PTA Christmas Parties 

Dec 19 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM   Clever Elementary

Elementary PTA Christmas Parties will be on Tuesday, December 19th. We will have early dismissal this day (please note this is a change from the scheduled calendar) and we will follow this party schedule: 

11:30-12:00 Party Set Up Time 

(Homeroom Parent & Helper ONLY) 

12:00-1:00 Class Parties (All Parents) 

1:00-1:15 Student Dismissal Holiday Break Begins!

Friday Note 11-17-17

Events of the Week:

Math: We continued our topic on measurement and worked on comparing objects.  We learned comparing words such as enough, not enough, more than, less than, same as, and fewer.  We have also continued to review numbers 0-10.  If your child has not mastered identifying these numbers, please continue to work with them at home.  I will work with them in small groups and then reassess in the next couple of weeks.

• Language Workshop: We read several different versions of 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. The students also enjoyed wolf’s version of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.  Students did a good job comparing and contrasting the different versions of the book.   

• 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: We are working in literacy centers independently while I am working with students in small groups.  We used a book called What I Like to practice the reading strategies we have already learned.  Your child has this book in their book bag to continue to practice reading during independent reading time and rest time.  Please encourage your child to use these reading strategies when reading at home.   

• Content: We read several nonfiction books about Thanksgiving and talked a lot about the first Thanksgiving and where the holiday came from.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.   

Important Dates:    

• Nov. 20-24- Thanksgiving Break - No School
• Nov. 30- Picture Retakes
• Nov. 30-PTA Skate Night 6:00-8:00 @ Skateland
• Dec. 11-  Cox Care Mobile

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I   is   a   my   like   she   see   

the   it   he   be  can   to  with

Bonus words for the week:  little  make

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!

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 18th and we will have a reading celebration the following day.  

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements.  
• In Language Workshop, we will begin our unit on The Gingerbread Man.
• We will learn about the letters “Qq”, “Rr”, “Ss” and “Tt”.   
• In math, we will finish our unit on comparing amounts then begin comparing numerals.
• Our sight words will be “go” and “we”. Bonus word: where

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving Break!

Enjoy your time with your family!!

~Mrs. Vaughn

Friday Note 11-10-17

Events of the Week:

Math: We continued our topic on measurement and worked on comparing the weight and volume of objects.  We have also continued to review numbers 0-10.  If your child has not mastered identifying these numbers, please continue to work with them at home.  I will work with them in small groups and then reassess in the next couple of weeks.

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

• Language Workshop: We focused on the book The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  We focused on story elements, such as characters, settings, and key 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.  

• Writing Workshop: This week we practiced writing in our “Writing Journals”.  Journals are used for students to write about whatever they choose.  During this time I am meeting with a small group of students for a writing conference.  This is my time to work one on one with students on any of their writing needs.  Helping them form a sentence, sounding out words, making sure they have finger spaces, punctuation, capital letters, etc.  I generally only meet with students once a week so that means the other 4 days of the week they are writing strictly on their own.  I am VERY proud of how well each student has done with writing this week!      

• Reading Workshop: Students are working in literacy centers independently while I am working with students in small groups.  I introduce the reading strategy, “Get your mouth ready to make the first sound” this week.   Please encourage your child to use these reading strategies when reading at home.  

• Word Study: We played a few sight word games this week to practice sight words and bonus words that we have learned so far.  Yesterday I sent home a sight/bonus word assessment.  They did so good!  Almost all of my students are proficient in sight words which is AMAZING!

We also worked on how to correctly format letters of the alphabet by using our whiteboards.  

Important Dates:  

• Nov. 13 - Cox CARE Mobile
• Nov. 17 - Kindergarten Share Feast  
• Nov. 20-24- Thanksgiving Break - No School
• Nov. 30- Picture Retakes
• Nov. 30-PTA Skate Night 6:00-8:00 @ Skateland 

Share Feast  

All of Kindergarten will come together on Friday, November 17th 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 that we will combine together to make a Share Feast for all to enjoy. Thanks so much for your help!  Please send the item in by next Wednesday.

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 18th and we will have a reading celebration the following day.  

Book Bags

Information was sent home earlier in the week about book bags.  Today I sent home  2 books inside a freezer bag along with a book log.  For each book your child reads, please sign your name beside the title on the book log so that I am sure your child has read it.  Return the book and book log in the bag each Friday and I will send new ones home.  I suggested students keep their book bag in their backpack throughout the week unless they get it out to read their books.  That way it is easier to keep track of the books.

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements.  
• In Language Workshop, we will read  The Three Little Pigs and then spend the rest of the week reading various Folktales.      
• We will learn about Thanksgiving.
• In math, we will begin comparing amounts.
• Our sight word will be “with” and our bonus words will be “little” and “make”.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn

Friday Note 11-03-17

Events of the Week:

Math:  We began Topic 3 on measurement and worked specifically on longer, shorter and taller.  We have also continued to review numbers 0-10.  If your child has not mastered identifying these numbers, please continue to work with them at home.  I will work with them in small groups and then reassess in the next couple of weeks.

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

Reading Workshop: This week in small group we began reading simple books.  We talk about the book together before we read it.  I review sight words that they may see in the book, we go over any tricky words they may see and decode them together and we talk about what the book may be about.  Then we read the book together as a small group.  

 

At some point during the week students should have brought a book home in their backpack.  They are to read the book to you and bring it back the next day.  I am very proud at how well they are doing with reading.  I hope you are too.  :)  

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”.  We also reviewed letters Dd, Gg, Hh and Ee with an emphasis on learning the sound(s) and path of movement (correct way to write each letter).

Content Workshop: We introduced the reading strategy “Look at the Picture”.  We practiced using this strategy with a book called I Can and several other level A reading texts.  

Important Dates:

• Nov. 9- Veteran's Day Assembly 1:30-2:30
• Nov. 13- Cox Care Mobile
• Nov. 20-24- Thanksgiving Break
• Nov. 30- Picture Retakes
• Nov. 30-PTA Skate Night 6:00-8:00 @ Skateland 

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I   is   a   my   like   she   see   the   it   he   be   can

Bonus words for this week: find   help

***Reminder: These are words your child should be able to read by sight!

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 books The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
• Our sight word will be “to” and our bonus words will be “funny” and “jump”
• We will review the letters Jj, Kk, Ll and Ii.
• We will introduce the reading strategy, “Get your mouth ready to make the first sound” with a book called I Go.
• In math, we will continue comparing objects through measurement.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vaughn