Tuesday Note :)

Events of the Week:       How is it possible to fit so much into a short week?  We’re not really sure, but somehow, we did it!  We talked a lot about the first Thanksgiving and where Thanksgiving came from.  Each class made either Pilgrim, Native American, or turkey headbands.  We made macaroni necklaces to trade with the other kindergarten classes. During lunch we traded our necklace with the kindergarten class that sat across from us.  Then all the kindergarten classes got together and we had our Share Feast.  The kindergartners had a great time sharing and trading. 

We learned about the letter Qq and its sound!  The sight word for this week was “go”.   

Important Dates to Remember:            

o   Nov. 23-25:  Thanksgiving Break

o   Dec. 1:  Picture Retakes (send back the original picture package)

o   Dec. 1:  Cox Care Mobile

o   Dec. 12:  Kindergarten Winter Program @ 6:00 p.m.

o   Dec. 16:  Classroom Christmas Party

o   Dec. 21-Jan.3:  Christmas Break

Recess:  Even though the weather is turning cold, we still go out to recess.  It is important to remember to send your child to school with a coat EVERYDAY.  You may also send mittens, gloves, hat, scarf, etc.  Please write their name inside/on all of your child’s cold weather gear!  If it is too cold or wet outside, we will have inside recess.  Your child may bring a small toy to play with at recess when we stay inside.  These toys must stay in their backpack until recess time.

Rest mats are coming home today.  Please wash and return on Monday.  :)

Next Week:

    We will begin our unit on scientific tools. 

    In math, we will begin learning about the parts of numbers 1-10.

    We will learn about the letter Ii.

    Our sight word will be “me”. 

      

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving Break!  Enjoy your time with your family!!

~Mrs. Vaughn

Friday Note

Events of the Week:

This was our last week to focus on reading folk tales.  Here’s what we did in each workshop:

·         Math- We finished our unit on comparing and ordering numbers from 0 to 10.  We learned about how one number can be greater than or less than another number.  We also found numbers that are two more and two fewer.  We practiced putting the numbers from 0 to 10 in the correct order. 

·         Language Workshop— We concentrated on the book The Three Little Pigs.  We focused on story elements, such as characters, settings, and major events.  We introduced vocabulary words that are in the story, such as: trot, sturdy, and furious. We also practiced retelling the story by telling what happened in the beginning, the middle, and the end.  We finished the week by reading other versions of the story. The students also enjoyed wolf’s version of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.  Today we had fun using different tools and supplies to build our own house for the pigs to live in.  Pictures to See Saw coming soon. 

·         Writing Workshop—We learned the sight word “with”.  We practiced stretching sounds as we wrote sentences about the pigs and the wolf.  The students are practicing using spaces between words, a capital letter at the beginning, and an ending mark at the end of each sentence. 

·         Reading Workshop—Students continue to practice previously taught skills by working independently on engaging activities during Literacy Centers while I work with small groups. We are continuing to read independently each day as well. 

·         Word Study—Our letter for the week was “Ii”.  We learned that Ii is a vowel and can make a short sound and a long sound. 

·         Content Workshop—We learned about the first Thanksgiving and did some fun Thanksgiving activities.

Important Dates:

o   Nov. 22:  Kindergarten Share Feast

o   Nov. 23- 25:  Thanksgiving Break            

o   Dec. 1:  Picture Retakes  

o   Dec. 12:  Kindergarten Winter Program - 6:00 p.m. at the high school 

Picture Retake Information

If you would like for your child to have his/her picture retaken, please return the original picture package.  The information on the package is needed so that the photographer knows what to re-enter in the system to ensure you get the same package you ordered.  Thanks!

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I    is    like    see    my    a    the    be   

it   he    she   to   can   with

Share Feast

All of Kindergarten is coming together on Tuesday, November 22^nd to celebrate the first Thanksgiving.  Please send your child with a favorite individual-sized snack (cheez-its, chips, pretzels, m&ms, etc.) by Monday, November 21^st that we will combine together to make a Share Feast for all to enjoy. 

Lost and Found

Our lost and found fence is overflowing!   If your child has lost something come check out our lost and found fence in front of the office.  All unclaimed items will be donated after Thanksgiving break. 

The Cox Care Mobile is scheduled to be at Clever Schools on Thursday, December 1, 2016. Your child can be seen for FREE whether you have insurance or not. Services are available for children ages birth to eighteen years. You may call the school nurse to inquire about the services provided, to schedule an appointment, or to receive the necessary paperwork. Thank you!

Next Week:

• We will continue talking about Thanksgiving traditions. 
• Our share feast will be on Tuesday. 
• Our sight word will be “go”.
• We will learn about the letter “Qq” and the sound the letter makes. 

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn  

Friday Note

Events of the Week:

Math: We started a new unit on comparing and ordering numbers from 1 to 20.  We learned about how one number can be greater than or less than another number.  We also found numbers that are one more and one fewer.  We will continue this unit next week.

Our focus in reading this week was on folk tales.  Here’s what we did in each workshop:

• Language Workshop: Our mentor text for the week was The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  We focused on story elements, such as characters, settings, and major events.  We introduced vocabulary words that are in the story, such as: valley, meadow, rushing, troll, roared, gobble, and trampled.  We also practiced retelling the story by telling what happened in the beginning, the middle, and the end.  The students really enjoyed using the story pieces to retell.  We finished the week by reading other versions of the story.  

I am sending home a copy of the assessment I did this week on character, setting, and major events.  Remember if your child didn’t score proficient on this assessment we will continue working on it at school and re-test before the quarter ends.  

• Writing Workshop: We learned the sight word “to”.  This week we practiced using magnetic whiteboards and letters to build and write the sight words we have learned so far.  We also introduced “Writing Journals”.  Journals are used for students to write about whatever they choose while practicing the writing process.    

• Reading Workshop: I introduced a new reading strategy to help students sounds out unknown words.  Use your finger, look across the word, say the parts aloud.  

Students continue to work independently in literacy centers while I meet with small groups.     

• Word Study: Our letter for the week was “Ee”.  We learned that Ee is a vowel and can make a short sound and a long sound.  

Important Dates:  

• Nov. 22:  Kindergarten Share Feast
• Nov. 23-Nov. 25:  Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• Dec. 1:  Fall picture retakes

Share Feast  

All of Kindergarten will come together on Tuesday, November 22nd to celebrate the first Thanksgiving.  Please have your child bring in ONE INDIVIDUAL-SIZED favorite snack (Cheez-its, mini marshmallows, pretzels, M&M’s, etc.) before this day so we can combine it all together to make a Share Feast for all to enjoy. Thanks so much for your help!

Attendance

We have set an expectation that students should meet the 94% threshold in order to participate in clubs, field trips, dances, etc.  Participation in these types of events is a privilege, and this is earned, in part, by showcasing good behavior and maintaining excellent attendance.  Please make sure your child is attending school every day and is arriving on time.

Sight  Words  

I sent home a sight word assessment in folders on Wednesday.  I was very proud at how well my students did on correctly naming sight words!  Please be sure to work with your child at home on sight words.  

Reading Journey

I hope you are finding a special time to read every day with your child.  This is a great time to practice using reading strategies we have learned, finding the letters we have learned and sight words.  The Reading Journey ends on December 16th and we will have a reading celebration the following week.  

BOOK ORDER

I am waiting until Monday to place the Scholastic book order.  If you are wanting to order books please order online or send in money on Monday.  Thanks

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements.  
• In Language Workshop, we will be focusing on the book The Three Little Pigs.
• We will learn about the letter “Ii” and the two sounds the letter makes.  
• We will learn about Thanksgiving.
• In math, we will continue to compare and order numbers 0-20.
• Our sight word will be “with”.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn

Friday Note

Events of the Week:

Math:  We continued our math topic on teen numbers this week.  We played games and did activities that would help us identify, count and write numbers 11 through 20. 

Language Workshop: We focused on story elements with the book The Little Red Hen.  On Monday, we introduced vocabulary words that are in the story such as: gossip, vain, plump, sprout and knead.  On Tuesday, we identified the characters in the story.  On Wednesday, we identified the setting in the story.  On Thursday, we discussed the sequence of events by retelling the story.  On Friday, we read a different version of The Little Red Hen and compared the two books.  The kids had quite a heated discussion as to whether the hen should have shared her bread or not!

Reading Workshop: Students continued to work independently on various literacy skills during literacy centers while I worked with small groups on things like letter identification, blending and segmenting CVC words, and reading leveled books.   

This week I introduced a new reading strategy.  We talked about getting your mouth ready to sound out words.   

Writing Workshop:  We wrote a sentence each day telling what the Hen did throughout the story.  Have your child read this to you.  You will notice on the back side of each paper your child practiced writing the sounds they heard in each word on their own before writing it the correct way in the sentence. 

Word Study: Our sight word for the week was “she”.  Our letter for the week weas “Aa”    

Content Workshop: We played various phonics games to enforce letter sounds, blending and segmenting words, and sight word practice. 

Important Dates:

·        Nov. 9: Cox CARE Mobile 

·        Nov. 11: Book Order is Due!

·        Nov. 23-Nov. 27:  Thanksgiving Break

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I   is   a   my   like   she

 see   the   it   he   be   can

Reading Journey

Remember to be working on the reading journey for this quarter! You can help your

child meet their reading goal by reading daily with them.

Extra Clothes

Please send an extra set of clothes with your child to keep in his/her backpack in case of an accident at school. We will make sure that your child changes into the clothes if an accident happens. Thank you!

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements. 
• In Language Workshop, we will be focusing on the book The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
• Our sight word will be “to”.
• We will learn about the letter “Ee” and learn the long and short sound the letter makes. 
• We will introduce the reading strategy, “Use your finger, look across the word, say the parts aloud.” 
• In math, we will begin comparing and ordering numbers 0-10.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn