Just a few quick notes...
Home-Reading Practice folders - I hope these are going well for everyone! I really think rereading the books each night we work on in class in beneficial, and most students are returning with a 100% fluency rate on each book. This will help us move up the levels faster! It is very important that you help your child return these books everyday!
Volunteer Needed - This week we are starting Unit 4 in math. I am looking for a couple of parent volunteers to tear out pages in our Activity and Homework books. This can be done at school or at home. Let me know if you are interested and I will make arrangements to get the books to you.
Magazine Packets - Your child will receive a magazine packet today to help out our school receive free magazines for classroom use. Here is a list of important things to know...
1. We DO use the free magazines in class! The are an extremely beneficial teaching material that are not covered by the district.
2. Your child needs to either fill out 7 postcards with addresses of family and friends and return to school this week...or you can order one magazine.
3. When they return the addresses or magazine subscription or renewal, they will receive a little froggy key chain.
4. The addresses provided are not sold, warehoused or recorded. The actual postcard your child fills out will be stuffed in an envelope and mailed out. We do not keep track of the addresses in any way.
5. Participating in this is of great benefit to our entire school.
6. If you have any questions please call the office.
Lied Center Field Trip - Just wanted to let you know that on January 31, kindergarten will be taking a field trip to the Lied Center to see a play. This will not require anything differnt from you, I just wanted you to know where we would be. Unfortunatly due to limited seating the the auditorium we are unable to take parent volunteers.
Thanks in advance!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Welcome Back!
Hi!
I hope everyone had a great break and feel as refreshed and rested as I do! The kids all did a great job on their first day back. We started off our day with an all school assembly reminding students about the importance of being a bully free school and standing up for our classmates when they see they are being treated unfairly. Kindergartners love to attend assemblies!
Today in their folder you will notice a paper with an outline of a snowman. This goes along with the book we read in class today called "Snowball" by Lois Ehlert. The student are to decorate their snowpal with objects found around the home and return to school by January 11. Work on this together and have fun! (Normally we have snow this time of year and the activity is very appropriate, but because it is so fun, we are doing it anyway!)
Also, when we get back into the swing of things and resume our reading groups, your child will be bringing the book they worked on in their guided reading groups home to read with you. This book should be read and returned the following day, so we can reread it in group. I am putting a lot of faith in kindergarten that they can do this, but they will need your help and reminders to get these books in their backpacks. Thanks in advance for your help! The books will come home in their reading home-practice folders that you saw earlier in the year. Please disregard the note on the front that says to return on Mondays. THEY MUST COME BACK EACH DAY!
In math we are working on partners to make numbers, all the way up to 20. Today in class the students prepared partner cards for number 11-20. These cards will eventually come home, but if you see them today, please send them back. Thanks!
I hope everyone had a great break and feel as refreshed and rested as I do! The kids all did a great job on their first day back. We started off our day with an all school assembly reminding students about the importance of being a bully free school and standing up for our classmates when they see they are being treated unfairly. Kindergartners love to attend assemblies!
Today in their folder you will notice a paper with an outline of a snowman. This goes along with the book we read in class today called "Snowball" by Lois Ehlert. The student are to decorate their snowpal with objects found around the home and return to school by January 11. Work on this together and have fun! (Normally we have snow this time of year and the activity is very appropriate, but because it is so fun, we are doing it anyway!)
Also, when we get back into the swing of things and resume our reading groups, your child will be bringing the book they worked on in their guided reading groups home to read with you. This book should be read and returned the following day, so we can reread it in group. I am putting a lot of faith in kindergarten that they can do this, but they will need your help and reminders to get these books in their backpacks. Thanks in advance for your help! The books will come home in their reading home-practice folders that you saw earlier in the year. Please disregard the note on the front that says to return on Mondays. THEY MUST COME BACK EACH DAY!
In math we are working on partners to make numbers, all the way up to 20. Today in class the students prepared partner cards for number 11-20. These cards will eventually come home, but if you see them today, please send them back. Thanks!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Week of December 5-9
Dear Families:
We are having a fun week in kindergarten and here is what you can look forward to...
Math: Kindergartners continue to learn about addition. We are using manipulatives to make numbers and break them apart to see the number partners that make up numbers through 10. This is also used to teach the associative property of addition. We are also moving into the teens and how to make these numbers with our hands and money.
Reading: This week students will continue working on reading books in their small groups, as well as working on word work and sight words. Students will also begin working on comprehension and vocabulary skills with narrative read-alouds.
This week is also Teddy Bear Week! On Wednesday please have your child bring a teddy bear to school along with a teddy bear book. We have many fun activities planned for this day. If you child does not have a teddy bear they can bring a different stuffed animal.
Continue sending those pictures for our alphabet book. This is really an important exercise that helps reinforce the sounds our characters teach.
We are having a fun week in kindergarten and here is what you can look forward to...
Math: Kindergartners continue to learn about addition. We are using manipulatives to make numbers and break them apart to see the number partners that make up numbers through 10. This is also used to teach the associative property of addition. We are also moving into the teens and how to make these numbers with our hands and money.
Reading: This week students will continue working on reading books in their small groups, as well as working on word work and sight words. Students will also begin working on comprehension and vocabulary skills with narrative read-alouds.
This week is also Teddy Bear Week! On Wednesday please have your child bring a teddy bear to school along with a teddy bear book. We have many fun activities planned for this day. If you child does not have a teddy bear they can bring a different stuffed animal.
Continue sending those pictures for our alphabet book. This is really an important exercise that helps reinforce the sounds our characters teach.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Week of October 17-21
What a busy week we have had! Your students are learning so much, I hope they are coming home to share this with you. If not, here is a summary to fill in the gaps!
Animated Alphabet - Students learned two new characters this week: Farley Fox and Baby Barnaby. I still have only about 25% of students returning pictures the following day for our alphabet book. Let me know if you need help obtaining magazines and I will get some for you!
I know is seems hard to believe, but your children have already learned 16 characters! This means that there are many words that they should be able to sound out and read. Look for those words in your shared reading and have them read to you. Also, we have learned many sight words. Memorizing the sight words is an important piece to reading. A parent volunteer and myself have been working on sight word books for your child to have at home and practice with. These will be sent home next week. It would be best practice to run through these every night and until you feel they have them under control. Once they have them down, bring your cards back to school and we will check them at school. Once they know a word they will get their card punched. I am hoping this a fun motivational way to keep kids accountable for learning their sight words. Look for those next week and let me know if you have any questions.
Math - In math this week we have worked with coins (pennies and nickels). We have used coins and tiles to make addition sentences. We have also done dot-to-dots, worked on creating and naming patterns, and making up story problems to go along with pictures. Making up math story problems in your everyday life is a great way for your child to work on counting, addition and subtraction. Try this while riding in the car, or when you have some down time, like waiting rooms. You will be surprised what a difference this effort can make.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are getting closer.I still have 6 families that need to sign up for a conference time. You can do so by contacting the office anytime. If you do not pick a time, one will be assigned to you. I will also be sending reminders about your conference time soon.
Next week I will also be sending home a blank copy of the report card so you will see what kinds of things we will be assessing this trimester. I have already begun to do some of these assessments, as they are very time consuming at a kindergarten level due to the fact that most have to be done one on one.
Animated Alphabet - Students learned two new characters this week: Farley Fox and Baby Barnaby. I still have only about 25% of students returning pictures the following day for our alphabet book. Let me know if you need help obtaining magazines and I will get some for you!
I know is seems hard to believe, but your children have already learned 16 characters! This means that there are many words that they should be able to sound out and read. Look for those words in your shared reading and have them read to you. Also, we have learned many sight words. Memorizing the sight words is an important piece to reading. A parent volunteer and myself have been working on sight word books for your child to have at home and practice with. These will be sent home next week. It would be best practice to run through these every night and until you feel they have them under control. Once they have them down, bring your cards back to school and we will check them at school. Once they know a word they will get their card punched. I am hoping this a fun motivational way to keep kids accountable for learning their sight words. Look for those next week and let me know if you have any questions.
Math - In math this week we have worked with coins (pennies and nickels). We have used coins and tiles to make addition sentences. We have also done dot-to-dots, worked on creating and naming patterns, and making up story problems to go along with pictures. Making up math story problems in your everyday life is a great way for your child to work on counting, addition and subtraction. Try this while riding in the car, or when you have some down time, like waiting rooms. You will be surprised what a difference this effort can make.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are getting closer.I still have 6 families that need to sign up for a conference time. You can do so by contacting the office anytime. If you do not pick a time, one will be assigned to you. I will also be sending reminders about your conference time soon.
Next week I will also be sending home a blank copy of the report card so you will see what kinds of things we will be assessing this trimester. I have already begun to do some of these assessments, as they are very time consuming at a kindergarten level due to the fact that most have to be done one on one.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Week of October 10-13
Just a few quick reminders and notes...
* Book Order this Week! The packet was sent home on Tuesday and they are due on Thursday (since we have no school Friday). Remember, there is no obligation to buy, but this really helps build our classroom library, particularly the listening library. I am able to purchase books on CD at great prices!
* Fire Safety Week: This week we have been learning about fire safety. Students learned how and when to dial 911. This would be an extremely important conversation to have at home. Make sure your students know how to use the phone (especially if all you have is a cell phone), as well as your address.
We also learned about stop, drop and roll, as well as getting low and crawling out of a burning building. Talk about escape plans at your house tonight!
* Keep those pictures coming for the alphabet book!
* Don't forget, no school Friday!
* Book Order this Week! The packet was sent home on Tuesday and they are due on Thursday (since we have no school Friday). Remember, there is no obligation to buy, but this really helps build our classroom library, particularly the listening library. I am able to purchase books on CD at great prices!
* Fire Safety Week: This week we have been learning about fire safety. Students learned how and when to dial 911. This would be an extremely important conversation to have at home. Make sure your students know how to use the phone (especially if all you have is a cell phone), as well as your address.
We also learned about stop, drop and roll, as well as getting low and crawling out of a burning building. Talk about escape plans at your house tonight!
* Keep those pictures coming for the alphabet book!
* Don't forget, no school Friday!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Playing Catch-Up
Dear Families,
I know I am a little behind with my blogging, so I am going to get you up to speed with what has been going on at school and what you can expect in the future.
Animated Alphabet - We continue to learn about two characters a week. This week we learned our first character that is not a letter: Arnie Aardvark. He teaches us the AR sound combo. We looked for him in words like arm, park, art, bar.
I also wanted to remind you about sending pictures with your students each day after we learn a character. I have not been receiving very many and our book is looking a little weak. Searching through magazines and talking about sounds in pictures is a great pre-reading skill that you can reinforce at home.
Reading groups - In reading groups we have been working on hearing the different sounds in words, what letters make those sounds, character review, vowels and consonants, and reading books we put together.
Math - This week we will be taking our math test over Unit 1 and starting Unit 2. I will save those math tests to share with you at conferences, but if there are glaring problems you will be alerted ahead of time.
This week in Kindergarten is apple week. We will be tasting apples and apple products, learning about the sequence of an apples life, graphing apples, and reading apple books.
Also, last week you received a calendar with Animated Alphabet characters and activities. These activities will help reinforce what we are learning at school. Do them in any order you wish. When students have completed all the activities, sign and return the calendar to school for a sticker on the chart. The calendar should take you about 4 weeks to complete if you do one activity a day.
I know I am a little behind with my blogging, so I am going to get you up to speed with what has been going on at school and what you can expect in the future.
Animated Alphabet - We continue to learn about two characters a week. This week we learned our first character that is not a letter: Arnie Aardvark. He teaches us the AR sound combo. We looked for him in words like arm, park, art, bar.
I also wanted to remind you about sending pictures with your students each day after we learn a character. I have not been receiving very many and our book is looking a little weak. Searching through magazines and talking about sounds in pictures is a great pre-reading skill that you can reinforce at home.
Reading groups - In reading groups we have been working on hearing the different sounds in words, what letters make those sounds, character review, vowels and consonants, and reading books we put together.
Math - This week we will be taking our math test over Unit 1 and starting Unit 2. I will save those math tests to share with you at conferences, but if there are glaring problems you will be alerted ahead of time.
This week in Kindergarten is apple week. We will be tasting apples and apple products, learning about the sequence of an apples life, graphing apples, and reading apple books.
Also, last week you received a calendar with Animated Alphabet characters and activities. These activities will help reinforce what we are learning at school. Do them in any order you wish. When students have completed all the activities, sign and return the calendar to school for a sticker on the chart. The calendar should take you about 4 weeks to complete if you do one activity a day.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Week of Sept 12-16
What a fun week we have had here at school!
We started off our week taking great school pictures. I am sure you are all anxious to see how they turned out! Kindergartners also really enjoyed Spirit Week here at school. They had a lot of fun with their hats and pajamas. Today we celebrated Constitution Day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the Star Spangled Banner at the flag pole with the entire school.
Wednesday we had a great time learning about our Five Senses. Several moms volunteered their time to come in and run stations where they students could learn with hands-on activities about each sense. We had a tasting station, which was a big hit, along with a "Guess that Smell" station, which was also a lot of fun. In the listening station students got to put their hands on objects that made different sounds and listen to recordings to try and identify different noises. The visual station was fun for students to look through different objects, have a chance to really examine their eyes up close and also look at optical illusions. The touch station had students classify objects by how they felt and guessing what they were touching in a bag. We are continuing to learn about our senses through out the next couple of weeks.
In math we have been working on writing our numbers. This is something you can reinforce at home when kids have a few spare minutes. We have also been talking about shapes and learning the difference between a circle and sphere. Help you child pick out the difference in objects at home. Kindergartners also made their first graph this week. We colored an "eye" to match their eye color talking specifically about the pupil and iris. We have a considerable amount of blue eyes in here!
We learned two new characters in the Animated Alphabet: Actress Annie and Daisy Dragon. Keep those pictures coming. I have a couple of moms working on the Alphabet book and the students are really enjoying seeing the book come together.
Library - This was the first week that students could check out books from the library. Our library days are on Tuesday, please help your child remember to bring their book back by Tuesday so they can check out a different book on each visit. Thanks!
Thanks for all your support at home!
We started off our week taking great school pictures. I am sure you are all anxious to see how they turned out! Kindergartners also really enjoyed Spirit Week here at school. They had a lot of fun with their hats and pajamas. Today we celebrated Constitution Day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the Star Spangled Banner at the flag pole with the entire school.
Wednesday we had a great time learning about our Five Senses. Several moms volunteered their time to come in and run stations where they students could learn with hands-on activities about each sense. We had a tasting station, which was a big hit, along with a "Guess that Smell" station, which was also a lot of fun. In the listening station students got to put their hands on objects that made different sounds and listen to recordings to try and identify different noises. The visual station was fun for students to look through different objects, have a chance to really examine their eyes up close and also look at optical illusions. The touch station had students classify objects by how they felt and guessing what they were touching in a bag. We are continuing to learn about our senses through out the next couple of weeks.
In math we have been working on writing our numbers. This is something you can reinforce at home when kids have a few spare minutes. We have also been talking about shapes and learning the difference between a circle and sphere. Help you child pick out the difference in objects at home. Kindergartners also made their first graph this week. We colored an "eye" to match their eye color talking specifically about the pupil and iris. We have a considerable amount of blue eyes in here!
We learned two new characters in the Animated Alphabet: Actress Annie and Daisy Dragon. Keep those pictures coming. I have a couple of moms working on the Alphabet book and the students are really enjoying seeing the book come together.
Library - This was the first week that students could check out books from the library. Our library days are on Tuesday, please help your child remember to bring their book back by Tuesday so they can check out a different book on each visit. Thanks!
Thanks for all your support at home!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
