January 27, 2016

We continue to find our groove in reading, writing, and math.

Reading:  We are spending a lot of time "sounding out words" by saying the sounds and then smoothing the sounds together to make a word.  The kids are also working hard on learning the sight words.  Keep practicing these at home.  

Writing:  We are working on on "chopping words" so we can hear all the sounds in them.  (It's the opposite of what we do for reading!)  The kids also set new writing goals.

Math:  Our class really knows the numbers that go together to make 10!  It is awesome!  We will be spending a lot of time and +1 and -1 facts in the next two weeks.  This is one of the many reasons it is important to count to 100 every night!  A secure knowledge of the numbers to 100 is crucial for further development in operations and algebraic thinking.  

Snack:  If your child does not bring snack every day, please consider sending in a box of goldfish.  I've gone through quite a few boxes since winter break.  Thanks!

Upcoming Events:

Hearts and Hundreds- February 10

Please consider signing up to help! We need a few more people to help with stations to make this a success.  This is the day we have been waiting for all year!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054da5ab28a57-hearts

Conferences- February 8-12

If you have not already signed up for conferences.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054da5ab28a57-spring

Fun Fair- February 20

January 15

I hope you are enjoying a long weekend with your child.

Reading:  This week we continued to practice retelling stories using The Snowy Day.  This is a classic book and the words and pictures are so calming.  The students did a great job telling about the beginning, middle and end of the story.

Writing:  This week we worked on the last of our straight-line capital letters in handwriting.  We continued to work on telling more details when we write stories. Next week we will begin working on opinion writing.

Math:  We are getting very serious about counting to 100 every day.  Please listen to your child count to 100 every night!  We continue to practice making 10 and naming the teen numbers.  We will work on addition a lot for the next month as we get our facts to 5 fluent.

Thank you for your generous donations on our hearts and hundreds sign up.  I still need a few more volunteers to help make this party a success.  Here is the link.

Thank you, also for practicing with the winter gear! I can see a difference.  Keep practicing!

Upcoming Dates:
January 18: MLK day no School 
February 10: 100th day of Kindergarten Celebration 
February 11-12: Half days parent teacher conferences. 
February 15:  Presidents Day No School 
February 20: Irving Fun Fair 

Winter's Here!

I had a GREAT week with the kids!  Just as I suspected-they came back ready to learn and work!  I saw some amazing writing, awesome math thinking, and all around super behavior.   They are all becoming good little readers.  What a joy to see that happen.

Reading:  We are reviewing retelling stories using a fun book called Tacky the Penguin.  The kids love it!

Math:  The kids learned about Number Bonds this week.  This is a way to think about decomposing numbers.  You'll see a number bond on our calendar sheets that come home.  We'll start filling them in next week.

We are also practicing counting to 100 every day in anticipation of our 100th day of school.  Any child who can count to 100 without errors for me will put their picture on our giant 100 in our classroom.  We hope to have everyone's picture on there by February 11!  This is a big celebration and I'll send out an information sheet about it soon.

Announcements:

• Keep working on Lexia at home if you can.
• Please help your child become an independent dresser.  Practice the zippers-up and down!
• Practice the boots-on and off!  Remind your child to put mittens, hats, and scarves in a safe place.  
•  Please send your child in boots and snow pants when there is snow on the ground.  
• Institute Day on Friday, January 15th means no school.  MLK day is Monday, January 18th.

• Swap, Shop and Read is a FABULOUS opportunity to fill out your home library or clean out books your child no longer reads. Thursday, January 21st.   Please see the flyer!

Winter's Here... I think!

We have been very busy this week preparing for our winter concert.  The students are excited to show you all their hard work.  

8:15:  First Concert.  After the Kindergarteners sing, we walk back to the classroom.  Parents who stay for that show will watch the first graders and then you are welcome to join us in the classroom for a snack and a story.  

9:45:  Second Concert/Winter Celebration set up.  If you have already seen the show, please consider staying in the classroom to help set up the party.  If you have not already checked out the sign up genius, please do so here.  We still need some help!!

SIGN UP TO HELP WITH THE PARTY HERE!

10:00-11:15 Winter Celebration.   EVERYONE is welcome to come to the party.  It will be similar to the Halloween party, with a gingerbread/winter theme.   Kids love having you there, but if you cannot, (I completely understand!) please give your child a heads up that you will not be able to stay for the party.  With a little warning, it makes it easier for them.

Report Cards

You should have received your child's report card last Friday.  I know it is a long, confusing report card!  Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions.  THE REPORT CARD ENVELOPE SHOULD BE SIGNED AND RETURNED.  THE REPORT CARD IS YOURS TO KEEP.  Signing the envelope is the only way I know you've seen the report card.  Please return this as soon as possible.

Reading: We read 3 versions of the Gingerbread Man!  Our favorite was the version retold by Jim Aylesworth.  We also read Gingerbread Girl.  This week we will read Gingerbread Baby.  I love these books and your kids do, too!

         

We have focused on retelling and comparing and contrasting.  

Math:  We are working on organized counting and on ways to make ten.  (6+4, 7+3, etc.)

Writing:  Students are working hard on their writing goals as we finish up some narrative writing.  After break we will work on opinion writing!  

Teddy Bear Picnic and Winter Concerts

We had a wonderful Hibernation Day!  First we sorted our teddy bears.  We enjoyed our bear snacks and loved having a picnic with all our Kindergarten friends.  Finally, we got to hibernate with a good book under our tables.

Reading:  We enjoyed reading some fiction bear books and learning about hibernation.  We are learning about word families.  (If words sound the same, they usually look the same.)

Math:  In math we are learning about organizing counting and making groups that equal ten.  We are also learning about number sentences!



Now.... on to the next thing!  Our Winter Concerts and Celebration!

Our Winter Concerts are next Thursday, December 17th at 8:15 and 9:45.  
Here's how it works:

• The concerts last about 15-20 minutes total.  Kindergarten goes first, then first grade.  
• After our first concert we will go back to the classroom, have a snack and attempt a lesson.
• After our second concert we will go back to the classroom for a winter celebration that will last until about 11:15 or 11:30.  
• All are welcome to attend both concerts.  
• If you are unable to attend either concert, please (PLEASE!!!!) tell your child that you are unable to come and Mrs. Parkinson will video tape it for you.  

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Trimester 2 begins on Monday, November 30!  It is hard to believe we are 1/3 of the way through the school year!

We had a great trip to the zoo.  Thanks to all the awesome chaperones!

Reading: We will be reading some fiction bear books this week and practice retelling.  We will also be reading some nonfiction books about hibernation.

Writing:  The kids did a great job writing non-fiction sentences about bears.  We will continue to practice our nonfiction writing this week.  We will also make writing goals.

Math:  We will practice counting higher numbers this week and use a ten frame to count on to larger numbers as well as develop a sense of our base ten system.

Science:  We will read about animals that hibernate and celebrate hibernation day on Friday!
Please click on the link to read more about our Hibernation Day!
Upcoming Dates:
Friday, December 4:  HIBERNATION DAY!  Kids can come to school in pajamas!  Bring a teddy bear snack for a teddy bear picnic lunch!  Bring a book and a blanket to read in "caves" (under our tables).
Thursday, December 17th:  WINTER CONCERT! Mrs. Hiolski has been working hard with the students to get them ready to sing a few songs and recite some poems for you.  There are two shows-one at 8:15 and one at 9:45.  We will have a small snack after the first show and a Gingerbread-themed party after the second show.  Please look for emails from room parents about this celebration in the next week or two.

Bears! Bears! Bears!

Reading: We read a lot of different kinds of non-fiction books about bears this week.  We learned about text features and main ideas and details.

Writing:  After reading non-fiction books we decided to try our hand at writing non-fiction books.  The kids did a great job writing about three different kinds of bears.

Social Studies:  We learned that maps are an important text feature in many non-fiction books so we added a map of where bears live to our own non-fiction books.

Science:  We learned about the habitats of different bears.

Field Trip:
We will go to the zoo even if it is cold!    PLEASE DRESS YOUR CHILD APPROPRIATELY FOR THE WEATHER! Right now it looks like the high will be around 37 and the low around 34.  Winter jackets, hats and mittens will help us get to and from the indoor exhibits.  Talk to your child about putting mittens/hats inside sleeves when indoors.  When we are outside it is better to leave the hats and mittens on and adjust the zipper if it gets too warm.

Your child will need a packed lunch that is 100% disposable.  We will not bring leftovers back, so try to pack a realistic lunch that will re-fuel, but not be wasted.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  Please know that I am grateful to have the best job in the world, working with the 19 smartest, funniest, most amazing kids!