Dec. 2-6 Newsletter

Mrs. Nicodemus’ Kindergarten Newsletter

Reading
Book: Jack and the Beanstalk by Mary Ann Hoberman
This story is told by Jack and the Ogre. We will hear how Jack traded his cow for magic beans that grew a beanstalk. Then we will hear how Jack climbed up and stole a magic hen, a harp, and a bag of gold from the ogre. This story takes a twist when the ogre demands Jack return his things though, because Jack asks him if he would lend him those things and the ogre agrees. Jack and the ogre become friends and decide to write their story down on paper.

Target Skill: Realism and Fantasy

We will be looking for ways the beanstalk is similar and different to a real plant.

Amazing Words: lad, beanstalk, lend, magic, naughty, ogre

Phonological Awareness: Nn says /n/ (nap, net)

Sight Words: he, for   (Please practice at home. All of the words your child is expected to know at this point are: I, am, the, little, to, a, have, is, we, my, and like)

Math

We will take our Ch. 4 test this week. Please review some of the following skills to help children prepare for the test: Represent 10 objects with a number name and a written numeral, use a drawing to make 10 when starting with a lesser number, and practice ways to make 10 using two numbers.

Secret Santa

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week we will be going to the Secret Santa shop in the library. Students may bring in money to shop for parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. If you would like to designate who the student should shop for or a certain amount to be spent on a particular person please mark it on the envelope. This aids the volunteers in the shop as they are helping your child budget their money.

Schedule

This Friday will be a B day.

Important Info

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. Last week your child should have brought home a letter informing you that a case of pertussis / whooping cough had been identified. I was diagnosed with it last week and have taken my antibiotics so I am no longer contagious. If your child has a cough or develops a cough now through Dec.16, please be sure to contact your doctor and let them know he/she was exposed to pertussis.

Photos from October

Much of our morning is spent working in small groups. Mrs. Miller is one of our teachers that helps us learn important reading skills.

 

 

We use the Smart Board and manipulatives to help us understand Math!

 

Kindergarteners are excited to find words and letters they know in books. They are good at telling a story based on the pictures they see. 

 

 

 

We conducted an experiment as we learned about flowers and seeds. We learned that different parts of a plant have different jobs.

 

Students are learning to be great writers. We are practicing writing words and sentences to tell about our pictures.

 

We went on a nature walk to see what we could observe. Then we made a sketch of what we saw!

 

 

Pumpkins! We predicted, measured, and counted using a pumpkin!

Students used cubes to measure the pumpkin.

Mr. Stahl shows us some of what's inside the pumpkin.

 

 



Students counted pumpkin seeds.

 

Students loved looking at all of the books at the book fair!

Recess is fun in the Fall!

 



Students practice procedures during an assembly and at dismissal.

 

11/18 - 11/22 Newsletter

Reading
Book: A Bed For The Winter by Karen Wallace 
 

        

We will read and understand that some animals look for a winter home and try to find a warm place to stay. We will answer the question “What kind of home does an animal need?”

Target Skill: Sequencing: the order in which something happens

We will be looking for clue words such as first, next, and last. Paying attention to the sequence helps readers understand what is happening in the story.

Amazing Words: nest, stump, hive, meadow, tree trunk, den

Phonological Awareness: Ii says /i/ igloo, Izzy

Sight Words: he, for   (Please practice at home. All of the words your child is expected to know at this point are: I, am, the, little, to, a, have, is, we, my, and like)

Math

We will continue Ch. 4 this week. Students will represent 10 objects with a number name and a written numeral. They will also use a drawing to make 10 from a given number. We will use connecting cubes to help us compose the number 10. Composing a number means using two or more sets to make a number. Practice with composing ten will set the stage for addition. Seeing ten cubes as seven red and three blue prepares children for thinking about 7+3=10. If your child is struggling to write the numbers correctly, please continue to practice this at home.

Conferences

Thank you to everyone who was able to come in for conferences. I really appreciate you taking the time to come in and talk since it is so important that we work together to best serve your child. It was a pleasure to meet everyone and get to know you and your child a little better. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or if you were unable to make it in for conferences and you’d like to discuss anything.

Schedule

This Friday will be an A day. Next week we only have school on Monday and Tuesday. No school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I’d like to have my kindergarten classes take part in a canned food drive. This is not a school-wide thing and not required.. I’d like to have a contest between the A group and the B group to see who can bring in the most items (I may even have a special prize for the winning class!) We will use the items to practice our math skills of counting and comparing the amounts in each group, and we will discuss being thankful for what we have and helping others when we are able. All items will be donated to those in need. If your family would benefit from some assistance, please let me know.

Things to do this weekend...

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are three great opportunities being offered locally.

Pinkalicious, The Musical

Visit this link to learn more about the Calico Children's Theater located at the University of Cincinnati's Clermont Campus: http://www.ucclermont.edu/community_arts/calico_theatre.html. This Saturday, they will be performing Pinkalicious, The Musical. Tickets are $7/ person and can be purchased online until sold out. Show times are 1:30 and 3:30.

Synopsis: Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents.  Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast.  But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament.


Children's Book Night

Check out this link for more information about Children's Book Night taking place at Union Township Branch Library on Friday, November 1! http://www.clermontlibrary.org/wpkids/?p=1345

Head to the Union Township Branch for Children’s Book Night on Friday, Nov. 1. An illustrator panel with Jeffrey Ebbeler, Tammie Lyon, Christina Wald, and Eric Rohmann begins the evening. Later, hear Featured Authors, Steven Jenkins and Candace Flemming speak. The event is free and open to the public, no registration necessary! Stay around for autographs and book signing.


Used Book Sale

The Union Township Branch Library will be having a used book sale starting Saturday, Nov.2 and ending Saturday, Nov.9. This is a great opportunity to find used fiction and nonfiction books, magazines and audio/visual materials to add to your child's personal library. I believe the books may be "bought" with whatever amount you think is fair to donate in exchange for your books.

Saturday, November 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday-Tuesday, November 4 & 5, from Noon-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, November 6 & 7, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, November 8 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, November 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

 

http://www.clermontlibrary.org/locationut.shtml

Week of October 28th

Reading

Book: Animal Babies in Grasslands – We will be learning what grasslands are, where they can be found, and what animals can be found there. We will also be learning about what we call the babies of those animals. As part of our learning, we will discuss what some adult animals do for their babies and compare that to what adult people do for their babies.

 Target Skill: Main Idea (what the story is mostly about)

 Amazing Words: grassland, calf, foal, pup, cub, joey

Phonological Awareness: Pp says /p/ penguin

Sight Words: we, my, like   (Please practice at home. All of the words your child is expected to know at this point are: I, am, the, little, to, a, have, and is)

Math

We will be starting Ch. 4 this week.  Students should now be able to count, read, write, and draw to show numbers 1-9. We will continue to practice if a number is greater or less than another number. Chapter 4 will focus on representing and comparing numbers to ten.

Book Fair

This week is the Book Fair. We will be going on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Please put all money in an envelope or baggie labeled “Bookfair” with your child’s name. You may choose to send in money for your child to choose whichever book they want, or you may send in money along with a list or note regarding which books they are allowed to buy. It is very helpful if you can give some guidance! J You can check out the book fair online also at scholastic.com/bookfairs.

Cold Weather
Now that the weather is getting colder, please make sure to dress your child appropriately. We will be going outside still. It is important that you label all coats, hats, etc. with your child’s name. Many items look similar and students do not always remember what they brought. I already have one jacket that does not have a name and no student has claimed. Please let me know if you are missing one.  

Friday

This Friday will be a B day.

No School

There will be no school on Tuesdsay, November 5th and Monday, November 11th.

Cards

If anyone is able to send in a deck of cards for the classroom it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

West Clermont School Levy

Please remember to cast your vote on Tuesday, November 5^th!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 7 from 4-7:30; Tuesday, Novevmber 12 from 4-7:30; and Thursday, November 14 from 8-2:45. This week each child should be bringing home a conference request form. I encourage each family to sign up for a time slot and return the form as quickly as possible. Each conference will last 15 minutes and will give us an opportunity to discuss your son/daughter's academic and social progress as well as answer any questions you may have. Anyone needing transportation to or from conferences can have that arranged by PTO. I look forward to seeing you all!

News for Oct. 21 - Oct. 25

This week's newsletter:

Reading

Book: Nature Spy – We will be looking closely at things found in nature. We will learn about making observations, and we will go outside to see what we can observe in nature. We will record what we see, hear, feel, and smell.

Target Skill: Setting (where and when something is happening)

Amazing Words: spy, discover, nature, pod, acorn, pattern

Phonological Awareness: Ss says /S/ salamander

Sight Words: have, is   (Please practice at home. All of the words your child is expected to know at this point are: I, am, the, little, to, a, have, and is)

Math

We are finishing Ch. 3 this week. Students should now be able to count, read, write, and draw to show numbers 1-9. We will continue to practice if a number is greater or less than another number. Chapter 4 will focus on representing and comparing numbers to ten. Chapter 3 Math homework is due this week.

Thursday night from 6-8 is the W.T Math and Science Fall Fun Fest. There is a green flyer coming home with your child tonight containing more information. Please consider stopping by for free food, contests, and fun science and math activities. The book fair will also be open at this time for families to shop together. I look forward to seeing you there! 

Book Fair

Next week will be the Book Fair. We will be going on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. A flyer is coming home with your child tonight with books that they may choose from. You may choose to send in money for your child to choose whichever book they want or you may send in money along with a list or note regarding which books they are allowed to buy. It is very helpful if you can give some guidance! J You can check out the book fair online also at scholastic.com/bookfairs.

Snacks

Thank you to everyone that has sent in snacks for us to enjoy! We really appreciate it! Some of our favorites are pretzels, goldfish, and vanilla wafers.

Folders

Please be sure to empty out your child’s folder each night or each week. Thanks!

Pictures from Aug./Sept.

 

Students loved reading about Chester the raccoon and making "Chester" puppets!

Practicing kindergarten sight words! 

 

We love puzzles!

We can sort by shirt color!