All about Mrs. Kelley

I feel so happy to say I have loved my last 38 years of teaching! Each grade level I've taught in the past (1st-5th) has been filled with wonderful experiences and happy memories, but I have to admit I am over the moon loving Transitional Kindergarten! This will by my tenth year working with TKers. Their enthusiasm for life, as well as their eagerness to soak up all the new things around them, make them a joy to be with each day! I am one very lucky teacher!

A little about myself:
After teaching a few years out of state, I moved to California in 1989, and besides two years teaching in Indonesia, I've been so happy to call Grass Valley home. Education is a family thing, because my husband, Tom, is a school counselor. I have three grown children (Brian, Kyle and Kaity) who have fond memories of the years they spent at Alta Sierra School! We love the mountains and being at the ocean as well. Time away from school usually takes us one place or the other. In the winter I love snowboarding, and during the summer time camping and finding trails to walk are some of my favorite things!

Posts

TK Week of September 30th-October 4th (a day early)

Hello Parents!

Mrs. Kelley Off to a Conference on Friday - I wanted to send this off a day early, so that I could remind you that I will be at a TK conference in Santa Clara tomorrow. My last year's aide, Ashley Sherman, will be our substitute teacher. She knows how our TK schedule works, and she is wonderful! Our TKers will love her! (I wanted to remind you that I will also be gone next Thursday, because of an important meeting I have to attend, but I will be back the next day. Ashley will be our substitute again.)

Oops! Thurday Folders - I completely forgot to pass out our Thursday Folders, so please look for them tomorrow.

Pictures in Folders - If you ordered pictures, I wanted you to know that they are in your TKer's folder, so you can take them out as soon as possible. They are adorable!

Picture Retakes - If your TKer wasn't in class when pictures were taken (or you want your child to have a picture retake), please mark your calendar for October 24th.

The Letter L - We have been thinking about the letter L this week. Going on a /l/ sound hunt around the house with your TKer would be wonderful! It would also be a great idea to let your cutie use sidewalk chalk, crayons, Playdoh, or even pudding to make some fabulous L's for you.

Color Week - Student Council has decided that next week is color week! If you would like your TKer to participate, here is the color to wear schedule:

Monday - Red

Tuesday - Orange or Yellow

Wednesday - Green

Thursday - Purple or Black

Friday - Blue

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Please tell your TKer that I can't wait to see them on Monday!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

October 14th-18th - Fall Break (no school)

October 24th - Picture Retakes

October 31st - Halloween Parade (8:15am on upper playground)

- Trunk-or-Treat at Alta Sierra Lower Parking Lot (4:30-6:00pm)

November 1st - Teacher Professional Development Day (no school)

November 11th - Veteran's Day (no school)

November 18th-22nd - Parent/Teacher Conference Week

November 27th-29th - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 17th - Holiday Cheer TK Christmas Performance (6:00pm)

December 23rd-January 3rd - Winter Break (no school)

TK Week of September 23rd-27th

We've had another fabulous week in TK! It's so fun watching our little TKers grow and learn so many things already - using words for what you need or want, learning that it's okay if someone else gets called on or gets a turn, and cooperating with others during choice time are just a few.

ZooPhonics - We have been introduced to all of our ZooPhonic friends from Allie Alligator to Zeke Zebra, and next week we get to begin focusing on one specific letter as we think about sounds and how that letter is formed. Woohoo!

Garden Time - TK got to think about seeds in the garden this week. After going on a little hunt, they found a vegetable that has seeds they could eat - a cucumber! They were also happy to find out there were still apples on some of our apples trees, and that meant a delicious slice of apple for everyone!

Jog-a-Thon Rewards - After collecting pledges, some TKers reached certain pledge levels and are invited to participate in one or two after TK-time activities. Please be sure to look in your cutie's Thursday Folder to see if a yellow or blue invitation is there. IF your TKer leaves at 11:25, they are definitely invited to return with you for these events. IF your TKer stays at school, we will make sure he/she arrives at these special events on time.

Mrs. Kelley Gone for Two Days - I wanted to give you a heads up that I will be at a TK Conference in the Bay Area this coming Friday, October 4th. (It's a two-day conference that's being put on by a wonderful organization - the California Association for the Education of Young Children - and I'm very excited to learn new things!) I will also need to be out of the classroom on Thursday, October 10th, but will be excited to see my TKers the next day.

Volunteer Needed - First, I want to tell you the good news! One of our parents, Chelly Newman, is now our second classroom aide! She has been volunteering full days these last few weeks to help our class (which we really appreciate), and we're so happy it is now official. She has been a wonderful addition to our classroom, and we're so glad she'll be with us throughout the school year.

SO, with Chelly helping us as our classroom aide, we are now hoping to find a parent volunteer to take her place who can help us every other Thursday from 8:00-10:00am. It would be a time to help with the whole group during carpet time (later hopefully one-on-one skill development time as our TKers become more independent during carpet time) and then working with two small groups during group time. Please let me know if this would work for you.

Note from the Library - Since a note from Mrs. Alonso (our librarian) came a little too late for our Thursday Folder, your cutie put it in her/his backpack for you to see. It's about our book fair coming the week after next.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

October 14th-18th - Fall Break (no school)

October 31st - Halloween Parade (8:15am on upper playground)

- Trunk-or-Treat at Alta Sierra Lower Parking Lot (4:30-6:00pm)

November 1st - Teacher Professional Development Day (no school)

November 11th - Veteran's Day (no school)

November 18th-22nd - Parent/Teacher Conference Week

November 27th-29th - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 17th - Holiday Cheer TK Christmas Performance (6:00pm)

December 23rd-January 3rd - Winter Break (no school)

TK Week of September 16th-20th

We had another wonderful week in TK!

Apples - Thank you so much for the many apple donations. Everyone loved using our apple peeler (and having a little taste) before putting their apple into the crock pot to make our own TK made apple sauce. Almost everyone thought it was delicious!

Graphing - Besides our own apple sauce, we had fun trying some other apple tastes (apple chips and honeycrisp apple juice) and then using a graph to see what our TKers liked most.

Name Book - I want to thank Wyatt H.'s grandma, Miss Mary, for the special name books that went home in Thursday's Folder! Spending time together working on this special book will be lots of fun and a valuable experience for your little TKer.

Big Backpacks - Just a reminder that with sweatshirts, change of clothes in a baggy (for possible accidents), snack bag, water bottle, and room for a Thursday Folder and Friday library book that a big back pack is really helpful.

Our Classroom Roster - As soon as all roster permission slips (pink) get returned, I will be sure to quickly put it all together so you all have phone numbers and/or emails for fun things like possible play dates or party lists.

ZooPhonics - We now have been introduced to our ZooPhonic Friends from Allie Alligator to Vinnie Vampire Bat.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

October 14th-18th - Fall Break (no school)

October 31st - Halloween Parade (8:15am on upper playground)

- Trunk-or-Treat at Alta Sierra Lower Parking Lot (4:30-6:00pm)

November 1st - Teacher Professional Development Day (no school)

November 11th - Veteran's Day (no school)

November 18th-22nd - Parent/Teacher Conference Week

November 27th-29th - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 23rd-January 3rd - Winter Break (no school)

Apples Needed

Hello Parents!

We are hoping to make our own apple sauce this Thursday, so I'm asking for apple donations. Most varieties work really well, so whatever apples come will be very appreciated. (The only varieties that seem to have problems with our apple peeler are red and golden delicious.) The goal is to have an apple to peel for every TKer. Thank you SO much for all you do!

TK Week of September 9th-13th

Picture Day in TK went really well, and I can't wait for you to see you cutie's first school portraits!

Jog-a-Thon was a hilarious success. Watching our TKers figure out how how it all worked and running their hearts out was just the best to see! I can't thank all you parents who were able to join us enough. We definitely couldn't have done it without you.

Group Time - Our TKers are learning so much about school and working together. This week during group time we were (for the most part :) able to stay with our group and move to the next center without holding on to our group-time rope - what a success!

ZooPhonics - Hopefully you have been able to become familiar with our ZooPhonic animals, so that you can join your TKer as they begin having fun with phonetic sounds. We have been introduced to the friends up to Queenie Quail so far. (If you need another packet of all our ZooPhonic characters, actions, and sounds please just ask. I have plenty.) We haven't connected them to letters yet, but that we will be playing with that soon.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

DATES TO REMEMBER

Thursday, September 12th: School Picture Day!

Friday, September 13th: Alta Sierra's Annual Jog-a-Thon

October 14th-18th: October Break (no school)

October 31st: 8:15am Halloween Parade on the upper playground

November 1st: Teacher Professional Development Day (no school)

Monday, November 11th: Veteran's Day (no school)

November 18th-22nd: Parent Conference Week

November 27th-29th: Thanksgiving Holiday (no school)

December 23rd-January 3rd: Winter Break (no school)

Picture Day Tomorrow

Hello Parents,

I wanted to remind you that TK's picture day is tomorrow at 8:15am.

TK Week of September 3rd-6th

Hello Parents,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend together!

ZooPhonic Friends - We have been learning the names, actions, and sounds of more ZooPhonic friends. This week we've added Inny Inchworm, Jelly Jellyfiish, Kao Kangaroo, and Lizzy Lizard. Please let your TKer teach you all about them, so you can play with their sounds together.

Thank you! Somebody donated some awesome sorting eggs and an adorable book about an octopus coming to school, and our TKers have loved them both! These gifts are both very appreciated!

Missing Change of Clothes? - About a week ago an unnamed Ziploc baggy with a clean change of clothes was found out by our snack table. If your cutie is missing their extra change of clothes, please let me know and we'll put their name on it and get it in their backpack.

TK Class Pictures - Kelli in the office helped us out by putting TK first on the list for class pictures this Thursday (September 12th), so your TKer's hair should be looking just the way you planned - fingers crossed. :) From the note in our Thursday Folder, it looks like if you are interested in class pictures you can either send in the order form Thursday morning or order online.

Jog-a-Thon - I goofed! Please unmark your calendar from what I posted earlier. Our Jog-a-Thon is THIS Friday (September 13th). I'm sure you all ready saw PTC's note in our Thursday folder, but just in case - our TKers will be jogging from 8:15-8:35am. I WOULD LOVE AS MANY VOLUNTEERS AS POSSIBLE THAT MORNING TO HELP US TALLY LAPS AND CHEER THESE CUTIES ON. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU COME IN THE MORNING, OR AN EMAIL IS GREAT ALSO. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

DATES TO REMEMBER

Thursday, September 12th: School Picture Day!

Friday, September 13th: Alta Sierra's Annual Jog-a-Thon

October 14th-18th: October Break (no school)

Monday, November 11th: Veteran's Day (no school)

November 18th-22nd: Parent Conference Week

November 27th-29th: Thanksgiving Holiday (no school)

TK Week of August 26th-30th

Hello Parents!

We've had another great week continuing to learn all the routines of our TK classroom!

It was so nice seeing so many of you at Back-to-School Night yesterday. Please know that if you ever have more questions, or want to share anything with me, I am always available through email, phone call, or chatting together in person (which is always my favorite).

We've been having fun with fine motor skills, using pinchy fingers as we draw with crayons and markers. And, this week we learned how to use a tape dispenser all by ourselves!

We're continuing to learn our ZooPhonics friends (no connection to the alphabet yet). Please ask your TKer to teach you the names and actions of Allie Alligator, Bubba Bear, Catina Cat, Deedee Deer, Ellie Elephant, Francy Fish, and Honey Horse.

Remember there isn't TK on Monday, in honor of Memorial Day. Please tell your TKer that I can't wait to see them on Tuesday!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

TONIGHT: Friday, August 30th: School Movie Night (8:00 PM - The Garfield Movie - note is coming home in our Thursday Folder.)

Monday, September 2nd: Labor Day (no school)

Thursday, September 12th: School Picture Day!

Friday, September 27th: Alta Sierra's Annual Jog-a-Thon

TK - Mrs. Kelley and Mrs. Forest will be out tomorrow

Hello Parents,

Hopefully most of our TKers are feeling healthy and excited for TK tomorrow!

I'm so sorry that Ms. Forest and I have joined some of our cuties who have gotten sick this last week, and we won't be there.

Mrs. Sherman, a wonderful past TK classroom aide and now our regular TK/K substitute, will be there in my place, so all is well. Our TKers will love her.

TK Week of August 19th-23rd

We've had another great week getting to know TK routines, as well as having fun with name recognition using our dobbers, tempra paint, and beans!

We started learning the names of some of our ZooPhonic Friends (Allie Alligator, Bubba Bear, Catina Cat, and Ellie Elaphant). Ask your TKer if they can show you the actions and sounds that go with these awesome friends.

I'm looking forward to seeing you this Thursday @ 6:00pm in our room for Back to School Night.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

This Thursday, August 29th: Parent Back to School Night (6:00pm in Rm K)

Friday, August 30th: School Movie Night (8:00 PM - The Garfield Movie - note is coming home in our Thursday Folder.)

Monday, September 2nd: Labor Day (no school)

Friday, September 30th: Alta Sierra's Annual Jog-a-Thon

TK Week of August 13th-16th

It's been so much fun getting to know your TKer! This first week of school we focused on getting to know our classroom and daily routines.

Your cutie is getting very good with his/her morning classroom responsibilities:

1. Apple card in our "Who's Here?" chart

2. Snack and water bottle on the shelf

3. Getting "Two Pumps" (washing their hands)

AND on Friday we introduced our new outside backpack hooks in hopes of helping to make putting away water bottles and snack bags a little easier, and it was a success!

We're also learning lots of happy songs and figuring out the idea of group time learning fun.

Another first this week was meeting our new PE teacher, Mrs. Roundsfall, and visiting our school garden. Before leaving we each got to eat an apple from our Golden Delicious tree. Everyone thought it was delicious!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Friday, August 30th: School Movie Night (8:00 PM - The Garfield Movie - note is coming home in our Thursday Folder.)

Monday, September 2nd: Labor Day (no school)

Friday, September 30th: Alta Sierra's Annual Jog-a-Thon