It was so nice speaking with all of you at conferences.  Next week we are back to full day Kindergarten:)  We will have our first World Language class on Monday afternoon!

Good Readers...

• Use their fingers to point and make sure they're reading each word.
• Find patterns and notice where they change.
• Preview books - look at the cover and pictures.
• Look for sight words in their books.

Our Shared Reading this week was the "at Family Poem."  We looked for sight words and all the words ending with the -at sound (cat, mat, bat, sat, hat).

Sight Words - our two new class words are that and with.  Individual sight words were sent home this week. 

Good Writers...

• Brainstorm a personal experience.
• Illustrate their story and add labels.
• Work hard to stretch out letter sounds.

Good Mathematicians...

• Identify and describe 2-D shapes - 3 sides/4sides straight sides, round, etc.
• Sort and classify 2-D shapes.
• Find shapes in the world around them.

Updates/Reminders

• Kindergarten Thanksgiving snack on Wednesday - we will eat with the other Kindergarten classrooms.  No nuts please!  This is a "kid" only event:)
• Early dismissal on Wednesday - 1:25pm.
• Thank you to all of the November volunteers!
• Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Good Readers...

• Notice patterns in the books that they read.
• Point under each word and notice sight words in a "snap."
• read about current events - Thanksgiving. 

Our shared reading this week was 5 Fat Turkeys.  We found sight words and rhyming words within the poem.  A copy was sent home today.

Sight Words - We added two new sight words to our word wall - see, and on.  Individual sight words were sent home this week.  Please try to review this with your child!

Good Writers...

• Look closely at the world and write about it; just like scientists!
• We examined objects under a magnifying glass, sketched them, and labeled our illustration.
• We continued to practice stretching out the sounds we hear in words.
• Publish their work!  We chose our favorite piece to display in the classroom.

Math - We continued our exploration of number combinations.  We used the math rack to make combinations of 10.  Students practiced making combinations of 8 and 10 using manipulatives.  Some students were brave and tried 11!

Social Studies - We have been learning about the first Thanksgiving and comparing it to current traditions. We have also been talking about what we should be thankful for.  We made  "thankful for" placemats with our 4th grade buddies!  They are being laminated and hopefully will be sent home soon!

The Halloween Share was a hit!  I am so glad we were able to pull it off...even with the snow.

Hopefully we will have a "normal" week beginning on Monday.  We spent this week reviewing previous lessons and routines/procedures. 

During Reading we talked about the character's actions and feelings, and noticed patterns in our books.  We also used sticky notes to mark our favorite place, where we made a connection, and/or where we noticed a pattern.

Our Shared Reading this week was Five Little Pumpkins.  A copy was sent home today.  Students found their sight words within the poem/song.

Sight Words - Our class words are - a, at, but, I, is, like, and the.  Individual sight words will be sent home next week. 

During Math we continued our Cathy Fosnot unit.  We reviewed the story The Sleepover, and everyone made their own combinations of 8.  We will continue making combinations of numbers to 10.

On Tuesday morning we had a mock election in class.  Everyone voted and received their participation sticker. 

During science we discussed Hurricane Sandy and continued our study of the Five Senses.  We learned and played several Five Senses games.

Thank you so much for all the catalogs!  Thank you to our Centers Volunteers for joining our class!

REMINDERS:

• The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County is sending a truck on Thursday, November 15 to Holmes School. They will be outside in the front parking lot from 7:45 am to 9:15 am to accept turkey donations  of any size, fresh or frozen. They are also taking Oven Stuffer Roaster chickens this year.
• Please send in a SEASONALLY appropriate change of clothes for your child.  These are for playground accidents as well as potential bathroom accidents. 
• Now that the winter weather is here your student should wear snow boots/clothes for recess time. They will not be allowed to play in the snow unless they are wearing the appropriate clothing! The back field can be muddy, so even when there isn't snow on the ground, boots are a good choice. Please SEND IN A CHANGE OF SHOES, this helps to keep the kids comfortable and the classroom clean. Sneakers must be worn on Gym Days - Wednesday and Friday.