January 23-27

Literacy
This week we are working on the letter Qq and our alphafriend is Queenie Queen. Talk with your child about words that start with the /kw/ sound as we will be making a list on Friday! Last week was very hard for the letter Kk! Let's see if we can do better!
We have one new word wall words this week: by. We talked today about the different types of the same word: buy, by, and bye.
In writing this week we are continuing to learn how to write stories with a beginning, middle, and end. We are using a planning page to help us think through our idea and then writing the story in a 3 page booklet! Last week we did the beginning and middle pages. This week we are working on the end, and what to do with our stories when we are done.

Math
This week we are finishing up unit 3. Today we sorted by color, shape, and size. We will also be working more with teen numbers. Some students have already brought 20 small items to glue onto a piece of paper. If your child hasn't done so....we need them tomorrow!! We will also be telling story problems and solving them in a variety of ways. Ask your child to tell you a math story and then solve it together!

3rd Quarter Homework

New sheets were sent home today!!! They are white with flowers on them. Make sure you start working on those and remember to initial the activity after you and your child have completed it! Let me know if you have any questions!

Math Partnership

For my graduate class this semester I have to create an activity or project to get you, the families, involved in our math. Research has shown that parents participating in their child's education increases the child's success in mathematics. My question to you.....what would you like to know about our math program? How would you like to get involved in our math program? I'm open to all ideas, please share! Thanks!

January 17-20

It's my first post of 2012! I can't believe the school year is half over! Here's what's going on this week in our classroom:

Literacy
This week we are working on the letter Kk and our alphafriend is Keely Kangaroo. Talk with your child about words that start with the /k/ sound as we will be making a list on Friday!
We have two new word wall words this week: in, here.
In writing this week we are learning how to write stories with a beginning, middle, and end. We are using a planning page to help us think through our idea and then writing the story in a 3 page booklet!

Math
In math we are still working on finding partners in numbers. For example, partners for 6 would be: 5+1, 4+2, and 3+3. We are also working on drawing numbers of objects using five groups. For example, 8 would be five and then three more. And lastly, we are still working with sorting object based on different attributes: color, size, shape.

Social Studies
We will be discussing Martin Luther King, Jr. this week. Today we read a little interactive story about who he is and then will be doing a project tomorrow to go along with his dream!

3rd Quarter Homework

New sheets and one new supply will be coming home either on Thursday or Monday....we're still trying to get them run off correctly! They won't be due until the Wednesday after spring break.

December 19-22

I can't believe it's the last week before Christmas break! This semester has just flown by!

Literacy
This week we are just doing some reviewing. We'll talk about some of the letters we've learned and also about the word families we've worked on: -at, -an, -ag.
We will also be reviewing word wall words this week.
In writing this week we are learning about pattern books. We started this a little last week. We will be working on opposite pattern book and list pattern books. I think the kids enjoy them, but also miss writing about things they know and love!

Math
In Math we are working on drawing numbers of objects using five groups. For example, 8 would be five and then three more. We will also be sorting objects by color, shape, and size. If you have anything to sort at home, that would be a great activity to do over break!

Social Studies
We will be talking about Hanukkah and Kwannza this week and doing a couple activities related to those holidays!

Donations!
We are once again in need of some donated items. Here is a list of a few that are needed now in our classroom:
1. Hand sanitizer
2. batteries
3. white board markers
4. page protectors
5. glue sticks

If you are able to donate any of these items please feel free to bring them to me or send them to school with your student. Thank you!

Homework
Don't forget to get those homework sheets finished up! Christmas break would be a great time to do that! Remember they are due January 11th!

Have a great week and have a Merry Christmas!

December 5-9

Literacy
This week we are working on the letter Gg and our alphafriend is Gertie Goose. Talk with your child about words that start with the /g/ sound as we will be making a list on Friday! In kindergarten we only specifically focus on the /g/ sound. The /j/ sound will be addressed more formally in 1st grade.
We have two new word wall words this week: love, go.
In writing this week we are learning new ways to share our stories, at our tables or with our partners. We are also discussing how we can use resources like our sight words and word family words to help us spell words quickly when we are writing.

Math
In math we are working on finding partners in numbers. For example, partners for 6 would be: 5+1, 4+2, and 3+3. We are also working on drawing numbers of objects using five groups. For example, 8 would be five and then three more.

Social Studies
We will be visiting a little more about People and Celebrations. We will be talking about how different cultures protect their citizens and that we have the different branches of the military. We will be making cards for a young friend of mine who is in basic training!

Donations!
We are once again in need of some donated items. Here is a list of a few that are needed now in our classroom:
1. Hand sanitizer
2. batteries
3. white board markers
4. page protectors

If you are able to donate any of these items please feel free to bring them to me or send them to school with your student. Thank you!

November 14-18

Literacy
This week we are working on the letter Cc and our alphafriend is Callie Cat. Talk with your child about words that start with the /k/ sound as we will be making a list on Friday!
We have no new word wall words this week, but will just be reviewing all the ones we know. Be working on those blue cards in your homework bag!
In writing this week we are working more on sounding out words and trying to write words that have more than 2 sounds. Every word should have a vowel!! :-) We are also working on making sure we can read the words we wrote!

Math
This week in math we a doing lots of reviewing. We have completed all the formal lessons and are now doing math activities to help us remember what we've learned. I will be working specifically with those students who need a little more support. And the unit 2 assessment will be TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS AT SCHOOL THAT DAY!

Social Studies
We are still working on a unit about People and Celebrations. This week we will be talking about how cultures are different and how different cultures celebrate different things. We will also be making a family tree. So be talking to your child about who is in their family!

Stone Soup!
A note was sent home on Friday about our Stone Soup activity we are going to be doing as a whole kindergarten. We will be reading books about Stone Soup this week and next and then on Monday, November 21, we will make our own stone soup! We will cut and chop the food and act out the story as we start cooking the soup. We will also make butter for our bread and placemats to eat on! We will need your food contributions, however, for the fun activity. If you can send any of the following items, please send them by Friday, November 18:
*a few celery sticks
*1 onion
*1-2 carrots
*1-2 potatoes
*1 can of green beans
*1 can of peas
*1 can of corn
Also, if you would like to volunteer to help make the stone soup, please fill out the volunteer sheet and return it by Friday also. If you can't locate your sheet that was sent home Friday, we need volunteers on Monday, November 21 from 9:15-10:30am or Tuesday, November 22 from 2:15-3:15pm.

Red Ribbon Week!

Put a Cap on Drugs

Hugs Not Drugs!

Stomp Out Drugs!

Team Up Against Drugs!

(If you click on the pics you can see them larger!)

November 7-11

Literacy
This week we are working on the letter Vv and our alphafriend is Vinnie Volcano. Talk with your child about words that start with the /v/ sound as we will be making a list on Friday!
Our word wall words this week are: to, me. Work with your child on how to spell these words.
In writing this week we are remembering that we need to add details to our pictures. We are also learning about the CAPS man. He reminds us that we need: Capital letters, Art, Punctuation, and Spelling in our stories!

Math
In math this week we are reviewing numbers through 10, as well as talking about the number 10. We will also be looking at a math mat and using pennies to see how each number is one more than the previous number and one less than the number after.

Social Studies
We are starting out unit on People and Celebrations. We will we talking about how different cultures celebrate different holidays and in different ways. We will also be talking about traditions that you have in your family. Be talking to your child about those family traditions!

Quarter 2 Homework
The quarter 2 homework sheets went home last week. There are no new supplies, just new activities to add to what you've already been doing. Those snowflake sheets will be due on January 11, 2012!

Report Cards
Report cards were SUPPOSED to go home last Friday.....I FORGOT!!! :-) They will be coming home in your child's manila folder today! Sorry!!

Turkey Trot
The annual Arnold School Turkey Trot is coming up! There is a sign-up form in your child's manila folder. The event will take place next Tuesday, November 15. The kids need to be signed up by Monday, November 14!