WEEK OF NOV. 30 - DEC. 3, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

MONDAY THRU THURSDAY: HOMEWORK IS 1/2 SHEET OF READING AND MATH PRACTICE.

THIS WEEK WE WILL BE LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE CONSONANT Ss AS IN SUN, SEAL AND SNAKE. SINCE THIS IS A SHORT WEEK, WE WILL NOT HAVE SHOW 'N TELL.

WE WILL BE READING "ANIMAL BABIES IN THE GRASSLANDS" FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS. THEN WE WILL BEGIN THE ANIMAL FANTASY STORY, "BEAR SNORES ON" BY KARMA WILSON. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT ANIMAL HABITATS. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK WE WILL REVIEW THE LETTER Pp, THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE LETTER Cc WITH THE SOUND /K/. WE WILL STUDY THE MAIN IDEA OF THE BOOKS AND REALISM VERSUS FANTASY.

IN MATH WE WILL SHOW TIME TO THE HOUR ON A CLOCK. WE WILL IDENTIFY NUMBERS 0-10 AND THE CONCEPTS OF BEFORE, AFTER AND BETWEEN. WE WILL START WORKING WITH MONEY AMOUNTS TO 10 CENTS.

ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH WE WILL BE SHOPPING AT SANTA'S WORKSHOP. SO IT ONLY SEEMED NATURAL WE WOULD START WRITING LETTERS TO SANTA IN OUR CLASSROOM THIS WEEK. OF COURSE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MANY HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 22-24, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

THIS WEEK WILL BE A SHORT ONE. TWO DAYS AND, THEN, A 1/2 DAY ON WEDNESDAY. STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED ON WEDNESDAY AT 11:45.

THERE WILL BE HOMEWORK ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHTS. THE USUAL 1/2 SHEET WILL BE SENT HOME IN THEIR FOLDERS. PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE TIME TO READ TOGETHER OVER THE 5-DAY HOLIDAY. I WILL ALSO BE SENDING HOME A BROWN ENVELOPE WITH THE SIGHT WORDS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. TO DATE WE HAVE COMPLETED 40 PHONICS LESSONS, SO STUDENTS SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH SIGHT WORDS FROM LESSONS 1-40.

IN READING WE WILL READ "ANIMAL BABIES IN GRASSLANDS," A NON-FICTION BOOK. WE WILL REVIEW THE LETTER Pp AND DISCUSS WHAT THE "MAIN IDEA" OF A BOOK IS.

IN MATH WE WILL TALK ABOUT TELLING TIME TO THE HOUR. WE WILL ALSO LEARN ABOUT IDENTIFYING ORDINAL POSITION TO THE FOURTH.

STUDENTS WILL BE CHOOSING NATIVE AMERICAN NAMES AND MAKING VESTS TO WEAR HERE IN SCHOOL ON TUESDAY! ON WEDNESDAY WE WILL HAVE A GET-TOGETHER WITH OUR FOURTH GRADE READING BUDDIES. WE WILL TRAVEL TO MRS. FEY'S ROOM FOR POPCORN AND A MOVIE.

SOME REMINDERS:

SANTA'S WORKSHOP WILL HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH(THE DAY WE RETURN TO SCHOOL!!!) OUR CLASS WILL SHOP AT 11:30.

SCHOOL STORE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL JANUARY, 2011 DUE TO SANTA'S WORKSHOP AND THE HOLIDAYS.

THE NSE CHRISTMAS CONCERT WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT 9:30 A.M. AT THE NORTH SCHUYLKILL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND IS DAY 1. WE WILL HAVE COMPUTERS.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16-19, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

This week we tackle another vowel, Ii. We will spend most time on the short Ii sound as in inch, igloo and iguana. We will talk about the long sound when Ii says its name as in icicle. Since it will be a short week, we will not have show 'n tell.

Why is it a short week? Monday is an Act 80 day and school will be closed for students. Enjoy the 3 day weekend, especially with the nice, warm weather. School will reopen on Tuesday and it will be Day 1. We will have Computers and Library. Please send library books in to be returned.

In Reading we will read "Armadillo's Orange" and talk about orange groves. We will introduce the letter Ss and talk about the setting of this story and others. We will review the high-frequency words: have and is.

In Math we will start learning about coins, specifically, the penny. Children will be counting pennies and acting out story problems with pennies. They will also work with shapes and will learn what a matrix is (did you know what a matrix was in kindergarten?). Then they will be able to find a missing shape in a matrix.

We will also begin learning about Thanksgiving and doing related projects and kid-writing. We will also work with our Reading Buddies on Thanksgiving projects and books.

Next week we will also have a guest speaker, Mrs. Clarissa Geary, who will present an age-appropriate program on "personal body safety" to our class. She will be here on Wednesday morning. Please be sure to talk to your child about this program.

Hope you enjoyed the moustache your child received on Friday (for the letter Mm). If you didn't get to see it-don't worry, I did take photos of the children. We love funny photos in kindergarten!!

Again, we will continue to send home a half-sheet of homework from Tuesday to Thursday night. The children are doing an excellent job with completing their homework each night.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8-12, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

THIS WEEK WE WILL LEARN ALL ABOUT THE CONSONANT Mm AS IN MONKEY, MOM AND MOUSTACHE. SHOW 'N TELL WILL BE ON FRIDAY, AS USUAL, AND CHILDREN CAN BRING THEIR Mm-BAGS BACK FROM TUESDAY UNTIL FRIDAY.

IN READING WE WILL START A NEW UNIT OF STORIES THAT CENTER ON ANIMAL HABITATS ("ANIMALS LIVE HERE"). WE WILL START WITH A BIG BOOK CALLED "LIFE IN AN OCEAN." ALONG WITH THIS STORY WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE SKILL OF COMPARING AND CONTRASTING. WE WILL INTRODUCE TWO NEW SIGHT WORDS-HAVE, IS.

IN MATH WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE ORDINAL POSITION-FOURTH; WE WILL PRACTICE PUTTING NUMBER CARDS (0-10) IN ORDER AND FINDING MISSING NUMBERS. WE WILL IDENTIFY NUMBERS 0-9; WE WILL SEQUENCE WEEKLY EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN OUR CLASS. FINALLY WE WILL SOLVE A PROBLEM BY LOOKING FOR A PATTERN, THEN, STUDENTS WILL BE ASSESSED BY COUNTING OBJECTS AND MAKING AN IDENTICAL ROW OF OBJECTS TO MATCH.

REMEMBER TO STUDY THE 2ND READING WORD LIST THAT WAS SENT HOME ON FRIDAY IN YOUR CHILD'S FOLDER (IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER). STUDENTS WILL BE TESTED ON THESE WORDS EACH FRIDAY.

CHILDREN ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THEIR HOMEWORK. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEND HOME A HALF-SHEET OF PRACTICE EACH NIGHT THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE CURRENT READING UNIT.

NEXT WEEKEND WILL BE A 3-DAY WEEKEND FOR CHILDREN DUE TO AN ACT-80 DAY ON MONDAY.

REMEMBER TO SIGN AND RETURN YOUR CHILD'S REPORT CARD.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 1-5, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

This week we will be learning all about the consonant Nn, as in nest, nose and nut. As usual, show 'n tell will be on Friday.

This will be an eventful week! Tuesday is Election Day. Please remember to vote-it's every adult's responsibility.

Tuesday is also the day we will have parent/teacher conferences. Currently, all of the conference times are booked, but, if you would like a conference and have not booked one; I will be available on Monday, November 8th between 4 and 5 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 5th, the first marking period report cards will be sent home. Look in your child's take-home folder for the report card. Please sign it and return it to school.

In Reading we will take a few more days to read the book, "Dig, Dig, Digging." Then we will wrap up Unit 1 and children will be tested on the skills learned.

In Math, we will work with patterns, sort a collection of objects, put the numbers 1--10 in order and identify a missing number. Students will also work on counting backward from 10 and identifying the ordinal position to fourth. Students will also practice writing the numbers 5 and 6.

For homework the students will receive a half-sheet of reading/math/writing practice each night from Monday to Thursday. The half-sheet should be on the "bring back" side of his/her folder.

The 2nd marking period will begin on Wednesday of this week!

WEEK OF OCTOBER 25-29, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

This week we will learn all about the letter Aa as in apple, ant and acorn. We will have show'n tell on Friday morning. We will concentrate on the short /a/ sound as in apple.

This week is also "Red Ribbon Week" at NSE. Children will be doing different activities to help educate them and keep them drug-free. Each day has a different theme:

Monday-"Turn your back on drugs"-wear your shirt backwards

Tuesday-"Sock it to drugs"-wear crazy socks

Wednesday-"Put a cap on drugs"-wear crazy hats

Thursday-"drugs will turn you inside out"-wear shirts inside out

Friday-"red spirit day"-wear red school spirit shirts

Friday, October 29th, will be the Halloween parade/party. Parents who are helping and have clearances on file will be able to enter the building at 1:00 p. m. The parade will begin at 2:00. Parties will end at 3:00. Your child should not wear his/her costume to school. Please send the costume to school in a bag with your child's name on the outside. Students will get dressed in costumes with the help of teachers and homeroom helpers. Please keep the costumes as simple as possible. All are welcome to come and see the parade.

Conferences will be scheduled for Tuesday, November 2nd. Fill out the form that was attached to our weekly newsletter, if you would like a conference.

In Reading we will be listening to a nonfiction book, "Dig, Dig, Digging." We will talk about how machines help people. We will also review the letter Tt. We will be reviewing the skills of classifying and categorizing.

In Math we will sequence daily events, identify numbers 0-10, talk about triangles and squares, and describe shapes using shape, color, size and position. We will work with AB patterns again (but with sound and movement) and sort a collection of objects.

Please remember to ask your child about the walk we did on Friday afternoon (October 22nd). We raised funds for the American Diabetes Association.

Homework

Monday to Thursday: there will be a half-sheet of math/reading practice sent home in your child's folder on the "bring back" side.

Any additional homework (i.e. the "phonics booklets" will also be put on the "bring back" side.

WEEK OF OCTOBER 18-22, 2010

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

THIS WEEK WE WILL BE LEARNING THE CONSONANT LETTER Pp AS IN PIG, PINK AND PUMPKIN. TO CELEBRATE THIS LETTER WE WILL HAVE A Pajama Party ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21ST FROM 9:00 TO 1:00. STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO WEAR THEIR PAJAMAS TO SCHOOL (THIS HAS BEEN CLEARED THROUGH THE OFFICE!). ROBES AND SLIPPERS ARE OPTIONAL; HOWEVER, WE ASK THAT STUDENTS WEAR SNEAKERS TO SCHOOL. THEN S/HE CAN CHANGE INTO SLIPPERS AFTER ARRIVING IN SCHOOL (DUE TO OUTSIDE RECESS AND POSSIBLE INCLEMENT WEATHER AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS DAY 4 AND WE HAVE GYM!). WE WILL DO CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES ABOUT THE LETTER Pp AND HAVE SNACKS THAT BEGIN WITH Pp.

THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A WALK FOR THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION. ALL OF NSE WILL BE WALKING OVER AT THE NSHS STADIUM ON THE TRACK. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD WEAR SNEAKERS THAT DAY. KINDERGARTEN WILL BE WALKING AT 2:30 P.M. AND THERE IS EVEN TALK THAT CHANNEL 16/WNEP WILL BE THERE!

WE WILL BEGIN A NEW STORY, "JULIUS." THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL WHO GETS A SPECIAL PET PIG FROM HER GRANDFATHER (MUCH TO HER PARENTS' DISMAY). PERFECT TIMING FOR THE LETTER Pp!! WE WILL TALK AND WRITE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE AND ANIMALS WORK AND PLAY TOGETHER. WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE LETTER Mm AND TALK ABOUT THE STORY ELEMENT, CHARACTER.

IN MATH, WE WILL STUDY PATTERNS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM. WE WILL ACT OUT STORY PROBLEMS WITH TEDDY BEAR COUNTERS. WE WILL COVER PATTERN BLOCKS. THEY WILL LEARN ORDINAL POSITION TO FOURTH. WE WILL PUT DAILY EVENTS IN THE CORRECT ORDER.

WE WILL ALSO BEGIN ASSESSING CHILDREN ON EVERYTHING THEY HAVE LEARNED THIS YEAR, SO FAR. THEY WILL NEED TO IDENTIFY THE LETTERS THEY HAVE LEARNED (L. O. G. H. T , AND P). THEY WILL BE ASKED TO I.D. THE HIGH/FREQUENCY WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN CLASS(I, LITTLE, THE , AM, A , TO, AND LOVE). THEY WILL I.D. THE NUMBERS 0 - 10. THEY WILL IDENTIFY SHAPES. THEY WILL MAKE A PATTERN AND EXTEND A PATTERN. THEY WILL HAVE TO SAY WHETHER TWO WORDS RHYME AND GIVE ME A WORD THAT RHYMES WITH 3 WORDS.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARENTS WHO ORGANIZED AND CAME TO THE FALL FESTIVAL. IT WAS AWESOME!!! DUE TO THE WEATHER, WE HELD IT INDOORS, BUT, THE CHILDREN (BOTH KINDERGARTEN AND FOURTH GRADE) HAD A VERY GOOD TIME. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT AND TIME THE PARENTS PUT INTO IT. BRAVO TO OUR PARENTS!!!

HOMEWORK

THIS WEEK YOUR CHILD WILL START BRINGING HOME A HALF SHEET OF HOMEWORK EACH DAY (MONDAY THRU THURSDAY). THESE 1/2 PAGES ARE PRACTICE FOR READING AND MATH SKILLS. IT WILL GIVE YOUR CHILD A LITTLE PRACTICE AT HOME AND GET THEM INTO THE ROUTINE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING HOMEWORK ON A REGULAR BASIS. OCCASIONALLY I WILL STAPLE ADDITIONAL HOMEWORK TO THE 1/2 SHEET, BUT WILL TRY TO KEEP HOMEWORK TO A 10 MINUTE MAXIMUM PERIOD.