Friday Note

Friday Note -December 4, 2015

Events of the Week: In math, we’re learning to read, count and write numbers 11-20.  This usually is a topic that students find difficult, so please continue to practice at home.

Our focus in reading this week was on tools and their many uses.  Here’s what we did in each workshop:

·         Language Workshop— We concentrated on three different books The World of Tools, Push and Pull, and The Mystery of Magnets.  We focused on the fact that different tools are used for different jobs and that magnets push and pull metal.  We introduced vocabulary words that are in the stories, such as push, pull, lift, compass, force, magnetic field, and poles. 

·         Reading Workshop—We introduced another center that we will use during Literacy Centers and continued to practice working independently.  Students are doing a wonderful job thus far and I have begun to meet with small groups during this time.

·         Writing Workshop- We wrote in our journals this week.  We are practicing using our pencil rubric to check if we are remembering all the elements of being a good writer.

o   My picture matches the words I wrote.

o   I used a finger space between each word.

o   I began my sentence with a capital letter.

o   I ended my sentence with an ending mark.

o   I stretched out any words that I did not know.

·         Word Study—Our letter for the week was “Oo”.  We learned that Oo is a vowel and can make a short sound and a long sound.

·         Content Workshop- We introduced the reading strategy, “Slide your finger under the word and say the sounds slowly.  Then blend it back together.” We practiced using this strategy with a book called What I Like.  Your child has this book in their book bag to continue to practice reading during independent reading time and rest time.

Important Dates:

o   Dec. 12: Clever Christmas Parade (10:00)

o   Dec. 15: Kindergarten Winter Program (6:00 at the High School)

o   Dec. 16: Final day to turn in the Reading Challenge

o   Dec. 17: Polar Express Day- for those that have completed the challenge

o   Dec. 18: Christmas Party (11:45-12:30)

o   Dec. 18-Jan.4: Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

o   Jan. 5: Students first day back!

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I    is    like    see    my    a    the    be   

it   he    she   to  can   with  go   me

***Reminder: These are words your child should be able to read by sight!

The Character word for December is

Trustworthiness.

(Saying what you mean and meaning what you say)

Weather Alert!

With the temperature dropping, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.  We will make every effort to go outside for recess even on cold days!  If we have inside recess due to the weather, please encourage your child to keep a small toy in their backpack to play with. 

Christmas Party Our Christmas Party will be on Friday, December 18th.  Parents are welcome to come set up beginning at 11:30.  The party is from 11:45-12:30.

Care to Learn Program

In lieu of teacher gifts or a student gift exchange for Christmas, we would appreciate donations to Care to Learn.  To ensure that we have useable items for our Backpack program, our grade level has been asked to bring in single serve, shelf stable, microwaveable meals (macaroni & cheese, Chef Boyardee, soup in a cup, ramen noodles, Dinty Moore, etc.).

Reading Challenge

Please be working to complete your Reading Challenge before the deadline on December 16^th.  If your child does not complete the challenge, then he/she will not be allowed to participate in our Polar Express Day on December 17^th.  All children must turn in their reading logs in order to be able to watch the movie.

Next Week:

·        We will be reviewing numbers 11-20. 

·        We will be learning about the Five Senses. 

·        We will review all sight words learned thus far.

·        We will learn about the letter “Uu” and the two sounds the letter makes.  After this, we have completed our review of all 26 letters!

·        We will be NWEA testing in the computer lab.  Please make sure your child eats a good breakfast each morning and arrives at school on time.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Wenger