Oct. 1-5

Dear Kindergarten Families,

Here is what’s going on in Kindergarten next week:

Art/Science/Theme: We will begin our new theme: Pumpkins! Students will learn about pumpkins through a study of the pumpkin life cycle.  Last week,we started to compare pumpkins to apples.  We will observe and investigate if a pumpkin will sink or float.  Students will dissect the pumpkins and study the inside of a pumpkin.

Language Arts/ Writers Workshop: We will focus on the beginning, middle and end of stories as well as the problems and solutions. Students are working on adding more details to their pictures and words.  We will be introducing two different strategies to help students sound out words while writing:  “Ghost talk” is when you stretch a word out very slowly and write each sound that you hear (ie” “cccaaattt”). “Robot talk” is when you quickly say each sound (ie: “c-a-t”).  Ask your child to show you these strategies and try using these terms to help your child with writing words at home.

Math: Number Order of 1-10. Keep an eye out for your child’s Pumpkin Number Line and use this at home to help your child practice Number Recognition and Number Sense (ie: “Can you point to the number ___ on your number line?” or “What number comes before/after ___?”). I will have a few games that you can play with the number line.  Besides number line, students will be introduced to number bonds to help them understand information given to them in the word problems.  Also, we started counting collections.  Students will be taking a collection and counting them by 1's , 5's, 10's etc.  I will be going around asking questions and conferring with each student.

Word of the Week: “and”.  Students will be writing “I like to see ______ and ______."

There is no school on Friday, October 5^th, due to a staff development training for all teachers.

RTI has started and we are still figuring out what group each child should be in to be comfortable at the work load as well as reading level.  Sometimes, students are reading books but elements of story structure or comprehension might be a struggle.  We always want to make sure students are never frustrate but feel challenged in their reading group.  

In RTI, all groups read the same book and focus on the same comprehension skill however it might be presented differently.  This week, we will be reading informational text on pumpkins and identifying facts.  Besides reading a book whole class, we are in small groups working on independent reading skills.  Some students need practice identify letter names and sounds, some need blending and segmenting skills, and some need to practice sight words.  These are all things that you can practice at home when reading with your child daily.

If you haven't sign up for a conference time in November, please email me so we can schedule it.  

Our school honors growth mind set where child know that trying their best and practicing can make them be successful.  We will talk a lot about this throughout the year.  We have talked about the brain and how it works.  Next  we will  be discussing ways to be mindful and unmindful.  We're working on strategies to keep our minds calm and clear and we are thinking about differences between "reflecting" and "reacting" to different types of situations. 

Drive for school:  It is our second week and we have about 5 families that have turned it in.  All proceeds go to our school and you have chances of winning prizes every week.  If all families gave 25 dollars we would pass our goal.  The money raised go towards our supplies (paper, pencils, folders, paint, glitter, etc.)  Besides supplies, it pays for our RTI teachers and support staff.  We couldn't do it without your support!  Thank you!

Reminders : 

no school this Friday, October 5

Harvest Festival: October 12th

Have a great week,

Mrs. Werner