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!