Zones Of Regulation: Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow!

This week we focussed on our feelings. Students were introduced to the Zones of Regulation and learned about 4 colours we can use to describe how we are feeling. The GREEN zone is when you are happy, calm, and ready to learn. The BLUE zone might mean that you are tired, sad, or sick. The YELLOW zone shows that you are being silly, wiggly, frustrated, and worried. The RED zone means you are angry, yelling, hitting and out of control. By learning about the zones, students are able to verbalize and understand how they are feeling and use different strategies to get back to the GREEN zone so that they are ready to "go"!

We were fortunate to work with math specialist Rosalind Carson who worked with us to begin our understanding on numbers. We used wooden cubes and plates with dots to begin seeing numbers in different ways and further our mathematical thinking.

We learned more about lines - vertical, horizontal, diagonal, squiggly, zig zag, etc! We connected sounds with lines as well and had a great time drawing different lines with fun sound effects. We further connected lines with our knowledge of Zones of Regulation- what do lines in the red zone look like?

We also worked with our Kindergarten team of our SLP and OT to dig deeper in to what whole body listening looks like, sounds like, and feels like.

PM students created their fall trees as well using pastels as well.

- Have your child talk about the 4 Zones of Regulation- What does each zone look like? What zone are they in?
- Ask your child to draw different lines with fun sound effects! What do lines in the red zone look like? Green zone? Yellow zone? Blue zone?
- Encourage your child to begin seeing math in their daily lives. Count different things around the house (crayons, books, macaroni). What number is that on the clock? What shape is that on the playground?

Important Updates:

- Picture day will take place Wednesday, Oct 16th
- Apples- Please send an apple with your child on Monday!
- There is no school on Friday, October 11th

Mother Nature Did You Sneeze?

Kindergarten students participated in the Terry Fox Run on Monday. We learned about how brave Terry Fox was and how he is a hero. This was also a very exciting week for all students as we started centres. The goal of centres is to encourage students to play, socialize, be imaginative, be creative, practice their drawing, colouring, cutting, other fine motor skills, etc. From the kitchen centre, to dinosaurs, to trains, wooden blocks, lego, etc. students have enjoyed getting lots of hands-on experience with various resources. We have been reading many books on "Give Me 5 Listening" or "Whole Body Listening" and talking about what it looks like, feels like, and sounds like in our classroom. We practiced our tracing and cutting skills by drawing our hand and adding 5 important pictures on each finger to show how we should sit on the carpet. Kindergarten students were excited to learn a new fall poem as well called, "Mother Nature Did You Sneeze?" With the new season change, students read many books about leaves changing colours and the fall/ autumn season and described their favourite activity to do in the fall time in their Personal Journals. We had beautiful ideas including, "jumping in the leaves", "riding my bike in the fall time", "looking at leaves falling down", "going for walks with my dog", and many more! We learned that we are all writers in Kindergarten and used a variety of swirls, letters, and letter sounds as well to express our thoughts. AM Kindergarten students worked with pastels for the first time in their Visual Journals when drawing swirly fall trees and colouring in leaves with different fall colours! We are excited to see what we will work on, play with, and learn about this week.

1) Ask your child what activities they enjoy doing at centres.
2) Encourage your child to share our new fall poem, "Mother Nature Did You Sneeze?" with you and guess of what famous tune it is to.
3) Ask your child to share what colour fall leaves have.
4) Have your child show you and explain what "Whole Body" or "Give Me 5" listening looks like in our Kindergarten classroom.

"Red leaves, yellow leaves, orange leaves, brown,
Big leaves, little Leaves, on the ground,
Everywhere are falling leaves,
Mother nature did you sneeze?
A- A- Chooo!"

Important Reminders:

- Please note, this Friday, October 4th is a PM Kindergarten. Staggered entry starts at 7:55-8:10 AM. K students are dismissed 11:07 PM. There is no school for PM students. 

- Please remember to check your child's backpack daily and send the folder back every day!

- Because snack time is around 5 minutes, please send one nutritious and healthy snack and a water bottle with your child every day (granola bar, cheese string, fruit, etc.)

- We will be sending home a note on Thursday for all students asking to bring one apple (red, yellow, or green) to kindergarten for Monday, October 7th, 2019 for our apple investigation.