week of December 21, 2015

Week of December 21, 2015

This will be the last newsletter of 2015!  We will resume the newsletter when we return in 2016.  We hope that you and your families have a wonderful and relaxing break.  Homework will resume the week we get back in January.  Thanks for all of your cooperation!

Math- When we return, we will be starting a new topic.  It is Topic 5, Numbers to 20.  It will be broken down into lessons on: 11/12, 13/14/15, 16/17, 18/19/20, and using logical reasoning.  We have been writing numbers to 20, counting past 20, and putting them in order, and counting objects in Math Meeting in order to prepare us for this topic.

Science- We will be continuing our Objects chapter.  We will be using weight and texture to describe and compare/contrast objects.  We will be using shapes and sounds to describe them as well.

Reading- Our new story is George Washington Visits.  We will be discussing cause and effect in the story.  Our amazing words are: celebration, barn, arch, sprinted, blacksmith, soldier.  We will be looking for rhyme in stories.

Phonics/Grammar- We have started our consonant Dd like in Dinosaur and will be identifying it in the beginning of words.  We will be reviewing verbs that add –s at the end.

Writing- We will be starting with lowercase letters as soon as we get back from break.  We have completed all the capital letter lessons in handwriting and will be ready to move onto the lowercase ones.  We always review to start our letters at the top and not the bottom and hold our pencils correctly.  We are also using reminders to write in lowercase letters with the exceptions of the beginning of names, important words, or the start of a sentence.

Important Information

To help increase sight word recall for those who cannot read the first 50 words given, we will be adding a written practice with the daily homework after the holiday break. 

Dinosaur Report information is being sent home.  Please review and have your child complete it for: January 6.  If you have it done before break, you are more than welcome to hand it in.

Important Dates

December 21- Day 4

December 22- Ugly Sweater and Jeans day

December 23- Polar Express Day for Kindergarten, Dismissal at 1pm

December 24-January 3- No School

January 4- School reopens

week of December 14, 2015

Math- We will finish up our topic of more and fewer next week and be taking our assessment then.  We have been working on more and fewer in ten frames and have just introduced using a number line.  In Math Meeting, we have been finding the missing number and writing it in the

number line.  Please continue to practice counting to 100.

Science- Next week, we will be talking about our 5 senses and using them to observe objects.  We will also be talking what objects are made of, like wood or plastic.  We will also be describing objects using size, shape, heavy, light, etc. 

Reading- Our new story is Little Quack.  We will be discussing the plot of the story.  We will also be summarizing and sequencing the story.  Our amazing words are: duckling, paddle, proud, pond, plunged, brave.  We are working very hard on responding to literature by making connections to other stories and our own lives as wells as asking questions with our key words of: who, what, why, how, when, where. 

Phonics/Grammar- We have started our consonant Rr like in Rat and will be identifying it in the beginning of words.  We have been working on all letters and sounds and reviewing the long and short sounds of our vowels.  We will be reviewing verbs in sentences for now and in the past.

Writing- We will be finished practicing all of our capital letters and numbers 0-9 in Handwriting before our Holiday break.  We will pick up with the lowercase letters when we return.  We are also completing writing prompts daily to practice responding to a topic.  For example, we responded to “I like to bake” and the children wrote what they liked to bake and some wrote who they were baking with.

Important Information

To help increase sight word recall for those who cannot read the first 50 words given, we will be adding a written practice with the daily homework after the holiday break. 

Important Dates

December 14, Day 9

December 16, 4-6^th grade concert starting at 6pm at High School

December 18, Santa visits Kindergarten

week of December 7, 2015

Week of December 7, 2015

Math- Our topic that we will be continuing is: Topic 4, Comparing and Ordering Numbers 0-10.    We will be working on 1 and 2 more and 1 and 2 fewer.  We will also be ordering those numbers to 10 and working with a number line.  We have been practicing writing numbers 0-10 in Handwriting and each day we practice a different number 0-20 in Math Meeting.  We practice daily counting to 100 and numbers on a ten frame.

Science- We have introduced our new topic of Objects and we will be working on knowing about different objects and their composition and characteristics.  We will be alternating that topic with other themes such as winter, holidays, and other calendar information.

Reading- Our new story is Little Panda.  We will be comparing and contrasting within the story.  We will also be summarizing the important parts of the story and talking about an informational text.  Our amazing words are: weigh, healthy, curious, measure, bamboo, explore.  We are working very hard on responding to literature by making connections to other stories and our own lives as wells as asking questions with our key words of: who, what, why, how, when, where. 

Phonics/Grammar- We have started our consonant Nn like in Nest and will continue with Bb like in Balloon.  We have been working on all letters and sounds and reviewing the long and short sounds of our vowels.  We continually identify the beginning, middle, and end sounds of words.  We will also be working on rhyming and non-rhyming words.  We have finished talking about adjectives and will be reviewing verbs in sentences.

Important Information

Please review sight words nightly.  Some fun activities for sight word review (other than using the list and the flashcards) include: writing them in pudding or shaving cream, using a paintbrush to paint them, using chalk or markers to write them, using Play Doh or noodles to spell them, or finding them in books or other sources of print and highlighting them.

Important Dates

December 8, Coat Drive Give Away, 2-4 pm, NSE

December 10, Coat Drive Give Away, 4-6 pm, NSE

December 10, Kindergarten Physicals, please return purple sheet if one was sent home from the Nurse

December 11, Brain Show Mania