Kindergarten

Art – Ms. Orkin

We are in the midst of our studies from the Art Adventure program! We have already studied two oil paintings. One was “The Birthday Party,” created by portrait painter John Singer Sargent in 1887, and the other was “The Blessing of the Tuna Fleet,” painted by French artist Paul Signac in 1923. Students then drew a pointillist oil pastel drawing of a celebration from their life.

Upcoming units of study include…

Our next two pieces of study on the theme of “Let’s Celebrate Life” from the MIA will be a painted wooden African Plank mask created in 1960 and a wooden Kundu drum from New Guinea.

• We will make a patterned grogger (noisemaker) to use for Purim.
• Students will paint a blended sunset with acrylic paints and tree silhouettes in winter.
• Figure drawing from observation. Studying our body and joints.
• Purim Masks drawn, cut and decorated.

Parents, please bring in some cardboard toilet paper rolls for our grogger project. You can drop them off in the art studio any time!

Library – Ms. Oskow

In February, kindergarten library classes continue to learn about books by authors whose last names begin with various letters. This month, the letters are “H,” “I,” “J,” “K,” and “L,” featuring authors such as Caldecott-winning author/illustrator Kevin Henkes (Kitten’s First Moon, Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse) and Katharine Holabird (Angelina Ballerina), Tony Johnston, Jacqueline Jules, Jack Ezra Keats, Steve Kellogg, Robert Krause, Kathryn Lasky, Julius Lester and Leo Lionni.

HMJDS Scholastic Book Fair Coming March 25-30!!

Biggest Library Fundraiser

The Scholastic Book Fair runs Sunday, March 25 – Friday, March 30. It is the single biggest fundraiser of the year for the library. Books will be available for all ages from preschool through adults, at Scholastic’s discounted, tax-free prices. Shoppers can make purchases for themselves as well as consider donations directly to the library or to HMJDS classrooms. 25% of all money collected will go to the library.

Look for more information following Mid-Winter Break.

Volunteers Needed For Book Fair

Volunteers are needed to help:

• set up the Book Fair on Friday morning, March 23
• tear down the Book Fair on Monday morning, April 2
• staff the Book Fair during the hours it is open

Please contact Book Fair Chairs Micki Litton, Beth Jasco or Ellen Berkelhamer – or sign up on the sheet that will be posted outside the library after Mid-Winter Break.

Music – Mr. Shaw

Students will be reviewing the techniques to play the Orff instruments using two different mallet patterns. They will be working on keeping a steady beat while playing a bourdon that involves using the both hands together on two pitches. The interval pattern involves alternating the hands between two pitches and works on improving eye-hand coordination as well as using gross motor skills. We will also start some initial preparation for the Children Around the World program and we may start learning some of the following songs: World Wide Hello, Frére Jacques, Bento Uri, Calypso, Shake the Papaya Down, and Kookaburra. These songs originate from such places as Canada, France, Japan, the Caribbean, and Australia. It is my goal to introduce these songs over the next few months so the students will be well prepared for the May program. If time permits in music class I might incorporate stories into these units and read the children books that give a little background about the different countries. In February we will also learn the song “The Residence of the Presidents,” which will provide a way of saluting Abraham Lincoln and George Washington in music class as we prepare for President’s Day.

Featured Concepts and Understandings in Music Class Lessons:

• Use solfege (Curwen) hands signals to indicate pitch.
• Develop the competency to perform music through modeling.
• Respond to literature.
• Keep a steady beat while playing.
• Music in context of cultural heritage.

Physical Education – Mr. Lindquist

Greetings Kindergarten Parents,

I hope your kindergartner told you how much fun they had playing floor hockey! There was a noticeable improvement in their motor coordination as we combined running, reacting to a moving ball, and striking the ball while maintaining their balance.

What’s Going On?

We are now involved in Gymnastics and Rope Jumping. In gymnastics we started out on the floor mats, doing simple body challenges that require strength and balance. To teach body strength, balance, and rigidity, we started out with log rolling and knee walking on floor mats. We will also perform cooperative challenges with partners before we proceed to the balance beam and vaulting. In kindergarten the height of the balance beam is 30 inches, which is very intimidating for most. The challenge of the dismount onto the crash pad is to land on their feet without dropping to their knees.

The rope jumping unit works on timing and coordination, in addition to greatly improving aerobic fitness. We begin learning how to turn a short rope with both handles in one hand forwards and backwards with either their right or left hand. Kindergartners have been introduced to the long rope out at recess, but in the actual rope jumping unit we take it to a different skill level. We will be entering and exiting a turning long rope and partner jumping.

What’s Next?

Our volleyball unit!

Technology – Ms. Olson

Your Kindergartener Can Read!

Kindergarteners are spending more and more time using different online programs to enhance their knowledge of letter sounds and early reading skills. In the lab last month, we introduced Raz-Kids and Starfall and this month we will continue working with these programs. There are a few things that I love about these two programs that are important to point out to all of you:

• Since these are online (and can be found on the HMJDS portaportal, www.portaportal.com Guest name: hmjds) Students can practice on these programs at home.
• These are HMJDS teacher and child tested and approved, safe websites for your child. If he/she’s going to be on the computer, why not be doing something that will enhance their academics?
• Each time your child uses one of these tools he/she will be progressing at his/her own pace. For example, Raz-Kids is set up specifically for each child to be working at his/her level and provides skills geared towards the next milestones in his/her own learning..

Enjoy these programs at home, while we also work with them at school, and your child will continue to grow by leaps and bounds!

General Studies – Kryzkwa

We are always so busy learning! Look at some highlights of what is coming up this month!

Happy New Year!

Whenever a year comes to an end, we often reflect back on important moments of the year and anticipate what is to come in the new year. Although this is not the end of the kindergarten year, I still find myself looking back at how we ended 2011 and how far these little people have come in a short few months. Seeing everyone up on the bima during the Hanukkah Program at Adath Jeshurun, performing in front hundreds of people with pride and confidence was amazing to watch! It was definitely one of those significant memories to keep tucked away from 2011 and a great teaser to the wonderful things to come in 2012!

Language Arts

• We will practice writing the letters Q, E, L, and K in both upper and lower case formats.
• We will read our Let’s Find Out newspaper and discuss the contents.
• We will continue stretching out words and writing what we hear.
• We will continue writing workshop. We will keep labeling and adding details to our pictures as we grow our stories by giving them a beginning, middle, and end.
• We will have literacy circles, where we will continue to work on phonemic awareness and beginning reading strategies.
• We will begin a reading workshop and start introducing students to books appropriate for their reading abilities.

Math

• We will learn about the characteristics and value of a quarter.
• We will practice skip counting by fives to 100, and learn to count by twos.
• We will continue to work on teen numbers.
• We will learn about the = and + signs on a calculator and how to use them to count in many ways.
• We will learn about shapes and play different games.
• We will continue to play pawn wars and learn how more pieces on the chess board move.

Social Studies

• We will practice saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.
• We will start Star of the Week activities.
• We will learn more about the features of different maps.
• We will practice the directions, north, south, east, and west and practice using them.
• We will travel to Guatemala and learn about where the country is, the people, the flag, and participate in many activities connected to the country.
• On Martin Luther King Jr Day, we will have special programming all day. We will learn about how people were treated unfairly and what Dr. King did to help change that. There will be many meaningful activities to promote peace, respect, and unity.

Science

• We will discuss the signs of winter.
• We will start a unit on fabric by comparing 10 different fabrics and discussing their characteristics.

Important Reminders

• Check each section of the BEE binder every day for homework and additional information. Also empty out the front pocket each night and keep the papers at home.
• Please ensure that your child is bringing show & tell on their day to share.
• It is time to send snow pants, boots, hats, mittens and scarves! They must have these things to go outside! Every item should be labeled with a name. It is very nice if they can have a set of these things to stay at school and not go home every night.
• We are in session on Martin Luther King Jr Day. There will be an assembly that day, as well as special programming for the students.
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• The students will be performing a short Hebrew Play, called Saba Eliezer, on Friday, January 20 at 2:30 in the auditorium. Kindergarten Kabbalat Shabbat will follow the play.
• No School on Friday, Feburary 3, due to a faculty workshop day.

Click here to view Ms. Krzykwa’s monthly calendar for January 2012.

Hebrew – Taragan

Hadashot

It is wonderful having the kindergartners back at the Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School after the winter break! We immediately began our unit on Saba Eliezar V’Hagezer (Grandfather Eliezar and the Carrot). This popular Hebrew book was written by Levin Kipnis. The kindergartners were mesmerized by the Hebrew story! It was later retold on the flannel board. The kindergartners loved performing a Hebrew puppet show with the Israeli puppets from this story. They also viewed a short Hebrew video of this story. The kindergartners are looking forward to performing this short Hebrew skit at Kindergarten Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, January 20th at 2:30 in the auditorium. We look forward to seeing you there!

Gami Hagamal and her babies continue to visit the kindergartners in Gan Bet. Thank you so much for hosting the camels and writing stories about the adventures with your child and the gmailim (camels).

We will soon be completing the book of Bereshit(Genesis) with the last parshiyot: Miketz, Vayigash and Vayechi. The kindergartners enjoy discussing the lessons they learn from these parshiyot- especially jealousy between siblings and the act of forgiveness. After we have completed reading Bereshit, we will say “Hazak Hazak v’nithazek” (“be strong, very strong and let us grow stronger together) and then we will begin learning from the book of Shemot (Exodus).

The kindergartners have begun joining the first and second graders at divisional t’fillah (prayers) on Monday mornings. We all pray together in the beit k’nesset (synagogue) which adds another dimension of kedusha (holiness). The Torah is also read each Monday during our divisional t’fillah.

It is a true pleasure teaching your enthusiastic children. I look forward to an exciting second semester of learning together and hearing their Hebrew vocabulary continue to grow and grow!

Art – Orkin

Upcoming units of study include…

The Art Adventure program from the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts is a curriculum our school has integrated into our Lower School art program for the past decade. It begins this month and continues through May, when we will take a field trip to the museum to see the eight art pieces we studied in depth in class.

Once a month, we will study two art pieces from diverse cultures and time periods. This year’s theme is “Let’s Celebrate Life.” It looks at eight objects to explore ways that people commemorate special times in their lives. Whether it is the festive atmosphere of a communal holiday, the solemn ceremony of a sacred ritual, or a private moment to mark a personal milestone, celebrations bring people together. The artworks in this series highlight the similarities and differences in how and why humans celebrate.

Upcoming activities include…

1. Reading the book My Five Senses by Aliki
2. Creating a paper collage self portrait
• Matching their skin color to construction paper
• Drawing and cutting the shape of their face, eyes, nose, lips and ears out of colored paper
• Choosing the skin, eye, and lip colors by looking in the mirror
• Cutting and gluing fabric, sequins, and ribbon to create and decorate their clothes

Students will be bringing their fall/winter portfolios home to share. Please consider displaying their artwork around the house!

Music

I am really impressed and pleased with how much the children have learned so far in music class as we approach the midway point of the school year. Students will continue to be assessed on the ability to read rhythms as well as the solfege symbols (do, re, mi) that represent pitch (high and low tones). We will be learning new echo songs that will include information about the “Twelve Months of the Year” and “Sing About Martin.” These echo songs will assist us in preparing for celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, as will “This Little Light of Mine.” We will also learn some new movement songs that certainly will become class favorites, such as “Elephants Have Wrinkles” and “The Jelly Bean Song.” We will also sing “Plant a Tu B’Shvat Tree” and think about how nice it would be if we were in Israel planting trees in much warmer weather rather than in our cold Minnesota climate.

Featured Concepts and Understandings in Music Class Lessons:

• Echo-sing short phrases.
• Freely explore vocal ranges.
• Use solfege (Curwen) hands signals to indicate melodic direction.
• Improvise sounds using contrast: loud/soft, fast/slow, and high/low.
• Respond interpretively to music using movement.
• Read visual symbols that indicate rhythm (standard notation).
• Develop the competency to perform music through modeling.
• Identify marches, lullabies, and rock styles.

Physical Education – Lindquist

I hope you enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. It is great to hear from your child about the time you spent away from school and the places you visited.

What’s Going On?

We are in the second period (hockey term joke) of Floor Hockey, which is the first of our striking units. The first graders are using Pillow Polo Paddle sticks for striking a special Nerf Ball. They are doing well learning to strike a moving object. We began a variety of drills and modified games such as “Clean out the Backyard,” which is a game they played during our throwing unit. Now they are playing games and learning the value of teamwork while improving hand-eye coordination.

What’s Next?

Gymnastics and Rope Jumping are the next units. These are activities are refreshing for students who need a break from competitive games. This is where your student works individually on understanding and improving body core strength, balance and flexibility.

In first grade we begin with simple body challenges using the floor mats; continuing to build on these developing skills. These activities require strength and balance and some partnering skills. The rope jumping unit works on timing and coordination in addition to greatly improving aerobic fitness. Many of the kindergartners have been introduced to the long rope out at recess (under my supervision, of course), so they’re off to a good start!

Technology

Click, Click, Right Click

Kindergarteners will continue this month working on all of the skills they have learned up to this point. One of the skills that we have worked on in the past that we will be tackling again is that of finding pictures on the internet and copying and pasting them to a Microsoft Word Document. Not only do kids LOVE to find pictures on the internet of things they’re interested in, but this activity is filled with computer skills that will extend to other learning. The simple task of right clicking v. a click (left click) is something that is tough to remember and when to do it, that’s a whole other story. Copying and pasting requires both right clicks and clicks and each click must be done at the right time. Projects involving right click also encourage students to investigate the other options that are in that menu. They may not be able to read them now, but in the future they will be familiar with this action.

At home, if your child is on the computer, check his/her hand position. It’s never too early to make sure that they are using proper hand position and using the correct fingers for each click. It will not only strengthen their hand and help them work on their independent finger motion (this will help with keyboarding down the line too) but will make their work go faster.

General Studies – Krzykwa

We are always so busy learning! Look at some highlights of what is coming up this month!

Giving Thanks

We ended November by thinking a lot about what we are thankful for in our lives. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for letting me spend so many hours each day with your wonderful children. They are so special and have brought so much joy to the HMJDS community.

Language Arts

• We will practice writing the letters G, U, and I in both upper and lower case formats.
• We will read our Let’s Find Out newspaper and discussed the contents.
• We will continue stretching out words and writing what we hear.
• We will continue writing workshop. We will focus on labeling pictures by sounding words out and adding details to our pictures.
• We will start literacy circle, where we will continue to work on phonemic awareness and beginning reading strategies.

Math

• We will learn about a nickel and that it is worth 5 cents.
• We will practice skip counting by fives to 100.
• We will continue to work on teen numbers.
• We will learn about the calculator and how to use it.
• We will learn about shapes and play different games.
• We will start chess and learn about the pieces and how to set up the chess board.

Social Studies

• We will practice saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.
• We will learn about maps and why we use them.
• We will make a map of Minnesota and learn about some of the state symbols.
• We will make maps of our room and heart.
• We will learn the directions, north, south, east and west and practice using them.
• We will make suitcases and passports to prepare for our travels to other countries starting in January.

Important Reminders

• Check each section of the BEE binder every day for homework and additional information. Also empty out the front pocket each night and keep the papers at home.
• There has been a decline in homework completion. Please ensure that your child is bringing show & tell on their day to share.
• It is time to send snow pants, boots, hats, mittens and scarves! They must have these things to go outside! Every item should be labeled with a name. It is very nice if they can have a set of these things to stay at school and not go home every night.
• The Hanukkah Program will be at Adath Synagogue on December 20 at 6:30 p.m. Practice will be on December 19. Please drop your child at Adath at 8:00 a.m. on the day of practice.
• Winter break begins December 21. School resumes January 3.
• We will be sending rest things and extra clothes home to be washed over the break. Please send it back on Tuesday, January 3 when school resumes.
• Winter homework will be sent home during break. Please review all the tasks with your child. When the sheet is finished, return the sheet to school with a parent’s signature stating completion.
• Kindergarten Curriculum Night is January 9 at 7:00 p.m. We will be talking more in-depth about language arts and other expectations as we move into the second part of the year. This is a parent only event.

Click here to view December calendar

Hebrew – Taragan

We have been very busy during our Hebrew lessons. The students enjoyed hearing the story Sefat Hasemanim Shel Noa (Noa’s Secret Sign). Each day Noa had a different hairdo to correspond to the day of the week. We decided to “adopt” Noa’s creative way of learning the days of the week too. Every day the students (and teacher) had a special hairdo. (On Monday the students came to school with two pony tails, two braids, two barrettes, two clips, two kippot etc… On Tuesday the students had three pony tails….On Wednesday four pony tails etc… On Thursday five pony tails etc…and on Friday six pony tails etc…) The students were extremely creative with hairdos and all the students now know the days of the week. Thank you so much for helping with your child’s special hair-do each morning.

Our new unit is Hanukkah! Hasivivon Hamedaber(the talking dreidel) greeted the students at school. The students enjoyed speaking Hebrew to this unique dreidel. We will be learning the brachot over the hanukiyah (menorah) and many Hanukkah songs. I showed the kindergartners sivivonim (dreidels) from both Israel and from the diaspora. The kindergartners enjoyed comparing the sivivonim. The letters on the dreidel from Israel are Nun, Gimel, Hey and Peh for “Nes Gadol Haya Po.” (“A great miracle happened here”) while the letters on the dreidel from the diaspora are Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin for “Nes Gadol Haya Sham.” (“A great miracle happened there”). A favorite kindergarten Hanukkah song is Banu Hosheh L’Garesh(We have come to drive out the darkness). Thank you so much for sending two flashlights and a hanukiyah to school for our Hanukkah unit.

The kindergartners love studying Torah and hearing about the various parshiyot. We have now added to our Torah discussions Haye Sarah, Toldot, Vayetzei, Vayishlach and Vayeshev. The students love role-playing the various parshiyot with costumes and props.

In addition to the Shema, Modeh/Modah Ani and Ma Tovu, the kindergartners are also learning the Birkot Hashahar in our siddurim. After the students know the prayers, they illustrate the pages in their siddurim. Their drawings reflect their personal interpretations of each prayer. The class discussions add depth to their understanding of these prayers.

The annual lower-school Hanukkah program is on Tuesday, December 20 at the Adath Jeshurun Synagogue. The kindergartners are looking forward to participating in this exciting yearly school event.

I would like to conclude this newsletter by wishing you and your families a Happy Hanukkah. Hag Urim Sameah.

Barbara Taragan

Art – Orkin

What we have been working on….

Sculpting Clay hanukkiot

• Students learned clay comes from the Earth near the water’s edge
• Students learned to roll balls using the palm of their hands
• Students carved, created textures, and printed shapes with cookie cutters
• Students will soon glaze with bright colors, then visit the kiln to help load for firing

Upcoming units will be

• Texture crayon rubbings
• Shapes – We’ll make a People-Shape collages.
• Portfolio review and sharing

Physical Education – Lindquist

Greetings Kindergarten Parents,

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. It really is a wonderful holiday that bonds family around the dinner table and reminds us how fortunate we truly are.

What’s Next?

We’re just finishing up our basketball unit, during which your kindergartner learned and improved their ball handling skills. Our next unit will be floor hockey, which is the first of our striking units.

In kindergarten we use Pillow Polo paddle sticks for striking a special Nerf Ball. For many children who are 5-6 years old, this may be their first experience at striking a moving object. We begin with demonstrating how to grip the stick with separated hands. Before we play the regulation game, students learn how to direct the ball through an obstacle course. They will also participate in a variety of drills and modified games such as “Clean out the Backyard,” which is a game they played during our throwing unit. When we begin playing games, students will improve their agility and aerobic fitness by reacting and moving quickly in all different directions in relationship to the ball. Pillow Polo also is a great cooperative group game that teaches teamwork and improves hand-eye coordination. Who knows, this may be the first step in you becoming a hockey parent down the road, like me!

Library – Oskow

In December, kindergarten library classes learn about:

• Hanukkah books
• New easy reading and picture books

Some suggestions:

• Like a Maccabee by Raymond A. Zwerin and Audrey Friedman Marcus
• Judah Who Always said “No!” by Harriet K. Feder
• Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah by Sylvia A. Rouss
• Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights by Leslie Kimmelman
• Dinosaur On Hanukkah by Diane Levin Rauchwerger
• The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle
• Maccabee! The Story of Hanukkah
• Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser
• Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah by Michael J. Rosen
• Grandma’s Latkes by Malka Drucker
• The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman

Thank you to all of the grandparents and special people who bought books to donate to our library on Simhat Dor L’Dor!

Music – Shaw

Students in kindergarten will spend lot of time in December preparing for Hanukkah by singing many of the traditional songs. This will assist in preparation for the holiday and the school program at Adath Jeshurun Congregation. It will be so much fun when we sing with our parents and family members at the end of the Hanukkah program with these traditional favorites. The songs the students will learn may include: Hanukkah, Maoz Tzur, Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, Ner Li, S’vivon, and I Have a Little Dreidel. Performing these songs correlate with National Music Standard #9 – Understanding music in relationship to history and culture. Kindergarten students will also have an assessment on their ability to play a steady beat and improvise a drum pattern to the song Marching Maccabees. The children will continue to read rhythms, and they will be introduced to basic rhythms using standard notation. These short rhythmic phrases include quarter notes, eighth notes, and the quarter rest. We will also enjoy a new movement song, Rock ‘n’ Roll Ner Li and will be discussing the difference between marches, rock styles, and lullabies.

Featured Concepts and Understandings in Music Class Lessons:

• Echo-sing short phrases.
• Freely explore vocal ranges.
• Use solfege (Curwen) hands signals to indicate melodic direction.
• Improvise sounds using contrast: loud/soft, fast/slow, and high/low.
• Begin to read visual symbols that indicate rhythm (standard notation).
• Respond interpretively to music using movement.

Technology – Olson

More Tools To Use At Home

Kindergarteners are doing amazing things on the computer in school which gives them some very strong skills that they can use outside of school. There are more tools that you will now find on the Kindergarten Portaportal. The work they do in school in math and reading can be reinforced using the programs on the Portaportal. Please see previous technology newsletters found below, for information about how to access the Portaportal from home.

In December, we will continue to work on technology skills including mouse skills; moving the mouse, clicking, and using the right click feature. Various programs will be used in class to hone these skills, including KidPix drawing program in which students will expand their use of the many tools available to them. Using a variety of tools allows students to understand what computer programs can do for the user.

Kindergarten Bet Gazette – Krzykwa

We are always so busy learning! Look at some highlights of what is coming up this month!

We Made it!

October was a crazy, but fun month. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays with friends and family! The fall is a wonderful time of year filled with exciting celebrations, but we are all looking forward to getting back into the routine of school. We will:

Language Arts

• Practice writing the letters O, S, A, and T in both upper and lower case formats.
• Read our Let’s Find Out newspaper and discuss the contents.
• Continue stretching out words and writing what we hear.
• Begin writing workshop and begin writing stories about our lives through pictures and labeling.
• Play games in order to identify the sounds in words and generate rhymes.
• Make some take home books to practice tracking words as the students read with their finger.
• Make a class list of things we are thankful for.

Math

• We will: Practice counting backward from 15-0.
• Practice skip counting by tens beyond 100.
• Continue to sort objects like leaves and teddy bears by similar attributes.
• Practice making and reading simple graphs together.
• Continue to practice writing numbers.
• Make and play a game called monster squeeze.
• Start chess and learn about the pieces and how to set up the chess board.

Social Studies

• We will: Discuss why voting is important and practice different ways to vote.
• Learn about different types of homes Native Americans once had and compare them to homes we have today.
• Learn different symbols that Native Americans used to write with and then we will write our own stories.
• Learn about Pilgrims and more about Thanksgiving.
• Start receiving leaf mail and will find the states on the map of the United States.

Science

• We will: Continue our unit on paper. We will identify different kinds of paper and do many experiments.
• Continue learning about leaves, as well as conducting different experiments and identifying different characteristics.
• Practice making predictions before doing activities with corn and pumpkins.
• Do some food science by making pumpkin mousse pie.

Important Reminders

Please check each section of the BEE binder every day for homework and additional information. Also empty out the front pocket each night and keep the papers at home.
• We do not supply silverware during snack time, so please send spoons and forks with snacks that require them.
• The weather is changing! Dress appropriately for recess! We go outside every day, unless it’s raining cats and dogs!
• We collect tzedakah on Fridays.
• Simhat Dor L’Dor Bet is Tues. Nov. 22. There is an assembly at 1:40.
• No School for Thanksgiving Wed. Nov 23- Fri. Nov. 25.
• Look at the November Calendar for special events, show & tell, media days, and more!

November calendar

Hebrew

We have been very busy in Kindergarten Hebrew. The kindergartners continue to bring a variety of fruits and vegetables for their Hebrew morning snack. Their Hebrew vocabulary continues to grow each day! They enjoy describing in Hebrew what they are eating. They also enjoy asking and answering one another in Hebrew what they would like to drink. The kindergartners can correctly recite the appropriate blessing for the food that they are eating. Each day a different student leads the class in the blessings before the snack and a Hebrew game. They are doing a great job! Kol Hakavod!

Gami Hagamal and her babies have begun visiting the kindergartners’ homes. Thank you so much for hosting the camels and writing a short story about the adventures of the camels with your child. Each kindergartner will have the opportunity to host the camels during the year!

The students love playing Shimon Omer. The students take turns being Shimon and enjoy trying to “quiz” their classmates in this game. Please encourage your child to play Shimon Omer at home.

We began the color unit integrating many Hebrew games with this fun unit. The kindergartners heard the story Maaseh B’Hamesha Balonim (The Tale of Five Balloons) by Miriam Rot. All the students participated in a Hebrew puppet show and later saw the Hebrew video of this popular Israeli story.

The students will soon be learning the days of the week in Hebrew and reading the book Sefat Hasemanim Shel Noa (Noa’s Secret Signs) by Nira Harel. This delightful Hebrew book tells how Noa learns the names of the days of the week in Hebrew. She devises a creative solution to remember each day. On Sunday, the first day of the week, Noa has one braid in her hair. On Monday, the second day of the week, Noa has two braids in her hair. On Tuesday, the third day of the week, Noa has three braids in her hair. She continues to have a special “hair-do” to represent each day of the week. All the boys and girls in kindergarten will be coming to school with braids, pony tails, barrettes, kippot, clips, color, and spikes representing each day of the week. Thank you so much to all the parents for helping your child with his/her creative hair-do.

The days of the week are:

• Sunday – Yom Rishon
• Monday – Yom Shani
• Tuesday – Yom Shleshe
• Wednesday – Yom Riveei
• Thursday – Yom Hameshe
• Friday – Yom Sheshe
• Saturday – Yom Shabbat

The month of Tishrei is over and we are now in the month of Heshvan. Heshvan is referred to as Mar Heshvan because there are no Jewish holidays in this month. The students love studying Torah, talking about the weekly parasha and illustrating their Torah books. We have discussed Bereshit, Noah, Lech Lecha, Vayera, and Hayei Sarah. We also talked about the concept of Hahnassat Orhim (the mitzvah of welcoming of guests). The kindergartners gave wonderful examples from their lives of how they fulfill this mitzvah.

In our siddurim, the students are reciting the prayers the Shema, Ma Tovu, Modeh/Modah Ani and Bircot Hashahar. After the kindergartners learn the prayers, they then illustrate the pages in their siddur which reflects their personal interpretations of each prayer. The class discussions add depth to the understanding of these prayers.

It was a pleasure meeting you at conferences and sharing with you the recordings of your child. I am very proud of the kindergartners’ accomplishments and I look forward to a wonderful year of learning together.

Barbara

Art

Noah’s Ark watercolor crayon resist

To enhance their studies of Parshat Noah, students illustrated the story. First they looked at different illustrators’ styles of telling the story. They discovered that each artist and writer has their own voice and style, even when they are telling the same story.

Kindergartners learned how to draw animals using shapes. They drew the story of Noah’s ark with crayons, then painted the details with fine lined brushes and the water and sky with large brushes.

Upcoming units are:

• Introduction to paintbrush use
• Color mixing from primary to secondary colors
• Painting expressively to music
• Introduction to clay-making (sculpting a Hanukkiah)
• Painting with glaze on clay

Library

November is National Jewish Book Month!

Kindergartners read Jewish books this month, both in and out of library class, in celebration of National Jewish Book Month.

Students may make a poster celebrating a Jewish book and bring it into the HMJDS library by November 9 to decorate for Book Month.

• Student’s first and last name
• Student’s grade and first letter of homeroom teacher’s name (e.g. K-K for Kindergarten-Krzykwa)
• Title and author of the book
• Colorful picture–student’s own best effort illustrating something from the story
• Any medium, such as crayons, oil pastels, markers, paint, collage

Look for the posters on library walls by mid-November!

Simhat Dor L’Dor Book Sale – Donations to the Library

On Simhat Dor L’Dor Bet, Tuesday, November 22—the day before Thanksgiving Break—from 1:30-3:30, books are available for purchase to donate to our library collection. Students whose grandparent, parent or other special person donates abook are given first opportunity to check the book out of the library. Thank you to the families who bought books for donation on Simhat Dor L’Dor Alef!

Happy Reading and Creating!—Cathi Oskow, HMJDS Librarian

Music

To assist us in developing the concept of pitch (the highness or lowness of tones) we will use the Curwen hand signals to learn new songs. This is part of the Kodály method. The Kodály method uses a different hand signal to represent each tone of the scale (do, re, mi, etc.). This reinforces the concept of melodic direction. Children are fascinated by sound and melodic percussion barred instruments enable us to play as an ensemble during class. By playing the Orff instruments, which composer Carl Orff developed in the 1920s, children will see, as well as hear pitch relationships. They learn by observation a very important principle of sound: larger instruments produce lower sounds and smaller instruments produce higher sounds. Students will adapt the story Mortimer by Robert Munsch to understand several music concepts that include pitch (high and low) and rhythms (long and short). Next we will be learning some new songs, which may include: “The Seasons,” “Time to Change the Clock,” “Teddy Bear,” and “Rain, Rain Please Go Away.”

Featured Concepts and Understandings in Music Class Lessons:

• Echo-sing short phrases
• Freely explore vocal ranges
• Use solfege (Curwen) hands signals to indicate melodic direction
• Improvise sounds to dramatize and respond to literature
• Improvise sounds using contrast: loud/soft, fast/slow, and high/low
• Begin to read visual symbols that indicate steady beat
• Begin to read visual symbols that indicate rhythm (modified notation)

Physical Education

It’s good to be back to our routine with a five day school week again. I enjoyed talking with you at Fall Conferences and discussing your child’s performance in gym. I always receive keen insight from parents that gives me new ideas to help aid in your child’s motor development, in addition to making gym class a fun and challenging experience.

What’s Next?

We just finished our throwing unit where we participated in various cooperative games, as well as individual activities. The goal of this unit was to get your kindergartner to consistently throw with their favorite hand while placing their opposite foot forward.

Our next unit will be our highly anticipated Basketball Unit, in which we learn ball control skills. We begin with dribbling appropriately sized basketballs. We start out with a certain number of dribbles and try to add even more with our favorite hand. Later we try to use our other hand and perform dribbling patterns. For example, they may do a three set dribble with their favorite hand and one with their other hand. Dribbling patterns get more challenging as we progress. Some of the dribbling challenges may include starting out standing, then touching one knee to the floor, then going back to a standing position while maintaining their dribble.

Eye-tracking and catching is also introduced with emphasis placed on catching using only their hands. My goal is to not let the basketball hit their chest or touch their forearms. I hope your kids are looking forward to this unit as much as I am!

Technology

Kindergarten Computer Skills Abound!

Kindergarteners are showing amazing skill on the computer this year. They are taking to the mouse and keyboard skills very impressively. This month students will continue to work in the classroom as well as in the Technology Lab. One of the tools that we will continue to use more is our school Portaportal. The Portaportal is basically like a favorites menu on the internet that HMJDS teacher’s populate with tried, true and TESTED tools appropriate for their classes. The wonderful thing about it is that we can share those tools with students to access at home.

To access the HMJDS portaportal on the internet, go to www.portaportal.com and enter the Guest Name: hmjds. Our school Portaportal has grade level appropriate, teacher approved and recommended safe websites for your child to work on and explore. Simply click on the items listed under Kindergarten and you will find websites that will engage your child in learning that will complement what they are doing in class. New sites will be added as new skills are taught in class.

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at conferences, if you were unable to visit with me or have further questions, please feel free to email me, jolson@hmjds.org, at any time.

Kindergarten Bet Gazette

This is the official newsletter for Ms. Krzykwa’s class.

We are always so busy learning! Look at some highlights of what is coming up this month!

Our First Month Together

It has been an amazing start to the school year! It has been filled with new people, places, and experiences! Everyone is adjusting so nicely and we have so much fun together everyday! I am looking forward to the year ahead of us as we learn and grow together!

Language Arts

• We will practice recognizing the letters Q-Z and their sounds.
• We will learn the letters Q-Z in sign language.
• We will learn the sign for each picture on our alphabet chart for the letters Q-Z.
• We will read our Let’s Find Out newspaper and discuss the contents.
• We will learn that a period is used at the end of telling sentences and that question marks are used in asking sentences.
• We will continue stretching out words and writing what we hear.
• We will begin writing workshop and begin writing stories about our lives through pictures and labeling.
• We will begin a letter of the week. We will practice writing the letter C in both upper and lower case formats.
• We will practice rhyming many ways in order to identify and generate rhymes on our own.

Math

• We will learn about a dime and that it is ten cents.
• We will practice counting backward from 10-0 and maybe even 15-0.
• We will learn how to skip count by tens.
• We will learn that an object has symmetry if is the exact same on both sides.
• We will cut symmetrical shapes and paint a symmetrical picture.
• We will continue to sort objects by similar attributes.
• We will continue to create patterns such as AB, ABC, AAB, ABB, etc.
• We will practice writing the numbers 4 and 5.

Social Studies

• We will talk a lot about what it means to be a friend and ways to take care of one another.
• We will have a visit from the PACER Center. They will show us a puppet show to teach us about different visible and hidden disabilities.
• We will have a visit from the fire department. During the visit we will learn about the firefighter’s equipment, fire safety, and we will get to see the fire truck!

Science

• We will begin a unit on paper. We will identify different kinds of paper and do many experiments.
• We will discuss the different signs of fall.
• We will learn about leaves, as well as conduct different experiments and identify different characteristics.
• We will have a visit from the school nurse and she will teach us the proper way to wash our hands to avoid spreading germs.
• Field Trip to Westwood Nature Center: October 11, we will see a puppet show about the life cycle of an apple tree, learn about the word pollination, use an old cider press to grind apples to make apple cider and go on a leaf hunt to find different types of leaves. Please print out and sign the permission slip for your child to be allowed to attend. All parents are welcome to join us as chaperones!

Important Reminders

• Check each section of the BEE binder everyday for homework and additional information. Also empty out the front pocket each night and keep the papers at home.
• We do not supply silverware during snack time, so please send spoons and forks with snacks that require them.
• The weather is changing! Dress appropriately for recess! We go outside everyday, unless it’s raining cats and dogs!
• We collect tzedakah on Fridays.
• Simhat Dor L’Dor is Wed. Oct 12. There is a Pre-Sukkot assembly at 1:40.
• Parent/ Teacher Conferences are Wed. Oct 26 & Thurs. Oct. 27. You have received a note to request a day and time frame that works best for you to schedule a conference in Newswire. We will do our best to honor your request. These days are half days with early dismissal at 11:30. Kindergarteners do not attend conferences.
• Teddy bears are invited to visit school Oct. 31- Nov.3. Look for an official invitation coming home soon.
• Look at the October Calendar for special events, show & tell, media days, and more!

Hadashot (News)

We have been very busy in our first month in Kindergarten Hebrew and Judaica. I want to thank you so much for sending a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for your children’s Hebrew snack. Their Hebrew vocabulary is continuing to grow each day. The kindergartners can correctly recite the appropriate blessing for the food that they are eating. They enjoy describing in Hebrew what they are eating each day. Each day a different student leads the class in the blessings before the snack and a Hebrew game. They are doing a great job! Kol hakavod!

“Gami Hagamal” and her babies will soon be visiting the kindergartners’ homes. Thank you so much for hosting the camels and writing a short story about the adventures of the camels with your child. Each kindergartner will have the opportunity to host the camels during the year!

Hebrew

The students love playing “Shimon Omer” (Simon Says) in Hebrew. The students take turns being “Shimon” and enjoy trying to “quiz” their classmates in this game. Please encourage your child to play “Shimon Omer” at home.

New vocabulary words are:

• Head – Rosh
• Shoulders – Ktafayim
• Eyes – Einayim
• Ears – Oznayim
• Stomach – Beten
• Back – Gav
• Nose – Af
• Heart – Lev
• Legs – Raglayim
• Mouth – Peh
• Body – Goof

We will soon begin the color unit integrating many Hebrew games with this fun unit. The kindergartners will hear the story Maaseh B’Hamesha Balonim (The Tale of Five Balloons) by Miriam Roth. All the students will participate in a Hebrew puppet show and later see the Hebrew video of this popular Israeli story.

Siddurim (Prayer Books)

In our siddurim, the students are learning the prayers “Modeh/Modah Ani” and “Shema”. After the kindergartners learn the prayers, they illustrate the pages in their siddurim. The illustrations reflect their personal interpretation of each prayer. The class discussions add depth to their understanding of these prayers.

To begin our Torah studies the kindergartners visited the HMJDS Beit Knesset. Being in the synagogue added a sense of “kedusha” (spirituality) for the students. Each week, the students will be studying the weekly “parsha”. We will discuss in depth the “parshiyot” and also perform skits for many of the weekly portions. The students will also illustrate their individual Torah books which will reflect their thoughts on each parsha.

We are looking forward to observing and celebrating the holidays in the month of Tishrei. We learned many songs for Rosh Hashanah and each student made two small round “challot” to take home for the New Year. We also participated in the “Living Legacy Rosh Hashanah Program” with Rabbi Grossbaum and made a class shofar.

It was a sincere pleasure meeting you at “Back to School Night.” I look forward to meeting you during conferences on October 26th and October 27th and sharing with you your child’s success in Hebrew.

Your children are enthusiastic learners. It is a pleasure having them in my class.

Shanah Tova U’Metuka!

Barbara

Welcome to Art Class!

It has been an exciting beginning in our art classroom. I am so happy to see you and your children back at school! Also, welcome to all our new HMJDS families! The new students add a refreshing and fun change to our classes. This year all of my classes will be in art studio A and Ms. Thor’s classes will be in art studio B.

Reminder: If you haven’t already, please send a labeled paint shirt to keep in your child’s locker!

If you need to contact me you can leave a voicemail message at; 952 381 3500 EX. 3469 or email me at; aorkin@hmjds.org

Family Art Opportunities This Month

• The Minneapolis Art Institute-www.artsmia.org
• Look for Target Family Days monthly on Sundays.
• The Walker Art Center – Free First Saturdays at www.walkerart.org

Thank you to art room coordinators Lauren Weiser and Lisa Sweet for helping to organize our art room volunteers! Thank you to all our art room volunteers for making classes run smoothly and giving extra attention to students!

Ms. Orkin’s Kindergarten Art News

• safe and respectful use of art supplies
• sharing space and materials

The first few weeks we. . .

• Decorated art portfolios, to collect and store our artwork
• Drew ourselves and what we like to do
• Explored varieties of lines
• Learned how lines make shapes
• Drew the basic straight line shapes and curved lines shapes
• Drew our homes using basic shapes

Coming up in October:

• Drawing exercise designed by art educator Mona Brookes learning to combine lines and shapes
• Learning art vocabulary words like horizontal, vertical, diagonal, arc and dot
• Shaped sponge printing to decorate Sukkot prayers
• Watercolor-crayon resist drawing and painting for Noah’s Ark story
• Learn how to draw animals using basic shape

Kindergarten Physical Education

Welcome to HMJDS Kindergarten Physical Education. For those of you who are new to the school my name is Kelly Lindquist, also known as Mr. L. I am very excited to be working with your child this year!

What do we do in Kindergarten Physical Education?

We start out the school year learning and improving loco-motor movements such as hopping, sliding, galloping and skipping. We’ve already participated in many games and activities using these types of movements. During a typical class we usually do some of our warm-ups at the brick wall. The next time you’re on your way in to school try to perform one or two of our warm-up exercises with your Kindergartner. I must warn you, though, that we’re already up to 18 seconds with the wall sit! I also like to incorporate running backwards into our gym warm -ups. It’s a great activity for improving kinetic balance.

What’s Next?

In addition to learning and improving loco-motor movements we have begun ball skills in cooperative games that work on eye-tracking and hand-eye coordination. Judging from what I’ve seen so far it looks like it’s going to be a fun year in the gym!

The Library Page for Kindergarten – Librarian Cathi Oskow

Skoob the Shelf Elf is our library mascot. I read a book about him to the kindergarten students.

• The library is a quiet place for reading and studying.
• Use placeholders when looking for books, so you can put the book back in the correct place if you don’t want to check it out.
• Return checked-out books within two weeks—by your next library class–so that other students have the chance to read them, too.

Skoob also teaches the children how to take good care of their library books:

• At home, find a special place to keep library books safe from pets and young siblings, and where you can find the books when it is time to return them.
• Keep books dry, read them with clean hands, and keep food and drinks away from them.
• Turn pages carefully from the corner so they don’t rip.
• Use a bookmark or piece of paper to mark your spot.

Ask your kindergartener about Skoob’s song, “The Booky-Looky!”

Kindergarteners learn the parts of a book, and about authors and illustrators.

Each week we discuss the sounds a particular letter makes and go over books by authors whose names start with that letter:

• “A,” as in Aliki, and Harry Allard (Miss Nelson is Missing).
• “B,” as in Jan Brett, Graeme Base, and Ludwig Bemelmans (Madeline).
• “C,” as in Nancy Carlson and Eric Carle.

Each kindergarten student comes to library class on Tuesday, once every two weeks.

The week for each class is listed below. Please take note, so the night before you can ask your child if he or she has books to return. October 11 is a Week 1; October 18 is a Week 2.

• Ms. Rusakov’s class has library on Tuesdays, Week 1.

Kindergarten Music – David A. Shaw

The students started the year working on distinguishing the differences between a singing, speaking, calling and whispering voice. We will continue to work on this concept as we apply our singing voice to new songs. The Kindergarten classes are learning the songs “Tapuhim Ud’vash,” “A Rosh Hashanah Wish,” “Swim Faster Jonah,” and “Get on the Ark,” to help celebrate the Jewish Holidays. Soon we will be working on “Build a Sukkah” and “To Be a Torah” by Rabbi Joe Black. We will enjoy singing these songs that have connections to Judaic Studies.

To develop the concept of pitch (the highness of lowness of tones) we sing echo songs such as: “Good Afternoon to You,” “I Like School,” and “Never Stop Trying.” In the next few weeks we will be learning some new songs, which may include: “The Seasons,” “Time to Change the Clock,” “Teddy Bear,” and “Rain, Rain Please Go Away.” The students are also about to start learning how to read modified notation for quarter and eighth notes in addition to the quarter rest.

Featured Concepts and Understandings in Music Class Lessons:

• Echo-sing short phrases.
• Freely explore vocal ranges.
• Improvise sounds to dramatize and respond to literature.
• Improvise sounds using contrast: loud/soft, fast/slow, and high/low.
• Begin to read visual symbols that indicate steady beat.
• Begin to read visual symbols that indicate rhythm (modified notation).
• Respond interpretively to music using movement.

Juli Olson – Technology

But I already know how to use the computer!

Kindergarteners come into the technology lab with all of the confidence in the world! They might be surprised how we use computers at school and how it differs from the experiences they have had at home.

In the next month we will be learning primarily about a program called KidPix. KidPix (Memorize that name folks… it makes a great Hanukkah gift!) is a drawing program that we use at school that allows students to draw, paint, write and even stamp pictures and more. We will be learning about many of the different tools that KidPix offers us to help us draw and create projects. We’ll be making number books, practicing making patterns and more to connect with the classroom curriculum and practice our mouse skills and tool selection. Students will soon feel comfortable using KidPix in the classroom to create more open ended projects.

We will also be starting some typing practice in the coming weeks. We’ll practice typing names with proper capitalization and spacing. Once we have done this in class, it is a great thing for your child to practice at home. Making capital letters using the shift key can sometimes be tricky as can making only one space after each word. Once your child is proficient typing his or her name, the possibilities of things to type will be endless! Enjoy!