Snow Day!

 A look at our learning...

Fundations: thank you to the many families who have used the parent packets to practice tapping out words with your child! This extra practice is really showing up in their reading and writing skills at school!  I should have clarified last week, while I do hope that you do these with your child, you do not need to return them to school.  They are for you to keep at home.  The only thing that needs to be returned is the handwriting practice like normal. 

This week we reviewed uppercase letters I-N and of course, practiced tapping out words.  

Shared Reading: we read the poems Mary had a little lamb and This little piggy, as both featured our new word wall word had. Most students were familiar with these nursery rhymes from when they were younger and already had it memorized, which is great!  Memorization is a key component to reading and one of the first steps of reading.  You probably notice at home that your child can read familiar books without even attending to the words.  This isn't something to be concerned about, but rather celebrated, as this is a step in the learning to read process! 

We also read the big book Dad & I to practice our word wall word dad and were able to add this familiar reading text to our book boxes. 

Spelling Words: since we didn't have school today, we obviously didn't have our spelling test.  Assuming we return to school on Tuesday (Monday is a holiday) the plan is to move forward with introducing the two new words of the week that you see below.  Next Friday, we will have a spelling test like normal and the students will be tested on this week's words (dad, had), next week's words (mom, love) and then 6 review words.  I will attach our most recent word wall words paper to my weekly email so you can ensure you have the most up to date word list to practice over this long weekend. 

Next week's spelling words:

mom

love

Writing: as mentioned above with Fundations, I am noticing more and more students tapping out/sounding out words when writing and applying it to their stories.  The learning at school and extra practice at home, really does show up and make a difference when they are independently working.  Their stories are becoming more legible as they are able to hear and write more sounds in words.  I hope you notice this at home as well!  Many are writing about what they did over winter break, Christmas and their recent snow day! 

Math: this week we continued to explore how to build shapes in many ways.  For example, you can build a hexagon with a hexagon, but you can also use 3 trapezoids or 6 triangles, etc.  We continue to reinforce teen numbers and counting by 1's and 10's as well.  

While you are home during these snow days, see if your child can count by 1's and 10's to at least 60.  This is the goal for the end of 2nd trimester. The end of year goal is 100. 

Social Studies: we learned about Martin Luther King Jr, why he is important and his special holiday on Monday.  We will talk more about him next week as well.  So many great lessons about kindness, equality, friendship and love and how WE, no matter how small, can make a difference in our world.  

First Snow Day: We had so much fun playing in the snow at school on Monday!  Moments like this is why Kindergarten is truly magical!  The joy on their face was priceless and I loved hearing “this is the best day ever!” Mr. Foulk and a few other Beulah Ralph staff members even joined Kindergarten playing in the snow!  

I love that so many kiddos went home and tried out the magic tricks that ensure a snow day: pj’s inside out and backwards, spoon under their pillow and flush ice down the toilet!  Who thought of these silly things? Who knows, but I love the excitement it brings!  Kindergarteners first snow day is something special!  Thanks for allowing them to have this fun at home!

Snow Days at home: going a little stir crazy since you can't get outside in the bitter cold?  Here are some fun ideas that incorporate learning, fun and some even give mom and dad a few minutes of peace and quiet (hopefully lol).

*Read for at least 15 minutes and record on their January reading log

*Download "Teach your Monster to Read" app and let them play.  They use it at school and it's an amazing learning app.  I fully support the use of technology when they are using apps like this.  Let them know they can't play their non educational apps (Roblox or whatever it may be, until they do at least 20 minutes of an educational one!) 

*Make homemade play-dough, linked here.  Math and fine motor skills here!

*Play Uno, but incorporate math.  Click here to learn how. 

*Play board games and card games as a family!  

*Practice our spelling words in fun ways.  Here's a list of ideas. 

Yearbook orders: last chance to order yearbooks!  They are due by January 15th. At the end of the year we do an "A-Z Kindergarten Countdown to Summer" and X day is "eXchange autographs."  Each yearbook has a page for class autographs and we will use the yearbooks then.  You do not have to order, but wanted you to know about this ahead of time.  Students who do not have a yearbook will be given a special autograph paper from me so that they can still participate.  To order your yearbook visit: inter-state.com/order and enter code: 81979E.

Friday folders will be sent home the next day we are at school. 

Working hard at school

Don't forget, we would love if all students wore their BEU gear every Monday!

Have a great weekend and stay warm!