Vacation-Merry Christmas

Vacation-Merry Christmas

So far, we have been to Laguna Beach, the skateboard park (two times), and the mall. Our visit with Grandma has been filled with lots of baking, cooking and eating. 

 Holiday Dance Recital

Laguna Beach

We will try to do some fun activities in the next two weeks and some studying. It's been great to have a break from their extra-curricular activities!

Kindergarten Frequency words in English

English Words

Much to my amazement, he already knows the fist 10 words from the English word list.  The only word which gave him some difficulty was the word /the/.

During vacation, we will work on  all 50 of the English words, review the Spanish words, numbers and writing. He said he has trouble with spelling and reading in English.

These are the first 10 words in English:

and
an
on
like
see
a
the
we
my
I

School Work

Despite the Christmas festivities, the students still did alot of work and studied hard.  Progress reports were given out fo the midterm.  Jedadiah did really well in all areas!

Breakfast with Santa Claus

The week ended with a breakfast with Santa Claus.  Again the Multi-purpose room was crowded with parents, students and siblings enjoying pancakes or pozole, which I chose. It was incredible.  The students could wear the pj's to school, so everyone looked cozy and comfortable.
I can see areas where I can help out next year with organization.  It was a fun morning!

Christmas Songs in Spanish

Christmas Songs

                        Cascabel

                        Cascabel, cascabel

                        Suena cascabel

                        Este dìa entra enero vamos a pasear

                        Navidad, navidad

                        Hoy es navidad

Es un dìa de alegrìa y felicidad! Ole Ole Ole Ole Olee Mamciata, yo quiero a Santa Clos porque y va  llegar la navidad. 

Mamacita, dònde està Santa Clos?

Mamacita, dònde està Santa Clos?

Dònde està Santa Clos

Porque yo lo quiero ver. Mamcita, yo quiero a Santa Clos porque

Ya va llegar la navidad. Yo se que debo estar domido pero asì no lo puedo ver. Mejor abrirè la ventana para que pueda entrar. Muy pronto llegar, los siento arriba, en trineo de dos. Ya Santa desperta, hay todos alertas Ole Ole Ole Ole Olee Mamciata, yo quiero a Santa Clos porque y va  llegar la navidad. 

Christmas Program

Christmas Program

All five kindergarten classes performed Christmas songs on Thursday night.  The Multi-Purpose room was standing room only, as all of the parents gathered to watch their children.

The Dual Immersion students (both classes) started the program singing two songs, Cascabel and Mamacita, Donde  Esta Santa Claus.  After their performance, each of the English classes sang their songs and the finale was all five classes singing Feliz Navidad together.  It was great fun watching the kids sing and do their best!

Sra. Oliver was there with her new one-month old baby daughter.  The kids were so excited to see Sra. Oliver and her family. 

Gifts to Classmates

Gifts to Classmates

Thank God, Jedadiah was able to give a small goodie bag to all 23 of his classmates.  He was so happy to give a Christmas gift to his friends at school.  On Thursday evening, he gave out presents to all 6 of the kindergarten teachers and Mrs. Willis.  I love to see his radiating face when he is passing out the gifts. Giving is one of his gifts.

Week 18

Week 18

Early Week

Parents were told on Friday afternoon when we picked up our kids that the next week all the students needed to be at school early.  After the initial shock of the announcement, we all wondered away to our cars. We knew that the upcoming week would be a crazy and hectic one, especially now that we would need to drop the kids off by 8:10 each morning. 

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

Thanks to our nephew, Michael McCully, we attended the California Riverside Ballet’s 32^nd annual production of  The Nutcracker.

It was such a special treat to take the kids to see such a beautifully choreographed ballet with two guest artists from the New York City Ballet, Janie Taylor and Sebastien Marcovici.  (crballet.com)

Before the ballet, we splurged and each of us enjoyed a very tasty cupcake from Casey’s Cupcakes in downtown Riverside.  I can still taste the delectable cupcake in my mouth!

School Work

This week the students are being tested, reviewing the letter F and the numbers.  In addition, the students are learning 3 new Christmas songs and getting ready for their Christmas program, which will be next week Thursday.  We have started to learn the 3 songs by watching them on YouTube:

Cascabel
Feliz Navidad
Mama, Donde esta Santa Claus

Swimming Class

Swimming Class

Jedadiah was promoted to the next level at his swimming school. 

He is now a Seal.  In the Seal level, he will learn how to breathe correctly on the side, how to swim the back stroke and how to flip over in the water to swim continuously.  We are so proud of him!

PTA Board

PTA Board

Khin and I are both PTA members, but we have not yet attended a meeting.  However on Tuesday morning, I was asked by one of the PTA board members to be on the PTA board.  I asked what the job required.  She answered that I would need to attend the meetings and help out at all  PTA sponsored school functions.  I said yes, so I guess I am one of the VP’s of Fund Raising.   I intend to attend the PTA meeting in January to learn more and to officially begin my new duties of fund raising.

Kids Korner

Kids Korner

Students are Home Gardens have the opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts for family and friends through a service called “Kids’ Korner Gift Shoppes”.  Gift items start at $1.00. 

I took Jedadiah on Monday afternoon where he selected two gifts for his sister.  He had fun shopping for Samara.

Lista 5

Lista 5

100%  the first time around.  Passing this test means that he knows how to spell 50 words in Spanish!!!!!

The final round of testing with the 50 frequency words will be using the words in complete sentences.  He won’t start the next phase till after the Christmas break. 

He earned a trip to Wal-Mart where he picked a BeyBlade toy for his accomplishment of passing FIVE, that’s 5 spelling tests!  He is the first male student in his class to do so!

Lista 4

Lista 4

He passed this spelling test with a perfect score!

Lista 3

Lista 3

Third time must have been the charm (and lots of prayer) because he passed the test with a 100%.

Week 17, Dec. 5-9

What a busy time of year.  Each day gets crazier and crazier, but we carry on and complete each day with a smile.  The students continue to ask when their "real" teacher is returning from her maternity leave.  Even some of the other moms were asking when Sra. Oliver will return.  I don't know....hopefully she will be back some time in January.  Her baby is about one month old.  As a parent, I want her back in the classroom, but as a mom I realize how important this bonding time is with her new baby daughter. 

Spanish Website

The kindergarten teachers recommended the following website for the kids:

http://www.joseluisorosco.com/CarambaKids

Hello Amigos! I am José-Luis Orozco, bilingual educator, children's author and recording artist. Welcome to my page, where you will find fun and exciting music that will make your kids sing, dance, clap, and laugh all while learning basic language and literacy skills that engage them in an interactive musical experience. I pride myself in providing rich Latin American culture in my music and it is my desire to pass on this heritage to the children of today so that they may take pleasure in passing it on to the children of tomorrow. Read Full Biography >>

Hello Amigos! I am José-Luis Orozco, bilingual educator, children's author and recording artist. Welcome to my page, where you will find fun and exciting music that will make your kids sing, dance, clap, and laugh all while learning basic language and literacy skills that engage them in an interactive musical experience. I pride myself in providing rich Latin American culture in my music and it is my desire to pass on this heritage to the children of today so that they may take pleasure in passing it on to the children of tomorrow. Read Full Biography >>

Hello Amigos! I am José-Luis Orozco, bilingual educator, children's author and recording artist. Welcome to my page, where you will find fun and exciting music that will make your kids sing, dance, clap, and laugh all while learning basic language and literacy skills that engage them in an interactive musical experience. I pride myself in providing rich Latin American culture in my music and it is my desire to pass on this heritage to the children of today so that they may take pleasure in passing it on to the children of tomorrow. Read Full Biography >>

Caramba Kids is developing a new and innovative education program based on the music of renowned bilingual educator Jose-Luis Orozco. Our team consists of award-winning experts in animation, music, technology and early childhood development who are committed to the development of exciting educational content for children 8 and under.

Sea World

Thanks to Grandma, we went to Sea World during his Thanksgiving break. 
It was an incredible day filled with snowball fights, sledding, dolphins, whales, penguins, bat rays, begula whales, polar bears, walruses, dogs, cats, pigs, birds and other animals. 
We were quite impressed with Shamu's Christmas show, which included live musicians and singers.  The kids loved the large mammals and can't wait to go again, as we didnt' have enough time to see the sharks or play in the tide pools.

Beluga Whales...

Dial IN- Drop IN and Learn-Parent University

This week Thursday Khin had an opportunity to visit Jedadiah's classroom and participate in his perro grupo, his intervention group with Sra. Mendoza. 
Khin really enjoyed the 30-minutes in the classroom, as this was his first time he was allowed into the room during school time. 
Sra. Mendoza said that Khin sat on the floor with the kids and was energetic and participative.  He blended in so well with the students that Sra. Mendoza "lost" him and thought he had returned to the Multi-Purpose Room.
At the end of the observation, Khin wrote a note of affirmation to Jedadiah and Sra. Mendoza. 

Hip-Hop Dancing at Home

Thanks to the show on Disney, Shake It Up! the kids are now dancing around the house and having fun performing shows for us.