A look at our learning...
Fundations: using the knowledge we have gained this year, we are really focusing on building and reading sentences independently. We have learned that we don't need a grown-up to tell us how to spell or read something and that's pretty cool! It is still their natural urge to ask an adult "how do you spell..." or "what does this say?" but I challenge YOU, the grown-up, to stop doing this. When they ask you this, remind them that they know all of their letters and sounds and are readers and writers now! Encourage them to tap it out and try! There will always be new words that they don't know, but many they do! Phonetic spelling is age appropriate unless it's a word wall word they have previously learned.
Please refer to the parent packet in the Friday Folder to practice this. I encourage you to use these activities over the next week. You will be impressed by what your child can do! They have learned so much this school year and I'm so proud of them!
Spelling Words: today we took our last "normal" spelling test of the year! We have learned 37 word wall words this school year! Impressive! It is important that your child can quickly read and write all 37 words when they enter first grade. Still have some words that they struggle with? Practice regularly this summer! Do they get 10/10 every week? Still practice this summer so they don't lose that knowledge!
On Wednesday, we will have our end of Kindergarten spelling test over all 37 words. They will have a written assessment and a verbal assessment (reading the words on flash cards). The tests will come home with their report cards on the last day of Kindergarten.
Writing Workshop: we are working on special Kindergarten memory books that will come home at the end of the year. We focus on the skills mentioned above during this time as well.
I have noticed some friends work is sloppier/messier than normal... handwriting and drawing/coloring. When the end of the school year is near, and fun is being had, effort can slack a bit. Any encouragement from home to continue to do their best work, and holding them accountable at home as well, is appreciated. I always tell them that now that they know how to form all letters correctly, thanks to Fundations, they MUST write their letters like that for the rest of their life! Continuing to hold them accountable, even through the summer, will set them up for a successful start to 1st grade.
Math: our lessons this week focused on addition and subtraction within 10. We did this through story problems and games. Please refer to the parent packets in the Friday Folder for ways to extend their learning at home.
They are playing a subtraction game using dice, counters and a 10 frame in the photos below.
Science: we have had fun learning about caterpillars and butterflies, and watching them change, for the past two weeks! Today we released our painted lady butterflies into "the wild" as the kiddos liked to say! A video will be shared on the class Facebook page. They were able to play on the nature playground for a few minutes afterwards.
A to Z Countdown to Summer: another fun week! We watched Sonic the Hedgehog for Movie Day, enjoyed laughs on New Name Day, enjoyed the sunshine on Outdoors Day, Pajama Day is always the best and tried our best to have a calm day for Quiet Day lol!
Design Challenge: we participated in another design challenge with Mrs. Fitch! We had to figure out how to make a nest to keep our bird eggs safe! The nest couldn't touch the "ground" (bottom of the bucket) and could only use the materials provided. Design challenges are great for problem solving, cooperation and teamwork! Ask your child to tell you more about it and if their nest was successful!
Happy Nurses Week to Nurse Lolli! We are so blessed to have such an amazing, caring nurse!
The students love her as much as the staff!
