Newsletter for Week 8 (Recap and NEW INFO)!

What we did during our week:

Language Arts and Writing: We worked on recognizing and writing the letter G and the letter T. These are the letters we have learned thus far: Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg  and Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy and Zz.  Make sure to focus on these letters at home to observe if your child has mastered each letter that was taught in class.  Also, please make sure to go over LIST ONE for the sight word list; make it  a part of their homework routine:)  Our first sight word test will be THIS Friday November, 3rd!   “Sight words are an important building block for early readers because they make up much of what a child will encounter when reading any book, worksheet or environmental print.  Children are encouraged and expected to recognize these words by sight; that is, to memorize them without sounding out or using other strategies.” -heidisongs.com  Remember parents, this test isn’t about spelling the sight word, it’s about recognizing the sight word and being able to read it with fluency and accuracy!  In December, we will start spelling tests, but for now just practice recognizing the words:)

 Math: We practiced recognizing, writing and representing numbers 15 and 16 and we learned what 3D shapes are (cube, sphere, cylinder, rectangular prism and cone)!  We will have a geometry test this Monday to see if the students know their 3D shapes!  Looking ahead, I will be teaching the students how to count by 5’s and 10’s to 100 in addition to counting by 1’s:)  

Science: We have ended our unit on Push and Pull with a science assessment and will move into Weather and Seasons starting in November.  We are cruising right along, that’s for sure!     

Social Studies: As always, we are still working on how to get along with others by using the words like, “please,” “thank you.”  November, we will begin to learn about needs and wants!

Other:

• We completed our first CER (claim, evidence and reasoning) this week on spheres!  Make sure to ask your child if they can tell you what they know about spheres:)
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• We also completed a RAN (Reading and Analyzing Nonfiction) strategy on BATS!  We have learned a ton of fun facts about bats and have completed some fun activities to go along with our learning!  Make sure to ask your child about what they learned this week!  
• We have also learned how to use finger spaces in our sentences and punctuation at the end of our sentences!  We sure have been having fun learning in Kindergarten!
• During Read to Self, we used flashlights to find sight words in our text!  Boy, was it fun!  Here are some pictures of the students reading:)

Halloween:  

• Halloween is right around the corner and what an exciting time it is for our Kindergartners!  The costume parade will start promptly at 2:30p.m.  The students will walk around the school in their costumes; this is a great time to bring a camera and snap some pictures of the cute costumes!  Mr. Short has outlined the parade details on his blog post.  Here is where you can get the information.
• As for costumes, I ask that you do not put your child in a costume they don’t know how to get out of.   Please practice, practice, practice  with your child how to properly take off and put on their costume to ensure no accidents will happen in the classroom.  Of course, we will do the best we can to help the students, but sometimes we can’t get to the student fast enough, etc.  We also ask that you do not dress your child in scary costumes, bring any weapons and or masks. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter!
• Also, if you would like to bring in one bag of wrapped candy or non edible treats for your child to pass out to his/her friends, that is welcomed as well!  We have 23 friends in the classroom!  I just ask all candy is gelatin free (NO pork products)!  With our celebration fund money we were able to purchase fun games for the kids to play during our Halloween centers and also yummy treats for the kids to enjoy (yum, yum)!  Again, thank you for your donation to our fund!  I will make sure to post pictures on our blog of the day!

Housekeeping items  (PLEASE READ…NEW and IMPORTANT Information):

• For your convenience I  will have the Parent Teacher Conference reminder times at arrival and dismissal starting on Wednesday.  I will also send home two additional reminders in your child’s folder about your conference day/time.  You will only attend ONE conference, not all 3 that is offered. Thank you!
• Next Friday is a HALF day for all students.  Make sure to arrange for someone to pick up your child at 11:40 a.m. promptly!  Thank you!
• Heads up: your child is coming home with a Haigh order form for Haigh gear (woo hoo) and also the November calendar for upcoming events:)  
• Book bags will be coming home in the next couple of weeks.  Please be on the lookout for more information on how to use the book bags at home and how to send them back to school every day!  Thank you.
• We will be starting star student in the classroom!  More information to follow!
• Your child is coming home with a new library book!  Make sure to use this book for next week’s reading log and keep in a safe place:)  Enjoy!
• Field trip information will be sent home on Monday about our field trip on December 5th.  Money and form for this field trip will be DUE Monday, November 6th!
• Thank you to the families who donated to our classroom fund celebration!  This money will be used to purchase items needed for our holiday celebrations and our end of the year party!  If you weren’t able to send in the donation and would still like to, there is still time!  Thank you:)

Upcoming Events (Mark dates for a friendly REMINDER):

October 31st- Halloween Parade at 2:30 p.m.

November 1st– Parent Teacher Conference Reminders will be sent home!  Be on the look out for your day and time!

November 3rd– Sight word test~ List ONE!

November 3rd– Star Student will start!  More information to follow.

November 3rd– HALF DAY for students!  Dismissal at 11:40 a.m.

November 6th- Field trip money and permission slip DUE! $14.00

November 7th– NO SCHOOL!

November 9th– Parent Teacher Conference Day (4-7pm).  

November 14th– Book Fair Preview!

November 15th– LATE start @ 9:35 a.m.

November 15th– Parent Teacher Conference Day (4-7pm)

November 16th– Parent Teacher Conference Day (4-7pm)

November 17th– NO SCHOOL for Kindergarten ONLY!

Have a marvelous weekend!