Goodbye February, Hello March

                                           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 child's Friday Folder for their end of unit 3 assessment and please work on any skills missed on this assessment.  

Shared Reading:  this week during Shared Reading, we read the big book Forces, which connected perfectly to our science unit on force and motion. We learned about pushes and pulls and explored how forces help objects move. We also discussed the text features of nonfiction books, such as headings, photographs, and labels, and how they help us learn new information.

Next week's new spelling words:

day

you

Writing Workshop:  we continued our opinion writing unit with the fun and engaging book Too Many Toys by David Shannon. In the story, Spencer has an enormous collection of toys and struggles to choose which ones to give away when his mom says it’s time to clean out his room. After reading, students had to decide: Did Spencer have too many toys or not? They shared their opinions verbally and then wrote their own opinion pieces, making sure to include supporting reasons. I’m so proud to say everyone had at least two strong reasons, many had even more!

Ask your child which side they chose and why. We were surprised that a majority of the class thought Spencer really did have too many toys! So… if you’ve been thinking about cleaning out the toy bins at home, it sounds like you might have some willing helpers 😉 (Although when we suggested it that way, they weren’t quite as confident!)

Check out a couple of our friends writing pieces below! 

I think he does have too many toys because it costs too much money.

.

It can fall down the stairs and they can get tangled up.  It can get broken.  It can fill the room.

I think he does have too many toys because the toys filled the staircase.

Some of the toys he hadn't played with in years.  Their was not enough room for all of his toys.

Math:  we continued learning about 2D shapes. We practiced identifying shapes and describing them by their attributes, such as the number of sides and corners (vertices). Students also worked on sorting shapes in different ways based on these attributes. For example, they sorted shapes by the number of sides, whether the sides are straight or curved, and how many corners each shape has. Refer to the parent handout in the Friday Folder for ways to extend their learning at home. 

Science: on Thursday, all kindergarten classrooms enjoyed a fun, science-filled day! Throughout the day, students rotated through all five kindergarten rooms, participating in a variety of force and motion (push and pull) activities. Check out the various stations below to see what students experienced in each room.

Our classroom – In our Force and Motion station, students experimented with bowling using pins and balls of different weights and sizes. They explored how much force was needed to knock down the pins and discovered how weight affects movement.

Mrs. Creasy's classroom – Students worked to change the direction of a “boulder” (ball) so it would roll into a dump truck instead of crashing into “Tiny Town.”

Mrs. Croom's classroom– Students explored how the size and weight of objects (balls) affect the amount of force needed to move them.

Mrs. Imler's – Students made predictions about which ramp (magnetic, paper, or block) would help a toy car travel the farthest. They tested each ramp, used a number line to measure the distance, and learned that ramps are simple machines called inclined planes.

Ms. Williams' classroom– Students participated in a hands-on activity using toilet paper tubes with balloons and rubber bands, experimenting with how to use force to move or launch a piece of paper from the tube. They explored how pushes, pulls, and different amounts of force affect movement.

Ask your child all about their experiences, and be sure to look for even more pictures on our class Facebook page! 

Lunch with the Principal:  yay Rafael!  He was chosen to have "Lunch with the Principal" for the month of February!

Packmate of the Month:  yay Tatum!  She was chosen, by her peers, as our February Packmate of the Month for showing kindness! 

 

Scholastic Book Fair:  the Scholastic Book Fair is coming back to BEU next week during parent-teacher conferences! Today we were able to preview the book fair, and the kids were so excited about all of the wonderful books they saw. I know many of them already have several titles on their wish lists, and we hope their grownups will stop by next week when you come to school for conferences!

We are still in need of several volunteers to help run the book fair. It is very easy to help, and you will be trained on the spot. We must fill all volunteer spots in order to keep the book fair open as scheduled. If you are able to help, please sign up here.  Responsible middle school or high school siblings are also welcome to sign up; it’s a great way to earn volunteer hours!

Friday Craft:  Students made leprechaun hats with the colors of the rainbow coming out of them. It’s hard to believe it will be March this weekend! I forgot to take a picture, but you will be able to see their creations during parent-teacher conferences next week. 

More fun at school

Room 302 week at a glance

                                             A look at our learning... 

Fundations: we completed unit 3 and will begin Unit 4 next week.  Unit 4 will focus on diagraphs, which are two letters that make one sound (wh, ch, sh, th, ck) 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.  

Writing, Shared Reading & Spelling: we recently wrapped up our opinion writing unit with a fun activity based on the book  Duck! Rabbit!! Students looked at the cloud image and decided whether they believed it was a duck or a rabbit. They then wrote three reasons to support their opinion and transformed their paper into their chosen animal with creative drawings. It was wonderful to see them practice sharing their thinking clearly while also adding their own artistic touch! Check out a few in the pictures below. 

We also loved how we were able to connect our opinion writing across so many areas of learning. During shared reading, we read various versions of The Little Red Hen and discussed characters’ choices. Our new spelling word, “said,” appears many times in the story, giving students extra exposure and practice. Students even created their own Little Red Hen booklet that is coming home today! In their books, they wrote the repetitive parts of the story, practicing the word “said” as they read and wrote.

For our Friday craft, students made a Little Red Hen project and shared their opinion on whether they would share the food if they were the Little Red Hen — and explained why or why not.

I LOVE when we can tie reading, writing, spelling, and crafts together in meaningful ways like this!

New spelling words of the week:

here

one

Math:  we are continuing to strengthen our understanding of 2D shapes by focusing on their attributes and using precise math vocabulary in our discussions. Many students are still unsure about identifying a trapezoid and a rhombus. At this point in the year, students are expected to recognize and name all basic 2D shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, trapezoid, and rhombus). When report cards come home in a couple of weeks, please take time to practice these shapes if your child has not yet mastered them, as we will be moving on to 3D shapes next trimester.

We are also continuing our daily work with pennies and nickels during Number Corner, reinforcing coin values and counting by 5s. Consistent practice is helping build strong number sense!

Counselor:  this week in counselor time, students explored the concept of empathy—understanding and caring about how others feel. Through discussions and books, they practiced putting themselves in someone else’s shoes and thinking about how their words and actions can make a difference. It was wonderful to see them sharing thoughtful ideas and showing kindness toward one another!

Farewell: today we were so sad to say goodbye to our sweet friend Nova, who is moving across town and will be attending a new elementary school closer to home. We will miss her so much but wish her all the best in this new adventure! We celebrated her time with us by sharing cookies together. It was a sweet way to say goodbye.

Coffee truck:  every Tuesday from 7:40–8:40 a.m., the Traveling Toms Coffee Truck will be parked in front of school! Run by the same owners as Kona Ice, they are big supporters of BEU. This isn’t just for teachers, any parent dropping off can stop by to grab a coffee. It’s a great way to support a local business and enjoy a yummy drink, especially since there isn’t a coffee shop on this side of town!

Book Fair Volunteers: just like last parent-teacher conferences, the book fair is coming back for our upcoming conferences! Mrs. Fitch needs volunteers to help run it so we can keep it open during all planned days and hours. It’s an easy shift and a fun way to support your child’s school. Have a middle or high schooler? They can volunteer too—a great way to earn service hours! Sign up here. 

More fun at school