Here's what we've been doing this week:

• At the end of last week, we found out that we could add an additional kindergarten at Hall to alleviate the high numbers in each class. At the beginning of next week we will have a new afternoon class with Mrs. Cohen, for a total of four kindergarten classes at our school. If your child is moving classes, we hope the transition is a smooth one and thank you for allowing us to teach your child during the first few weeks of school.
  
  
• For those of you staying in the same class, remember that during the week of Thanksgiving we will be having parent-teacher conferences. During this time we will discuss the progress that your child has made and any concerns that you may have. However, you may always get in touch with me if you would like to ask a question about the class or your child's behavior. You may call me at 503-661-6330. Sometimes I can answer your question quickly on the phone or we can set up a time to meet. You can also e-mail me.
  
  
• During the first week of school we learned how to build the pink tower which consists of ten cubes that change in height, width and length. Last week we put together the brown stairs that vary in width and length. Finally, this week we worked with the red rods, which only change in length. This is much harder to do than the previous two activities, so the children had to concentrate as we did it. I asked someone to bring over a rug and spread it out in our circle. Then I asked someone else to bring another rug because the red rods are so long that we needed lots of space. I showed them how to hold the smallest rod with one hand on each end of the rod. The children took turns bringing the other rods over one at a time until all of them were on the rugs. I put the rods in random order, but I lined up the ends so that the differences in length would be more apparent. The children then put the rods in order from longest to shortest. Afterwards we returned the rods to the shelf, again carrying them one at a time and holding the ends with both hands. Now the children can choose to build whichever activity they want in the series: the pink tower, the brown stairs, or the red rods.

Return to Mr. Shivers Kindergarten Page.