Week of September 25th

This week:

Sight Words:  a
Theme:  3 Bears
Language Arts:  Setting, Characters and Retelling
Math: Numbers to 10
Science:  Rocks and Soil
Writing:  Drawing pictures, adding labels, writing 1 sentence
Phonics:  Aa, Tt
Grammar: Adjectives

Important Dates:
September 25th:  Picture orders are due
September 28th:  Make-up pictures
September 25th-29th: PTSA fundraiser (packets come home Monday)
September 29th: No school
October 4th: Minimum Day and Walk to School Day (wear pink)
October 27th: Pumpkin Patch Field Trip
October 31st:  Halloween Centers (parent help please)

Field Trip:
Our field trip will be on October 27th.  Please note that if you are not chaperoning, you may not meet us at the patch.  All chaperone names are pre-approved by Mrs. Joye and the district policy does not allow parents to "meet" at an event without approval.  This is for the safety of the students.  Thank you!  

PTSA Memberships:
PTSA membership drive goes through this month.


Things your child should have mastered:
1.  They should be able to read the sight words I have been teaching in class. 
we, and, can , the, I , see, like
2.  They should be able to write, identify and count numbers 0-10
3.  They should know all the letters in their name.  And the letters I focused on last week: Ss and Mm.  They should know the sounds of Ss and Mm as well.  

Things you want to start incorporating into your child's homework:
1.  Writing letters Aa-Zz (you can print out the Alphabet Writing Chart by clicking on the homework tab and scrolling down).
2.  Writing numbers 1-30 (this chart is also under the homework tab).  

Assessments:
I have been assessing all students on letter id and sounds and I will send those results to you in a week or so.  This will let you know where your child stands as far as letter recognition and sounds.  You can use it as a guide as to how to work with your child


Writing:
*We have been practicing "stretching out" unknown words in our writing.  Have your child reference their sound/letter chart on the back of their take home folder for help.
I want to share with you what we have been learning about writing so you can support me at home when it comes to the Share Homework.  If you have been writing a sentence for them up to this point, that's great.  I am asking that you shift your support at this point so your child can gain more confidence in writing.  Here's what I'm teaching:
1.  THE PICTURE
In class we have been writing stories by drawing pictures.  We have been learning that our pictures should tell who was there, where they were and how they felt.  We have been learning that we want to use MANY of the crayons in our crayon box to draw details.  For example, if I am telling a story about my trip to the park, I would include the following details in my picture:
a sun, some clouds, grass, the swings I went on, the picnic lunch I had, my two boys and I would use as many colors as I could from my crayon box.
2.  TAPPING AND TELLING
After our detailed picture is complete, we have been learning to tap our details and tell the story.  (If the students can't tell a story, how will they ever learn to write a story?)  My tap and tell would sound something like this as I touched the appropriate parts of the picture:
"I went to the park with Jonas and Mattias and it was a sunny day.  We went on the swings and we had a picnic on the grass.  I packed sandwiches and watermelon.  We had a great time.
3.  ADDING LABELS
After tapping and telling, we have just begun adding labels to our picture.  I'm encouraging the students to write the sounds they hear in the object they are labeling.  For example, if we are labeling the sun, a beginner may just write an 's' for the beginning sound.  That's great!! Some students may write 'sn' because they hear the beginning and end.  Some students are working at a level that they are hearing beginning, middle and ending sounds.  We want to support the child at their level and build their confidence as their phonemic awareness improves.
I am encouraging students to add 1-2 labels to their pictures in class.

Thanks for your support!  Remember, share homework is due EVERY WEEK, any day but Friday.


Sight Words:
**I'm noticing that some of the students do not know the short list of sight words I've been teaching in class.  
the
and
can
I
see
like

Please put these in flashcards and practice them if your child can not read these words.  Thank you for your support.  

Don't forget that practicing Sight Words is a part of your child's homework. Each child has a baggie with his/her name and green flashcards.  Please help your child learn these words at a pace that is appropriate for them.  I will be teach the words I and see next week but many students are ready for more than just 2 words a week.  When your child knows all the words, have them return them to me in their Take Home Folder for a quick test.  I'm looking to see that your child is NOT sounding out the word, but recognizing it quickly.  They will receive a Brag Tag and then move onto the next list.  Students who pass all 8 sight words lists will receive a prize!  
.

Trader Joe Bags
If you have any extra paper Trader Joe bags in your cupboards that you are willing to donate to me, I would love to have them.

Homework:
Please click on the 'Homework' tab to see the homework for this week

Week of September 18th

This week:

Sight Words:  we
Theme:  3 Little Pigs
Language Arts:  Inferring, Characters and Retelling
Math:finish sorting and classifying and begin numbers to 10
Science:  Gravity and Motion
Writing:  Drawing pictures, adding labels, writing 1 sentence
Phonics:  Yy, Zz, Mm, Ss
Grammar: Verbs

Important Dates:
September 29th: No school
October 4th: Minimum Day
October 27th: Pumpkin Patch Field Trip
October 31st:  Halloween Centers (parent help please)

Field Trip:
I sent permission slips home on Thursday.  Please sign and return ASAP.  We are asking for an $8 donation before Friday September 22nd.  The pumpkin patch allows us to bring 5 chaperones per class.  I will do the lottery on Monday and notify those parents whose names were drawn.  Our parent chaperones must drive themselves and pay the entrance fee TO ME BEFORE FRIDAY.   

PTSA Memberships:
We are currently in 3rd place to will a popsicle party for the most PTSA memberships!  71% of our families in our class have paid the $9 membership fee.  If you would like to join, there's still time!  We can win the popsicle party!

Help:
I'm still looking to collect AS MANY paper towel and toilet paper rolls as possible for our STEM unit we will begin next week.  Please keep sending them!

Writing:
I want to share with you what we have been learning about writing so you can support me at home when it comes to the Share Homework.  If you have been writing a sentence for them up to this point, that's great.  I am asking that you shift your support at this point so your child can gain more confidence in writing.  Here's what I'm teaching:
1.  THE PICTURE
In class we have been writing stories by drawing pictures.  We have been learning that our pictures should tell who was there, where they were and how they felt.  We have been learning that we want to use MANY of the crayons in our crayon box to draw details.  For example, if I am telling a story about my trip to the park, I would include the following details in my picture:
a sun, some clouds, grass, the swings I went on, the picnic lunch I had, my two boys and I would use as many colors as I could from my crayon box.
2.  TAPPING AND TELLING
After our detailed picture is complete, we have been learning to tap our details and tell the story.  (If the students can't tell a story, how will they ever learn to write a story?)  My tap and tell would sound something like this as I touched the appropriate parts of the picture:
"I went to the park with Jonas and Mattias and it was a sunny day.  We went on the swings and we had a picnic on the grass.  I packed sandwiches and watermelon.  We had a great time.
3.  ADDING LABELS
After tapping and telling, we have just begun adding labels to our picture.  I'm encouraging the students to write the sounds they hear in the object they are labeling.  For example, if we are labeling the sun, a beginner may just write an 's' for the beginning sound.  That's great!! Some students may write 'sn' because they hear the beginning and end.  Some students are working at a level that they are hearing beginning, middle and ending sounds.  We want to support the child at their level and build their confidence as their phonemic awareness improves.
I am encouraging students to add 1-2 labels to their pictures in class.

Thanks for your support!  Remember, share homework is due EVERY WEEK, any day but Friday.

Math:
We will continue to practice writing, identifying and counting numbers 0-5.  It is our kindergarten goal to have a strong number sense to 5.  We will finish up our sorting and classifying unit and begin our unit on numbers to 10.


Sight Words:
**I'm noticing that some of the students do not know the short list of sight words I've been teaching in class.  
the
and
can
I
see
like

Please put these in flashcards and practice them if your child can not read these words.  Thank you for your support.  

Don't forget that practicing Sight Words is a part of your child's homework. Each child has a baggie with his/her name and green flashcards.  Please help your child learn these words at a pace that is appropriate for them.  I will be teach the words I and see next week but many students are ready for more than just 2 words a week.  When your child knows all the words, have them return them to me in their Take Home Folder for a quick test.  I'm looking to see that your child is NOT sounding out the word, but recognizing it quickly.  They will receive a Brag Tag and then move onto the next list.  Students who pass all 8 sight words lists will receive a prize!  
.

Trader Joe Bags
If you have any extra paper Trader Joe bags in your cupboards that you are willing to donate to me, I would love to have them.

Homework:
Please click on the 'Homework' tab to see the homework for this week

Week of September 11th

That was a fast week!  Our jog-a-thon went great!  A HUGE thank you to those who donated money to our classroom!  I will use it to buy construction paper, paint, crayons, glue and other supplies that we use so much of!
This week:

Sight Words:  can
Theme:  transportation
Language Arts:  Making connections/visualizing
Math: sorting and clasifying
Science:  Gravity and Motion
Writing:  Drawing pictures and adding labels
Phonics:  Tt-Xx
Grammar: Nouns

Important Dates:
September 29th: No school
October 4th: Minimum Day
October 27th: Pumpkin Patch Field Trip
October 31st:  Halloween Centers (parent help please)

Field Trip:
Our field trip to the pumpkin patch has been scheduled!  We will go on October 27th!  The pumpkin patch allows us to bring 5 chaperones per class.  Our parent chaperones must drive themselves and pay the entrance fee at the patch.  I will be selecting chaperones by using a lottery system.  Anyone who would like to chaperone, and has been board approved, can let me know and I will put their name into the "hat" and draw five names randomly.  I will be sending more info home on Monday September 18th!  

PTSA Memberships:
We are currently in 2nd place to will a popsicle party for the most PTSA memberships!  71% of our families in our class have paid the $9 membership fee.  If you would like to join, there's still time!  We can win the popsicle party!

Help:
I'm still looking to collect AS MANY paper towel and toilet paper rolls as possible for our STEM unit we will begin next week.  Please keep sending them!

Writing:
I want to share with you what we have been learning about writing so you can support me at home when it comes to the Share Homework.  If you have been writing a sentence for them up to this point, that's great.  I am asking that you shift your support at this point so your child can gain more confidence in writing.  Here's what I'm teaching:
1.  THE PICTURE
In class we have been writing stories by drawing pictures.  We have been learning that our pictures should tell who was there, where they were and how they felt.  We have been learning that we want to use MANY of the crayons in our crayon box to draw details.  For example, if I am telling a story about my trip to the park, I would include the following details in my picture:
a sun, some clouds, grass, the swings I went on, the picnic lunch I had, my two boys and I would use as many colors as I could from my crayon box.
2.  TAPPING AND TELLING
After our detailed picture is complete, we have been learning to tap our details and tell the story.  (If the students can't tell a story, how will they ever learn to write a story?)  My tap and tell would sound something like this as I touched the appropriate parts of the picture:
"I went to the park with Jonas and Mattias and it was a sunny day.  We went on the swings and we had a picnic on the grass.  I packed sandwiches and watermelon.  We had a great time.
3.  ADDING LABELS
After tapping and telling, we have just begun adding labels to our picture.  I'm encouraging the students to write the sounds they hear in the object they are labeling.  For example, if we are labeling the sun, a beginner may just write an 's' for the beginning sound.  That's great!! Some students may write 'sn' because they hear the beginning and end.  Some students are working at a level that they are hearing beginning, middle and ending sounds.  We want to support the child at their level and build their confidence as their phonemic awareness improves.
I am encouraging students to add 1-2 labels to their pictures in class.

Thanks for your support!  Remember, share homework is due EVERY WEEK, any day but Friday.

Math:
We will continue to practice writing, identifying and counting numbers 0-5.  It is our kindergarten goal to have a strong number sense to 5.  We will also start learning about sorting and classifying objects.  


Sight Words:
Don't forget that practicing Sight Words is a part of your child's homework. Each child has a baggie with his/her name and green flashcards.  Please help your child learn these words at a pace that is appropriate for them.  I will be teach the words I and see next week but many students are ready for more than just 2 words a week.  When your child knows all the words, have them return them to me in their Take Home Folder for a quick test.  I'm looking to see that your child is NOT sounding out the word, but recognizing it quickly.  They will receive a Brag Tag and then move onto the next list.  Students who pass all 8 sight words lists will receive a prize!  

Leap Frog:
I use Leap Frog letter factory to help teach letters and sounds.  You can order this inexpensive DVD off Amazon or at Target if you'd like to keep your child's letter and sound practice consistent with what I use in class.

Trader Joe Bags
If you have any extra paper Trader Joe bags in your cupboards that you are willing to donate to me, I would love to have them.

Homework:
Please click on the 'Homework' tab to see the homework for this week

Week of September 4th

We had fun learning about apples this week!  We made applesauce and planted seeds this week.

This week:

Sight Words:  and
Theme:  seasons
Language Arts:  Making connections/infrencing
Math: sorting and clasifying
Science:  Living Things
Writing:  Drawing pictures and adding labels
Phonics:  Pp-Ss

Important Dates:
Sept 4: No School
Sept 6:  Minimum Day
Sept 8: Jog-a-thon

Help:
We will be doing some STEM activities next week and I will need as many toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls as possible!  Please save them and send them in as you have them.  If we don't have enough, we won't be able to do the activity.  Thanks!

Math:
We will continue to practice writing, identifying and counting numbers 0-5.  It is our kindergarten goal to have a strong number sense to 5.  We will also start learning about sorting and classifying objects.  

Jog-a-thon:
Jog-a-thon is coming up on September 8!   
Any donations are GREATLY appreciated!!
Cash and checks can be turned in on or before Sept. 8th.


Sight Words:
Don't forget that practicing Sight Words is a part of your child's homework. Each child has a baggie with his/her name and green flashcards.  Please help your child learn these words at a pace that is appropriate for them.  I will be teach the words I and see next week but many students are ready for more than just 2 words a week.  When your child knows all the words, have them return them to me in their Take Home Folder for a quick test.  I'm looking to see that your child is NOT sounding out the word, but recognizing it quickly.  They will receive a Brag Tag and then move onto the next list.  Students who pass all 8 sight words lists will receive a prize!  

Share Homework:
Don't forget that the weekly share homework is a part of your child's homework and works to reinforce what we are learning in class in terms of writing AND curriculum.  Please help instill good homework habits early and have your child complete his/her share homework any day but Friday.  A writing assignment is required once they reach first grade and first grade does give consequences for students who have unfinished homework.  Please help lay a good foundation and good habits now so they can be successful in the future grades.  

Leap Frog:
I use Leap Frog letter factory to help teach letters and sounds.  You can order this inexpensive DVD off Amazon or at Target if you'd like to keep your child's letter and sound practice consistent with what I use in class.

Trader Joe Bags
If you have any extra paper Trader Joe bags in your cupboards that you are willing to donate to me, I would love to have them.

  Homework:

Please click on the 'Homework' tab to see the homework for this week