Our Weekly News

We had fun talking more about fall this week and thought with all the colors, it was a great idea to work on learning some color words too!  

Literacy

We had fun reading Otis and describing his character traits.  We read other Otis stories and students made connections between all of them.  One thing they noticed was that Otis was always kind, caring and helpful.  This week we also learned to retell the story of Otis but we did it in a different way.  Each table took one part of the story and had to work together to draw and label what was happening in their one part.  Then I worked with each group to help them make a sentence and write the sounds they heard.  I couldn't believe how SO unbelievably engaged students were and how well they did with working together!!  I am so proud of them!  Here are a few of their pictures.  (I also tried to have each group practiced standing in front of the class to share their part of the story but, we need a little more to practice this before we record it and upload it on SeeSaw :)  Look for it soon!)

 

This week we learned the sight words "it" and "you".  We reviewed letters and sounds, continued to work on phonemic awareness skills and started actual center time (modified this year of course).  One of the centers we are doing this year is called Lexia.  It is a literacy based program that students do on their Chromebooks.  Each child plays various games at his or her own level and it modifies the different skills when needed.  Students are allowed to use this program at home, but it is something they will often be doing in the classroom too.  

Writing

We worked hard this week on writing about places we love.  We also learned that we could take one of those places, such as school, and create a plan where we write about the different parts of school on different pieces of paper.  For example, one page could be about recess, another page could be about art, etc. 

In handwriting this week we learned how to write the letters B/R/N/M using the correct formation with big lines, little lines, and little curves.  

Math 

We continued to work on identifying numbers, writing numbers with correct formation, counting forwards and backwards, and identifying/making/describing a given number using a ten frame.  This week we also learned the greater than, less than, and equal to symbols.  We had fun comparing numbers with cards and playing a game working on this skill with our table partners.  

We also started to explore another new program called Dreambox.  This is much like the literacy program Lexia where it gives students math skills, in a game format, based on their own ability level.  This program however, is connected to the Bridges math curriculum that school district uses.  Dreambox can also be found on each child's Clever pages once they log into their Chromebook.  Students may use this program at home as well.

Friday Fun...I wish I took a picture! 

If your child didn't tell you... at the end of the day on Friday we had a Google Meeting with Mrs. Kuck!  They got to see her and her dog Bear (baby Luna was sleeping), show Mrs. Kuck the following directions-scarecrow drawing that they were finishing up, and even ask her questions.   I plan to do this a few more times over the next three weeks to help students with the transition!  Mrs. Kuck will be coming back on Monday, November 9th.  

Also, we are now having library class every Monday so please have your child read the books he/she brings home and send them back to school on or before the following Monday.  We are also done with art class and as of Monday we will be starting physical education, which takes place outside as long as the weather cooperates!  Please make sure your child has tennis shoes and warm clothes!        

  

Weekly Newsletter - Fun in Art!

We had a great 4 day week!  This week we began to talk about fall and learn color words.  We have enjoyed this nice weather and even took time to do some work in Thorson's outdoor classroom!

Literacy 

We focused on Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems, this week and we also enjoyed reading Knuffle Bunny Too and Knuffle Bunny Free! We practiced re-telling this story, made predictions, and discussed the similarities and differences between all three stories.  Our poem this week was The Itsy Bitsy Spider but it was different than you might expect!    

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider

Crept up on ____________'s head.

He wiggled all around

Then used it for a bed.

He scampered down _________ back

And hopped down to the floor.

Then that itsy bitsy spider

Squeezed underneath the door.

We learned about the letters Jj, Ee, Oo and Qq as well as the sounds they make and words that start with these letters.  We learned the sight words "the" and "we".  We found them in books, spelled them in fun/active ways, and wrote them in sentences.  Also, in our Heggerty phonics curriculum we started to learn about syllables.

Writing

This week finished our first unit by having students choose one of their writing pieces and, together, we went through a checklist to learn the editing process.  We began a new unit called Show and Tell.  Thank you for having your child bring in one item that was special to them!  We learned that we have so much more to say when we have a connection to something.  We continued to practice the writing process with our special object which is to think of something to write about, put those ideas on paper with drawings, put as many labels as you can, and begin/attempt to write sentences. Today we re-read our story from yesterday and added more details such as colors and more labels.  

We also started our handwriting curriculum called Handwriting without Tears.  We learned how to correctly form the letters F, E, D, P using "big lines, little lines, big curves, and little curves".  We also learned a song called "Where Do You Start Your Letters?"... and the answer is at the top! :)  Developmentally this can be tricky because so many kids start making letters from the bottom up.                         

Math

We continued to work on counting (forwards and backwards), writing numbers with the correct formation, and creating different number combinations to make a given number.  We also started working on making patterns with up to three elements including AB, ABC, AAB, ABB.  

Social Skills

This year as part of PBIS, students can earn Cedarburg Pride tickets.  These are given to students as a reward when they are showing good character and setting a good example/being a good leader, doing what is expected of them, doing something kind for someone else without being asked, etc.  We have a wonderful class and each student has earned a few tickets!  The tickets all go into a grade level bucket and on the last day of each week two names are pulled.  Those students then get to choose a fun prize (extra recess for the class, talking on the morning announcements, bringing in something for show and tell, etc.).  We have had 3 names from our class pulled already and I will be sending you an email if your child happens to be a lucky winner! Keep showing that wonderful Cedarburg Pride kindergarteners!  

It’s Already October!

Hello Families!

We had fun celebrating a little bit of fall this week with some apple activities!  We learned about John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed), taste tested apples and graphed our favorite, made an apple treat, read 10 Apples Up On Top, and learned about the process apples go through to get from the farm to the stores. Thank you to all those families that were able to send items in!  

                       

Literacy - This week we learned a poem called Apples, Apples.  We also focused on the letters Cc, Ff, Dd, and Gg.  We learned the sight words "and" and "like".  We also continued to review previous taught letters, sounds, and sight words.  Check out the learning being done below in our morning message, with playdough, in books, and with whiteboards! This week we read another story by Kevin Henkes called Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse and worked on skills such as making predictions, retelling the story, and explaining what our favorite part was and why.  Being able to give a reason for why was a little tricky but it will be something they continue to work on.        

                                              

Writing - What a fun week for this Pencil Pack writing club! (A nickname they voted on a few weeks ago.)  They learned that writers don’t just write stories on one piece of paper.  Instead they come up with a plan and write on multiple pages.  Students also learned that authors don't just write by themselves but instead they need the help of many people.  Students took turns sharing their story with their table partner while their partner listened and then asked questions to give the writer more ideas/details to add to their story.  This week they created their own teaching stories on a few pieces of paper.  I will be having them upload their stories on Seesaw next week, so be sure to look for them!  

                                               

Math - We have been working on writing numbers with the correct formation, identifying a given amount in a ten frame as well as identifying how many are not give.  For instance, if there are 7 dots then 3 dots are missing and 7 & 3 are partners that make 10.  We are also working on showing a given number in multiple ways (4 = 4+0, 1+3, 2+2, 3+1, 0+4, 5-1)

                    

This week, as I mentioned on Seesaw, we also learned how to find activities that have been assigned in Seesaw and are learning how to use the different tools.  It's amazing how good kids are with technology!  Next week I hope to introduce them to a few other programs!

                           

The kids have been loving art class this week! Ms. Elsbernd, the art teacher is looking for BROWN PAPER GROCERY BAGS.  So if you have any, please send them to school and I will get them to her.  Thanks!

Have a wonderful weekend!