December 23, 2016- January 6, 2017

It is hard to believe 2016 is already coming to an end. The students have been working very hard and are showing so much progress. They deserve this much needed holiday break. Enjoy your time together. We will start back strong in the new year!

Reading: Our next story is called “George Washington Visits.” It is a historical fiction book that compares how  today’s life is different from life hundreds of years ago. The amazing words presented are: celebration, barn, arch, sprinted, blacksmith, and soldier. The sight words we will focus on are: look and see. Cause and effect is the skill practiced in order to build comprehension.

Phonics: Two letters are taught throughout the story. Dd and Kk are the feature letters. Since k and c make the same sound, the students will learn to use “k” to spell the /k/ sound when it is followed by e, i, or y; /k/ is spelled with “c” when it is followed by a, o, u.  (ex. key, kite, lucky. Cat, cop, cut)

Math: Topic 4 will be completed and tested. This unit compares and orders numbers from 0 through 10.

Reminders:

~ School will be closed from December 24th- January 2^nd. School resumes on Tuesday, January 3^rd.

~ Outdoor recess continues throughout the winter. Please dress your child appropriately for the cold weather.

~ Please remember to practice the sight words and fundamental skills over the break. (letters and sounds, counting to 100, writing 0-20) Also take time to have your child practice reading with words they can sound out and blend.

~ January 3^rd will be Day 7 on the rotation schedule.

Specials:

Tuesday: Music     Wednesday: Computers     Thursday: Library     Friday: Art

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!     ~Mrs. Green

Week of December 12-16, 2016

The holiday spirit is in full season. We are getting so excited, yet there is still so much learning to be done. We are trying our best to stay focused and meet our goals.

Our Reading story is called “Little Quack.” This animal fantasy will focus on plot (The important things that guide a story). We will read about a duckling that learns new things as he gets older. This gives us the opportunity to discuss verbs that are happening now and in the past. The amazing words presented in the story are: duckling, pond, paddle, plunges, proud, and brave. The targeted sight words are: me, with, and she. (As always, remember to practice sight words daily.)

Our Phonics letter of the week is Rr. The /r/ sound, as in rabbit, will be prevalent in our lessons with segmenting, blending, reading, and rhyming words.

We just began Topic 4 in Math. This unit compares and orders numbers from 0 through 10. Please continue to practice counting to 100 and writing the numerals 0-20.

REMINDERS:

~Please remember to have your child dressed to withstand the cold weather. Outside recess still prevails!

~The Holiday Concert will be held this Saturday (12/10/16) in the high school auditorium. Kindergarten will perform at 10:00am. Please have your child arrive by 9:30.

~Wednesday, December 14^th is scheduled as a 2 hour data delay.

~The PTO is sponsoring the “Brainshowmania.” Our students will attend this event in the gymnasium on Thursday, December 15^th.

~Bowl for Kids Sake donation pledge envelopes are due on Friday, December 16^th.

Specials:

Monday: Computers     Tuesday: Library     Wednesday: Art      Thursday: Gym     Friday: Music

Have a remarkable week!

~ Mrs. Green

Week of December 5-9, 2016

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. This season brings great excitement, as well as busy schedules. However, we are continuing to work hard, as our lessons become more challenging.  

Unit 3 will begin in Reading this week. This unit discusses changes that occur around us. The first story is called “Little Panda.” This nonfictional story explains how a panda changes in its first year of life. The children will see how a panda and her mother are alike, as well as how they are different. This helps us practice ways to compare and contrast subjects. Verbs will be the grammar focus. Our amazing words are: weigh, measure, healthy, bamboo, curious, and explore. New sight words presented this week include: me, with, and she.

Phonics will focus on two letters. Letter Bb will still be practiced. Letter Nn will be introduced.

Math: Six to Ten will be finished and tested this week. The students are required to count, read, and write the numbers 6-10. Topic 4 focuses on comparing and ordering numbers 0 to 10.

Reminders:

~Outdoor recess occurs each day, unless there is rain, snow, or a severely low temperature. Please have your child dress according to the weather. (ex. winter coat, hat, mittens, etc.)

~Mark your calendars…The Christmas Concert is scheduled for Saturday, December 10^th at the high school auditorium. Kindergarten will hit the stage at 10:00am. Please have your child arrive by 9:30 in order to prepare.

~Please continue to practice the alphabet letters/sounds, sight words, counting to 100, and writing the numbers 0-20.

Specials:

Monday: Computers   Tuesday: Book Exchange   Wednesday: Art   Thursday: Gym   Friday: Music

Thank you and have a bright, new week!

~ Mrs. Green

Week of November 21^st, 2016

We will not be starting a new story in Reading this week. Instead, we will use Thanksgiving and fall stories to enhance the skills we have been learning. We will be working on Characters, Setting, Main Idea, Classifying, and Sequence while learning about the first Thanksgiving. We will discuss the feeling of appreciation and talk about traditions.

Our Phonics lessons will continue to blend sounds and segment words. We will practice rhyming and review syllable identification. Letter sounds are being rehearsed daily.

Math’s Topic 3 (Six to Ten) will be continued this week. It is important to practice number writing daily!

Reminders:

-Report cards will be sent home on Monday, November 21^st. Please sign and return the envelope as soon as possible.

-Wednesday, 11/23/2016 will begin our holiday break with an early dismissal. School will resume on Tuesday, November 29^th

-Our class field trip to see “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)” in Bloomsburg is scheduled for Thursday, December 1^st.

-Please remember to continue practicing letters/sounds, sight words, counting to 100, and writing numbers 0-20.

-Coats are a must at this time of the year!

Specials:  Monday: Gym          Tuesday: Music          Wednesday: Computers

~ Everyone has a reason to be thankful!

Enjoy your holiday!

~ Mrs. Green

Week of November 14-18, 2016

This week’s Reading story will continue to discuss hibernation. “A Bed for the Winter” is an educational text that teaches what types of homes some animals need to stay warm during the coldest season of the year. To enhance comprehension skills, we will revisit how to determine the sequence of a story. Adjectives for opposites are presented this week. The amazing words are: nest, meadow, stump, tree trunk, hive, and den. Two new sight words will be taught this week: he and for.

The Phonics letter of the week is Ii. The focus will be on the short /i/ sound, as in igloo. Words with the initial and medial /i/ sound will be practiced. We are working hard on segmenting, blending, and trying to write words containing the sounds we have learned.

Topic 2 (Comparing and Ordering 0-5) will be tested this week in Math. Then we will begin learning how to count, read, and write 6 through 10.

Reminders:

* It is very important to complete homework, review class work, and practice sight words daily. This helps reinforce the concepts and it gives you an idea of how well your child understands the idea. Also continue to review letters and sounds, syllables, rhyming, identifying numbers, and counting to 100.

* Feed a Friend donations will conclude on Wednesday, November 16^th. You are encouraged to send in non-perishable food items or monetary donations to help less fortunate families enjoy a holiday dinner.

* Family Fun Night will be held on Thursday, November 17^th at Taco Bell from 5:00-8:00.

* Friday, November 17th is a dress down day. Students pay $1.00 to participate.

* Movie Night will take place in the high school on Friday, November 18^th.

** Please be sure your child wears a coat to school.**

Specials:

Monday: Gym     Tuesday: Music     Wednesday: Computers     Thursday: Book exchange     Friday: Art

Have an interesting week!

                   ~ Mrs. Green

Week of November 7-11, 2016

Reading: This week’s selection is called “Bear Snores On.” This animal fantasy teaches the difference between realism and fantasy. The story uses simple rhyme and repeated sentences to give students the opportunity to join in the reading process. We will look for adjectives that describe the size, number, color, and shape of nouns. The amazing words in the story are: sleep, winter, cave, woods, storm, and blustery. The sight words we are still focusing on are: like, my, and we.

Phonics: Cc is the letter of the week. The initial and final /k/ sound will be practiced. (Example: cat, rock)

Math: Comparing and Ordering Numbers 0-5 will be continued. We will recognize a group that has 1 or 2 fewer objects than another group. The number 0 will be explored, read, and written.

Reminders:

*Wednesday, November 9^th will be a data delay. These are non-rotation days. (This means the students will not have a special class).

*The Kindergarten Field Trip to see “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)” will be held on December 1^st.

*The NS Student Council is participating in the Feed-A-Friend program. They are asking students in the district to provide donations to help provide a holiday dinner for the less fortunate families in Schuylkill County. Collections of non-perishable food items, as well as monetary donations will be collected until Wednesday November 16^th.

*Students are no longer permitted to wear shorts to school. Shorts will return in the Spring.

*The colder weather does not stop us from outdoor recess. Please make sure your child is wearing a warm coat. Hats and mittens are also beneficial.

*Please continue to practice sight words as well as the following skills: letters & sounds, syllables, rhyming, counting to 100, and writing numbers0-20.

Specials:  Monday: Music  Tuesday: Computers  Wednesday: (no special)  Thursday: Library  Friday:  Art

Thank you for your continuous cooperation!

~ Mrs. Green

Week of October 31- November 4, 2016

Happy Halloween! The children have been very excited about the holiday. It won’t be long before we are celebrating again for Thanksgiving!

Reading: “Animal Babies” will be the story we are reading this week. This informational text will discuss the special animals that live in grasslands with their babies. Determining the main idea in a story is the reading skill we will use to develop comprehension. Adjectives for colors and shapes will be introduced. The amazing words presented in the story are: calf, cub, joey, grassland, pup, and foal. Three new sight words will be introduced: we, my, and like.

Phonics:  Pp is the letter of the week. The sound we will focus on is /p/ as in penguin. We will practice the sound in the beginning, as well as at the end of words. We are learning to blend letter sounds to read words.

Math: Topic 2 will start this week. The lessons will help us learn how to compare and order numbers 0-5.We will start by comparing groups to see if they have more, fewer, or the same amount of objects. Please continue to practice writing the numbers 0-20 at home.

Reminders:

-We do go outside during recess for 30 minutes each day unless it is raining. The days are becoming much colder. Please make sure you have your child dress appropriately for the weather.

-Please review the letters of the alphabet, the letter sounds, and sight words daily.

-Please practice counting to 100. Other skills to practice include syllables and rhyming.

Specials:

Monday: music   Tuesday: computers   Wednesday: book exchange   Thursday: Art   Friday: Gym

Have a pleasant week!

~ Mrs. Green

Week of October 24-28, 2016

Reading: “Nature’s Spy” is this week’s nonfiction story. It teaches us how we can appreciate the world around us when we look closely at the natural environment. We will discuss setting throughout the week and proper nouns will be introduced. Our amazing words are: discover, nature, spy, acorn, pod, and pattern. We will continue working with the sight words have and is.

Phonics: The letter for the week is Ss. The sound is /s/, as in sun. This sound will be taught in the beginning and the end of words.

Math: Numbers 1 through 5 will be completed in Topic 1 this week. We are counting, reading, and writing the numbers in different arrangements. Please practice writing these numbers at home as well.

Science: We will be exploring pumpkins this week. Stories, diagrams, and pumpkins will be used to explore the parts. Gourds will be used to compare weights and seeds will be used for counting.

Reminders:

~The PTO vendor show is this weekend. It will take place on Saturday from 12:00-6:00pm in the gym.

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

~Monday starts Red Ribbon Week. Please refer to the October calendar for daily themes.

~Picture re-take day is Tuesday, October 25^th.

~The Halloween Parade will held be on Friday, October 28^th at 2:00pm. Kindergarten will lead the parade through the Spartan Stadium in front of the home bleachers. Costumes should not be worn to school. Children may bring their labeled costumes to school in a labeled bag in order to prevent lost items. We will have a limited time for a large group of children to get dressed. Therefore, it is advised to keep the costumes simple.

~Please continue to practice sight words daily. Also take some time to practice the following skills: letter and sound identification, rhyming, syllables, counting to 100, and writing numbers 0-20.

Specials:

Mon. Music          Tues. Computers          Wed. Library          Thurs. Art

Have a super week!    ~Mrs. Green

Week of October 17-21, 2016

Reading: We have completed the first Unit in our Reading Series. “Look at Us” is the Title of Unit 2. Each week we will discuss how plants and animals are unique. “Flowers” is the first story. This nonfiction book explains variations of flowers and labels their parts. We will use the compare and contrast skill to make connections between two subjects in a text. Nouns for more than one are presented in the story. The amazing words unveiled are: seeds, buds, bloom, fruits, stem, and petals. Sight words to focus on are: have and is.

Phonics:  Aa is the letter to concentrate on. Words with the initial and medial /a/ sound will be taught (example: alligator, mat). The long /a/ sound will also be presented (example: ate, same). Segmenting (breaking apart words into sounds), blending (combining sounds to read words), rhyming, and syllables are still being taught. Please practice these skills at home.

Math: We are starting a new Topic in Math as well. Topic 1 will focus on Number Names and Counting. Numbers 1 through 5 will be read, written, and counted in different arrangements.

Reminders:

-The school-wide book fair will take place on Monday evening in the library from 4:00-7:00pm. Our class buying day is Wednesday, October 19^th. Please remember to label envelopes before sending money to school.

-We are collecting money for parties that will take place throughout the year. Please send in your $5.00 if you have not contributed yet.

-It is very important to practice sight words daily. This repetition will help your child learn the 96 required sight words, leading them to become a more fluent reader.

-Practice counting and number writing.

Specials:

Mon- Music   Tues- Computers   Wed- Book Exchange (no new books this week)   Thurs- Art   Fri- Gym 

Have a super week!  ~ Mrs. Green

Week of October 10-14, 2016

     Fall is in full season. Everyone really enjoyed the Fall Festival. It was a great opportunity for the students and I to share some social time together. I appreciate your contributions that helped make this day a big success.

     The students also participated in themed days throughout the week, ending with a Pep Rally on Friday. These events help build Spartan Spirit. This spirit creates a positive attitude that encourages the students to try their best.

     This week’s Reading story is called “Dig, Dig, Digging.” The concept book will explore how vehicles, as machines, help with different jobs to get work done. To build comprehension, we will classify and categorize information in a story. As we read, we will learn that places and things  are also nouns. The amazing words for the week are: scooping, swooshing, squelching, gobbling, spinning, and rumbling. We are still working on the sight words: a and to.

Our Phonics letter of the week is Tt. We will focus on the initial and final /t/ sound, as in turtle. We are also continuing practice on syllables, rhyming, letter sounds, and blending.

Math lessons will build upon analyzing, comparing, and composing shapes. When this topic concludes, we will begin lessons on number names as well as counting.

Reminders:

-As always, continue to practice letter names and their sounds along with sight words daily.

- Students do not have school on Monday, October 10^th.

-Wednesday, October 12^th is a two-hour data delay. These are non-rotation days. (The students will not have special). Students are also encouraged to wear blue to stop bullying on this day.

- On Thursday, October 13^th there will be a drug awareness presentation geared toward kindergarten students. If you wish to have your child excluded from this event, please send a note to school.

Specials:        Tuesday- Library               Thursday- Art             Friday- Gym

Have a terrific week!

~ Mrs. Green

Week of October 3-7, 2016

Reading: “Smash! Crash!” is the title of this week’s story. The characters in this fantasy are vehicles that interact with each other. This selection will encourage students to discuss activities they do with their friends. To build story comprehension, we will focus on characters. Nouns will also be introduced this week. The amazing words presented are: signals, dud, proper, pirates, perfect, and fabulous. New sight words will be taught: a and to.

 Phonics: We are beginning to focus on individual letters and sounds. The first sound we will learn is /m/, which is made by letter Mm. We will practice initial sounds, ending sounds, blending, and discriminating words that contain the same sound.

 Math:  We just began Topic 16 (Analyzing, Comparing, and Composing Shapes). Lessons will include objects that are the same size and same shape, making shapes from other shapes, comparing solid figures, and building with solid figures.

Reminders:

- Please complete homework, practice letters, and review sight words daily.

- Spirit week will accompany North Schuylkill’s homecoming. Please check your child’s folder for special events.

* Thursday, October 6^th is the Kindergarten Fall Festival. Socks and sneakers would be the best footwear for this event!

* Monday is Day 4 on the rotation schedule!

  Have a “fabulous” week!

~ Mrs. Green

                Week of September 26- October 30, 2016

Reading: Our new story, “Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip,” will help us answer the essential question, “How do people in a community cooperate?” In order to build comprehension, we will learn how to classify and categorize. This will help us understand how things are alike in a story.  This week’s Amazing Words are: bakery, park, library, fire station, post office, and chaperone. We will keep reading the sight words: I, am, at, the, little, yes, and no.

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. Rhyming is being taught daily. The letters of the week are: Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, and Zz.

Math: Topic 15 (The location and position of shapes) will conclude this week. Please review the 2D shapes: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon; along with the 3D shapes: cylinder, cone, sphere, cube. Try to use positional words at home with your child such as: above/on/below, inside/outside, in front of/behind, and most importantly left/right. 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. The “keep” items should stay at home.

    - Review sight words every day. Also practice letter names and sounds.

    - September reading logs (from the book buddy pocket of your child’s folder) are due Friday, September 30^th. 15 books are the goal!

    - October 6^th will be the Fall Festival. Please send in your $3.00 donation ASAP if you have not done so. Thank you to those who already contributed!

Specials: Monday- Computers   Tuesday- Library    Wednesday- Art   Thursday- Gym   Friday- Music

Have a good week!

~ Mrs. Green

                  Week of September 19-23, 2016                        

 Our next Reading story is called “ Plaidypus .” This fictional story will be used to discuss how families cooperate. Comprehension will be taught using the early literacy skill of sequencing. We will determine the order in which things happen in a story. Our “Amazing Words” for the week are: platypus, around, lost, found, market, and groceries. The new sight words taught will be the and little. Letter  recognition will include: Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, and Ss. Phonics will focus on initial sounds and sound discrimination.

            We will begin Topic 15 in Math. This unit teaches concepts related to the position and location of shapes. We will use words such as inside/outside, above; below, and on; in front of/behind; and left/right.

Reminders:

-Please remember to check folders daily. The “return” items should be sent back promptly. The “Keep” items should be removed from the folder immediately. (Extra papers that are left cause confusion when trying to organize ourselves). Review the schoolwork with your child to reinforce the concepts.

-Practice sight words DAILY!

-Continue to review your child’s 4 digit or 5 digit number. This is an important tracking number for school information.

-The PTO will be hosting a Fall Festival for Kindergarten on Thursday, October 6^th. An individual $3.00 donation will be appreciated in order to provide a fun-filled day for your child. Please send in your donation if you have not already done so.

            Thanks for your cooperation. Have a great week!

                                    ~ Mrs. Green