Dec. 10-14

Language Arts: Our letter of the week was D. We will not have a new letter next week. Our sight words this week were "he" and "she." Next week we will have "see." We read Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp and made our dazzling dinosaurs "do" something that starts with a d (action verb.) We read Lost Dog, Found Dog and made our own lost and found signs. We played doggie BINGO with sight words.  Next week we will continue comparing and contrasting gingerbread stories. The students seem to love these stories and are getting good at making predicitons based on the patterns we have noticed. We will be doing math, language, and art activities based around gingerbread. Each day you will see some sort of gingerbread "thing" come home. Please take the time to ask your child about the gingerbread stories and activities we are doing. You might want to check out some gingerbread books from the library to read with your child as well. During the week, we will decorate gingerbread cookies and make a special winter surprise for your family. The gingerbread cookies will be sent home for you to see and EAT as a family. THANK YOU SO MUCH to all the people who sent in $2 to support these activities. It is so much appreciated!!!!!!!

 

Math:  We played several different games to practice number combinations up to five and up to ten.  We are showing our thinking and pictures on dry erase boards for addition and subtraction problems.  It is hard to believe, but 2nd quarter is almost over. Next week and then after break we will be assessing many skills. I have noticed that MANY students need to work on writing two digit numbers (68, 36, etc) PLEASE practice this skill at home. It is best if you tell them a number and then have them write it down. I would prefer that they do not use a visual to help them form the numbers. Another good thing to practice is writing the numbers in order from 1-50. It is typical of kindergarten students to reverse the formation of the number (although we do hope this disappears soon), but we do not want them to write 68 for 86! Some students still need to practice counting to 100 (those transitions can be tricky). Have you been completing the math homework pages? TALKING about the problems and listening to your child's thinking is so important!

Social Studies: Our cool tool this week was keeping our hands and feet to ourselves. When we remember this rule we are being respectful and safe. The rule that needs the most work in our clasrrom currently is BE RESPONSIBLE. Our days are packed with fun learning so it is extremely important that each member of our class take responsibility to follow through with directions without talking, being silly or chooising to ignore. We need everyone's help to try his or her best during transitions and lessons.

Notes: If you haven't already, please let me know if you are missing any school next week. I want to make sure certain items go home with your child before break.

Thank you to Mrs. Yack for making the gingerbread playdoh. We love it! Thank you to Mrs. Karellas for presenting art awareness about Grant Wood. Thank you to Lucas' Grandma for being a guest reader.  Thank you to Mrs. Kramer, Mrs. Sajja, Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Kalota, and Mrs. Karellas for leading Literacy Centers. Thank you to all who contributed to the gingerbread/gift fund. I appreciate you! And thank you, in advance, to Mrs. Loos and Mrs. Swanson for organizing a fun winter party   We couldn't do it without all of your support!