Super Reader Day and Science Day!

December 19-22

I hope you have a wonderful break full of family, friends, rest, and laughs.
See you next year!

On Thursday children should dress as super heroes!  They can use existing costumes or create one from materials at home.  We will be making capes as a class project.
We are still in need of plastic table clothes and foam letter stickers for this project!  If you are willing to donate please send these items to school with your child.

Upcoming events:
December 22: Super Reader Day
December 24-January 2: No School--Enjoy your break!

What’s happening in Kindergarten this week?

Reading: Just wanted to give a quick reminder that as students move up in reading levels, the books they bring home may seem more difficult! With practice and perseverance, they will have an easier time with the new level!

We will have our Super Reader celebration this week! Kindergartners will create a cape to show that they really are Super Readers! They will build sight word towers to knock down! Swat at letters to match a sound! Read with other Super Readers! It will be a day to celebrate how far we have come as readers!
**We will not be bringing book bags home over break.

Writing: Writers will publish a true story this week. Writers will bring all of their writing home on Wednesday! Ask your child to read their stories to you by pointing under their words and checking the pictures to remember what their story was about.

Math: We will work on teen numbers this week. As mathematicians, the most efficient way to see teen numbers is to see the group of ten and the extras. We will also work on finding the partners of the numbers 2-6.
Here are centers that will help us with this work:

• listening to story problems on the iPad and then using pictures and equations to solve them
• creating a book using break apart strips to show partners of numbers 2-6
• using equations and math tools to solve both addition and subtraction problems within 5
• using marbles to show partners and writing equations to match

Word Study: Check out this sight word link as a reminder of the sight words your child can be searching for and spelling with you!

Science: The Kindergartners will continue to work in different science centers to wrap up the unit. They will work in the following centers:

• Scientists will match body coverings to the correct animal
• Students will  create their own animals using stencils, body coverings paper and other art supplies
• Students will sort animals into different groups based on color, body covering, number of legs, etc.
• Scientists will read, mark with post its, and write about what they learn! 

December 12-16

Hello!  I am getting our news out early this week!  I wanted to let you know I will be attending a literacy training on Monday.  Mrs. Otto will be the substitute teacher. You can email me or call the office if you need anything!

Few reminders:

• If you did not pick up Square1 Art, you can pick it up in the office or let me know if you would like it sent home in your child's backpack. 
• Remember to send snow gear to school! Students will be able to use it during recess times and getting ready to go at the end of the day.
• Please continue to send a snack to school every day! Some families find it helpful to pack an entire bag of snacks for the week or you could leave a box of snacks in your child's locker. Thanks!

Upcoming Events:

• December 13: No School
• December 14: Wear your favorite college gear!
• December 22: Wear holiday colors!
• December 22: Super Reader Day in Kindergarten (more info coming soon)

Reading: While reading with your child at home, you might wonder "What is the best way to help when they are struggling to read a book?" Here are some tips to help them learn and practice the skills needed to read their book on their own.

• Remind them to use sight words to help them figure out how the book goes
• Have them check the picture
• Look at the first letter of the word and ask yourself "What would make sense?"

Writing: Writers will work on elaboration this week. Whenever we are writing true stories, we can add more details by showing in pictures and writing in words. Writers think about what more to add by asking the following questions:

• Who was there?
• Where is the story taking place?
• What happened?
• What did people say? (speech bubbles)
• How were they feeling? 

Math:
We begin Unit 3 this week, which focuses on identifying 10 groups in teen numbers, finding partners of a number (i.e. partners of 5 are 3+2 and 4+1), and addition and subtraction. Students will learn about identifying 10 groups with a ten bug (ladybug)

• Identify groups of objects and state the partner numbers
• Students will have 10 buttons and a box. They will remove or add buttons to tell an addition or subtraction story. Then, they can write the equation.  
• Create a ten bug & do a hunt around the room for 10 groups in teen numbers 
• Foam 10 frame teen number building

Word Study:   The sight words for this week are: one, two, & three.

Science: Scientists will investigate reptiles, scales, and amphibians! We will read books about snakes, toads, frogs, and more. Scientists will create charts to compare the animals and discuss the purpose of the different body coverings.

December 5-9

You can pick up your child's Square 1 artwork at the family night on December 8th by the music room or in the office (after the 8th).

Here is a link to our new homework calendar.

Upcoming Events:

• December 6: Kaukauna Christmas Parade
• Students who are accompanied by an adult can meet at 5:30 at 809 Wisconsin Ave to walk by or sit on the float. Remember to dress warm and bring a blanket if you plan to sit on the float! 
• December 8: Pajama Day AND Family Night: PJ's and Publishing
• December 13: No School
• December 14: Wear your favorite college gear!
• December 22: Wear holiday colors!

Reading: This week, readers will work on adding post it to their books to track character feelings. We will also work on retelling our books. Students will continue to bring new books home as they book shop. If your child is unsure of how the pattern in his/her book goes, you can tell them to use the sight words and then check the pictures to help them figure out what they words might say. 

Writing: As students learn more and more about writing stories and revising, they will go back to add more to old stories. We are beginning to add “flaps” when we run out of room to write on the original page. Students will explore familiar books to notice how the authors put a lead, or beginning, in their stories. Then they will try it. Finally, partners will work together to find gaps in their stories and fill them to get ready for publishing next week!

Math:
We will be wrapping up unit 2 this week. Students will complete the Math Expressions assessment after finishing up the following centers:

• Students will create their own number lines with digits, dot representations, and +1 equations. 
• Mathematicians will work with shapes using geoboards.
• We will use chips and a ‘break apart stick’ to find the partners of a number. Then, they will write the equation that matches.
• Students will practice number identification and number order with a partner. After lining up the dotted number tiles, partner 1 will secretly remove two of the tiles. Partner 2 will need to figure out which tiles are missing.

Word Study:   The sight words for this week are: come, like, look, my, to. A fun way to practice writing sight words is to spread shaving cream or salt on a cookie tray and let your child write the words with their finger!

Science: Scientists will investigate birds and feathers this week. We will rub vegetable oil on our skin to replicate how oil on feathers keep birds warm and dry. We will explore different kinds of feathers too!

Here is a picture from science last week. We played "Predator Prey" outside.