Pictures 9-23 - 9-27

Last week, the skill we worked on in whole group was visualization.  Students needed to use their imagination, prior knowledge and the text to create illustrations for a book that I read aloud to them.  They were not able to look at the pictures.  One of the books I read was, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. 

Please read below for your Sunday Post!

Sunday Post

Hello Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying this fresh fall weekend.  I am excited to announce that I became an aunt to a beautiful baby boy last week.  For the first time today, I get to meet baby Jack!  I couldn't be happier!!

A few announcements before I talk about what is happening this week....

• Monday is library day.  The students will have a lesson with our librarian, Ms. Datoli.  Please send students to school with their library books.  

• Last week we attended the computer lab for the first time.  We will have time at the computer lab again on Tuesday.  If you have not sent a pair of headphones for your student, please do so.  We appreciate all of your donations!

• Please return the pumpkin patch field trip form and money as soon as possible.  I would like to notify parents about being a chaperon.Thank you!

• We will begin reading groups this week. Monday and Tuesday we will simply practice rotations and complete a short activity at the reading table.  On Wednesday, I will send a gallon size ziplock baggie home with your student. The book/books inside the baggie are used during your child's differentiated reading group (15 min each day).  Please read and return these books daily.  A book may stay in your child's bag for a few days.  We will practice using many strategies and comprehension with these stories.  That will take a week at times.  

• On Friday's we are having "Go For The Green Recess."  This is an extra recess for students that have ended each day that week on warning or above. The students who are on loss of privilege or below are not allowed to participate. This is an extra incentive for students and a school wide policy. If you have any questions, please let me know.

• Our Warm Fuzzy Jar will most likely be filled on Monday....be on the lookout for a note stating what the students have earned.

• Homework begins this week.  Homework is optional.  I will send home your students homework journal each Monday.  Please return is on Friday.

Here's what's happening in Kindergarten this week.....

Morning meeting: 

• Students will look for the letter of the day.  We only have two letters left: X, U. We will practice writing these letters and identify words that begin with the letter sound.  
• Starting Wednesday, students will look for the word of the day.  There will only be 3 words a week.  This week our words are: a, I, no.  We will practice writing these words, putting them in a sentence and then we will add them to our word wall. These words will also be part of the weekly homework. 
• I will also add these words of a yellow word ring that will go home in your students reading baggie each evening.  Please practice reading and writing these words.  Also, please return these words each day so that we can use them in reading group.  Thank you!
• We will add a poem to our poetry journal, "I Love..."
• We will identify rhymes in the poem, add the foods they like to eat, echo read, identify beginning sounds, and identify syllables. 

Math: 

These are the standards we are working with...

• Know number names and the count sequence
• Understand the last number name said tells the number of objects counted.  The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted. 

Ask students....

• how we used the Barrel of Monkeys?
• how to write numerals 0 – 10?
• why we use a tens frame?
• how we can subitize ?

Science: 

Our class will work with Ms. House this week.  They will continue to work with magnets. 

This week's essential questions in science:

• What objects can magnets pull through? 
• What are magnets attracted to? 
• What are magnets not attracted to?
• Which magnet is the strongest? ring, small rectangular, cow, bar?
• Students will test magnets. 

Writing: 

I plan to send students’ writing folder home soon. They will love to sharing their pieces with you.  When I do send them home, please send everything back because they are creating a writing portfolio.  When we look back on these portfolios at the end of the year, you will be amazed at their growth!

This week...

• How can we extend our story past one page?
• Review booklets from last week.
• Last week, students began telling a story, using illustrations, over a span of 3 pages.
• They sketched their story using pencil.
• They labeled and added speech bubbles.
• They practiced telling their story using the illustrations.
• This week, they will begin to color and write.  
• I will show other purposes for writing: lists, letters
• Students will work independently to make their own lists and letters
• They will share their lists and letters
• I will encourage students to go back to their writing and add more.
• We will generate a list of reasons why we may write a letter.

I also wanted to mention that this year, we are following the Lucy Calkins writing kit.  She is amazing and the students are really enjoying their ability to explore, learn and be creative.  She is very well know. If you look her up, there will be a lot more information on her ideas of the writing process. 

Whole Group: 

We will apply before, during and after reading strategies, using a variety of literary complex text.  

We will apply before, during and after reading strategies, using a variety of informational complex text.

The books we are reading: 

1. Bear Shadow (a personal favorite!)
2. Bear Snores On
3. Click Clack Moo 
4. A Chair for My Mother
5. Informational books about bears

The before during and after reading strategies will consist of…..

• making predictions
• evaluating those predictions
• higher level thinking questions
• think pair share (sharing with a partner)
• walk and talk (walking while sharing with a partner)
• open ended questions (is this a happy or a sad story? Why? 

Reading Groups/Literacy Centers:

We have practiced using literacy centers for the past month of school.  Reading rotations will consist of 4, 15 minute sessions: 3 literacy centers, and one guided, differentiated reading group with me. This will be a week of practice.  Groups will be in full swing by next week.  Thank you for your patience in this!  It has been extremely beneficial to get to know the student's strengths and needs prior to beginning reading groups.

If you have any further questions, please let me know. Have a fantastic Sunday afternoon!

Ms. Grimes 

Pictures 9-16 - 9-20

Number Hunt!

Practicing Literacy Centers

Sunday Update!

Hello Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Fall weather.  I know my little dog, Emma is enjoying chasing the leaves : ) It was a tough loss for the Redskins today.  But, I will stay optimistic!!

I couple quick notes about this week...

• Monday is a 2 hour early dismissal.  If your child will have a different dismissal procedure, please send a note to school in their take home folder.  
• Monday is also our book exchange day.  Please send your student to school with their library book. 
• Thank you to the parents that have ordered scholastic books!  By ordering books, you are helping our classroom earn points to purchase new materials!!!
• Our class is very close to filling up the Warm Fuzzy Jar!  I can't believe how quickly it is happening.  That means, your students are working hard, making good choices and being kind to everyone here at Whittier.  Please be on the lookout for what the students vote to have as their reward. 
• We will continue with letter of the day.  Our letters this week are: J B W I Q 
• Homework will begin next week.  
• I have loved reading about the adventure Granola Bear has been on!  Birthday parties, firetruck rides, downtown Frederick...WOW!

Okay, here is what is happening this week in KINDERGARTEN!!

Math:

• counting
• representing numerals with quantities 
•  writing numerals to 10
• understanding the each successive number name refers to a number that is one larger
• understanding the relationship between numbers at quantities 

Ask your student about the counting games they played in small groups (counting blastoff).
Ask your student to write numerals 1 - 5.

Social Studies: a few essential questions

• Why is it important to follow directions?
• How do we follow directions at school? 
• We will play a following direction game with Granola Bear
• How have you helped someone before?
• How can we help people? Family? Friends?
• How can we get along?  Are you getting along with a friend if you are sharing a pencil?
• What does it mean to be a friend?
• What do you do when you have something to say?  How do you know when to speak?

Ask your student about Rainbow Fish? How did they decorate their Rainbow Fish?  How did they share materials?

Writing: 

• stretching out words (using stretchy the snake)
• labeling illustrations using a whole word or initial sounds
• writing speech bubbles in illustrations 
• share writing pieces 
• Remind students that they have previously learned to draw the best they can and keep going. The same can be done with spelling.
• I will model sounding out words and trying my best!
• students will work independently 
• introduce tools during writing (sound card: alphabet chart) I will model using these tools
• Thursday and Friday we will begin to write in booklets
• I will point out that a picture book is not just a page of words but rather a detailed story with many pages. 
• students will use a three page booklet to illustrate a story.
• students will tell their story using the illustrations
• Next week students will write in their booklets  

 Ask your student what story they are going to tell in their booklet? 

Whole Group Reading: 
  
We are working on visualizing what the page of a story would look like, using the text and our imagination.  Students will share what they visualize.  They will draw a picture to match their visualization.  I will then show the students the illustrations.  

We will do this with fiction and nonfiction books. 

Skills Block (phonics and fluency):

• poems: This is the way we wash our face
• acting out poetry
• identify beginning sounds in poetry   
• sorting words by their beginning sound

Ask your student about the beginning sound corner game.
Ask student about the Lotto Game. 

Literacy Centers: 

We are reviewing buddy reading, library (independent reading), pocket chart and poetry centers.  We will introduce magnet center.  

We are hoping to have our application center room rotation in place next week or the following week.

If you have any questions please email or call.

Thanks and have a fabulous Sunday evening,

Ms. Grimes 

Game Day!

GOOOO Redskins!!!!!

Scholastic Orders

Hi Families,

Tomorrow in Thursday Folders, I am sending home information on how to order Scholastic books.  You can order through the catalogs I send home.  Or, you can order online using our class code.  There will be a letter stapled to the catalog, detailing how to order online. 

The due date for our first order is October 18th!



Thanks,

Ms. Grimes

Pictures, pictures, pictures!

Matching numerals with quantities

Shaving cream letters and words 

Math Games

Play dough letters

Math Centers

Sand Letters 

Apple Tasting 

Pipe Cleaner Letters