We are excited for warmer weather, more outside recess days and picnic lunches!
A look at our learning...
Fundations: this week we learned how to know if we use the letter c or k in a word since they make the same sound. We learned that it depends on the vowel that follows the c or k sound. If we hear the vowel sound a, o, u then we use the letter c. If we hear the vowel sound i or e, we use the letter k. They have caught onto this quickly! I'm super impressed! We have this chart hanging in our classroom to help us.
Next weeks word wall words:
was
look
Writing Workshop: our focus continues to be "telling more" by including who is in the story (characters), where the story takes place (setting) and 3 details. I have noticed that many are getting better at re-reading their writing to make sure it makes sense and to remind themselves what they have already said so that they know what to write next. Re-reading and checking your work for mistakes is tough for Kinders, but I notice many doing a nice job of this lately!
Math: we continued to work on teen numbers. We really dove into how teen numbers are a group of 10 and some left over. For example: 13 is 10 and 3 left over, 17 is 10 and 7 left over, etc. Talking about teen numbers like this would be a great thing to practice at home as well. You can check their Seesaw for a lesson they did this week with this.
We also learned a new math game that helps with addition called "Ten Bears on a Bus." They learned how to play in the classroom with real bear shaped math manipulatives and a 10 frame for their bus. They found different ways that 10 bears could sit on a bus....8 and 2, 7 and 3, etc. They were also able to play this game on their iPad in their Connect Ed math app. It looks like the image below and is inside the CPS portal (cloud icon on their iPad).
Ask your child to show you the math games on the Connect Ed app on their iPad. They have learned several of the games at school and are welcome to play them any time at home.
Social Studies: last week we focused on families and traditions. This week our lessons were centered around historical figures. We learned how to use PebbleGo to research historical figures. Then they had to pick one historical figure they learned about and create a "news report" in Seesaw telling us all about that person! Check out their videos in Seesaw, they are super cute!
They know how to access Pebble Go, ask them to show you where they go to learn about historical figures.
Earthquake Drill: this week we participated in our first Earthquake drill and they did a great job! We discussed what an Earthquake is, how we go under our tables and hang on for safety and then when the ground stops shaking we would head outside. As with any drill, we talked about how it is rare that these things happen, and we don't need to worry, but we practice so that we know what to do just in case!
Makerspace: we love participating in the monthly Makerspace activities by Mrs. Fitch and Mrs. Canepa, our media specialists. Today we learned about rainbows and how they are made! We even got to make our own rainbows with markers, paper towels and cups of water! They will come home next week (if they chose to keep them), as they needed to dry over the weekend. Check out the pictures and cute video below!
St. Patrick's Day: ohhhh that tricky leprechaun paid us a visit on Thursday! He was disappointed we weren't at school on his favorite holiday, so he left us quite the surprise! We were sent on a hunt around the school to try and find him and when we returned to our classroom, after an unsuccessful search, we were surprised to find quite the mess in our room! Luckily, he left us some gold as well!
Citizen of the Month: we had two winners this month! Our classroom winner was Sion and Coach C chose Lataveon for the specialists choice! Way to go! We are super proud of both boys!
Fundations: as always, please check your child's take home folder for words to "tap out" and read and "tap out" and write this next week at home. We just finished week 4 and are beginning week 5 (you will see this on the packet).
Please make sure you are also practicing our word wall words on a regular basis. While the best way to help your child would be to make it a nightly routine, just like reading to them is, at least try to practice 3 nights a week, at the minimum. Please practice in a variety of ways: write them on flash cards and have your child read them, say the word verbally and have your child write it on a piece of paper, YOU write the words on a paper or individual post its or flash cards and have your child find it. We want fluent, flexible thinkers. Often children only practice writing the words and then have more difficulty reading the words in books. The more ways you practice, the more successful and confident you are helping your child to be.
Next week's word wall words:
as
has
Please check your child's take home folder for their most recent copy of words.
This comes home every Friday.
Literacy Workstations: another good way to check how your kiddo is doing with being able to tap out and spell words independently, is to check out their Seesaw on Friday's. One of our workstations is a CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) activity where they have to tap out words to read and spell and make the correct matches. If you check it out today, you will see it....it is Leprechaun themed this month. They may not always get the work finished in class, as there are 7-8 pages, but they can always finish it at home as extra practice.
Writing Workshop: we continue to work hard on telling more detail, using correct letter formation and line placement and word spaces.
Below is a great example of Kindergarten writing, by one of our students. This was done independently and without any help from me. This is an end of year goal for ALL students in writing.
While it is VERY readable, here is what it says:
"I like P.E. with Coach C because he is so funny. And he takes us outside and makes us do some fun exercises."
Math: we learned several new math games this week: Top it with number cards (a set came home earlier this week so you can play at home), roll and record with dot dice (this is an addition game...they roll two dice and add them together and then write their answer on a recording sheet in their math notebook to practice number formation) and continued to work on our tricky teen numbers!
Social Studies: this week we started our unit on families. We have been using the information you filled out for me a couple of weeks ago about where your family is from, traditions you have, etc. We've really enjoyed getting to know each other better and it has been super cool to show where everyone's family is from. Our class is pretty special to have friends from all over the world!
Check your child's Seesaw (and take home folder) for an activity they did today about special milestones in their life. It was pretty neat to hear what THEY thought was a special time in their lives. We shared about loosing teeth for the first time, learning how to ride a bike without training wheels, special trips, etc. I love seeing the world through their eyes. They show us that simple things are the best things!
Recess: the past week has been super exciting, as we are now able to play on the recess equipment on the back playground, if that is our recess rotation for that day, the nature play center is also open and a new recess rotation and so is the front "kindergarten" playground! It is so good to see the kids being able to play on the equipment! It has been like Christmas all week long! Their smiles, giggles and pure joy is the best! We also enjoyed lunch outside several times this week. We will eat outside any chance we get!
