Christmas: Thank you so much for all of the support with the Christmas Concert this week. The children did wonderful and had a great time sharing with their families. We will be having a class Christmas party at the end of the day on Thursday this week so we ask that ONLY THE FAMILIES WHO SIGNED UP to bring treats for this event send something in. We don't want to have an overwhelming number of sweets. A reminder to families who signed up for this celebration will be sent home this week.
Friday: Reminder that Friday December 20th there will be no school.
Black Boys Sorel Boots: The evening of our concert some boots got mixed up in our coat room and one of our students now has two of the same feet of his black sorel winter boots. If your child has black sorel boots please have a look to see if they are the same feet and if they are labeled with another name. Thank you!
Kindergarten Cares: Thank you for participating in our Earn-A-Gift project this year. The students raised enough money to buy not only one gift but several. They were able to purchase a lego treehouse kit, a play-doh cookie making kit with extra play-doh, 5 books from the book fair and a Mr. Potato head kit. I'm sure these gifts will be much enjoyed by a child this Christmas. It's wonderful to be able to give to the community in this way. Thank you for the support.
UG2GO- logins will be sent home this week on a bookmark for your reference. Some students have specific logins (part of their first name, last name, and OEN #) and some students will be using a generic login for all kindergarten students. Please let me know if you have any issues with your login. The login numbers that were assigned had to be logged on to a school computer first and the passwords changed, which I hopefully have done with all of them.
Home Reading-Thank you for reading with your child every day. It is so important to foster a love of reading and to work on early literacy skills with your child. Reminder that every Tuesday jk books will be exchanged and every Thursday sk books will be exchanged. Please feel free to write a note in the communication folder if you would like your child's books exchanged on a different day. Sometimes folders get left in backpacks, or books fall out of the folder and get mixed up. Please let me know if your child is in need of new books. If a home reading book goes missing at home just let us know and it can be replaced for a small fee. The sk students do pick some of their own books so please bring it to my attention also if they keep choosing the same book and need some support selecting a new one.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy some quality family time over the break!
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Monday, 2 December 2013
Paper Towel Rolls please!
Paper Towel Roll -Please send a paper towel roll in with you child for us to use to make a candle for our Christmas Concert. If possible, please send it by Friday, labeled with your child's name in pencil. Don't forget that Thursday December 12th at 6:30 is our concert so please save the date!
Project Earn A Gift -By now you many of you have started working on some ‘chores’ that your child can do around the house to earn some money to go towards our kindergarten project to earn coins to help buy a gift for a child in our community. We ask that if you choose to participate in this project that you send your child’s coins in a labelled ziplock bag (marker is fantastic!). We are hoping that for the next week while this project overlaps with the pennies for the Philippines initiative, the labeling of the baggies will help identify which coins are for which project. Thank you so much for your help already with this! We have really enjoyed celebrating the childrens' efforts to earn money to help put a smile on another child’s face. We hope that you are finding this initiative rewarding at home as well.
Calendar -Please double check the calendar for some spirit days that have been added this month.
Cookie Day -On cookie day if you wish to purchase a cookie it would be best to send the money in the front (to bring it to our attention) of your child's communication folder in an envelope. We place our cookie orders in the morning and putting it in your child's lunch bag makes it more difficult for us to ensure they receive their cookie. Thank you for your cooperation.
Project Earn A Gift -By now you many of you have started working on some ‘chores’ that your child can do around the house to earn some money to go towards our kindergarten project to earn coins to help buy a gift for a child in our community. We ask that if you choose to participate in this project that you send your child’s coins in a labelled ziplock bag (marker is fantastic!). We are hoping that for the next week while this project overlaps with the pennies for the Philippines initiative, the labeling of the baggies will help identify which coins are for which project. Thank you so much for your help already with this! We have really enjoyed celebrating the childrens' efforts to earn money to help put a smile on another child’s face. We hope that you are finding this initiative rewarding at home as well.
Calendar -Please double check the calendar for some spirit days that have been added this month.
Cookie Day -On cookie day if you wish to purchase a cookie it would be best to send the money in the front (to bring it to our attention) of your child's communication folder in an envelope. We place our cookie orders in the morning and putting it in your child's lunch bag makes it more difficult for us to ensure they receive their cookie. Thank you for your cooperation.
Sunday, 1 December 2013
Pictures
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| Bucket Fillers-Making a Necklace for a friend! |
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| Pumpkin Exploration |
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| Gooey! |
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| Counting Seeds |
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| Counting Seeds |
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| Bucket Fillers-Sharing Lego with our friends! |
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| Bucket Fillers -Making a pattern necklace for a friend |
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| Making Pumpkin Soup! |
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| Taste Testing! |
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| Bucket Fillers-Working Together to make something cool! |
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| Brainstorming toy ideas for the Earn a Gift project |
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| Voting on a Gift to work towards |
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| Counting some hard earned money! |
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| Sorting some change |
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| Bucket Fillers-Playing nicely with friends! |
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
December news, a few days early
Christmas in the Meadows -Please submit your response forms by tomorrow (Thursday November 28th) if you are planning on attending.
Socks and Mitts -The children are thoroughly enjoying playing out in the snow at recess. Please send your child with 2 extra pairs of dry socks and an extra pair of dry mittens to ensure their comfort. Often they will get soaked at first recess and we would like them to have a warm dry pair for lunch recess. Please make sure your child is coming with snow pants or splash pants as well.
Morning Drop Off -a supervisor is on duty starting at 8:15 in the kindergarten yard. Please drop your child off sometime between 8:15 and 8:30 in this yard. If you arrive during this time do not bring your child in through the school. If you arrive after 8:30 you must take your child through the front of the school and get a late slip.
Christmas Concert -Our Christmas concert will be on Thursday December 12th at 6:30. The kindergarten classes will be singing 3 songs (Rudolph, Jingle Bells and This Little Light of Mine) which will come home in their Shared Reading folder as we do them in class. Please enjoy practicing these songs with your child at home so they will be comfortable and confident at the concert.
Kindergarten Cares -Your child will come home today with a letter outlining the generosity project we will be taking on. Over the next two weeks we are asking the children to try and earn some small change by doing odd jobs at home to help raise money to buy a toy for a child this Christmas. We are hoping that this project will help the children understand the concept of earning, familiarize them with Canadian coins and also instill an appreciation for how good it can make us feel to help others. Please take the time to read over the information that was sent home and encourage your child to participate. Thank you for your generosity and co-operation.
Socks and Mitts -The children are thoroughly enjoying playing out in the snow at recess. Please send your child with 2 extra pairs of dry socks and an extra pair of dry mittens to ensure their comfort. Often they will get soaked at first recess and we would like them to have a warm dry pair for lunch recess. Please make sure your child is coming with snow pants or splash pants as well.
Morning Drop Off -a supervisor is on duty starting at 8:15 in the kindergarten yard. Please drop your child off sometime between 8:15 and 8:30 in this yard. If you arrive during this time do not bring your child in through the school. If you arrive after 8:30 you must take your child through the front of the school and get a late slip.
Christmas Concert -Our Christmas concert will be on Thursday December 12th at 6:30. The kindergarten classes will be singing 3 songs (Rudolph, Jingle Bells and This Little Light of Mine) which will come home in their Shared Reading folder as we do them in class. Please enjoy practicing these songs with your child at home so they will be comfortable and confident at the concert.
Kindergarten Cares -Your child will come home today with a letter outlining the generosity project we will be taking on. Over the next two weeks we are asking the children to try and earn some small change by doing odd jobs at home to help raise money to buy a toy for a child this Christmas. We are hoping that this project will help the children understand the concept of earning, familiarize them with Canadian coins and also instill an appreciation for how good it can make us feel to help others. Please take the time to read over the information that was sent home and encourage your child to participate. Thank you for your generosity and co-operation.
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Christmas Concert/Home Reading
Christmas Concert -We will be participating in a Christmas Concert at the school on the night of Thursday December 12th at 6:30 pm. More details will come soon but please keep the evening free.
Home Reading -Thank you all for reading with your child everyday! If you happen to forget to send your child's home reading folder on their specific exchange day (Tuesdays for jk, Thursdays for sk), or would like the books changed more frequently, please feel free to send it another day and just write us a note in the communication folder so we know to exchange it.
Home Reading -Thank you all for reading with your child everyday! If you happen to forget to send your child's home reading folder on their specific exchange day (Tuesdays for jk, Thursdays for sk), or would like the books changed more frequently, please feel free to send it another day and just write us a note in the communication folder so we know to exchange it.
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Interview times
Interview times will be coming home with your child today. Please let us know if you are unable to attend and we will work together to schedule a new time to meet. Looking forward to meeting with you all this week.
Book Orders for December will be coming home this week (a little early) as I want to ensure the books get delivered to families prior to the winter break. They will be due Monday December 2nd to ensure we have lots of time.
Book Orders for December will be coming home this week (a little early) as I want to ensure the books get delivered to families prior to the winter break. They will be due Monday December 2nd to ensure we have lots of time.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Interview request forms
Just a reminder to please return the yellow interview request forms tomorrow. Confirmation of interview times will be sent home Tuesday with your child. We are trying our best to accommodate your preferred times. A reminder that the interviews on Thursday are 10 minutes long and 15 minutes on Friday. They are scheduled back to back so please don't be late. Looking forward to meeting with you all later this week.
When you ask your child this week how their day at school was, please ask them if they filled a bucket and how they did it. We are trying to encourage bucket filling in our classroom and extending the concept to home will reinforce the idea. Ask them to explain it to you and have fun trying to find ways at home to fill each others' buckets!
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Getting Dressed for Winter
Here are the steps we are using at school to help make getting dressed for recess easier and more efficient. Feel free to use the same steps at home for consistency.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
MacMillan Food Orders -MacMillan food orders are due on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12th. Late orders will not be accepted. Please participate in this amazing School Council fundraiser and help support CMES!
Bucket Fillers -We have started talking about what it means to be a bucket filler in our classroom. In case you are unfamiliar with the books, or the concept, essentially everyone walks around with an invisible bucket that carries good thoughts/feelings about ourselves. Our bucket gets filled by other people saying or doing nice things and when our bucket is full we feel good. Filling buckets is easy and it fills our own bucket at the same time. Sharing, saying nice things, doing nice things and playing nice are categories for bucket filling that the class game up with this week. Bucket dipping is when we say or do things that make others feel bad. No one wants to be a bucket dipper! To connect with our social justice theme of peace this month we will be talking more about bucket filling to help create a caring, peaceful classroom environment. Please encourage bucket filling at home!
Interview Request Sheets -Interview request sheets will be going home school wide on Thursday November 14th. Times will be assigned starting Friday Nov. 15th for families with 3 or more students at CMES, Monday Nov. 18th for families 2 or more and Tuesday Nov. 19th for the rest. We look forward to meeting with you during these times. Please submit your request sheet on Friday so that you can get the times that you prefer. If you are unable to come during the allotted time (evening of Thurs. Nov. 21st, daytime Fri. Nov. 22) please let me know and we can try to arrange a better time to meet.
Book Orders -If you would like to order from the November book orders they will still be accepted Monday November 13th.
Bucket Fillers -We have started talking about what it means to be a bucket filler in our classroom. In case you are unfamiliar with the books, or the concept, essentially everyone walks around with an invisible bucket that carries good thoughts/feelings about ourselves. Our bucket gets filled by other people saying or doing nice things and when our bucket is full we feel good. Filling buckets is easy and it fills our own bucket at the same time. Sharing, saying nice things, doing nice things and playing nice are categories for bucket filling that the class game up with this week. Bucket dipping is when we say or do things that make others feel bad. No one wants to be a bucket dipper! To connect with our social justice theme of peace this month we will be talking more about bucket filling to help create a caring, peaceful classroom environment. Please encourage bucket filling at home!
Interview Request Sheets -Interview request sheets will be going home school wide on Thursday November 14th. Times will be assigned starting Friday Nov. 15th for families with 3 or more students at CMES, Monday Nov. 18th for families 2 or more and Tuesday Nov. 19th for the rest. We look forward to meeting with you during these times. Please submit your request sheet on Friday so that you can get the times that you prefer. If you are unable to come during the allotted time (evening of Thurs. Nov. 21st, daytime Fri. Nov. 22) please let me know and we can try to arrange a better time to meet.
Book Orders -If you would like to order from the November book orders they will still be accepted Monday November 13th.
Monday, 4 November 2013
Workshop Wednesday November 6th
Mrs. Martherus, Miss Hume and I will all be away Wednesday November 6th at a kindergarten workshop. Please allow a little more time at the end of the day for dismissal as it will take our substitute teachers a little longer to dismiss the students safely. Thank you in advance for your patience!
Also, information regarding scheduling times for interview night will be coming home with your child shortly. A sheet will come home in their folders allowing you to request a time that is most convenient for you.
Also, information regarding scheduling times for interview night will be coming home with your child shortly. A sheet will come home in their folders allowing you to request a time that is most convenient for you.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
November News
Dear Parents,
Thank you for all of the generous donations to the class for our Halloween celebration. The students had a wonderful day and all of the special treats were thoroughly enjoyed. Stay tuned for pictures!
Home Reading-Our home reading program will be starting this week for our sks and shortly after for our jks. Each week your child will come home with 2 or 3 levelled books to read with you and any other family members at home. Please set aside 10 minutes each day to have your child read these books with you. It is best for your child to read every day for a brief periods of time then to only do it a few times a week for a longer amount of time. In your home reading folder you will find some strategies to help you child with their reading as well as a recording sheet so we can keep track of what books your child has taken home already. Jks will exchange their books every Tuesday and sks will exchange their books every Thursday.
Volunteers -We are still looking for some volunteers for our classroom whether it be a parent, grandparent or family friend. We would like help on Tuesdays and Thursdays to assist the children with exchanging their home reading books, as well as volunteers to help on other days with whatever time and skills they are willing to share. Please contact me if you are interested! It is a great experience for both parents and students.
Math-We are starting a unit on number sense so we will be focusing on writing, reading, comparing and understanding numbers. Please reinforce these skills by counting, looking for numbers in the environment and playing games involving numbers at home.
Social Skills -As some of you may already know, we have been working with the students on problem solving to develop communications skills with peers. When a problem arises, we are encouraging the children to tell their friends what happened, what they didn't like about it, and how it made them feel. Often children will come to an adult before trying to negotiate with each other. Feel free to encourage these strategies at home as well.
Interviews -Interviews will take place the evening of Thursday November 21st and during the day on Friday November 22nd. We look forward to meeting with all of you during this time. Because there are many families to meet with and only a limited amount of time Thursday night, if you are available to come during the day on Friday please do so. More information about booking times will come out shortly.
Thank you for all of the generous donations to the class for our Halloween celebration. The students had a wonderful day and all of the special treats were thoroughly enjoyed. Stay tuned for pictures!
Home Reading-Our home reading program will be starting this week for our sks and shortly after for our jks. Each week your child will come home with 2 or 3 levelled books to read with you and any other family members at home. Please set aside 10 minutes each day to have your child read these books with you. It is best for your child to read every day for a brief periods of time then to only do it a few times a week for a longer amount of time. In your home reading folder you will find some strategies to help you child with their reading as well as a recording sheet so we can keep track of what books your child has taken home already. Jks will exchange their books every Tuesday and sks will exchange their books every Thursday.
Volunteers -We are still looking for some volunteers for our classroom whether it be a parent, grandparent or family friend. We would like help on Tuesdays and Thursdays to assist the children with exchanging their home reading books, as well as volunteers to help on other days with whatever time and skills they are willing to share. Please contact me if you are interested! It is a great experience for both parents and students.
Math-We are starting a unit on number sense so we will be focusing on writing, reading, comparing and understanding numbers. Please reinforce these skills by counting, looking for numbers in the environment and playing games involving numbers at home.
Social Skills -As some of you may already know, we have been working with the students on problem solving to develop communications skills with peers. When a problem arises, we are encouraging the children to tell their friends what happened, what they didn't like about it, and how it made them feel. Often children will come to an adult before trying to negotiate with each other. Feel free to encourage these strategies at home as well.
Interviews -Interviews will take place the evening of Thursday November 21st and during the day on Friday November 22nd. We look forward to meeting with all of you during this time. Because there are many families to meet with and only a limited amount of time Thursday night, if you are available to come during the day on Friday please do so. More information about booking times will come out shortly.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Pumpkins -correction
Pumpkins -I spoke with Miss Hume today and the students won't actually be carving the pumpkins that you have sent in with them as I previously posted, they will be using them over the next couple of weeks to do various science experiments and activities with. Miss Hume has provided some big pumpkins that they will carve as a group tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know in case you were expecting them home by Thursday for Halloween and to clear up any confusion about what they were intended for. My mistake!
Halloween -We will be dressing up Thursday to celebrate Halloween. Please bring your child dressed in their costume and send a change of clothes in case they tire of wearing their costume and keep in mind that they will be wearing their costume outside so it may get dirty or damaged in some way. We ask that any weapon accessories (swords, guns etc.) please stay at home as well as any masks or things that may restrict their vision. We will be participating in a costume parade that day as well as a Carnival that is hosted by our intermediate students. There is no need to send treats for the class as we have three families who have graciously signed up to provide snacks that day. Thank you in advance to those families!
Brrrr -It is quite windy in our Kindergarten yard so just a reminder to please dress your child appropriately for the weather including hats, mitts etc. Please send items your child can put on independently. If your child enjoys playing in the sandbox, slush pants or snow pants are a great idea to keep their pants dry and clean.
Halloween -We will be dressing up Thursday to celebrate Halloween. Please bring your child dressed in their costume and send a change of clothes in case they tire of wearing their costume and keep in mind that they will be wearing their costume outside so it may get dirty or damaged in some way. We ask that any weapon accessories (swords, guns etc.) please stay at home as well as any masks or things that may restrict their vision. We will be participating in a costume parade that day as well as a Carnival that is hosted by our intermediate students. There is no need to send treats for the class as we have three families who have graciously signed up to provide snacks that day. Thank you in advance to those families!
Brrrr -It is quite windy in our Kindergarten yard so just a reminder to please dress your child appropriately for the weather including hats, mitts etc. Please send items your child can put on independently. If your child enjoys playing in the sandbox, slush pants or snow pants are a great idea to keep their pants dry and clean.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Pumpkins, Litterless Lunch and Library
Pumpkins- Miss Hume and Mrs. Martherus will be carving pumpkins with the students on Wednesday October 30th. Please send a small pumpkin with your child prior to that day so they will have their own pumpkin to carve. We are looking for parent volunteers who would be interested in coming in to help us with this activity at around 10:40 until 12:10 on that day. Please let us know if you would be interested in coming in to help.
Litterless Lunch-Thursdays at Credit Meadows are litterless lunch days. Please try and send a lunch packed in reusable containers on Thursdays. Any garbage that your child does come with will be sent home with them. Thank you for helping with this school initiative to cut down on waste.
Library-Library days are marked on our monthly calendar. Please send your child's library book in the bag provided with them on library days so they can exchange their book. The book they sign out is yours to enjoy for a full week. If you are finished with it and would like to return it to school a day or two early (so you don't forget) that is fine, we have a collection bin in the classroom and will accept them any day of the week. Have fun reading!
Mornings-As some of you may have noticed, I have stopped coming outside in the mornings to help bring the children in to the classroom. My planning time is first period so I will be using this time to prep for the day. I am at the school early every morning so if you ever have anything you wish to discuss with me please don't hesitate to come in and chat.
Litterless Lunch-Thursdays at Credit Meadows are litterless lunch days. Please try and send a lunch packed in reusable containers on Thursdays. Any garbage that your child does come with will be sent home with them. Thank you for helping with this school initiative to cut down on waste.
Library-Library days are marked on our monthly calendar. Please send your child's library book in the bag provided with them on library days so they can exchange their book. The book they sign out is yours to enjoy for a full week. If you are finished with it and would like to return it to school a day or two early (so you don't forget) that is fine, we have a collection bin in the classroom and will accept them any day of the week. Have fun reading!
Mornings-As some of you may have noticed, I have stopped coming outside in the mornings to help bring the children in to the classroom. My planning time is first period so I will be using this time to prep for the day. I am at the school early every morning so if you ever have anything you wish to discuss with me please don't hesitate to come in and chat.
Sunday, 20 October 2013
A Few Reminders
Hello Parents!
Just a quick reminder that photo retakes are on Thursday October 24th. Please let us know if you would like your child to have their picture taken again. Also Friday is a 1/2 day PD day. This means you will need to make arrangements to pick up your child at 11:30. Please let us know if it it will be someone different picking your child up that day. We will be practicing a lockdown drill Monday morning, just so you are aware.
Volunteers: If you, a grandparent or another important person in your child's life would like to come and volunteer in our classroom please let us know. We would love to have some help on a weekly basis for whatever time you are able to contribute...an hour, a morning or even a whole day! Whatever time you are available for would be much appreciated. Please let us know if you are interested as we would like to have volunteers start at the beginning of November (or even a bit earlier if possible). You will need to provide a police record check (obtained at the local police station) and fill out a volunteer form (provided by us).
Halloween -We will be celebrating Halloween at school on October 31st. We encourage anyone who wants to, to come to school in costume. We will be participating in the annual school carnival as well as a costume parade. We ask that you do not send your child with a mask, and that they come ready with their costume on as we will not be able to apply makeup etc. Keep in mind that students will likely be wearing their costumes inside and outside and it may get dirty, damaged etc. Please send your child with an extra change of clothes that day in case they tire of wearing their costume and would prefer to change. Thank you to those parents who signed up to bring snacks for that day to help us celebrate!
Toys: A quick reminder that we are encouraging students to leave home toys at home and enjoy the things we have at school while they are here.
Monday, 14 October 2013
Photos
I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend! Just a reminder as the weather gets colder to make sure all items of clothing are labeled with your child's name (especially hats, mitts and jackets).
Photos -We are asking for your child to bring in a picture this week of either their family, a family member or something that is very special to them. We would like to use these pictures to encourage oral communication and have the students share their pictures with the class as well as our "Reading Buddies". The pictures will be on display in the classroom for the rest of the month and then returned home. We are hoping that each child could bring a picture in by Friday.
Thank you!
Photos -We are asking for your child to bring in a picture this week of either their family, a family member or something that is very special to them. We would like to use these pictures to encourage oral communication and have the students share their pictures with the class as well as our "Reading Buddies". The pictures will be on display in the classroom for the rest of the month and then returned home. We are hoping that each child could bring a picture in by Friday.
Thank you!
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| Patterns -"Big elephant, little elephant, big elephant, little." |
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| A pattern crown |
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| Sorting! |
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| Our sandbox is now filled with leaves, toy animals and wood pieces to build homes! |
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
A few pictures
Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of some of the things we have been doing.
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| Hunting for words and letters |
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| BINGO! |
Playdough words
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| Sorting! |
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