SAVE THE DATE: February 14th at 9:30 - Kindergarten Valentine's Day Share! Don't forget your camera:)

***Please send in a "winter" appropriate change of clothes for your child. I sent home all summer clothes today. Please replace them with winter clothes. The playground and black top can get wet and muddy.

It was a cold week in Kindergarten...Brr!  We had indoor recess for most of the week.  Hoping it warms up for next week.

This week in reading we learned that good readers solve tricky words! When you get to a tricky word you should...

1.  STOP
2.  Look at the picture
3.  Say the first letter sound
4. Blend the first two letter sounds
5. Re-read to make sure it sounds right

Our Shared Reading was Peas Porridge Hot.  A copy was sent home.  Please read through it with your child!

Sight Words: Individual sight words went home during the week.  Please have your child look for his/her sight words while reading.  They can find them in their books and in their daily lives.

During Writing Workshop we learned that good writers Fix and Fancy Up!
Students chose their favorite story to Fix and Fancy Up (revise).  They added to the pictures, checked their spelling, and made sure their writing was neat!  They shared their writing with their buddy and we celebrated their wonderful work!

In math we finished our Cathy Fosnot Unit - Apple Boxes.  We wrapped up the unit by playing a game called Part-Whole Bingo. 

Social Studies/Science - We continued to discuss Martin Luther King and the importance of being kind and respectful to everyone.  We read several book about friendship include - Leonardo the Terrible Monster, and Same, Same, but Different.  We also talked about the freezing, cold weather and finished our unit on Needs vs. Wants. 

Thanks to our game volunteers today!  We had so much fun!

SAVE THE DATE:  February 14th at 9:30 - Kindergarten Valentine's Day Share!  Don't forget your camera:)

***Please send in a "winter" appropriate change of clothes for your child.  I sent home all summer clothes today.  Please replace them with winter clothes.  The playground and black top can get wet and muddy.
 

This week in we learned...

Good Readers make sure their reading makes sense...

• First, when they get to a tricky word they stop and check the picture.
• Next, they stretch out the letter sounds.
• Then, they go back and re-read to make sure it sounds right.
• Finally, they double-check with their buddy.

Sight Words: Students have been practicing in class.  New words will go home next week!

Shared Reading:  Peas Porridge Hot.  We will continue to read this next week at school.

Good Writers...

• Re-read their writing to make sure it makes sense.
• Begin with a capital letter and end with a period.
• Space out their words.
• Create their own pattern books!

Math:  We continued our Apple Box unit.  Students worked with a partner to create different combinations of 10.  As a class, we discovered patterns for making 10.  At home, have your child use household items to make different combinations of 10.   For example, 4 red apples and 6 green apples make 10.  

Social Studies:  We discussed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in class and during library.  We talked about what each of us could do to be a better friend to everyone!  For example, you could give someone a compliment if you see that he/she is feeling sad, or you can include someone when they don't have anyone to play with.  We will continue to talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and his accomplishments next week.  

Reminders:

• Please send in a seasonal change of clothes for your child.  It can get wet and muddy out on the playground.
• Spanish is on Monday and Library is on Wednesday.  Please return library books by Wednesday!

During Writing Workshop we learned that good writers...

• Begin a sentence with a capital letter and end a sentence with a period.
• Leave a "finger" space between their words.
• Write across many pages.
• Draw/color pictures that match their words.

During Reading Workshop we learned that good writers...

• Use all their superpowers to grow as readers.
• Read their books more than once...sometimes even two or three times!
• Talk about reading with their buddy, and help each other solve tricky words.

Our Shared Reading was a poem titled Snowball.  We practiced reading the poem with excitement and expression!  We also looked for all of the words that we know.  

Sight Words - new class words are he, she, with, what, that.  Individual sight words were sent home yesterday.  Please practice finding your child's sight words in his/her just right books!

***I hope you and your child are enjoying the books that are being sent home!  When your child has read his/her books several times with ease, please return them to school for new books!

During Math we continued working on our new Cathy Fosnot unit - Apple Boxes.  We investigated the number of unique combinations for five apples of two kinds, green and red, and recorded the combinations for a grocer who is confused about the number of arrangements.

Social Studies - We completed a Second Steps lesson on feelings.  We practiced noticing how a person feels by looking at the facial expression and body language.  We continued to discuss how we can be kind and respectful friends!  We also talked about needs vs. wants - there are certain things we need to survive like: air, water, healthy foods, shelter, clothing.  

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a relaxing break and Happy New Year!

***Remember Optional Homework packets will begin going home on Monday. Your child’s reading log will be included in that packet (no need to use the monthly log anymore).
Winter coats, hats and gloves/mittens are a must! We will go out unless the temperature is extremely low.

During Reading Workshop we...

• Talked about how we have grown as readers!
• Decorated our NEW books bags. 
• Met with our NEW book buddies!
• Shopped for NEW Just Right books.

Our shared reading was a poem called Snowball by Shel Silverstein.  We will continue reading this poem next week.

Sight Words - Our latest class words are with, what, that, your, as.  Students practiced their sight words, and individual sight words will go home next week.

During Centers we practiced a new activity - stamping!  Everyone did a wonderful job using the the sight word stamps and beginning consonant stamps. 

During math we began a new Cathy Fosnot Unit called Apple Boxes. 

Have a wonderful weekend!