Weeky update for March 19-23rd

March 19, 2012

A note from Mrs. Horn…

What a great field trip we had!  Thank you so much to those parents who came with us to see The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales.  The children really enjoyed the show, especially Rumplestilskin. 

I’m sure you heard about the leprechaun visit on Friday!  Our room was quite tossed up after we returned from Music class, which caused a lot of excitement!  He did leave a treat for everyone.  They had so much fun discovering the chairs on the table and his sneaky escape route through the open window!

 

Raz-Kids is off and running!  We all logged in while in the computer lab on Friday and they really enjoyed it.  The purpose of Raz-Kids is to provide a variety of books that are on your child's reading level that they can practice with at home.  Plus, it is fun and novel!  Remember to record the titles on the planner sheet the titles of books they read (regular books or Raz books) for their homework. 

Here's how your child can log on:

Go to:  www.raz-kids.com

Click the tab that says "Log in"

Then type "ChristieHorn" in the teacher username box.

You will then see a bunch of icons with the kids' names.

Find your child's name and click the icon above.

It will then ask for your child's password.  The password is their last name (Jimmy Smith's password is "smith")

 It will then show a variety of books that are on your child's independent reading level.  They can to listen to book, read a book, then take a quiz on the book.  They need to listen to and read it before they try the quiz.  As they do each task, they earn "Raz Rockets" that they can "spend" in the virtual store.  They can then "decorate" their virtual rocket room (kind of like WebKinz if you are familiar with that).  When they read all the books in their level, it will move them to the next reading level. 

Important Dates this Month:

March 21^st: Early Release Day

March 29^th: North Campus March Mania at 5:30

April 5^th: Kindergarten Poetry Potluck from 6:00-7:30 (more information to come home soon)

 What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

We will begin a unit about visualizing.  Good readers make pictures in their minds as they read.  We will close our eyes and listen to poems and stories, illustrate those visualizations and share them with each other.    

Writing Workshop

We are continuing our Poetry Unit.  Students are reading and writing a variety of poems and exploring poetic devices.      

Word Study

This week, we will explore –ill, , -ell, -all word families.

We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: two, again, play. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

Students will create and solve story problems, create a class number story book, play addition games with dice and learn about the quarter. 

Social Studies

This week we continue our unit on Geography and the seven continents.

Reminders

*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day.

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night.  Be sure to write down the title of the book they read/listened to so they can earn the “Super Reader” award. 

* Library book due every Friday.

Related Arts Schedule 

Monday-Thursday: Music

Friday: PE

Weekly Update for Week of March 12-16th

March 14, 2012

A note from Mrs. Horn…

We have our field trip to see The Brothers Grimm tomorrow at Memorial Auditorium.  We will return around 12:00, so we will have lunch in the classroom.  Please send a sack lunch that day.  If you should forget, don’t worry.  Your child will be able to purchase a lunch in the cafeteria. 

Volunteer appreciation:  You have all been so helpful this year, and supportive of your children’s learning experience.  However, we have some parents that have been able to take time out of their busy schedules to help all of the children in reading groups; we want to thank you for being a helper.  If you have volunteered at all this year, please come Friday morning at 8:30 to our Volunteer appreciation.  The children will want to celebrate you!  We’d love for you to stop in, even if it is for just a few minutes.

Important Dates this Month:

March 15^th: Brothers Grimm Field Trip

March 16^th: Volunteer appreciation 8:30-9:30

March 21^st: Early Release Day

March 29^th: North Campus March Mania at 5:30

April 5^th: Kindergarten Poetry Potluck from 6:00-7:30 (more information to come home soon)

 What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

Too many Seuss books!  This week we will continue to read several of Dr. Seuss’s books and complete activities to go along with each book. 

Writing Workshop

We are continuing our Poetry Unit.  Students will read various poems written by children their own age, notice repeating words, usage of sensory descriptors and other poetic devices.  Then they will try their own.    

Word Study

This week, we will explore -ed, -est, -ab, -ob word families.

We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: make, two, again. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

Students solve and create comparison stories, practice counting by 2s, and learn how to divide objects in half.  

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: Counting by numbers larger than 1 can make counting more efficient and help children recognize and understand number patterns.  These skills are beneficial in later grades.  In school, we call this skip counting.  Children are learning to skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s.  Look for opportunities to help your child practice skip counting.   Activity: Counting by 2s -      Look for things around the house that come in pairs (socks, shoes, eyes, and mittens).  You can count the pairs by 2s. Counting by 5s -      Count the fingers in your family by 1s.  Now count them by 5s.  Count the nickels in your money jar by 5s, too. Counting by 10s -      You’ve had lots of practice counting fingers by 10s.  Now count toes.  Try to count dimes by 10s, too.

Social Studies

This week we begin our unit on Geography.  Students will begin learning about the continents.

Reminders

*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day.

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night.

* Library book due every Monday.

Related Arts Schedule 

Monday-Wednesday: Art

Thursday-Friday: Music

 

Weekly Update

March 5, 2012

A note from Mrs. Horn…

It’s Dr. Seuss week in kindergarten!  Get ready to hear all about the rhyming fun we’re having in reading!  Don't forget to record your child's reading each night on the planner.  They really like receiving the "Super Reader" award on Mondays. 

Important Dates this Month:

March 5^th: Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 7^th: PTA Skating Party from 6:00-8:00pm at Champ’s.

March 15^th: Brothers Grimm Field Trip

March 21^st: Early Release Day

March 29^th: North Campus March Mania at 5:30

April 5^th: Kindergarten Poetry Potluck from 6:00-7:30 (more information to come home soon)

 What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

March 2nd was Dr. Seuss’s birthday!  This week we are going to read several of Dr. Seuss’s books and complete activities to go along with each book. 

Writing Workshop

We are continuing our Poetry Unit.  Students will read various poems written by children their own age, notice repeating words, usage of sensory descriptors and other poetic devices.  Then they will try their own.    

Word Study

This week, we will explore short i (-in, -ing, -it, -im)  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: their, here, help. Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

Students practice making coin exchanges with pennies, nickels, and dimes, solve comparison stories, practice counting by 2s, and learn how to divide objects in half.   

Everyday Math Home Link Family Note: Counting by numbers larger than 1 can make counting more efficient and help children recognize and understand number patterns.  These skills are beneficial in later grades.  In school, we call this skip counting.  Children are learning to skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s.  Look for opportunities to help your child practice skip counting.   Activity: Counting by 2s -      Look for things around the house that come in pairs (socks, shoes, eyes, and mittens).  You can count the pairs by 2s. Counting by 5s -      Count the fingers in your family by 1s.  Now count them by 5s.  Count the nickels in your money jar by 5s, too. Counting by 10s -      You’ve had lots of practice counting fingers by 10s.  Now count toes.  Try to count dimes by 10s, too.

Social Studies

This week we are continuing to learn about US Symbols.

Reminders

*Send in a healthy snack and water bottle every day.

* Sign your child’s weekly planner every night.

* Library book due every Friday.

Related Arts Schedule 

Monday-Tuesday: PE

Wednesday-Friday: Art