¡Hola Familias!
I was SO excited today to get into the classroom with your beautiful children! We had a fantastic day together. We spent most of the time practicing routines and expectations, but of course we had fun playing, listening to stories, singing songs, coloring, and making art together as well! Thank you again for your understanding and support as this week turned out to be quite different from what we all were expecting. While Maestra De Leon and Maestra Rodriguez did amazing jobs with the class when I was absent, there's nothing like being "back" in a routine again.
This week the kids also had a great time on two field trips, to Dunton Park and the Outdoor Discovery Center. They also had a BLAST on Thursday being blasted (well, misted) by water from a fire truck on a surprise visit! We are so blessed to be in community together!
Usually in my weekly blog, I'll give you a synopsis of what we've learned and practiced this week. Since the last few days were atypical, I only have a few reminders/notes for you below, as well as an Immersion Tip and Reading Tip of the week.
Snacks
Starting next week, your child will be allowed to choose ONE item for morning snack and ONE item for afternoon snack. Otherwise, we have kids who want to eat their entire lunch at 10:15am! If you are packing snack for your child, there is no need to send more than two items a day. Thanks for your understanding!
Take-Home Folders
Your child should have taken their folder home today. Please make sure you empty it out daily. We will have LOTS of papers every day in Spanish Immersion Kindergarten, and I try to write feedback when needed--so please make sure you're checking.
Water Bottles
I will also send home water bottles every day to be washed. We do have a drinking fountain, but it is much easier (and hygienic) for each child to have a water bottle.
Outdoor Learning
As we get into our routines next week (and hopefully it cools down at bit!), we will engage in some outdoor learning activities. Please have your child bring a towel that will stay in his/her locker. We will use them to sit on during outdoor activities.
Parent Helpers
Immersion Tip of the Week
Over the next few weeks, please don't worry if your child comes home saying that he/she learned nothing or didn't understand what was going on in school that day. This is VERY normal! Children this age often aren't able to process or verbalize what they are learning, but their little brains are busy making TONS of connections! Expect your child to be exhausted over the next few weeks, so make sure he/she is getting lots of rest! Above all, keep being a cheerleader for your child! It is a lot of work to learn a new language, but it is an incredible gift!
Reading Tip of the Week
When reading aloud to your child, "track" with your finger under the words as you read. This helps build print awareness and reinforces the concept that we read from right to left. This is an example of the "common underlying proficiency" (see #2 in link), a theory stating that skills learned in one language naturally transfer to the second.
Upcoming Dates
Friday, September 3rd and Monday, September 6th: No School (Labor Day Weekend)
Thanks for reading! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy some pictures from this week below...
