Newsletter for Week 11 (RECAP and NEW Info!)

What we did during our week:

Language Arts and Writing: We worked on recognizing and writing the letter J and the letter Q. These are the letters we have learned thus far: Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj and Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy and Zz.  Make sure to focus on these letters/sounds at home to observe if your child has mastered each letter that was taught in class.  I will administer a 2nd test in letter recognition very soon!  Also, please make sure to go over LIST THREE for the sight word list; make it a part of their homework routine:)  Our sight word test for LIST THREE will be  Friday December, 8th!   “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

Math: We have been learning how decomposing numbers: how to rip them apart and put it back together (whole); This will help us with simple addition and comparing and contrasting!  Also, 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 are still working on weather: sunny, cloudy and rainy!  Next week we will be doing science experiment rotations throughout all the kindergarten classrooms. They will get to make a cloud, shadows, a raining cloud, and learn about wind. We will finish up our weather unit on Tuesday by watching “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs!”

Social Studies: We continue to talk about what is a Need and Want in the classroom using our discussion stem questions.

Other:

• We only had 3 students get 100% on their sight word test.   Parents, please know, these words will be a work in progress all year.  If we can aim for the students to know at least 60% of the words on the list, I will be happy with that and you should be too!  Please make sight words part of their homework.  Each day focus on 8 words only, then build upon that.  Here are some clever ideas on how to work with sight words at home:
                   
• I wanted to thank all 21 families who came to parent teacher conferences; I had a remarkable turnout!  I enjoyed speaking with each and every one of you and learning new things about your child!  I am grateful to be working with each of you in helping your child reach new limits in their education!  It’s going to be a great year!
• We will learn what it means to be thankful and make our thankful turkey’s for the classroom.
• In writing, we have learned how to use finger spaces in our sentences, writing from left to right and using punctuation at the end of our sentences!  Please practice this at home when writing sentences with sight words!
• Star Student will start back up after Thanksgiving Break!:)
• **STAR Student: We have officially launched STAR student of the week in Kindergarten!  Each Friday, I will choose one child to be selected for star student.  That child will come home with an ALL ABOUT ME poster to be completed over the weekend and returned Monday morning.  All week we will talk about the star student, look at his/her poster and also write about that student in class.  At the end of the week, the star student will come home with a published book to keep and read with family!  Star student is a great way to highlight all of the amazing kids we have here in Kindergarten!  It’s a feel good activity and makes the kids really excited about writing and learning new things about their friends!  Be as creative as you want with the Star student poster.  Add pictures, drawings, crafts, stickers, objects to the board…there is no wrong answer!  If you have any questions about the Star Student Poster, please feel free to email me at any time!  

Housekeeping items:

• Since we have a two day week next week, there will be no homework, reading bags or communication logs coming home.  Enjoy your upcoming break:)
• Please make sure to log onto math seeds and reading eggs when there is downtime at home, especially on the weekends!  I have laminated and attached logins/passwords for EACH child on their communication log this week!  Please keep this in a safe place, so it doesn’t get lost.  These programs are free for you to use, how awesome is that?  All you need to do is to show your child how to log in and they can begin learning!  Parents, in the classroom, I am trying to teach each child to login typing their own username and password…independency is the name of the game!   If you could be so kind, to help your child do the same at home, it would help so much!  Thank you!
• 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:)
• New library books will come home after we come back from break.  I am sure the students are ready for some new literature to read at home:)

Upcoming Events:

November 22nd-24th- NO SCHOOL for Thanksgiving!

November 30th- PBIS turkey bowling! This event will be for students who have flipped their card less than 8 times in the classroom!  Keep up the good behavior Kindergarten!

December 5th- Pete the Cat Field Trip!

December 8th- Sight word TEST list 3!

Enjoy your 3 day weekend!  See you back on Monday!