September 15
Kinder News,
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Hello, and happy weekend! We had a very busy first two weeks of school. The kids are still working hard to learn about our classroom and navigate a very busy day in kindergarten. They are doing an amazing job! They filled our gem jar twice by following the school rules (We are kind, safe, and responsible). We had two extra morning choice times to celebrate. We have several important dates coming up.
Important Dates:
Wednesday, September 25 Open House (5:30-6:30)
Monday, September 30: Early Release Day (1:00 dismissal)
*Wednesday, October 2nd ECO We will walk to Harrison Field from 1:30 to 2:30 for environmental science activities with Victory from the Nature Center (Every Other Wednesday)
Friday, October 11: School Closed (Inservice Day)
Monday, October 14: School Closed (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)
*ECO: Please check the weather on ECO days every other Wednesday starting October 2. We will go out even in the rain!
Literacy Snapshot:
Letters/Letter sounds -Tt top /t/, Bb bat /b/ and Ff fun /f/
Name the first letter in uppercase and the rest in lowercase.
Letter formation -pencil grip song and name writing practice.
Rhyming words Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Blending to make new Compound words, for example, cup - cake = cupcake
Writing about our favorite color, favorite animal, and what we like
Handwriting Uppercase Frog Jump Letters M, N, D, and P
Assessment of name-writing
Next Week: Letters M and N, Writing a sentence (what does that look like), More Name Practice (first letter uppercase, the rest lowercase), Assessments for literacy (Producing and recognizing rhymes, blending and segmenting words)
Some Books we read (and so many more):
It’s Okay to be Different.
The Family Book
We all Make Mistakes
How are you peeling?
The Hungry Caterpillar
A Monarch Butterfly
Mean Jean, the Recess Queen
The King and Queen of Kindergarten
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Math Snapshot:
Number formation 0-10
Recognizing Numbers up to 10
Counting Backwards from 10 like a Rocket Ship ready for take-off
Pattern Block Creations
Five Frames and Ten Frames
Interlocking Blocks
Counted with manipulatives.
Dice games with numbers and dots
Pattern Pillars
Next Week: Number formation 0-10, Counting to 100, More Dice Games, Backward counting from 10 to 20, Getting ready for the Math Menu
Science Snapshot:
Life Cycle of Butterflies
Butterfly journals
Metamorphosis: Are Caterpillars the only creatures that change?
Released Eight Painted Ladies
Next Week: Butterfly Symmetry Crowns, Finish our Butterfly Unit with the release of our last 5 Painted Ladies, Make our very own Butterfly Life Cycle
Social Emotional Lessons:
Mrs. Ronci, School Guidance Counselor (Every Other Wednesday 11:50-12:20): What does a school counselor do?
The school rules (we are kind, we are safe, we are responsible)
How to earn gems
The Kindness Challenge
What does it look like to be a good listener
Mean Jean the Recess Queen (how to help someone be a friend)
Next Week: We will discuss the mindful station, Create our Classroom Agreements, and work on safe hands.
Optional Questions to Ask Your Kinder:
How do you earn a class gem?
Do a countdown from 10!
What sound does “b” make? What sound does “t” make? What sound does “f’ make?
Are there other animals that change (Metamorphosis), such as caterpillars?
What are the stages of a butterfly?
How many letters are in your name? Practice writing names using the uppercase first letter and the rest of the lowercase letters.
What are the school rules? What does choosing to be kind mean?
What is Owl time? This is an intervention block from 9:00-9:25 each day. We will use assessments and observations throughout the year to guide these short bursts of teaching points. Some interventionists include Rachel Whalen (literacy), Leah Shoaff (math), a Member of the Social Emotional Learning Team, Abbie Eldridge (Speech), and, of course, me! If your child receives an intervention, you will get an email from one of the specialists. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email.
