Weekly News: April 29-May 3

News:

We are very excited to introduce our new class pets for the next few weeks: caterpillars! We will have the opportunity to watch their metamorphosis as they change from caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly!

Please remember that Sharing Homework is a very important part of our curriculum and the ONLY homework we ask that you turn in. There have been many students NOT turning in sharing homework over the past few weeks. For this reason (and to better prepare your child for first grade), students that have not completed and turned in homework by Friday will miss Friday recess and spend that time working on that homework. We hope this will teach responsibility and accountability. Thank you for your support. 

We hope you received our invitation for our very special Mother's Day centers on Friday, May 10th from 10:30-11:30. There will be activities, games, and even a snack! You will be painting with your children, so don't wear anything too fancy! Hope you are able to make it!

Only a few more weeks until our Community Service presentations.  Presentations will be due the week of May 13-17. Presentations in the past have included: posterboards, journals, slideshows, books, and pictures documenting your 8 hours of community service. Please email me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Events:  
Friday, May 10: Mother's Day Celebration 
May 13-17: Community Service Projects Due
Friday, June 7: Donuts with Dad - Father's Day Celebration 
Tuesday, June 11: End of the Year Field Day 
Wednesday, June 12: Last Day of Kindergarten Celebration 

What Are We Learning This Week?:

Sight Words: MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER, FAMILY.

Letter Team: There are NO new letter teams! For the rest of the year, we will be reviewing all letter teams that we have learned this year. The expectation is that students recognize the letter team within our three second rule, then be able to apply that letter team when decoding an unknown word. 

Reading: We will read books about caterpillars and butterflies, as well as our poem of the week, "Pretty Butterfly".

Writing: We will have a very special writing project that we are working on this week in class. 

Math: We have been working on greater than and less than in class. We have also become mathematicians as we study our new mathematical instrument - the rekenrek. This tool helps us with many math problems. Every day, we will also work on a critical thinking math story problem to answer in our new math journals. I will continue asking students to "explain their thinking" and how they solved their problems.

Leadership: Our leadership theme for the month of May is SERVICE. Keep working on those community service projects!

Homework: April 29-May 3

Flashcards: Don't forget to make new flashcards for each sight word and letter team. New words for this week are: MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER, FAMILY. There are NO new letter teams for the rest of the year - so study ALL old letter team flashcards!
  
Reading: READ your books in your book bag, READ your fluency EVERY NIGHT, READ those old books in your book box, and READ online at RAZ KIDS!!!!!

Math:  Excel Math Worksheets have been coming home for you to complete as homework. You do not need to turn these in! Also, continue going over our math concepts we are learning in class at home: counting coins, story problems, calendar questions, etc. 

Writing: WRITE EVERYDAY! Try writing a Step Up Story with five sentences! 

Sharing: Write three sentences about what we are learning about caterpillars and butterflies. Draw a picture to go with your sentences. 

Weekly News: April 22-26

News:

I hope you had a restful three-day weekend with your families.  

Our Book Fair is this week! It will be located in the lower building at our campus. The book fair will be open from 11:30-1:30. Make sure to stop by to buy some great books and support our school. 

Monday is Earth Day! To celebrate, we will be learning all about recycling and discussing ways to help the Earth. We will also have a special Earth Day Sharing this week. Check out the Homework tab for more information. 

Save The Date: We will be having a Mother's Day celebration on Friday, May 10 from 10:30-11:30. More information to come. We hope all of you mommies are able to make it!

Only a few more weeks until our Community Service presentations.  Presentations will be due the week of May 13-17. Presentations in the past have included: posterboards, journals, slideshows, books, and pictures documenting your 8 hours of community service. Please email me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Events:  
Friday, May 10: Mother's Day Celebration 
May 13-17: Community Service Projects Due
Friday, June 7: Donuts with Dad - Father's Day Celebration 
Tuesday, June 11: End of the Year Field Day 
Wednesday, June 12: Last Day of Kindergarten Celebration 

What Are We Learning This Week?:

Sight Words: EARTH, WORLD, START, HELP, CHILDREN.

Letter Team: EAR (another ER sound like in EARTH and EARLY).THIS IS OUR LAST LETTER OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!

Reading: We will read books about Earth Day and our poem, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle".

Writing: We will write about recycling and other ways to help the Earth.

Math: We have been working hard on "Ways to Compose and Decompose" the number 5. We have learned that we can make 5 with 4 and 1, with 3 and 2, with 5 and 0, and the reverse of each of those. You can help at home by asking your child questions like, "If I have three cookies and you have two, how many would we have together?" or "There are four cats inside, so how many cats are outside?" and  so on. It is our goal that every student be fluent in adding and subtracting to 5 by the end of the year. Every day, we will also work on a critical thinking math story problem to answer in our new math journals. I will continue asking students to "explain their thinking" and how they solved their problems.

Leadership: Our leadership theme for the month of March and April is INGENUITY. 

Homework: April 22-26

Flashcards: Don't forget to make new flashcards for each sight word and letter team. New words for this week are: EARTH, START, HELP, CHILDREN, WORLD and the new letter team is: EAR. 
  
Reading: READ your books in your book bag, READ your fluency EVERY NIGHT, READ those old books in your book box, and READ online at RAZ KIDS!!!!!

Math:  Excel Math Worksheets have been coming home for you to complete as homework. You do not need to turn these in! Also, continue going over our math concepts we are learning in class at home: counting coins, story problems, calendar questions, etc. 

Writing: WRITE EVERYDAY! Try writing a Step Up Story with five sentences! 

Sharing: We have another special Sharing Homework this week. Since we are learning about Earth Day and recycling, have your child create something with reused materials. Some examples can include: an old can reused as a pencil cup, a milk carton reused as a plant holder, a soda bottle reused as a bird feeder, cereal boxes reused as ... use your imagination! Here is a great link to check out: http://too-much-time.com/2013/04/36-recycling-upcycling-and-reuse-ideas-for-earth-day.html

Weekly News: April 15

News:

It is Spirit Week! We will have fun dressing up and showing our school spirit all week long. 

Monday: PJ Day

Tuesday: Sport Day 

Wednesday: Twin Day 

Thursday: Crazy EVERYTHING Day :) 

Friday: NO SCHOOL!

We will be having a Fun Math Center time on Thursday. If you would like to come in and play math games with us, you are more than welcome. 

Save The Date: We will be having a Mother's Day celebration on Friday, May 10 from 10:30-11:30. More information to come. We hope all of you mommies are able to make it!

The due date for the Community Service Projects has been set for our class: Presentations will be due the week of May 13-17. Presentations in the past have included: posterboards, journals, slideshows, books, and pictures documenting your 8 hours of community service. Please email me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Events:  
Friday, April 19: NO SCHOOL
Friday, May 10: Mother's Day Celebration 
May 13-17: Community Service Projects Due
Friday, June 7: Donuts with Dad - Father's Day Celebration 
Tuesday, June 11: End of the Year Field Day 
Wednesday, June 12: Last Day of Kindergarten Celebration 

What Are We Learning This Week?:
Sight Words: GOES, DOES, YES, NOT, WILL.

Letter Team: EA (we are learning that EA can make THREE sounds - long E like in SEASON, short E like in WEATHER, and long A like in BREAK). 

Reading: We will continue reading books about tadpoles and frogs. We will also read Froggy books. 

Writing: We are adding details to our stories. Some of us are even writing eight sentences now for Step Up to Writing, adding details after every "main idea" sentence.

Math: We have been working hard on "Ways to Compose and Decompose" the number 5. We have learned that we can make 5 with 4 and 1, with 3 and 2, with 5 and 0, and the reverse of each of those. You can help at home by asking your child questions like, "If I have three cookies and you have two, how many would we have together?" or "There are four cats inside, so how many cats are outside?" and  so on. It is our goal that every student be fluent in adding and subtracting to 5 by the end of the year. Every day, we will also work on a critical thinking math story problem to answer in our new math journals. I will continue asking students to "explain their thinking" and how they solved their problems.

Leadership: Our leadership theme for the month of March and April is INGENUITY. 

Homework: April 15-18

Flashcards: Don't forget to make new flashcards for each sight word and letter team. New words for this week are: GOES, DOES, YES, NOT, WILL and the new letter team is: EA. 
  
Reading: READ your books in your book bag, READ your fluency EVERY NIGHT, READ those old books in your book box, and READ online at RAZ KIDS!!!!!

Math: We are working in class on more story problems and hands-on activities and math centers. For this reason, we might not always get to (or finish) our Excel Math worksheets. Instead, we will send them home as homework. You do not need to turn this worksheets in.. they are simply good math practice for your child. Also, continue going over our math concepts we are learning in class at home: counting coins, story problems, calendar questions, etc. 
 
Writing: WRITE EVERYDAY! Try writing a Step Up Story with five sentences! 

Sharing: We have a special Sharing Homework this week. Bring in a picture of when you were a baby and a picture of you now. Write three sentences about how you have changed and how you are different now. Note: YOU WILL GET THESE PICTURES BACK, I PROMISE! HOMEWORK IS DUE NO LATER THAN THURSDAY THIS WEEK, SINCE THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY!

Weekly News: April 8-12

News:

We had so much fun at the Children's Museum of the Desert. Thank you to our many wonderful chaperones. The students all had a great time. I will try to post pictures soon! 

I heard the 5k on Saturday was a great success! Thank you to everyone for your support for Mrs. Levendofske.

The due date for the Community Service Projects has been set for our class: Presentations will be due the week of May 13-17. Presentations in the past have included: posterboards, journals, slideshows, books, and pictures documenting your 8 hours of community service. Please email me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Events:  
Friday, April 19: NO SCHOOL

Friday, May 10: Mother's Day Celebration and Centers 

May 13-17: COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS DUE! 

What Are We Learning This Week?:
Sight Words: SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN.

Letter Team: EIGH (sounding like "a" like in EIGHT and NEIGHBOR).

Reading: We will read books about the life cycle of tadpoles and our poem of the week, "Five Little Tadpoles".

Writing: We will have fun writing fictional stories about frogs and step up to writing stories about what we are learning about frogs.

Math: This week, we will learn how to measure! Students will learn how to use a ruler and practice measuring items. We will also begin our new math journals. Every day, we will have a critical thinking math story problem to answer in our math journals. I will be asking students to "explain their thinking" and how they solved their problems.

Leadership: Our leadership theme for the month of March and April is INGENUITY. 

Homework: April 8-12

Flashcards: Don't forget to make new flashcards for each sight word and letter team. New words for this week are: SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN and the new letter team is: EIGH. 
  
Reading: READ your books in your book bag, READ your fluency EVERY NIGHT, READ those old books in your book box, and READ online at RAZ KIDS!!!!!

Math: We are working in class on more story problems and hands-on activities and math centers. For this reason, we might not always get to (or finish) our Excel Math worksheets. Instead, we will send them home as homework. You do not need to turn this worksheets in.. they are simply good math practice for your child. Also, continue going over our math concepts we are learning in class at home: counting coins, story problems, calendar questions, etc. 
 
Writing: WRITE EVERYDAY! Try writing a Step Up Story with five sentences! 

Sharing: This week, we are writing three sentences about things we love about Spring. Draw a picture to go with your sentences.