Happy Spring Break

 A look at our learning...

Fundations: we started unit 4 this week, which will focus on diagraphs (wh, ch, sh, th, ck), learning more trick words (words that can't be sounded out) and reading sentences fluently. Check your parent packet for trick word flash cards to use at home.  

Shared Reading & Spelling Words: we cleaned out our book boxes this week.  Your child brought home many of the Shared Reading books I have mentioned in this blog each week. Your child should be able to read these books to you because we practice them in the classroom.  They should also be able to read them because they are full of word wall words and words that aren't word wall words they should be able to decode/figure out using the strategies I showed you/listed on their detailed progress report I gave you at parent teacher conferences.  I recommend having them read some of these books to you over spring break to count towards their Pizza Hut reading log.  

Spelling words when we return from spring break

me

be

Writing Workshop: this week we ended our opinion writing unit by writing opinion pieces to give to another adult in the building.  We wrote reasons why we like or appreciate that person and hand delivered them.  I hope it made the person receiving them as happy as it made us writing them! Check out a few examples below. Ask your child who they wrote to. 

Math: this week the kids were super excited to learn about subtraction....they thought it was "big kid" math and were super into it!  We learned that subtraction means: to take things away, see what is left, you have a smaller number and involves numbers.  We also learned about the minus sign.  In Kindergarten we don't focus on solving math facts written on paper, but rather practice it through modeling and hands on approaches.  For example: we practiced sitting at the carpet and having kids leave the carpet (subtract/take away) and see how many are left.  We also used math counters and did this individually at our table.  Here is a fun video we used to learn about subtraction.

Check your child's Friday Folder for more ways to extend their math learning at home.

Science: it was so fun to have KOMU 8 meteorologist Tim Schmidt visit our classroom on Thursday to discuss the weather and wrap up our weather science unit!  It's always fun to meet and learn from someone "famous!" He said he might share a picture of his visit on Monday at 6:29 a.m. if you want to watch or record it.  The severe weather special that he is visiting classrooms for will be a news special on April 6th.  He wasn't sure what all would be shown or included, but might be worth watching! Ask your child to tell you more about his visit.

Counselor: this week Mrs. Bergeson's lesson was about small problems (something you can solve yourself/no one is getting hurt/in danger) vs. big problems (someone is or could get hurt/in danger).  This is a tough topic for children this age as they think everything is a big problem.  It also ties into "are we tattling or reporting?" Tattling is to get someone in trouble.  Reporting is to help them.  

Class goal met: we met a class goal and enjoyed sneaky reading/flashlight day on Tuesday!

We are now working towards earning a picnic lunch.

 Citizen of the Month: yay Hudson!  He was chosen, by his peers, as our March Citizen of the Month!

We sure do love our Beulah Ralph Chickens

St. Patrick's Day

 A look at our learning...

Fundations: we completed unit 3 and began unit 4 today.  Unit 4 will focus on diagraphs, which are two letters that make one sound (wh, ch, sh, th, ck), trick words and writing sentences with capitalization at the beginning, punctuation at the end, word spaces between words, quickly spelling known words and tapping out unknown words. The weekly parent packet was in last week's Friday Folder and more info on unit 4 will be in this weeks Friday's folder. 

Spelling words: I had the substitute teacher give the spelling test on Friday since she is a retired teacher and knows how it works.  I graded them today and they are bringing them home in their Take Home Folders.  This test seemed to be one of the rougher tests we've had in awhile.  Most students missed several words.  Please continue to practice nightly, especially the ones they missed.

This week's words came home today and our test will be on Friday.  Please make sure you are still practicing some during spring break so students don't regress.  

This weeks spelling words:

he

she

we

Last week it was so nice outside that we did some reading/searching for spelling words in our books outside!

 

Writing Workshop: this week we will finish up our unit on opinion writing by selecting one adult in the building that we want to write a piece for.  We will write our opinion on why we like them/think they are the best, state two reasons why and give that piece of writing to the special adult we wrote it for!  Not only are we working on opinion writing when doing this, but also spreading kindness, which is something we can all benefit from! 

Ask your child who they are going to write a piece for! 

Math: during CPS Math Week our school had a competition to see who could complete the most ST Math puzzles during that week and Kindergarten won!  They did more puzzles than any other grade level!  Today we celebrated with a popsicle party!  

Science: every day last week Mrs. Fitch, our media specialist, came into our classroom for half the day to co-teach a science unit on weather.  We learned about various types of weather, severe weather, seasons, the sun's affect on the weather/where we live and how to dress for the weather.  Your child will bring home their "Launch Log" (journal) this week for you to see some of their learning!

Ask your child to tell you about the photos below. 

St. Patrick's Day: as I'm sure you've heard by now, those sneaky leprechaun's destroyed our classroom on Thursday while we were outside reading!  Lucky for us, they dropped their pot of gold and we were each able to bring some home! I'll post a video of their reaction on our class Facebook page. The kids looked great on this day!  Totally forgot to get a group picture, but they all looked great in their green! 

Fun with friends