March 11, 2013

A note from Ms. Poteet…
It was great to have a chance to talk to several of you about your children last week.  I am always so tickled to reflect on how far they have all come in the past months.  And now we have less than 50 days to go.  Unbelievable!  I will visit with more parents this coming Wednesday.  If you did not get a conference, it’s not too late.  Please call or e-mail me about available times and days.  Phone conferences are also an option.

Homework: Tomorrow, you will see a page entitled “Family Celebrations.” This is a page for our “All About Me” books that we our working on in class.  At home, I’d like you, as a family, to draw and write about one family celebration.  This could be a holiday, or any special event that you have as a family.  Please turn these in by Monday, March 18th.  Our class writing celebration will be the last day before Spring Break, March 29^th at 12:45. Please look for an invitation this week.

 Field Trip: Tomorrow is our trip to the Louisville Auditorium to see “The Three Little Pigs”.  Please have your child wear their orange class t-shirts.  Also, send a packed lunch.  We will be eating in the classroom, and this will make things easier for all of us!

Dates to Remember

·         March 12^th: Field Trip to see The Three Little Pigs
·         March 20^th: Early Release Day
·         March 29^th: Writing Celebration at 12:45
·         April 1-5^th: Spring Break

 

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

This week we are working on asking questions while reading.  We will focus on asking who, what, when, where, and why questions.

Writing Workshop
We are continuing to write our All About Me Books.  We will write in our Family Journals on Friday.

Word Study

This week, we will explore short I chunks (-im, -in, -ing, -it).  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: into, put, over.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

We are working on place value of numbers 11-19.  

Social Studies

We are learning about American Symbols and Celebrations.  This week we are focusing on the American Flag.    

Related Arts Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Art	Art	Art	Music	Music

 

 

We are GREAT Readers!

Our Class Makes the Morning News!

March 4, 2013

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Last week we reviewed reading strategies proficient readers use to decode unknown words.  To help your child become a better reader, encourage them to use the following strategies:

Strategy #1: Look at the picture.

-         Good readers look carefully at the pictures in the story.

-         Look at the pictures before reading to predict what might happen in the story.

-         Look at the pictures while reading to help you better understand the story.

-         Look at the pictures for clues when stuck on a tricky word.

-         Look at the pictures after you have finished reading to help you retell the story.

Strategy #2: Get your mouth ready.

-         Good readers get their mouth ready to make the sounds in a tricky word.

-         Get your mouth ready for the beginning sound of a tricky word.

-         Get your mouth ready for the ending sound of a tricky word.

-         Get your mouth ready to blend all the sounds in the word.

Strategy # 3: Look for chunks.

-         Good readers look for chunks they know in a tricky word.

-         Look for chunks you know in words.  Words are like puzzles, they are made of many different pieces.  Many times you will find pieces in a tricky word that you already know like…parts of word wall words, word families, endings, etc.

Strategy # 4: Reread

-         Good readers reread the part of the story with the tricky word.

-         Good readers reread difficult parts.

-         Good readers reread to decide on a word that would fit in the story.

-         Good readers reread to better understand the story.

-         Good readers reread to build fluency

Strategy #5: Ask yourself- Does it make sense?  Does it look right?  Does it sound right?

-         Good readers ask themselves, “Does it make sense?” when they are trying to figure out a tricky word.

-         Ask yourself, “Does the word make sense in the story?”

-         Ask yourself, “Does it sound right in this sentence?”

-         Ask yourself, “Does it look right – like the word on the page?”

-         If the answer is no, then try another word until it makes sense in the story.

Strategy #6: Ask a Friend

-         Good readers ask a friend to help them with a tricky word when nothing else works.

-         Ask a friend for help when you have tried all the strategies and you still can’t figure out the tricky word.

-         Ask a friend for help when you feel frustrated with the tricky word.

-         The “Ask a Friend” strategy should only be used as a last resort.

-          

Dates to Remember

·         March 6^th: Progress Reports Go Home

·         March 7^th: Picture Day - Individual and Class pictures

·         March 12^th: Field Trip to see The Three Little Pigs

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

This week we are working on asking questions while reading.  We will focusing on asking who, what, when, where, and why questions.

                     

Writing Workshop

We are continuing to write our All About Books.  We will write in our Family Journals on Friday.

Word Study

This week, we will explore r-blends: pr, tr, dr, cr, fr, gr.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: make, here, before.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

We are working on place value of numbers 11-19.  

Social Studies

We are learning about American Symbols and Celebrations.  This week we are focusing on the Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.  

Related Arts Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
PE	Art	Art	Art	Art

100th Day of School Fashion Show!

100th Day of School Parade!

January 14, 2013

Just a reminder, we go outside for recess in the winter; please send in gloves and hats on days that are going to be cold!

Please be sure to send a small, peanut free and healthy snack to school with your student each day!  Snack time is about 10 minutes and some of the students are throwing away over half of their snack each day. 

Dates to Remember

·January 21st: No School

·January 30th: Early Release Day

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

This week the students will learn the term “literary.” Using literary books we are continuing our unit on story elements.   Through reading Curious George stories, we will focus on identifying the problem and solution this week. 

Writing Workshop

Since we are discussing story elements during Reading Workshop we will be writing about the problem and solution within Curious George books.  We will also have our Family Journal at the end of the week!

Word Study

This week, we will explore the short i word families: -ip, -ig, -ill.  Ask your child about the chants for these chunks.  Try to have them tell you words that have these word families!

We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: this, were, what.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.  Have them write the words in paint, shaving cream, or markers. 

Math

This week we are finishing our introduction unit on addition and subtraction through story problems.  Students will complete a transfer task at the end of the week.

Science

We are going to be studying famous scientist in history.  We learn about the Wright Brothers, Jane Goodall and George W. Carver! 

Related Arts Schedule

Monday-Thursday:                Art

Friday:                                   Music

January 14, 2013

Just a reminder, we go outside for recess in the winter; please send in gloves and hats on days that are going to be cold!

Please be sure to send a small, peanut free and healthy snack to school with your student each day!  Snack time is about 10 minutes and some of the students are throwing away over half of their snack each day. 

Dates to Remember

·January 21st: No School

·January 30th: Early Release Day

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

This week the students will learn the term “literary.” Using literary books we are continuing our unit on story elements.   Through reading Curious George stories, we will focus on identifying the problem and solution this week. 

Writing Workshop

Since we are discussing story elements during Reading Workshop we will be writing about the problem and solution within Curious George books.  We will also have our Family Journal at the end of the week!

Word Study

This week, we will explore the short i word families: -ip, -ig, -ill.  Ask your child about the chants for these chunks.  Try to have them tell you words that have these word families!

We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: this, were, what.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.  Have them write the words in paint, shaving cream, or markers. 

Math

This week we are finishing our introduction unit on addition and subtraction through story problems.  Students will complete a transfer task at the end of the week.

Science

We are going to be studying famous scientist in history.  We learn about the Wright Brothers, Jane Goodall and George W. Carver! 

Related Arts Schedule

Monday-Thursday:                Art

Friday:                                   Music

January 7, 2013

Our classroom frequently gets very cool.  Several children commented last week that they were cold.  You might want to pack an extra light jacket or sweater in your child’s bag, if they frequently get cold. 

Dates to Remember

·         January 21^st: No School
·         January 30^th: Early Release Day

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

We are starting our unit on story elements.  We will focus on characters, setting, and main events. We will learn about these story elements using the beloved stories by Else Holmelund Minarik. 

Writing Workshop

Since we are discussing story elements during Reading Workshop we are going to write our own fiction stories.  We will develop our own characters, setting, and main events.  Then we will begin writing our own stories. 

Word Study

This week, we will explore the short u word families: -ug, -ut, -un, -um.  Ask your child about the chants for these chunks.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: if, there, go.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

This week we are going to learn about addition and subtraction through story problems. 

Science

We are continuing our Health and Nutrition Unit.  This week we will focus on the five senses by completing several experiments.

Related Arts Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
PE	PE	PE	Art	Art

 

 

November 5, 2012

Thanks so much for sending in change for Pennies for Patients.  Our class collected a total of $46.02!  Yeah!!!

I am so excited to let you know your child will be participating in Harmony’s Annual Kindergarten production of the Thanksgiving Story.  All families are invited to attend the play on Tuesday, November 20^th at 11:20. Families are also encouraged to stay afterwards to have lunch with their child. A lunch order form will be coming home next week. You may also bring your own lunch if you would prefer (I would recommend this option because the lunch line tends to get pretty long). If you would be willing to lend a helping hand before the play to help get the kids dressed I would appreciate it greatly. Please send me an e-mail if you can come at 11:00 to help.

Information about your child’s costume will be coming home soon after you child picks their part.  We will be making Native American headdresses for our play. Please send in a pack of long feathers for your child to use in their headdress by Tuesday, November 13^th.

As a school policy, kindergarteners do not bring home their first progress report like the other kids do. During our conference I will be able to thoroughly go over your child’s progress report and explain how they are performing and being assessed. Parent-Teacher Conferences begin November 8^th. If you haven’t had a chance to do so, please call the office at 228-2228 after 9:00am to schedule a meeting.

Dates to Remember

·         November 6: Election Day- No School
·         November 8 & 13: Parent-Teacher Conferences
·         November 14: Early Release Day
·         November 15: Fall Fun Day (Please let me know if you still want to sign your child up)
·         November 20: Kindergarten Thanksgiving Play
·         November 21-23: Thanksgiving Break- No School

What are we learning?

 Reading Workshop

We are learning about the purpose of illustrations and how they help tell the story.  Illustrations can also help us figure out what is going to happen next in the story. 

Writing Workshop

This week we will continue working on writing small moments.

Handwriting

Handwriting instruction will focus on developing fine motor skills as well as the proper formation of the following letters:  O, o, U and u

Word Study

This week, we will explore the letters Oo and Uu. Ask your child about the letter sound chants for both.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: so, an, him.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

 Math

We are to compare and sequence numbers. 

 Social Studies

We are starting our unit on Native Americans.  We will focusing our learning on two Native American regions- Eastern Woodlands and North Pacific.  We will locating these regions on the map and learning about each regions type of housing, food, and clothing.

Related Arts Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Art	Art	Art	Art	Art