This week we were introduced to a new author when we began a new author study. The author is Julia Donaldson and she has written several fun and engaing stories. A favorite this week was The Gruffalo. On the upper right side of our blog is a link to a web site that has activities and games based on this book. We explored this website in class, but your child may want to revisit it at home! In your child's folder is also another Scholastic book order. I did send 2 home last week, but I thought I would add this one in as well. If you want to order books, you can find our class online code in the upper left hand corner of our class blog. Please place orders by next Friday, Jan. 27.
Today your child brought home their first report card. There is lots of information inside that gives you a glimpse of your child's performance at school and some handouts to read-including a new optional at home spelling/writing program that we encourage you to have your child participate in. Over the last few weeks, your child has been given several assessments which have been combined with my knowledge of your child, to form a snapshot of how your child is doing in Kindergarten. Please remember that all children develop at different rates and that success comes in small steps as well as in big leaps! Celebrate your child's accomplishments! I am proud of all my students and the progress they are making. It will be exciting to watch them continue to grow as learners during the coming months. Please sign and return the report card ENVELOPE only! Thanks!
Next week we will celebrate winter and all the fun activites available to us during the season. We will start off the week by working together to build a cooperative snowman out of paper and other small items brought in from home. We still need decorative items, so if you have some things (yarn, ribbon, buttons, wrapping paper, cotton, etc) please send them in. Students will have to listen to each other's ideas and come to an agreed upon form for their snow person to take. Sometimes it is hard to work cooperatively as a group! The students will also go on a winter wonderland walk outside to check for signs of winter....hopefully we will see a lot of them even though we will be bundled up. During read aloud, the class will hear a lot of fiction stories about winter and even a non-fiction story about a school that is in Alaska. It will be interesting to see how recess in Alaska is different from ours! Our letter of the week will be the letter I. During the week we will review the short vowel i sound and practice reading words with this sound in it.
In math we will review symmetry when we make symmetric snowflakes. Students will also practice reading and writing large numbers and continue to explore calculators. We will review order of events when we discuss daily routines and how to build snowmen.
We hope to be able to go outside for recess next week sometime. When we do go outside it is important for your child to be dressed for the weather. Snowpants and boots are needed if your child wants to be able to play in the snow. It is VERY helpful if your child is able to dress themselves in their winter gear. There are still several children who can not zip their coats or put on their gloves without assistance. At the end of the day there is usually several mittens, hats, scarves, etc on the floor. It is important to label your child's winter gear so I can get it back to them!
Enjoy the snow filled weekend! I am sure the children are looking forward to playing outside!
