paper.  Let the author/illustrator choose!Don't force your child to do this because they also have the option of  bringing in an object of their choice to talk about too!                READINESS WORDS TO PRACTICE:                 September:     I,    a,    my,   no,    yes,    be,    red                  October:           the,  go,  mom,  dad,  he,  be                November:     to,  like,  can,  am,  is,  us                December:      come,  here,  this,  at,  by,  has                January:          me,  for,  where,  do,  you,  look,  an                February:        one,  see,  what,  two,  so,  stop,  it,  in                                                          Numeral Formation Poems       Number 1 is like a stick, a straight line down that's very quick! For number 2 go right around then make a line across the ground!      Go right around, what will it be? Go round again to make a 3! Down and over and down some more...that's the way to make a 4! Go down and around and then you stop.  Finish the 5 with a line on top! Make a curve, then a loop...there are no tricks to making a 6! Across the sky and down from heaven, that's the way to make a 7! Make an "S" and then don't wait, go up again to make an 8! Make a loop and then a line, that's the way to make a 9! Make a one and then an "o"  10 are all the fingers you know! :)   PARENTS CHECK OUT & READ THIS ARTICLE, The 10 Best Ways to Help Your Kindergartener Succeed in School: A parent's to-do list By Ann E. LaForge http://www.scholastic.com/schoolage/kindergarten/homework/10bestways.htm#reading                                  About NEA's Read Across America The National Education Association is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA's Read Across America. Now in its thirteenth year, this year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources. NEA's Read Across America Day, NEA's national reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too! On March 2, the National Education Association calls for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult. CALABRESE CLAN WRAP-UP~Week of February 22nd            Our Class Specials        Monday           Music                     Tuesday          Library                                                                                                                                                              Wednesday    Computers                          Thursday        P.E./Gym                    Friday             Art                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~          Dear Families,         Help your child visit these fun and educational links...            Starfall.com -A site where children have fun while learning to read.        Leo the Letter-Loving Lobster - A site where children can build language for literacy.        Reggie Loves To Rhyme - Pick a place and let Reggie take you on a language adventure.           Meet a few of my favorite authors:        Eric Carle -An Acclaimed and Beloved Author and Illustrator!             Jan Brett -4,193  pages of free activities, coloring pages, and projects.             Tomie dePaola -Best known for his books for children. "Clicking on any of these sites may take you out of the Watertown District website!"     If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please call me before school or after AM kindergarten dismissal at 945.2776 or email me calabreseca@watertownps.org      Please send a note when there is a change in your child's normal dismissal procedure... BUT, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME AN EMAIL FOR THIS CHANGE. Thanks!