The Kindergarten Crew has been gaining strides with their reading skills.  Each student has the knowledge and power to use letter sounds that they can now translate to printed words in a book.  The kindergarteners have learned how to tap out sounds for words they are unsure of.  They also have learned how important it is to read a sentence from the beginning all the way to the end to make sure the words make sense.  The students have practiced reading words with short and long vowels.  The kindergarteners know that at times, they need to sound out their vowels two ways to see which way makes sense for a specific word.  Very impressively, our students have increased their reading stamina as well.  If we all sit back and take a look at where the kindergarteners were in September compared to where they are now, they all deserve huge praise.  “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ~ Ernest Hemingway 

First-grade scientists just finished a Science unit on plant and animal structures.  They learned about the parts of a plant and how those parts help keep the plant alive.  Students also explored how animals’ body parts and adaptations help keep them safe in their environments.  They also studied how animals meet their needs in their environments.  Our scientists were excited to expand and apply their learning of plants and animals on our First Grade field trip to the Turtle Back Zoo