We had a great Earth Week!

Click here to see the students read and sign this poem!

We began Art Start, Saw the Egg Drop and Academic Fair, and celebrated Earth Week on Farmer Friday!  Pictures from Farmer Friday are linked to the left.  More pictures on the blog to follow!

Reading:  Students did a great job retelling familiar stories this week.  We also practiced figuring out unknown words.  Students learned that there are clues in words and pictures that can help you figure out what a new word means.  We even figured out what germination means!

Writing:  Our focus continues to be on writing complete sentences that start with a capital letter and end with a period.

Math:  We are working on decomposing numbers greater than 10.  We also continue to measure and compare two objects.

Science:  We planted bean seeds, learned about seed coats, and discussed what plants need.

• April 28th Book Talks begin.  Please see our homework packet for this special assignment.
• April 29: Opera for the Young at schol
• April 30:  Art Start in our classroom!  Can you volunteer an hour to help us?  10:30-11:25. We will be learning how we can naturally dye fabrics!  We will make the next page in our fabric book.  Our fabric books will be on display at Art Fest. Art Start is sponsored by the Oak Park Education Foundation.  Ms. Pam Penney will come in to our class 5-6 times to teach us about fiber art!
• April 30th:  Tasty Dog Fundraiser.  The most delicious fundraiser of the year!
• May 2nd Irving Sleepover-I'm happy to answer questions about this.  It's super fun and many Kindergartners do great.
• May 5th Kindergarten ABC countdown begins-We will count down the last 26 days of Kindergarten with different events for each letter of the alphabet.  Homework will follow a different format.
• May 7th Kindergarten Open House-Do you know any incoming Irving Kindergarten students? Please help spread the word!
• Shop, Swap and Read: May 8:  6:00-7:30
• May 15 Art Fest- This is my FAVORITE school event of the year! Art is displayed, poems are performed, Spanish games are played and the gym is open. I will be encouraging your child to sign up for the POETRY SLAM!  
• May 19th:  Last Day for Class Library checkout/All Books Due June 3
• May 22nd  Summer Reading Program Asembly 10:00 am.  Your kids will come home wanting to go to the public library!
• May 28th:  All Kindergarten Families are invited to Rehm Park for Pizza and Play!  9:30-12:30.
• End of Year Party June 6th-This will be at Rehm Park in the evening.
• June 3rd Conservatory-We will walk to the Conservatory.  Can you walk with us?
• June 10th: Last day of school.  Don't miss the teacher dance!

Reading:  We continue to work on Silent E.  We are also working on retelling familiar stories.  Ask your child to retell a story you read at home!  Your child should be able to tell you characters, settings and beginning, middle and ends.

Writing:  We are learning about expository writing.  The students are learning about introduction sentences.  

Math:  Your child is learning about 3D shapes.  Help your child look for these around the house.  Please use the correct names-cube, sphere, cylinder, prism, and cone.

Science:  We will be learning lots about plants, seeds and life cycles.  This will culminate with our trip to the conservatory.  (See dates below.)

• Book Fair:  Books are on sale this week every day during the day and after school!  Proceeds go directly to our own school library.  We will not visit the book fair as a class (too confusing!), but students will be given a 4th grade buddy to help them if they bring money. 
• Earth Week:  There are lots of events-SUNNY NOTES ON SALE MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOR 25 cents!  (These are happy notes your child can send to ANYONE in the school.  Teaches, buddies, brothers, cousins...) Pay special attention to Wear green on Tuesday, Stuffed animal on Wednesday and Wear Yellow on Thursday
• Academic Fair: April 23
• April 23:  Art Start begins in our classroom!  Can you volunteer an hour to help us?  10:30-11:25. We will be learning how the Sun can change fabrics!  We will make the first page in our fabric book.  Our fabric books will be on display at Art Fest. Art Start is sponsored by the Oak Park Education Foundation.  Ms. Pam Penney will come in to our class 5-6 times to teach us about fiber art!
• April 28th Book Talks begin.  Please see our homework packet for this special assignment.
• April 30th:  Tasty Dog Fundraiser.  The most delicious fundraiser of the year!
• May 2nd Irving Sleepover-I'm happy to answer questions about this.  It's super fun and many Kindergartners do great.
• May 5th Kindergarten ABC countdown begins-We will count down the last 26 days of Kindergarten with different events for each letter of the alphabet.  Homework will follow a different format.
• May 7th Kindergarten Open House-Do you know any incoming Irving Kindergarten students? Please help spread the word!
• Shop, Swap and Read: May 8:  6:00-7:30
• May 15 Art Fest- This is my FAVORITE school event of the year! Art is displayed, poems are performed, Spanish games are played and the gym is open. I will be encouraging your child to sign up for the POETRY SLAM!  
• May 19th:  Last Day for Class Library checkout/All Books Due June 3
• May 28th:  All Kindergarten Families are invited to Rehm Park for Pizza and Play!  9:30-12:30.
• End of Year Party June 6th-This will be at Rehm Park in the evening.
• June 3rd Conservatory-We will walk to the Conservatory.  Can you walk with us?
• June 10th: Last day of school.  Don't miss the teacher dance!

Are we allowed to believe that Spring has finally arrived?

Reading: Students are doing a great job reading "chunks"of longer words.  I bet your child knows my favorite chunk!  If they can tell you my favorite chunk in a word is "er" send me an email and I'll give your child a bonus sticker or eagle slip!

Writing:  We will be choosing new goals on Monday.  We will be working on some expository writing this month.  We have lots to write about now that we are space experts and will soon be plant experts!

Math:  We are working on 3D shapes.  We continue to work on decomposing numbers and measuring. Students enjoyed our making 10 bingo game this week.

Science:  We had a great trip to the Planetarium!  The weather was nice enough to allow a picnic outside.  Enjoy the pictures linked to the left.

It is the time of the year to keep your calendars out and ready!  Each week I will update this list of dates  for you.  Please check back often and don't be afraid to ask if you have any questions.  Most of these events have their own fliers.  Whenever possible, I've linked the flier below.  Please check the Irving Digital Backpack often.

Dates

• April 14-19: Book Fair-  Bring Coins/money for books if desired
• Earth Week:  There are lots of events-Pay special attention to Wear green on Tuesday, Stuffed animal on Wednesday and Wear Yellow on Thursday
• Academic Fair: April 23
• Shop, Swap and Read: April 23
• May 2nd Irving Sleepover-I'm happy to answer questions about this.  It's super fun and many Kindergartners do great.
• May 5th Kindergarten ABC countdown begins-We will count down the last 26 days of Kindergarten with different events for each letter of the alphabet.  Homework will follow a different format.
• May 7th Kindergarten Open House-Do you know any incoming Irving Kindergarten students? Please help spread the word!
• May 15 Art Fest- This is my FAVORITE school event of the year! Art is displayed, poems are performed, Spanish games are played and the gym is open. I will be encouraging your child to sign up for the POETRY SLAM!  
• May 19th:  Last Day for Class Library checkout/All Books Due June 3
• May 28th:  All Kindergarten Families are invited to Rehm Park for Pizza and Play!  9:30-12:30.
• End of Year Party June 6th-This will be at Rehm Park in the evening.
• June 3rd Conservatory-We will walk to the Conservatory.  Can you walk with us?
• June 10th: Last day of school.  Don't miss the teacher dance!

March 31-April 4

I hope everyone had a fantastic Spring Break and is ready to hit the ground running for the rest of the school year.  The last trimester is a busy one.  We will continue to work on building a strong foundation for the years to come.   I am sure you have already noticed the little readers and writers you now have living with you!  (Isn't it exciting to watch?)  


Writing:  During our writing time we continue to focus on the writing goals.  Many of the students changed their goals the week before break.  Please ask your child what his or her writing goal is.  They take these goals seriously and we base our mini lessons on these goals.  One of the things we have really tried to focus on is "telling more" in our pictures and our words.  This is something you can work on at home by simple asking follow up questions to their stories.

Reading:  We have been working on retelling stories.  We have also been working on consonant blends and silent e words.  Way to go Kindergartners!

Math:  During math time we are working on measurement, number bonds and counting on.  We have also just begun working on coins and their values.  This is not a Kindergarten standard, but there is great interest and it is a fantastic opportunity to practice counting by 1s, 5s and 10s. 

Science:  We are learning so much about the sun, moon and planets in preparation for our big Field Trip to the Planetarium next Thursday!  Ask your child to name the first 4 planets.  Can she tell you about the moon or the sun?  

Lexia:  If you are having problems with Lexia please let me know.  I'm not sure I can help, but if there is a pattern I can probably get it addressed.