Upcoming Dates and Announcements:
- Classes resume January 5th.
Hello SK Families!
On Monday, our classroom was filled with laughter, wonder, and just a bit of holiday magic. We gathered together to read How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?, a story that delighted the children with its silly and imaginative possibilities. As each page turned, giggles bubbled up while the children listened to the many humorous ways Santa might make his way into homes around the world.
After reading, the children eagerly shared their own theories. Could he slide? Squeeze? Bounce? Use a little magic?
Then came a truly magical surprise. Miss Arden brought in a very special magic key from Santa himself. One by one, each child took a turn gently rubbing the key, infusing it with their own magic to help Santa enter through the door when a chimney isn’t available and to help him save some of his magical powers for the long night ahead. The room grew quiet as their tiny hands carefully held the key, fully invested in their important task.
Inspired by the story and the magic, the children drew and wrote about how they believe Santa goes down the chimney. Here were their thoughts:
Parker – “He flies down with his magic head first after he swims through the ocean”
Olivia – “He jumps feet first into the chimney”
Stylee – “He jumps through the door”
Evelyn – “He uses his magic to slide through the key hole.”
Sophia – “He uses the door, I know, because he sent me a video.”
Daxton – “He squeezes his belt to make him skinny and slides through.”
Noah – “He just comes down the chimney.”
Emma – “I think he just walks through the front door.”
Bria – “I think he has a magic key for every door.”
Bodhi – “He shrinks into dust and goes down head first through the toilet!”
Wendell – “The reindeer push him down the chimney.”
Lola – “He sprinkles magic on the roof.”
Scarlett – “He comes down with magic, feet first!”
Hailey – “Santa goes through doors!”
Moxley – “He flies down super fast head first!”
Lucas -“He shrinks down into the chimney.”
Kipton -“He turns himself into a fish and swims through the bathtub.”
Henry- “He turns flat like a pancake to go down the chimney.”
Leonardo – “He holds onto his sled, and that’s how he slides down the chimney.”
Bradford – “I know, he slides down the chimney…. butt first!”
On Tuesday, we gathered together to read Snow Globe Wishes, a story that follows a young child’s hopes, memories, and quiet dreams as winter unfolds. The story invites us to slow down and notice the small, meaningful moments that make the season feel special: connection, love, and togetherness.
Inspired by the book, the children created their own wintry snow globe scenes, carefully designing snowy worlds filled with imagination and wonder. Each child added a self-portrait to their scene, transforming their snow globe into a heartfelt gift for their parents, a simple reminder that even in the busiest seasons, love, presence, and the magic of being together matter most.
On Wednesday, we read the story When Santa Wrote Back, which sparked excitement and curiosity about what happens once a letter is sent to the North Pole. Inspired by the story, the children learned how to write a letter and carefully address an envelope, a crucial step in developing their writing skills.
Each child thoughtfully curated the perfect letter, including three wishes for Christmas. We couldn’t help but smile at their hilarious honesty, as many children carefully checked both “naughty” and “nice,” explaining with great sincerity, “Sometimes I’m a little bit of both!”
To ensure their letters traveled swiftly to the North Pole, we sprinkled a bit of glitter magic on each one before heading out to the mailbox. One by one, the children carefully placed their letters inside, full of hope and excitement.
The magic didn’t stop there. The children were absolutely shocked when our cameras appeared to catch Santa himself collecting the letters from the mailbox! This unexpected moment left us all wondering together… will he write back?
This week in Phonics, learning came alive through games filled with laughter and collaboration. The children practiced reading CVC words by finding friends with matching rhyming words, listening carefully to sounds and patterns as they worked together. We also played a favorite game called The Grinch, where the children selected popsicle sticks with CVC words, identified letters and sounds, and blended words together while trying very hard not to pick the green stick! If they did, all the popsicle sticks went back, and the room filled with giggles as the children embraced the fun and kept trying.
We wrapped up phonics with a Christmas-themed matching game, reviewing the identification of uppercase and lowercase letters. The children paid close attention as friends turned cards over, celebrating matches and patiently noticing when cards didn’t quite belong together.
In Math, the children helped Santa find different routes back to the North Pole villages. Using bingo daubers, they carefully followed each route, counted the dots along the way, and compared quantities to determine greater than and less than. Through this playful exploration, the children strengthened their number sense, counting skills, and problem-solving abilities all while keeping Santa on track for his journey home.
On Thursday, our classroom was alive with laughter, collaboration, and play. The children moved seamlessly between riddle games, constructed puzzles, a playful spin on tic-tac-toe, and the classic favorite Candy Land. The fun truly never stopped!
We also gathered together to read The Gift of Words by Peter H. Reynolds, a story that gently reminds us of the power words hold and how meaningful it can be to choose them with care. After reading each child selected a word, or a few special words, to add to their snow globe creations. These words became little messages of hope, kindness, and love, making their winter scenes even more personal and meaningful.
On Friday, we wrapped up a truly magical week with a very special delivery, a letter adorned with red glitter from none other than Santa himself! The children listened in awe as his kind words were read aloud, each one beaming as they heard the reasons he found them to be so special and why every single child landed firmly on the nice list.
The magic continued as we made reindeer food together, carefully mixing ingredients. We then cozied up with warm hot cocoa, complete with all the fixings, and enjoyed a viewing of Home Alone alongside LEGO building.
We cannot thank you enough for sharing the very best gift of all with us… your children! Have a wonderful holiday! We will see you next year!
Miss Arden & Miss Hanna
SNOWGLOBE WISHES:
LETTERS TO SANTA:
REINDEER FOOD:
GAMES, DAILY DISCOVERY & EXPLORATIONS:
