The week ahead....

Hello Families! 

I hope everyone is staying nice and toasty warm on this chilly weekend!  Feels like hot cocoa weather to me!  

Here's what we're getting into this week: 

In Language Arts we will: 

- use informational text to gather information about birds.

- use various organizers to organize the information we learn about birds. 

- begin a STEM project where we figure out how we can help birds find food and shelter in the winter time.  

- learn 2 new poems to practice reading fluently.  

In Social Studies we will: 

- continue learning about families and how they are the same and different. 

- learn about extended family (aunts, cousins, etc...) and their connection to our immediate family. 

- explore the roles different family members play in a family unit. 

- compare pictures of modern families with families from other time frames. 

In Writing we will:  

- discuss the importance of writing neatly so others can read our writing. 

- look at our writing as readers to help us produce better writing. 

- review using spacing, punctuation, and appropriate upper and lower case letters in our writing. 

- help each other come up with really great ideas for writing.  

In Math we will: 

- continue our unit on measurement, using objects such as ribbon or string to measure. 

- compare lengths using vocabulary such as longer, shorter, and equal.  

- find objects that are in between the lengths of two other objects. 

- review weight, using vocabulary such as heavier and lighter.  

In other news... 

***STEM project***

We will be doing a project on Friday where we make bird houses to help birds find food and shelter in the winter.  If you would be willing to donate pine cones, sunbutter, toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles, cardboard, etc. please send these materials to school by Thursday, November 20th.  

***Scholastic***

You still have time to place a November order for Scholastic!  I will finalize the order on Tuesday, November 25th, so make sure you place the order before then.  Our class gets bonus points every time you order that we can use to get free books and resources! 

***Library***

We go to the library every Tuesday (unless there is a schedule change in the calendar).  At this point in the year, students are responsible for getting their library books out of their bookbags and putting them into the library bin.  I will not be going through their backpacks, but will give them several reminders to get their books out.  Thanks for your support and understanding in helping our Kindergartners become independent in any way they can be!  

***Attendance***

Thank you so much for making sure your students are here at school and on time every day!  We are able to get started right away because everyone is here and ready to learn!  THANK YOU for making that happen! 

***American Education Week***

This week, we are celebrating American Education Week by inviting parents to come eat breakfast with our students!  Each grade will have a certain day where parents are welcome in the cafeteria, and the teachers from that grade level will be serving breakfast with the cafeteria ladies!  Kindergarten's day is Friday November 21st.  The school will open early at 8:00 for breakfast.  You and your family can come eat breakfast with your little one, followed by a special performance at 8:55.  You are more than welcome to stay with your Kindergartner (although no younger siblings please) for the next part of their day.  For us this is specials.  We hope you will be able to join us!  

Dates to Remember: 

Monday 11/17- Report cards sent home

Tuesday 11/18 - Library Lesson and Book Exchange 

Thursday 11/20- Multicultural Night (6:00pm-8:00pm)

Friday 11/21- 2 hour early dismissal (school dismisses at 1:25pm) 

Friday 11/21- Breakfast with Kindergarten

Monday 11/24- Parent Conference Day- school opens at 12:30pm

Tuesday 11/25- Parent Conference Day- school dismisses at 11:55am

Wednesday 11/26- Friday 11/28-  NO SCHOOL

I hope you all have a great week!  As always, please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns. 

Please enjoy these pictures!

Reading group fun!

Measurement Investigations!  

Measuring Rapunzel's Braids!

Comparing Ribbon Sizes

This is how I spent my chilly but beautiful Saturday.

Have a super week!

The week ahead....

Hi families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  It’s starting to get chilly….stay warm!!  Unfortunately, I do not have pictures to share.  Here is the week ahead…..

 In Language Arts:

* We will continue learning our Kindergarten sight words. This week our words are- did, so &my

* We will look at the illustrations of a book…I will ask, what clues can we get from a picture to give us more information?

*I will ask…how can photographers help us in determining important parts of a text?

*I will ask…what details can we pull from the text to learn more about hibernation?

* Reading Groups!!!  They’re going great!! Students will come home with their reading baggie every night. Please practice reading their little book(s) as well as any books at home.  Your student may have word work/games in their baggie.  Please spend time playing these games too. Then be sure they go back in their backpacks for school the next day.  We use these materials every day!!

*If you return your November reading calendar, with 15 acorns colored and initialed…your student will receive a free personal pan pizza!

*We will learn two new poems this week, My Dog Rags and Two Little Blackbirds. When we practice these poems, we act it out, find rhyming words, sight words and clap the syllables in words. 

In Social Studies:

*We will move into Social Studies this week.

*We will discuss and share about our families.

*We will discuss how they are alike and how they are different.

*We will make a Family Tree

In Writing: 

* We will complete a series of mini-lessons on writing conventions: 

          -spacing between words (ask about meatball and spaghetti spaces)

          -When do we use uppercase letters?

          -How do I end a sentence?  Punctuation

          -using resources (word wall, sound card, alphabet strip)

          - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER!!!

In Math:

*We will continue learning about measurement

*We will use scales to explore weight

*We will explore Crooked Paths (Zig-zag and curved lines)….which path is longest?....Shortest?

*We will use nonstandard units of measurement to measure classroom materials….shhh, don’t tell…we will use Rapunzel’s Braids!!!

***Cold weather is here***

Please make sure you are sending a jacket or coat with your child to school every day. It's been very chilly outside this week, and some friends have been very cold without a coat!  

***HERO SLIPS***

On Friday we counted Hero Slips.  Many students had saved enough Hero Slips to purchase a reward.  Ask your student what they bought??  I will have lunch with a few friends next week…and I even have a friend who is stealing my rollie chair for the day!!

***Fuzzy Jar***

Be on the look-out for another Warm Fuzzy Reward…we’re working very hard!!

***Conferences***

I sent an email home last week about scheduling conferences.  All conferences will be scheduled electronically.  By doing this, you can pick the time the best fits your needs.  If you have any questions, please let me know!

***Communication***

I appreciate your communication!!!  Thank you for sending notes to school when changes in dismissal, life, and health, arise. 

Coming up...

Monday 11/10 Special Lesson with Mrs. Brohawn (Blocks)

Tuesday 11/11 Library Lesson and Book Exchange

Tuesday 11/11 Center Room

Thursday 11/13 Center Room

Happy 5 day week!!!

Ms. Grimes

Sunday Post

Hi K families,

 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend full of lots of chocolate and goodies!  I go to my moms house each year and we hand out candy and eat warm soup.  It's  our little tradition.   We have a short week this week, but it will be packed full of learning J

 

Here's what we're getting into this week:

 In Language Arts, we will:

* Continue learning our Kindergarten sight words. This week our words are- am, up and are.

* Continue discussing story elements including characters, setting, problem, major events and solution.

* Continue with reading groups. Students come home with their reading baggie every night. Please practice reading their little book(s) as well as any books at home with them for at least 10 minutes a night.  Then be sure they go back in their backpacks for school the next day.  

 

In Science, we will:

* Continue to compare observable properties, such as items that can sink or float. We will be testing out a cork, paper clip, plastic container with and without a lid and a penny, in a bucket of water.

 

In Writing, we will: 

*Complete an individual narrative writing piece about a previous experience.

*Continue to use our writer’s checklist, sound cards and word wall. 

 

In Math, we will:

*Begin our measurement unit. We will discuss length and weight. Students will use connecting cubes to measure items around the room.

***Homework***

October homework was due on Friday, October 31st. If your child completed their homework, it's not too late to turn it in! We are sending home the homework for November this Wednesday. It will be due on November 25th, the day before break.

 

***Fall Conferences***

Please check your email for the link to sign-up for a 15 minute conference using Sign-Up Genius. If you need the link sent again, please let me know.

 

 *** Scholastic Book Orders***

Thank you to all the families that have order books through scholastic this month.   I just processed the order today.  The books should arrive next week.  Our next order due date will be November 28th.  Scholastic has great holiday/winter books : )   

 

***Reading Groups***

As you know, we are in full swing with reading groups.  Students have come home with plastic gallon sized Ziploc bags.  These are their reading group baggies.  Please make sure you send those to school every day.  Students can not receive a new book without their baggies.   We use these materials in groups each day. It is important that they have them so they can participate in reading groups.  

 

***Fall is here***

Please make sure you are sending a jacket or coat with your child to school every day. It's been very chilly outside this week, and some friends have been very cold without a coat!  

 Coming up...

Nov. 3^{rd  (teacher work day)} and Nov. 4^th- No School

Nov. 5^th- Math Night 6:30-7:30

Nov. 17th - Report cards go home 

Nov. 21^st- 2 hour early dismissal

Nov. 24^th- Schools open 4 hours late for conferences

Nov. 25^th-Schools close 3.5 hours early for conferences

Nov. 26^th-Nov. 28^th- Closed for Thanksgiving Break

 

 I hope you have a great week! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

PS - Game Day was a blast.  Thanks so much for sending so many fun games to school.  I have to admit it was a fun afternoon for me too : ) Please enjoy the pictures!