Countdown to Summer

 A look at our learning...

Fundations: this week we focused on the diagraph ck.  We are learning that this diagraph appears at the end of a word AND follows a short vowel sound.  Check your Friday Folder for ways to work on this at home as well. 

Spelling words: as mentioned last week, I have noticed a decline in student's scores on their weekly spelling tests over the past few weeks.  Spring is always a busy and fun time with baseball games, cheer practice and just more time outside in general.  It is important to still make time for daily schoolwork and practicing these skills. Rather be inside than outside?  Grab some chalk and have your child write their words for 5 minutes before free play.  A sibling have a practice that the kindergartener has to come along for the ride?  Write their words on flash cards and take them along with you so your child can read in the car or at the practice.  Spend a few minutes with those same flash cards at bedtime.  The possibilities are endless! I always share the words here, with you, in hopes you will start practicing now and not wait until Monday. Setting the tone now that schoolwork comes before extra-curriculars will set them up for success down the road.  

Next week's new spelling words:

be

from

Writing Workshop: after a week of research we began our informational writing booklets about penguins.  Students are writing a 5 page book, all on their own!  They designed their own cover, learned how to write an opening page, 3 pages of facts and an ending.  We will finish these up next week and I can't wait for you to see them!  Next, we will begin learning about caterpillars and butterflies and have our own caterpillars that we will observe as they go through their changes to becoming a butterfly.  We will write our own informational books about this as well. 

Science: Mrs. Fitch, our media specialist, visited our room every day this week to team teach a science weather unit.  We learned about the sun's warming effects on the Earth and how the sun can affect our weather.  We observed the weather and collected data this past month.  We used this data to notice weather patterns and make predictions for upcoming weather.  Students had to work together to design a structure that would protect a pretend character, Milo, from the sun.  They were excellent engineers this week!  Here are a few photos from our week and the big project we completed today, but even more are on our class Facebook page! 

Countdown to summer: hard to believe it, but we are ready to begin our countdown to summer!  Please check your child's Friday Folder for a detailed note about this.  Some items are provided at school (food, materials, etc.) and some you will need to do at home (dress up days, picnic materials, etc.).  We are so excited to continue this Beulah Kindergarten tradition!  Such a fun time and memory for the students! 

Responsibility:  a reminder that students should have the following items at school every day:

1) daily take home folder (cleaned out the night before by an adult)

2) one healthy snack

3) water bottle

4) library books (books should be kept in their backpack at all times, unless reading, to ensure they have them every Tuesday)

Thank you for helping with this responsibility at home.  Managing property (personal and school supplies and technology) falls under the Work Habits criteria on the Success Ready Skills Rubric.  Managing these four items is something a kindergarten student can definitely do, rather than an adult, but reminders or setting up a system at home is helpful and appreciated. 

More fun and learning from the week