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Kindergarten Newsletter May 10, 2023


Thank you to all those who were able to come to Author's Night!  


As our school year comes to an end and the weather becomes nicer, students tend to lose focus and can exhibit unexpected behaviors.  We ask that you continue routines, such as bedtimes and meal time as the days grow longer.  Nutrition and rest are extremely important at this time of year.


In literacy this week we have continued to practice building words with digraphs, sight words and sentence structure. We have a new trick word “they.” In writing we have been working on researching an animal of your child’s choice! We have learned the features of non-fiction text and how to gather information about an animal. Your child’s research paper will be displayed with their habitat during our Kindergarten Mini Science Fair. 


We are building numbers to 100 using the rekenrek and bundles of popsicle sticks. Next week we will start our Numbers to 100 Boot Camp.  The week will be filled with counting, building numbers, identifying and ordering numbers to 100.  


We are finishing up our animal unit in science.  On Friday, May 17, at 2:15 you are invited to Kindergarten’s Mini-Science Fair.  We are so excited to show you what we have learned. Next week we will begin an exploration focused on Plants.  




Reminders: 


Kindergarten Newsletter May 3, 2024


Welcome Back! We hope everyone had a great spring break!  It is hard to believe we are at the end of the school year.  We are so proud of how our students have grown!  The next few weeks will be awesome!


****REMINDER******

Please send in a box for our science project we are starting on Monday! 

The box should be the size of a large shoebox


We have some exciting news! The eggs have arrived and have been placed in the incubator.  In 20 days we hope to welcome some baby chicks.  Stay tuned for progress reports!


This week in literacy we continued to review and practice spelling and reading words with digraphs. We focused on the digraph ck and when it is used in words. The students have been practicing identifying long and short vowel sounds in words. In reading we are continuing to use our super powers to help us. During writing the students have learned about non-fiction books and the different features. The students will be researching an animal that they have chosen in science and gathering information to write about it. 


In math we are focusing on numbers to 100.  We will be playing games that teach us to identify numbers to 100, write numbers to 100, count to 100 and build numbers to 100. 


We are finishing up our animal unit in science  by choosing an animal we would like to learn about. We made our animal out of clay and will be creating the habitat in which it lives. Next week we will be researching more information on our animal and writing a report.  The students are really enjoying this project!


Reminders:



Kindergarten Newsletter April 19, 20234


Spring Break- April 22 - April 26. Hope everyone has a wonderful week off and is able to enjoy some Spring weather! 


During literacy this week we continued to focus on the digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh, ck), drilling the sounds each make and began to build words with digraphs, such as thud. Our literacy centers were focused around digraphs, sentence building and short vowels. In the writers workshop, the students worked hard to publish their How-To books. They focused on writing in steps, using transition words, labeling diagrams and capitals/punctuation. 


In Math some of us are practicing subtracting numbers to 10 while others are solving teen number story problems.  This week’s Math Menu practice included card games, fact fluency practice, story problems and one less.


In science we have explored reptiles,birds, fish and amphibians.  After vacation we will be learning about mammals and  begin to  work on an animal project.  Students will be researching information about a favorite animal, taking notes, writing a report and creating a habitat.  They are so excited to begin this project!  All students will need a box the size of a large shoebox!!



Reminders:



Kindergarten Newsletter April 12, 2024


During literacy this week we continued to focus on the digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh, ck), and are building words with digraphs, such as ship. Our literacy centers were focused around digraphs, sentence building, reading sentences and sight words. We continued to have reading groups and independent reading time, focusing on using strategies/super powers as we are reading. 


During writers workshop, we are working hard to publish our How-To books. They are focused on writing in steps, using transition words and beginning with a capital and ending with a stop sign.


During Math we are building and writing teen numbers. We have begun solving teen story problems.This week’s Math Menu practice included writing numbers to 20, composing the numbers 11 - 14 using 10 and some more, as well as numbers before and after teen numbers.


In science we finished our safety lessons and moved on to Animals. We decided that animals are living things because they need energy, change over time, reproduce and adapt to their environment.  We have identified 5 animal groups to explore, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians.



Reminders:


Kindergarten Newsletter

March 22, 2024


Welcome to Spring! 


 So many things are happeningIn math!  We are identifying and writing numbers to 20.  Some students are decomposing teen numbers, 10 and some more. Other students are decomposing numbers to 10 and counting collections. Students found that making groups of tens was an efficient way to count large collections. During our Math Menu time we are practicing number facts to 5, subtracting from 10, ordering numbers to 20, ordering the decade numbers  and counting to 100.


This week in science we learned some important safety rules regarding medicines and poisons.  Students understand that they may only take medicine when it is given to them by a doctor, parent or trusted adult.  We also discussed poisons and learned that before we touch, smell or taste something we should STOP and ask an adult.


In literacy this week we learned two new trick words: was and his.  We have continued to practice building and tapping out CVC words. We have discussed a strategy to help know when to use the letter “c and k” when we are writing words that begin with the /k/ sound. Students are focusing on hearing the vowel sound in words and identifying them. During our small group reading we have been practicing using our reading “super powers” as we read aloud and while we read independently. For writers workshop students have been working hard completing 3 pages narratives. They have done some AWESOME work! 




Reminders:




Kindergarten Newsletter March 8, 2024


As part of our Mapping Unit we will be making paper mache globes. If you have any extra newspaper please send it in for us to use to make the globes! We will be collecting newspapers until Friday, March 15. 


In writing this week we have been working on writing narratives across three pages. 


In math we continue to compare numbers and work on addition and subtraction story problems. 


In science we have been bouncing balls.  From our data we have determined that size and weight  determines the best bouncers.  Today we made our own balls out of all sorts of materials such as rubber bands, tape, cloth, foil, string, wax paper and newspapers. 


Reminders:





Kindergarten Newsletter March 1, 2024


We have achieved a kindness goal this week and to celebrate we will have a Stuffie Day!! Kindergartners are invited to bring their favorite Stuffie to share on Friday, March 8th.  The stuffie should be no larger than a school sized backpack.


The entire school will be celebrating I Love to Read and Write Week, March 11th - 15th. Students will participate in all sorts of fun activities including dress as your favorite book character day on Friday, March 15th.


This week in literacy we continued to work tapping out words, building and writing them. Our new trick word this week was “in.” Literacy centers focused on word families (-ug, bug, hug, mug), identifying the vowel sounds, building words and recognizing beginning sounds in words. Your child is a reader! We have been having reading groups and practicing reading strategies. 


We have begun our Mapping Unit in social studies. We will be exploring different types of maps, features on maps, and creating our own maps. This week we learned about a map key. The students created a map of our classroom and a map of our school!  


Kindergarten mathematicians are very busy! We have students comparing numbers using the math language more, less and the same. Others are practicing counting to 20, writing, identifying and ordering numbers to 10.  We also are writing and solving subtraction stories and practicing our subtraction facts.


We have begun our Balls and Ramps Unit in Science.  This week we compared different types of balls by size, weight, bounciness and ability to roll.



Reminders: 

Monday, March 4th - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, March 5th - NO SCHOOL

Friday, March 8th - Kindergarten Stuffie Day

Wednesday, March 13th - Half Day Inservice School dismissed at 11:20

Friday, March 15th - Schoolwide - Dress As Your Favorite Book Character




Kindergarten Newsletter February 16, 2024


Wishing all of our kindergarten families a pleasant midwinter break!


We celebrated kindness on Wednesday.  Together both classes read  and discussed the book, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson.  Then students drew the name of a fellow student and created a card.  The first step in making the card was to write a note to the student sharing something you liked about him/her/they/them.  Later in the afternoon students shared the cards, read them to each other and experienced a moment of kindness.


In math, we are ordering numbers, figuring out numbers that come before and after.  We are practicing Addition and Subtraction Facts to 10 and solving addition and subtraction story problems.   We have also been practicing counting to 100 by 1’s and 10’s. Kindergarten is rocking math!  


We finished up a mini-unit on Healthy Eating in science. On Monday we had a tasting party.  We tried red peppers, cauliflower, avocado, blood oranges, mango and papaya.  We voted and our favorites were red peppers, blood oranges and mangos.  We also spent two days exploring marble runs in preparation for the next science unit, Force and Motion.


In literacy this week we have been continuing to work on letters, sounds, tapping out and building words. Students are also beginning to read sentences, recognizing trick words and tapping out words. During writing we have been working on creating three page stories, with a beginning, middle and an end. Students are focusing on sentences beginning with capital letters, spaces between words and punctuation at the end of a sentence. 


Reminders: 

February 20th - 24th Mid-Winter Break -  No School

Wednesday February 28th - Half Day Teacher Inservice 11:20 Dismissal

March 1st- Spirit Day- Wildcat Day! Wear your school colors or Wildcat gear!

March 4th , Teacher Inservice  - No School

March 5th - Town Meeting Day - No School




Kindergarten Newsletter February 9, 2024


Wednesday, February 14th is Kindergarten Kindness Day.  Students will be creating cards and writing special messages to share with a friend.  No Valentines from home as this is our special project.


This week in literacy we have continued to practice letters, letter sounds, tapping out words and building words. During the writers workshop the students were introduced to writing narratives and writing a true story across three pages. As students write they are reminded that a sentence begins with a capital and ends with a stop sign. We are beginning to use spaceman to help us remember spaces between our words. All the students have been writing some wonderful stories! 


We have been very busy during math! We are learning about subtraction and practicing addition facts to 10. We are also practicing identifying and writing numbers, counting to 100 and identifying what number comes next. Today we welcomed the 100th day of school with a day filled with math activities such as making a necklace with 100 beads, building with 100 cups, building with 100 legos, practicing to write the number 100, making a gumball machine with 100, gumballs, and writing about what to do with $100 dollars! It was an awesome day!

Here is a link of the fun 100th Day activities 100th Day of School 23/24 


On Monday, we completed our unit on Wood and Paper by learning about recycling.  Did you know for every ton of paper we recycle we save 17 trees?  Students recycled and made their own paper! The rest of the week was devoted to learning about healthy eating and the “go and grow” foods.  “Go” foods, grains, fruits and vegetables  give us energy and “Grow” foods , dairy and proteins are necessary for our growth.  On Monday, we will have a tasting party.  We will be trying three different fruits and three different vegetables.


In social studies we are wrapping up our economics unit. The students learned about consumers and producers this week. We will be continuing to earn our Kindergarten Superbucks. The kids are loving it and working hard to show kindness and make the right choices. 


Reminders: 

February 19th - 23rd Mid-Winter Break -  No School

March 4th - Teacher Inservice  - No School

March 5th - Town Meeting Day - No School




Kindergarten Newsletter February 2, 2024


We have begun to learn about the Zones of Regulation.  This is a framework used to teach children self-regulation. It is a simple system that categorizes feelings and helps students recognize and communicate how they are feeling in a nonjudgmental way. It also helps students tap into tools to help them move between zones. The blue zone is used to describe a state of alertness ie. tired, bored, sick. The green zone is used to describe a regulated state of alertness ie. calm, happy, focused. Yellow is used to describe a heightened state of alertness,a person has control but may be experiencing stress, frustration, silliness etc. Finally the red zone is used to describe an extremely heightened state of awareness or very intense feeling. This person may be experiencing anger, rage, terror etc.  This person is not in control. 


In literacy this week we have been focusing on tapping out CVC words and blending them together to read the word. Centers have been focused around this skill, along with sight word games and writing sentences with correct use of capitals, spacing and punctuation. Students are also having review with ending sounds and vowel sounds in CVC words. In writing we have been learning about the subject and action predicate of a sentence. Students have been writing about things they want with details in relation to our economics unit in social studies. 


In social studies we have been learning about wants and needs. The students have been earning Superbucks and are learning the importance of money and saving based on items they want from our Kindergarten store.  


We have moved on to subtraction in math.  We are learning to tell the difference between a joining story and a take away story.  We will be writing our own stories and solving them using drawings, 10 frames, number paths and writing equations.  We are also practicing counting to 100 by 1’s and 10’s.


Last week we finished exploring wood by making sandwich wood.  This week we are taking a closer look at paper. We  started by writing on 6 different kinds of paper and observed that the newsprint was the best paper for writing on. We did some paper folding and learned that all paper is not easy to fold. The data told us paper like newsprint and wax paper are the easiest to fold and paper like corrugated paper and chipboard are the most difficult.  Today we experimented with water and paper.  We discovered that corrugated paper and wax paper are most likely to keep things drier. Next week we will finish up with Wood and Paper and move on to Healthy Eating.


 

Reminders: 



Kindergarten Newsletter January 12, 2024


Another crazy weather week here in the Deerfield Valley!  The kiddos enjoyed playing outside in the snow on Monday and Tuesday! They even got to go sledding!


This week in literacy we have been continuing to learn to tap out words. The students are working hard with letter sounds and blending them together to say the word. Literacy centers focused on rhyming, ending sounds and tapping out words.


This week we started our economics unit. We have been discussing needs and wants. The students learning the difference and importance of a need versus their wants. 


During math the students we are working on addition to 10. On Thursday we read the book Mouse Count and acted out the story of the snake adding mice to a jar.  The students then had the opportunity to write their own Mouse Count story and record it using a picture, 10-frames and equation. During math Menu they are working on adding 1, combining numbers to 10  and solving math equations using the, and 1 strategy.


We finished the mini unit on trees this week by learning to identify deciduous and evergreen trees. On Tuesday, we had our first health lesson.  We learned about germs, how they can travel and what safety measures we can take to protect ourselves and others. For example , sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, do not share water bottles and wash your hands frequently.

Next week we will begin our unit on Wood and Water.


Reminders:


Kindergarten Newsletter December 15, 2023


Snow Gear-  Please make sure your child has ALL winter gear EVERYDAY! Mittens, hat, gloves, snow pants and boots.


SHOES need to come to school EVERYDAY!


Next week Kindergarten will take time for some cultural enrichment, by learning about different celebrations that occur around the world during the month of December.  There will be a read aloud each day and short videos explaining the traditions, a craft and some food tasting for Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Christmas and Kawanza. Any questions or concerns please let us know.


In literacy this week the students learned two new letters, x and y and continue to review previously learned letters and sounds. We have been working hard on our letter formation. During our writers workshop we are learning about the subject of a sentence and sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a stop sign(period). 


We are very busy during math time.  We are strengthening our math skills before the holiday break to avoid any regression.  Help your child practice some of these math skills over the holiday break!

Playing card games and board games that require counting and dice will also be beneficial to your child!.


In science we finished up our mini shape unit  and our Properties Unit by creating our very own texture monster!


Reminders: 


Kindergarten Newsletter December 8,  2023


The holiday season is fast approaching and the excitement is growing! Learning continues here at school, so it is important to be consistent with your child at home, keeping regular mealtimes and bedtimes. We want to keep them happy and healthy!


In Literacy this week, the students learned two new letters and sounds, v and w. We continue to review and practice the previously learned letters. The new trick word this week is see and my. Literacy centers focused on beginning sounds and ending sounds of words. During writers workshop, the students have been working on adding details and labels to their illustrations and stretching out words to hear the sounds in words when writing their stories.  


During Math we continue to work on composing and decomposing numbers to 10. We are counting to 50 using our growing hundreds chart.  Math Menu centers focused on composing numbers to 10, identifying numbers to 10, and sequencing numbers to 10. 


In science we are exploring 2-D and 3-D Shapes during science. The shapes we are focusing on are square, triangle, circle, rectangle, hexagon, cylinder, sphere, cube and cone.  Today we built 3-D shapes using toothpicks and gumdrops. ( We did not eat the gum drops!!!)



Reminders: 


Kindergarten Newsletter November 17, 2023


Fun Friday featured the story Stone Soup!  Together we made our very own Stone Soup. On Tuesday, November 21, we will be talking about gratitude and sharing a snack of Stone Soup and Cornbread.


In Literacy this week the students learned two new letters, p and j. We have continued to review and practice the previously learned letters and sounds. The trick word this week was and. Centers this week were based on the trick word at and like, beginning sounds and letter formation. In writing we are learning to stretch out words to hear more sounds. We are labeling our illustrations and learning that a sentence begins with a capital and ends with a stop sign. 


During math we are composing and decomposing the number 6.  We are practicing counting to 13 forwards and backwards.  Math Menu activities are number writing practice, numbers before and after, missing numbers and greater than and less than games.


This week in science we are learning about the three states of matter, solid, liquid and gas.  We know that matter is anything that takes up space.  On Monday we experimented with a solid (ice).  We used warm water and salt to see which would melt ice faster.  Warm water it was! On Thursday we turned a liquid into a solid! We made butter and it was delicious! Today we worked with a partner and traced ourselves on large sheets of paper, we added details and then measured how tall we were using 1 inch cubes.  The partners then compared the data and determined who was tallest and who was shortest.  This was a fun activity!




Reminders: 



Kindergarten Newsletter October 13, 2023


In Literacy this week we spent time reviewing previously learned letters and sounds. We spent time reading and re-reading Stellaluna discussing different comprehension strategies and predictions. Centers focused around letter id and fine motor skills. 


In Social Studies we have continued to discuss community helpers and wants and needs. 


This week in math we focused on numbers 5, 6 and 7.  We are identifying and writing numbers with the help of  class created posters. The posters show how the numbers can be represented, in a ten-frame, on dice, using tally marks, pictures, hands and towers. This week’s Math Menu practice focuses on number writing, identifying numbers to 10 and counting collections.


We continue to learn about weather in science.  Our next mini unit will be a pumpkin investigation.  I am looking for donations of pumpkins, all sizes.  We will be weighing and measuring these pumpkins, opening them up to investigate the inside as well as conducting an experiment or two.  Your donation would be appreciated!


Reminders -



Kindergarten Newsletter Week of August 28, 2023


What a wonderful and exciting first week of Kindergarten it has been! It’s been so nice getting to know each other and exploring our classroom.


Our focus this week has been building a classroom community.  We have been learning and practicing the new routines and expectations for Kindergarten. Morning meetings are a great way to begin to develop relationships with each other.  We meet on the rug and  greet each other, share something important about each of us, dance and play games.


The students are so excited about Monarch Butterflies!  We have 4 caterpillars in our habitat! Together we are learning all about the life cycle of the monarch through observation, read alouds, music and art. This is a joyous and beautiful event to witness.


Here are a few important dates to mark on your calendars:


If you have not already returned your paperwork with contact information please do so. 


Please continue to inform your child on what they are having for lunch and how they will be getting home each day. As we move into next week the teachers will not be collecting this information at drop off. Your child will be responsible for signing up for lunch and telling us how they will be getting home. 


**Reminder** Our school is nut free. 


Looking forward to another awesome week!

Laurie Cole and Lyndsay Schacter