Archive for October, 2013

Week of October 7, 2013

We finish up our unit on Families.  We will continue talking and writing about our families, what we do with our family, how our  families are the same/different, how families can change.  We’ll be comparing texts that we’ll read this week.  We’ll look for clues in our stories to help us with predictions.  Using predicting skills makes reading more accurate and helps with comprehension.  When you read with your child at home, stop occasionally and predict what might come next in the story.  Why might that happen?  What were the clues that lead you to that prediction?

In finishing our Unit on Families, we will review:

M  m    A  a

I  Can  can  We  we  The  the

Review these words and letters (and sounds) with your child.  Have them write them, creating mastery of the words.  Make a game of finding words that start with and a.

FYI…Each reading unit is divided into 3 weeks.

Week 1-introduce a letter/sound                                M  m

-introduce a new word (or two)                   We   we

-introduce a writing focus                             labels

Week 2-introduce a different letter/sound            A   a

-introduce a different word (or two)          The   the

-introduce a different writing focus            lists

Week 3-review letters/sounds and words  and writing from Weeks 1 & 2

I also add my own writing focus each week.  🙂

We will continue with READ TO SELF and READ TO SOMEONE.  They are really doing very well with these ways to read.  Through these reading opportunities they are developing reading stamina.  Last Friday they read for 15 minutes all by themselves!  Excellent stamina for such young readers and so early in the school year.  Good job Kindergarteners!

Science-We continue to focus on Our Earth, Our Home. Last week we gathered rocks for a “Rock Museum.”  They enjoyed examining the rocks with magnifying glasses.  We are being Scientists!   Isabella brought in an excellent book about ways that we can help keep our Earth safe.  Thanks for sharing your book Isabella!

Social Studies-I am connecting our reading unit about Families with our Social Studies Unit about ourselves and our families.  It’s a “good fit,” just like books that we choose to read.

Math-We will continue with patterns, both in the classroom and outside!  Look for patterns in your house too.  We also will be practicing the correct ways to form numbers and play some counting games.   They always enjoy the games-they are a fun way to learn.

Mrs. Balestrieri (Madilyn’s mom) will be my head Homeroom Parent.  Mrs. Bronson (Natalia’s mom) is counting our boxtops.  Thanks to all of my parents who have spoken to me about helping.  I’ve got ALL of your names and will contact you as needs arise.

Another busy week in Kindergarten and we are having so much fun!

 

Mrs. Smith

Thursday

We had Wayne County hearing screening today.  If further screening is needed, parents will get a notice in the mail from the County.

 

We also made a Rock Museum today.  We’ll be checking out rocks with our senses of touch, sight, and smell.  We’ll use magnifying glasses too.

We also made ANTS…to go along with this week’s letter “A.”  WE labeled (last week’s writing focus) the 3 parts of an ANT.  Just an enrichment activity for today!  Wait till you see tomorrow’s project!

Keep working on “M m  A a” and “The the We we I Can can.”  We put together this week’s letter a, with last week’s letter, m, and made the word “am.”  Add that word to our reading and writing word list.

Time to get the kids from ART.

Homeroom Parents

Thanks to all who volunteered to be a Homeroom Parent.  I will keep your  information and contact you as needed.  Nothing is needed right now.

Halloween details will be posted in a few weeks.

Homework

Homework is coming home tonight!  Due tomorrow ( Wednesday)

I told them to put their homework in their backpack as soon as they finish it.  That way they will be all ready in the morning.  It’s good to get in the habit now of using good organizational skills.  Have your child (not you 🙂 ) put things in their own backpack at night.  It teaches them responsibility and they will know if they have their homework or not.

Math Login Card

Parents,

Yesterday your child brought home their Login Card for our Everyday Mathematics Curriculum.  I glued it on a red piece of paper so it should be easy to find.  Today I am sending home a Parent Note explaining the steps for using the site.  Login and enjoy!

Mrs. Smith

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