Mrs. Nicodemus’ Kindergarten Newsletter 

October 20, 2014

 

Reading: Animal Babies in Grasslands is an Informational Text. This means it teaches readers about things that happen in the real world. This story teaches us about animals that are found in the grasslands. We will also learn about baby animals.

Target Comprehension Skill: Main Idea – the most important idea an author talks about. We will use the language “I can…find the main idea”.

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

Try to work these words into conversations with your child and discuss them. We will use the language “I can…use new vocabulary”.  

Phonemic Awareness (hearing sounds): Initial and final /p/ – Ex: pan, pat, pumpkin, hop, top, lip. This week, have your child try to find items around the house or outside that begin with the /p/ sound. You can also tell your child 2 words and ask him to identify which word has the /p/ sound. We will use the language “I can…hear beginning/ending sounds”.

Phonics (matching sounds and letters): Students will learn to say the /p/ sound when they read the letter Pp, and will learn to write the letter Pp when they hear the /p/ sound. Students have learned the letters and sounds for Ss, Mm, Tt, and Aa at this point. Ask them to produce those sounds for words you’ve written or have them write the correct letter when you make the sound. Remind them to use lower case letters unless it is a proper noun (name). We will use the language “I can…decode words”.

Sight Words: we, my, like (past words: I, am, the, little, to, a, have, is)     

Please practice these words at home! Students can write, search for, or use flash cards to read the words, We will use the language “I can…read words”.  

Math: We will be starting Chapter 4 this week where we will be practicing representing, counting, and writing 10. We will also learn to make 10 from a given number and count forward to 10 from a given number. Please have your child practice writing numbers 1-10 at home this week. Students will be using the language “I can…write, count, and show numbers”.

Literacy Night: Come to WT on Tuesday night and join us from 6-8pm for our free “Camp Read S’more”. You can wear your jeans and flannels and enjoy many different literacy activities. The bookfair will also be open during this time. I look forward to seeing you there!

Book Fair: We will be going to the bookfair during school on Wednesday. You may choose to send in money for your child to buy books if you want. Most books are at least $4. Please send money in an envelope or baggie labeled with your child’s name and the amount inside. You do not have to purchase any books. It is optional. You will also have the opportunity to purchase books during Literacy Night.

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.

 

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!

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!