January 25 – 29

Popcorn Words:  This week the words that and at popped into our room! We used Chunky Monkey to quickly see that “at” is a chunk inside”that”!  We explored the -at family words!  Next week the Jan. popcorn word flashcards will come home! Keep practicing our weekly words in addition to the rainbow word list your child is currently working on! 

Math: We will be wrapping up Unit 3 on Tuesday! Our plan is to review on Wednesday and take our chapter 3 test on Thursday inside our “math offices” 🙂 Thanks to all that completed the math homework already that came home Wednesday!  I will send home another homework this Wednesday to complete. If you can try to complete the homework this week Wednesday to review for the Thursday test. The test will cover addition/subtraction fact fluency, teen numbers, counting groups of objects. shapes, etc. they will be ready!

Writer’s Workshop:

The kinders have continued to practice writing small moment stories all by themselves. We have talked about being super star writers. Super star writers use finger spaces between words, use a capital letter at the beginning of sentences, add detail to pictures and words, label their pictures and add punctuation. They even got to help me fix and complete a piece I wrote this week, helping to grow and fix the story as we re-read together! Next week the kinders will be writing a small moment story without teacher assistance.  This story is their “on demand” story that I will grade for report cards. Their writing narrative/small moment stories will come home shortly. Enjoy reading their stories and celebrate with them on how far they have become as writers!  I’m so impressed with them! I know that you will be too! Our next writing unit will focus on writing “How to…” books.

Reader’s Workshop:  We have been working on “Revving Up To Read” this week.  The Kindergarteners have been practicing reading with their partners! We learned a new strategy beanie baby,”Helpful Kangaroo”, this buddy reminds us to ask our reading partner if we cannot figure out a tricky word. As partners we can be teachers!! We can help our partners figure out a word by reminding them to use their eagle eye, stretchy snake, etc. And then if our partner doesn’t know the answer, we can use the strategy beanie baby, “Wise Owl”, where we ask a teacher or parent for help!  Next week we will revisit our reading strategy buddies again and practice being and acting like readers.  We will work on reading stamina and putting all that we have learned into practice.

Take Home Books:  Our Take Home Books program is underway! And has been a hit! Every day the students ask if they get to read with a special parent and get a new book! 🙂 They’re loving it! Thanks to all my wonderful volunteers that helped me kick it off! It will get smoother each week! Books are to be brought to school on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Thank you for supporting your child during this program! 

Mystery Reader: This week Mrs. Hersberger surprised Cole as our guest reader! She brought a couple Little Critter books to share! She brought his sweet and adorable little brother and sister along for the visit as well! We all loved it! 🙂 Thanks so much!

Science: We explored Force and Motion this week! We explored how a force can be a push or a pull! We talked about incline planes and explored them on our playground.

*TUES. FEB. 13—Valentine’s Day Party  2:00-3:00pm  Donations due into school by Friday, Feb 10.  Parent volunteers who are working at a party center, please arrive by 1:40pm for instructions & set up.

*SAT. FEB. 25—-Daddy Daughter Dance: 6:30-9:00pm.  The cost is $30 per couple.

~~~Have a great weekend.  Stay warm and have fun!!!