Week of December 14-18, 2015

The anticipation is building. Christmas is right around the corner, and we are getting very excited! While holiday thoughts are in our minds, we still need to focus on the learning process before our well-deserved break.

     This week’s Reading story is an animal fantasy called “Little Quack.” We will concentrate on the plot (what important things happen in the story). Verbs happening now and in the past will also be discussed. The Amazing Words presented in the story are: duckling, pond, paddle, plunges, proud, and brave. The sight word target will be on: me, with, and she.  Our Phonics skills will focus on the consonant Rr, with an /r/ sound, as in rabbit.

     We will complete Topic 3 (Six to Ten) in Math this week. After testing how to count, read, and write numbers 6 through 10, we will begin Topic 4. This theme will compare and order numbers 0 to 10.

REMINDERS:

~ Please remember to have your child dress appropriately for the half-hour outdoor recess we have daily.

~ Keep practicing all sight words daily. Also review letter sounds, and counting to 100. I am seeing great improvements!

Have a remarkable week!

Week of December 7-11, 2015

It is that busy time of year for all of us. We are continuing to work hard as our lessons become more challenging, and our spirits are in the season.

In Reading we will begin Unit 3, which discusses changes all around us. The first story in the unit is “Little Panda.” This nonfictional story explains how a panda changes in its first year of life. During the story, we will practice how to compare and contrast ideas, such as how are a panda and her mother alike and different. Grammar will focus on verbs. Our amazing words are: weigh, measure, healthy, bamboo, curious, and explore. New sight words will be introduced: me, with, and she.

Phonics: We will be learning two letters this week, Nn, and Bb. The sounds to focus on are /n/, as in nest, and /b/, as in boat.

Math: Six to Ten is still our topic. Counting, reading, and writing the numbers 6-10 will be the focus. We will also look for “growing patterns.”

Reminders:

~ The weather is becoming much colder. We go outside during recess for one-half hour each day, unless there is rain, snow, or a severely low temperature. Please dress your child accordingly. (ex. Winter coat, hat, mittens, etc.)

~ Continue to practice the alphabet letters and all sight words daily.

~ Also keep counting to 100 by 1’s and by 10’s.

Thank you and have a blissful, new week!

~Mrs. Green

Week of November 23-27, 2015

Due to the reduced instructional time last week and this week, we will not be starting a new Reading story. We will take the time to complete the concepts presented in “A Bed for the Winter.” The Thanksgiving theme will also be incorporated into our lessons. The students will learn about the first Thanksgiving and discuss the feeling of appreciation. We will review character, setting, sequence, main idea, and comparing/contrasting in holiday themed books.

Phonics skills will still focus on the vowel Ii, while continuing to review blending, segmenting, syllables, and rhyming.

Math’s Topic 2 (Comparing and Ordering 0-5) will be tested this week before Topic 3 (Six to 10) is introduced.

Reminders:

~ It is important to practice sight words daily!

~ It is also beneficial to review the letters of the alphabet. Try to         increase the speed of recognition.

~ An early dismissal is scheduled on Wednesday, November 25^th. There will be no school on Thursday, Friday, and Monday, November 26-30^th. School will resume on Tuesday, December 1^st.

Specials for the week:

Monday- Music

Tuesday- Computers

Wednesday- Library

~ There is always something to be thankful for!

Enjoy your holiday break!

Week of November 16-20, 2015

After finishing the Reading skills in “Bear Snores On,” we will begin an informational text also discussing hibernation. The story is called, “A Bed for the Winter.” In this selection we will find out what kind of home an animal needs. Sequence is the comprehension strategy we will build upon. Captions will be presented and adjectives for opposites will be discussed. The Amazing Words for the week are: nest, meadow, stump, tree trunk, hive, and den. Two new sight words will be taught this week: he and for.

Phonics will present the letter Ii. The focus will be on the short /i/ sound, as in igloo. This includes identifying words with the beginning /i/ sound as well as words with /i/ in the medial position. We will segment, blend, and write words with the /i/ sound.

Topic 2 (Comparing and Ordering 0-5) will be completed this week in Math. We will start with comparing as many, more, and fewer. Then we will order numbers 0 to 5, as well as learn ordinal numbers through fifth. We will wrap up the week with using objects for problem solving and review the ideas from the unit.

Reminders:

~Please continue to practice sight words.

Specials for the week:

Monday- Music

Tuesday- Computers

Wednesday- Guidance

Thursday- Art

Friday- Gym

Have an interesting week!

Week of November 9-13, 2015

Wow! The first marking period just flew by us. The students are settled into the learning experience and progressing each day. I really enjoy seeing the friendships that are forming and the growth in their independence.

This week’s Reading selection is called “Bear Snores On.” This animal fantasy will help us distinguish things that are real and things that are “make-believe.” (A.K.A. Realism and fantasy). Simple rhyme and repeated sentences will provide the opportunity for students to join in the reading process. We will look for adjectives describing the size, number, color, and shape of nouns. The amazing words presented are: sleep, winter, cave, woods, storm, and blustery. The sight words like, my, and we will be practiced again this week.

The Phonics letter of the week is Cc. The focus will be on the /k/ sound, as in cat. We will work on the initial and final /k/ sound. (example: can, rock).

Topic 2 (Comparing and Ordering 0-5) will be continued in Math this week. We will recognize a group that has 1 and 2 fewer items than another group. The concept of the number 0 will be explored, read, and written.

Science will extend from the reading passage. We will discuss the concept of hibernation. This includes specific animals that hibernate, how they prepare, and what happens to their bodies at this time.

Reminders:

~ As always, please continue to practice the letters of the alphabet and all given sight words daily.

~ There will be no school for students on Monday, November 9^th due to parent/teacher conferences. I am looking forward to seeing everyone who signed up for a time.

~ Friday is the Field Trip to see “The Peanuts Movie.” (The excitement is building!)

Specials:  Tuesday- Computers     Wednesday- Library      Thursday- Art

Have a captivating week!

Week of November 2-6, 2015

We are already approaching the end of the first marking period. The children have been working hard and learning so much. The Fall Festival was a great way to enjoy some fun time together.

This week’s Reading story is an informational text titled, “Animal Babies.” We will discuss the Main Idea in stories and learn what special animals live in grasslands. During our discussions, we will discover adjectives for colors and shapes. The Amazing Words presented in the story are: calf, cub, joey, grassland, pup, and foal.

New sight words to focus on include: we, my, and like.

Phonics will concentrate on the letter Pp. We will discriminate and words that have the /p/ sound at the beginning, as well as the end of the words. As always, we will blend letter sounds to read words.

Math: After assessing the ideas in Topic 1 (One to Five), we will begin learning about comparing and ordering numbers 0-5 in Topic 2. We will start by comparing groups to see if they have more, fewer, or the same amount of objects as other groups.

Science: Our week of pumpkin observations has come to an end. The children enjoyed the hands-on experience. This week we will continue to work with weather concepts. We will also extend the reading topic of animal babies.

Reminders:

~ Please continue to practice the letters of the alphabet and sight words daily.

~ Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 9^th.

~ “The Peanuts Movie” Field Trip will be on November 13^th.

Specials for the week:

Monday- Computers

Tuesday- Guidance

Wednesday- Art

Thursday- Gym

Friday- Music

Have a pleasant week!

Week of October 26-30, 2015

Reading:  The story for the week is called, “Nature’s Spy.” This nonfiction story explains that when we look closely at nature, we see new and different things that help us appreciate the outside world. Setting will be the focus of our comprehension. We will also talk about Proper Nouns this week. Amazing Words presented this week include: discover, nature, spy, acorn, pod, and pattern. We will continue working with sight words: have and is.

Phonics for the week will focus on the letter Ss. The /s/ sound will be taught in the beginning, as well as the end of words.

Math: This week is a continuation of Topic 1. We will be counting, reading, and writing numbers 4 and 5 in different arrangements.  Then we will review the numbers 1 through 5.

Science: We will be exploring the growth of pumpkins this week. We will use stories, diagrams, and an actual pumpkin to observe the parts. Gourds will be used to compare weights, and seeds will be used for counting.

Reminders:

~ Please practice letters Aa- Zz and sight words daily. Repetition enhances the learning process!

~Party money is greatly appreciated! Please send in your $5.00 contribution if you have not already done so.

~ The Kindergarten Field Trip papers should be completed and returned as soon as possible.

~ Friday, October 30, 2015 will be the Fall Festival. Students will have the opportunity to participate in fun activities prior to the 1:30 parade at the high school stadium. Costumes may be brought to school. Children will be given time to dress before the event. Please label costume items, along with the bag used to hold the items. Hopefully this will help avoid losing any personal belongings.

Specials: Monday- Library,   Tuesday- Art,   Wednesday- Gym,   Thursday- Music

Have a “spectacular” week!

Week of October 19-23, 2015

Reading: We have already made it through the first unit in our series. This week we will begin the Unit 2 concept titled “Look at Us!” Each week we will discuss how plants and animals are unique. The unit starts with the story “Flowers.” This is a nonfiction selection explaining variations of flowers and their parts. Compare and Contrast will be the skill taught. Learning this skill will help students describe connections between two subjects in a text. While reading this story, we will be introduced to writing labels for pictures. Nouns for more than one item will also be presented. The Amazing words unveiled will be: seeds, buds, bloom, fruits, stem, and petals. Sight words to concentrate on are: have and is.

Phonics: Letter Aa. Words with the initial and medial /a/ sounds will be prevalent. (Including long, and short vowel sound).

Math: We are starting a new topic in math as well. Topic 1 will concentrate on Number names and Counting. We will read, write, and count numbers 1 through 5 in different arrangements.

Science: Lessons will discuss how to share learned information and how to stay safe while conducting science experiments. We will use tools (a balance, ruler, measuring cup, thermometer) to practice the process of observation.

Reminders:

-         The fall season is bringing cooler weather. We go outside for recess every day. Please have your child wear a light jacket.

-         Sight words should be practiced daily.

Specials for the week:

Monday- Guidance

Tuesday- Art

Wednesday- Gym

Thursday- Music

Friday- Computers

Have an absolutely awesome week!

Week of October 13-16, 2015

Reading: Our story for the week is called, “Dig, Dig, Digging.” It is a concept book that will discuss vehicles as machines. During this story, we will work on the classify and categorize skill as we answer the question “How do machines help people work?” The idea of places and things as nouns will be introduced. The “Amazing Words” this week are: scooping, swooshing, squelching, gobbling, spinning, and rumbling. Sight words that will be reinforced are: a and to.

Phonics: Tt is the letter of the week. We will focus on the initial and final /t/ sound.

Math: We are still learning the Analyzing, Comparing, and Composing Shapes concepts in Topic 16. This is a continuation of making shapes from other shapes, comparing solid figures, and building with those figures.

Science: Last week we conducted experiments with magnets and discussed fire safety. We also used hand lenses for observations. This week we will continue to learn how we can observe the world using our senses while collaborating with our peers.

Reminders:

-         Students do not have school on Monday, October 12, 2015.

-         Tuesday, October 13, 2015 is “Picture Day.”

-         Please remember to review sight words daily.

Specials:

Tuesday: Art

Wednesday: Gym

Thursday: Music

Friday: Computers

Have a terrific week!

Week of October 5-9, 2015

Reading: This week’s story is called “Smash! Crash! It will encourage students to discuss activities they do with their friends. Character will be the focus of our comprehension skill. This will help introduce the concept of nouns. The “Amazing Words” for the week are: signals, dud, proper, pirates, perfect, and fabulous. The sight words that will be found in the story include: a and to.

Phonics: We will begin to focus on individual letter sounds. This week starts with /m/, which is the sound made by the letter Mm. We will practice initial sounds, ending sounds, blending, and discriminating words that contain that same sound.

Math: Topic 16 will be continued. These concepts focus on Analyzing, Comparing, and Composing Shapes. Lessons include objects that are the same size and same shape, making shapes from other shapes, comparing solid figures, and building with solid figures.

Science: We will continue to answer the question “What is science?” This will include lessons that discuss ways to observe the world around us.

Reminders:

-Please complete homework and review sight words daily.

*Friday, October 9, 2015 will be an Act 80 half day. Monday, October 12, 2015 will be a teacher in-service day.

- Specials for the week:

   Monday- Art

   Tuesday- Gym

   Wednesday- Music

   Thursday- Computers

   Friday- Library

Have a “fabulous” week!

Week of September 28- October 2, 2015

It is hard to believe we have already completed one month of kindergarten. I am already witnessing educational growth in our classroom. It is amazing to watch each child develop learning skills daily.

Here is an overview of this week’s curriculum:

Reading: Our new story, “Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip,” will help us answer the essential question, “How do people in a community cooperate?” Our comprehension skill will help us find how things are alike in astory when we classify and categorize information. This week’s Amazing Words are: bakery, park, library, fire station, post office, and chaperone.

Phonics: We will continue to focus on initial sounds this week. We will also keep practicing breaking words apart into syllables, as well as blending syllables to make words. The letters of the week are: Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, and Zz.

Math: We will be moving on to Topic 16, which focuses on Analyzing, Comparing, and Composing Shapes. The essential question to answer is “ How can shapes be named, described, compared, and composed?” These lessons will include objects that are the same size and same shape, as well as making shapes by using other shapes.

Science: We will discuss how we observe things to learn about the world around us. This will include an introduction to science tools, such as a hand lens and balance.

Reminders:

-         Please remember to help your child complete daily homework and place it in the return side of the folder the following day.

-         Review sight words every day.

-         This week is Homecoming Spirit Week!

Have a good week!

Week of September 21-25, 2015

We are beginning to settle in to our kindergarten curriculum. The students are doing a great job adjusting to the flow of our day.

This week’s Reading story is called “Plaidypus Lost.” We will be using early literacy skills to answer the question, “How do families cooperate?” The comprehension kill that will be introduced is sequence (the order in which things happen). Our “Amazing Words” for the week are: platypus, around, lost, found, market, and groceries. The new sight words taught will be: the and little. Our letters for the week are: Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, and Ss. Initial Sounds and sound discrimination will be the phonemic awareness topics.

We will continue with position and location of shapes in Math. This will include the concepts of: above below, and on; in front of and behind; left and right; along with acting out actions in order to solve problems.

We will still be learning about seasons in Science. The beginning of Fall will be the main topic.

Please remember to check folders daily. Continue to review school work, practice the 4-digit number, and guide your child to complete given homework.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

Week of September 14-18, 2015

The second week of school has made us more familiar with schedules, rules, and procedures. We are beginning to adjust more every day.

The title of this week's Reading  story is "We Are So Proud." During this story we will discuss how working together with classmates helps us learn to share and solve problems. The comprehension skill being taught is setting (the time and place of a story). The phonics will focus on syllables (word parts). The "Amazing Words" for the week are: proud, cooperation, float, preparation, creation, and guide. We will continue working with the sight words: I and am, along with the letters Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, and Nn.

In Math we will review identifying and describing shapes. We will also use objects to solve problems about shapes. Then we will move on to position and location of shapes. This will include the concepts of inside/outside, as well as above, below, and on.

Folder Reminder: Please remember to check your child's folder daily and review the schoolwork that has been taught. Also, check for homework that needs to be completed and returned the following day.

Please continue to have your child wear his/her bus tag to school and practice the 4-digit number daily. Thanks for your help!

Have a great week!

Week of September 8-11, 2015

It has been a fantastic first week in Kindergarten! We have an exciting year ahead!

We began Reading with the story, "The Little School Bus," and will continue working with this selection for the week. The comprehension skill we are focusing on is character (people or animals in a story). Rhyming words will also be discussed. 6 "amazing words" accompany this story: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. We will also continue practicing sight words: I and am, along with the letters Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, and Ee.

In Math we are identifying and describing shapes. We will focus on rectangles, squares, circles, triangles, and hexagons. This will lead us to solid figures and flat surfaces.

Folder Reminder: Please remember to check your child's folder every day. Remove the "left at home" items and review the concepts that were taught. Sight words should be practiced daily. Also, check for "right back to school" items. This is where you will find homework assignments along with important papers. Please return them promptly.

All completed school forms must be sent back by Friday, September 11, 2015.

Continue to have your child wear his/her bus tag to school. The first few weeks can be confusing. This helps to keep everyone moving in the right direction.

It is important for your child to learn his/her 4-digit number. Keep practicing this daily.

Thank you for your cooperation!