Week of March 28- April 1, 2016

Reading: “Mayday! Mayday!” is our story for the week. This informational text discusses what kinds of transportation help us in an emergency. We will further develop the comprehension skill of cause and effect. The amazing words are: rescue, yacht, mechanic, pilot, sailor, and shimmering. The popular sight words are: yellow, blue, and green. Writing practice will focus on using question marks and uppercase letters appropriately. Sentences that rhyme are also used throughout the week.

Phonics:  The letter of the week is Xx. The final /ks/ sound will be stressed, as in the word box.

Math: After testing Topic 9 (Composing and Decomposing Numbers to 10), we will begin Topic 10. These lessons will continue composing numbers from 11-19.

Reminders:

~ The PTO Chinese Auction donations are due this Friday, April 1^st. Any chocolate item or money donated in order to create our class basket would be greatly appreciated.

~ All kindergarten students (even those not purchasing a package) will have their pictures taken for graduation on Wednesday, April 6^th. Students should wear a white collared shirt. Boys will be wearing a blue gown with a red cap. Girls will be wearing a red gown with a blue cap. Please keep the caps in mind when you are planning a hairstyle for that day.

~ Please remember to practice sight words daily. The goal is to learn 17 lists containing 96 words!

Specials:

Mon. Art      Tues. Gym      Wed. Music      Thurs. Computers      Fri. Guidance

Have an excellent week!

Week of March 21-24, 2016

Reading: We are starting a new unit this week. The theme is “How do people and things get from here to there?” The first story is “Max Takes the Train.” This animal fantasy will teach realism and fantasy while discussing different types of transportation. Throughout the week we will learn about sentences that ask questions. The amazing words are: plane, jetway, subway, tunnel, ferryboat, and sidecar. The sight words to focus on are: yellow, blue, and green.

Phonics: Two letters will be learned this week. We will learn that Jj makes the /j/ sound, as in jaguar. We will also learn that Ww makes the /w/ sound, as in watermelon.

Math: Composing and decomposing numbers to 10 is still the topic. Making whole groups using different parts is the idea we will continue to develop. We are writing number sentences to show these different parts. (ex. 4+4=8, 3+5=8)  We will also learn how to use a graph to solve a problem.

Reminders:

~ Please continue to practice sight words daily. Remember, there are 17 lists with a total of 96 words!

~ The PTO Chinese Auction donations are due April 1, 2016. We are requesting chocolate themed or monetary donations.

~ There will not be school on Friday, March 25, 2016.

Specials:

Monday- Gym    Tuesday- Music    Wednesday- Computers    Thursday- Library

Week of March 14-18, 2016

Reading: “Abuela” is the story we will be reading this week. This fantasy story is about a little girl and her grandmother exploring a big city. To build comprehension we will be identifying the setting in stories. The amazing words presented in the story are: abuela, flock, airport, adventure, city, and harbor. The sight words to focus on are: here, go, and from. We will also discuss using the pronouns I and me in sentences. Rhythm and rhyme will be taught in poems.

Phonics:  Our letter of the week is  Ee. We will continue learning the initial and medial /e/ sounds in words.

Math: We will begin Topic 9 (Composing and Decomposing Numbers to 10). We will learn different ways to make numbers 4 through 10 and write number sentences to show these ways.

Reminders:

~ Please remember to continue practicing sight words daily.

~ The PTO Chinese Auction is scheduled for April 16^th and 17^th. Our class is composing a chocolate basket for the event. Please send chocolate themed or monetary donations to school if possible. We appreciate your cooperation.

~ Monday is Day 1 on the rotation schedule.

Have an enchanted week!

Week of March 7-11, 2016

Reading: After completing “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” we will read an informational text called “If You Could go to Antarctica.” The comprehension skill builder is to classify and categorize while reading. The amazing words for the week are: Antarctica, continent, icebergs, penguins, seals, and whales. The sight words to focus on are: here, go, and from. We will also continue working on writing sentences correctly. Capital letters and periods will be stressed further this week.

Phonics: The letter of the week is Ee. We will discuss both the long and short sound for this vowel. However, the focus is on the short /e/ sound, as in egg. The sound will be taught in the beginning and middle of words.

Math: Topic 8’s “Understanding Subtraction,” will finish up this week. We will be finding differences, writing subtraction sentences, and using objects to act out subtraction problems. After testing subtraction we will move on to Topic 9, “Composing and Decomposing numbers to 10.”

Reminders:

~ As always, please continue to practice sight words daily. 96 words are the goal!

~ This week is Newspaper in Education Week. You are encouraged to read the paper with your child for 10 minutes each day. The “I’m a Reader” forms should be returned  by March 15, 2016. Also, check the classified section for our ad!

~ The PTO is holding a Chinese Auction on April 16^th and 17^th. The theme for our class basket is chocolate. We are asking for donations to create a prize. Any item relating to chocolate could be placed in this category. (candy, cookies, cake mix, drink mix, chocolate scented items, etc.) If you prefer, monetary donations will also be accepted to purchase these items. Thank you for your support!

~ Monday is Day 6 on the rotation schedule.

Have an excellent week!

Week of February 29-March 4, 2016

Reading: After completing “One Little Mouse,” we will begin the story, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” This classic tale will be used to discuss how adventures can cause trouble. Story comprehension will be enhanced when understanding characters is taught. The amazing words we will encounter are: bears, cottage, middle-sized, porridge, big, and small. The sight words stressed throughout the week are: one, two, three, four, and five. We are continuing to work on writing complete sentences. This week we will learn about telling sentences.

Phonics: The letter of the week is Gg. The sound is /g/, as in goose. We will discriminate, blend, and spell words that begin and end with /g/.

Math: Topic 8 is introduced this week. The theme is “Understanding Subtraction.” We will use stories to separate, take away, and compare groups. The minus sign will also be presented.

Reminders:

~ It is important to practice all sight words daily.

~ The “Family Times” letter provides wonderful suggestions for you to reinforce lessons at home.

~ Friday, March 4^th is “Read Across America Day.” Bloomsburg University students will visit our classroom to read a Dr. Seuss story and complete a follow-up activity.

~ Specials for the week will start with Day 1 on Monday.

Have a great week!

Week of February 22-26, 2016

Reading:  We will complete “My Lucky Day” this week. Cause and effect is still the focus skill.  The next story we will start is “One Little Mouse.” This is an animal fantasy that answers the question “What adventures can animals have?” Story sequence will be stressed in these lessons. The amazing words presented are: woodland, vale, comfortable, nest, hollow, and shadows. The targeted sight words are: one, two, three, four, and five. We will also learn what parts are needed in a sentence to make it complete.

Phonics:  Consonant blends will be introduced this week. The students will learn how to blend two sounds together in a word. (ex. /s/ and /l/ together make a /sl/ sound, as in slide.

Math:  Topic 7 (Understanding Addition) will be completed. We will learn how to use the plus sign, find sums, write addition sentences, and practice joining groups.

Reminders:

~ Friday will be the February Positive Behavior Reward Day. Students may bring a toy from home for recess. Please refer to the note sent home regarding this reward.

~ Please continue to practice sight words daily. We are striving to attain and possibly surpass that goal of 96 words!

Specials:

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

Week of February 16-19, 2016

Our fun-filled February continued to provide exciting learning experiences for us. We celebrated Groundhog Day, Super Bowl, the 100^th Day, Chinese New Year, Doughnut Day, and Valentine’s Day. We even took time to celebrate the snow! President’s Day is the last holiday we will discuss this month. Although some instruction revolved around these special events, we still followed our usual curriculum. This week we will settle back into our normal routine.

Reading: “My Lucky Day” is the new story. This animal fantasy tells about a fortunate adventure involving a piglet and a fox. We will be exploring cause and effect, as well as action parts in a sentence. The Amazing Words for the week are: piglet, lucky, cook, fox, filthy and scrubber. The Sight Words: are, that and so will be rehearsed.

Phonics: The letter of the week is Ll. The sound for this letter is /l/, as in lemon. We will explore this sound in the beginning and end of words.

Math: Topic 7 is introduced this week. The goal of this topic is to understand addition. We will use stories showing how to join groups and count how many items there are altogether. The plus and equal sign will be used to write addition sentences.

Reminders:

~ There is no school for students on Friday, February 12^th, and Monday, February 15^th.

~ Please review sight words daily. Also practice counting by 1’s, 2’s, and 10’s.

Specials : Tuesday- Computers, Wednesday- Guidance, Thursday- Art, Friday- Gym

Have a lovely week!