March 25-29

It was so nice to meet with you during conferences last week! We are so proud of our Kindergartners and how much they have grown this year!


Important Dates and Reminders:
April 1-5: KAT Week (see below for dress up days)
April 1-Alien Day or wear green
April 2-Dress like a "star" (movie star OR star in the sky)
April 3-Dress Unique
April 4-We are out of this world with SMARTS-Dress like a KAT question or cat
April 5-Galaxy Day-each grade can dress like a color from the sky
             Kindergarten will wear blue!
April 5- KAT Celebration Dance (more info to come)

Check out what's happening in the super room this week!

Reading: One thing that sets non-fiction books apart from fiction books is that they contain more specialized vocabulary.  This week readers will keep track of topic words they find while reading non-fiction books.  They will use the pictures and words in the book to understand what the words mean and will teach them to their reading partner.  Each reader will create an expert word  list with sketches to show word meanings.

Writing: Our persuasive writing is coming to a close this week and these writers have become so convincing! They have been working on writing their opinions about problems they see in the world. To celebrate the end of our unit, students will be creating posters that show lots of writing about a problem. It could be littering, cutting down trees, wasting electricity, etc. We will share our opinion posters loud and proud in a microphone on Friday.

Math: Mathematicians are digging deeper into teen numbers. We know that teen numbers are a group of ten and extras; we will discover that mathematicians can see that when they build numbers OR look at equations. Each student will create a book that shows a picture, equation, and correct way to write the digits for each teen number to solidify this understanding. We will look at partners of the numbers 6-10. Although students are not expected to know these partners fluently, they are expected to build with tools or draw to show the partners to 10. We can recognize this in pictures and drawings and then match/write equations to show the part, part, whole.

Social Studies: After starting to think about what makes them so special, students will have a chance to show what makes them unique in the following centers:

• Photographs—We will sort pictures on a timeline. Then students will create their own timelines. 
• Collage—Kindergartners will look through magazines and cut out things that represent them. They will glue these onto a poster. We will share these at closing circle.
• Starfall.com—Students will work with partners on Ipads to “write” about themselves

March 18-22

Happy spring! Maybe?? With the weather changing daily, please send appropriate gear to school! We will help children decide what's necessary to wear at recess time. Depending on the day, they are still allowed to play in the snow so you might want to continue sending boots and snow pants.


Important Dates and Reminders:
March 19 & 21: Conferences- sign up here: https://ptcfast.com/schools/NDLC
March 22: No School
April 1-5: KAT Week (see below for dress up days)
April 1-Alien Day or wear green
April 2-Dress like a "star" (movie star OR star in the sky)
April 3-Dress Unique
April 4-We are out of this world with SMARTS-Dress like a KAT question or cat
April 5-Galaxy Day-each grade can dress like a color from the sky
             Kindergarten will wear blue!
April 5- KAT Celebration Dance (more info to come)


Reading:The nonfiction books have been a huge hit in our room! It's so fun to listen to the students ask questions and share knowledge about the topics they are reading about. This week, we will take that work a step further by asking students to share the information by retelling, acting like a reporter, and having conversations about their books with partners. We will use the following conversation starters to help students carry on with their partner.

• I wonder....
• Maybe...
• I agree/disagree because...

We remind students that a having a conversation is like riding a seesaw; you take turns going back and forth!

Writing: This week writers will work to better their opinion/persuasive writing by using all the strategies they have learned so far.  This is a chart we have been using to draw on elaboration strategies.

Math: Did you know that in order to be fluent adding and subtracting within 5, students need to be able to solve more than 20 equations! An article called "Assessing Basic Fact Fluency" defines fluency as "the efficient, appropriate, and flexible application of single-digit calculation skills and...an essential aspect of mathematical proficiency".  In order to determine if a student is fluent in solving a problem, they must show "flexibility, appropriate strategy use, efficiency, and accuracy". So how do we determine that? Students are given a fact fluency interview where we watch and ask questions about how students are solving equations. It is amazing to see how their brains use the strategies to solve problems!

Social Studies: We will start to build a base for our Self Study inquiry with a read aloud, video aloud, and song. Students will have whole class conversation about the book It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr. We will create a class book after watching a video of a poem called, “I am Me!” Here is the link  to the poem. Each student will add a page that says, “No one _____ the way I ____.” Finally, we will create a self-portrait after listening to  the song “What I Am” by Will.I.Am. Here is the link to the song. I am excited for students to start thinking about what makes them special…we know they are!

March 11-15

Important Dates and Reminders:
March 15: Wear Green
March 19 & 21: Conferences- sign up here: https://ptcfast.com/schools/NDLC
March 22: No School

LIBRARY CHECKOUT DAYS: 
Thursday March 14
Monday March 25
Tuesday April 2
Wednesday April 10
Tuesday April 23

The PSC is in need of some help during conferences:
Conference Meal 
http://signup.com/go/pfBkphc

Book Fair 
http://signup.com/go/kQrXeuw

KAT Dance Volunteers
http://signup.com/go/nBAoaqP

Here's what's happening in K this week! 

Reading: This week we kick off a new reading unit called Growing Expertise in Little Books.  This unit has a focus on non-fiction reading and really reading to gain understanding and learn from the books we read.  This week we will sort our classroom library to get all of our informational books organized so they are easier for us to shop for.  We will learn that as we read about a topic we become experts on it and learn to share that information with others by telling the main topic of a book and giving key details learned in the book. We will also work on stopping and asking questions while we read.

Writing:I hope your child has shared with your some of the important topics they are writing about to persuade others.  Please know you may receive some books or letters regarding "problems" your child might want to persuade others to fix at home or in your neighborhood.  We are really working on using our words as a way to let people know about a problems see and ways we think it can be fixed.  This week we will work on keeping our writing stamina up by thinking of lots of causes to write about and will work on revision and spelling strategies.

Math: This week we will focus on using the +1 pattern automatically. 
One way we will be working on the +1 pattern is by playing the game speed.  Students play as a pair and hold 5 cards each in their hand, they then flip one card over from the deck and need to lay down the card the comes after that card as quickly as they can.  This is a fun way for them to practice using the +1 strategy and to recognize that addition pattern automatically. We will also work on using strategies for equations that do not have a pattern (2+2, 4-3, 2+3, 3-2...).  We will learn that using fingers and tools can help use to visualize what happens in these equations.  We will also make our own bead racks use as a tool.  Stay tuned to see how we use these on SeeSaw!

Social Studies: As we get ready to start our self study unit, students spent time this past week learning to think about others. Here is a quick video of one of our students explaining some of that learning. 

March 4-8

Wow!  How is it March already?!  Let's hope Mother Nature know that means spring should be here soon!

Here is the march lunch menu.

Important Dates and Reminders:
March 7: Author's Breakfast: CANCELLED
March 8:  1/2 day (11:30 dismissal)
March 19&21: Conferences (sign up to come)
March 22: NO SCHOOL for students


Reading:  This week we will become avid readers of poetry!  We will learn how to make our reading sound smooth and will also work to show emotions in the poems we read.  We will end the week with a Poetry Extravaganza where we will perform, illustrate and even write our own poems using the beat of poems we know well.

Writing: Opinion writing is up and running in Kindergarten!  This week we will learn that we can voice our opinion about problems we see around us and write as a way to try to fix it.  We will use the following chart to help us:

1. See a problem

2. Think

3.  Write

This work will lead us to writing letters, making signs and even creating petitions to make our school a better place.  The big goal for Kindergartners in this unit is to understand how powerful their words can be to persuade others.


Math:This week in math we will continue to solidify our understating of teen numbers and the equations and quantities that represent them.  We will be matching equations to representations of teen numbers and work to understand that the extra ones that join with ten are always the second digit displayed in a teen number.  It is common error for kindergarten students to write 71 for 17.  We will also work with partners of numbers and will play a game called missing partner.  This will help us to visualize how quantities combine to make a larger numbers.  This is something that could be played at home with coins or any small plastic object.  The goal is to display a set of objects and then cover part of that set and for students to be able to say what they see and say what is missing to make the total number of objects.  For example: "I see 4, one is missing, 4 and 1 make 5."  We will also be introduced to and explore 3D shapes and compare them with 2D shapes.


Science: We officially posted videos to our Seesaw accounts! To see your students video, use the paper copy directions that were sent home or follow these directions:

Your child will post to Seesaw to share their learning. Seesaw is private; you'll only see posts created by your child.

Please Sign Up Now

1. Click on this link: https://app.seesaw.me/s/128-868-264
2. Choose your child from the list
3. Create your account
4. Once I approve you, you can see content from your child

After you sign up, download the free Seesaw Family app and sign in. You can also access Seesaw from a computer at https://app.seesaw.me.

Thank you for supporting your child's learning!

February 25-March 1

There are lots of fun dress up days and activities planned this week for Read Across America!
 It will also be great to see everyone at family night!

It's not too late to sign up to help with Family Night:

Serving Cookie for Feb 26 Family Night: http://signup.com/go/bpmTYNJ
Donate Cookies for Feb 26 Family Night: http://signup.com/go/cDtSDdE

February 25-March 1st is Read Across America Week.
Monday, Feb 25th: Dress Like Your Parents
Tuesday, Feb 26th: Dress Like a Game and Family Night 6-7
Wednesday, Feb 27th: Crazy Hair Day
Thursday, Feb 28th: Dress Like A Book Character
Friday, March 1st: Camp Out Day, Dress in Camping Wear

Reading:We have been loving digging into non-fiction books and showing and sharing our thinking with our reading partners and playdate groups.   We are learning that to remember our thoughts This week we will continue with some non-fiction work and will meet in topic clubs to do more talking about and comparing books.

Writing: Kindergartners begin writing opinion pieces this week! As you may have seen in your child's folder, each student is welcome to bring 4 items from home that they have strong feelings about. For example,  it could be their favorite toy OR a picture of a food that they do NOT like. We will use these items to start discussions and generate ideas for our writing. The goal is for students to start their writing with "I like/do not like_____" and then add reasons to each page of the book. I can't wait to learn more about the opinions in our classroom!

Math: This week a major focus in math will be identifying and quickly recalling partners of a number or two numbers that combine to form a larger numbers.  Students will play a game called Missing Partner where they will have a set number of tools (2-5) and a part of the group will be removed and they will need to say the quantity that remains and then figure out the quantity that is missing.  Ex.  I see 2, 3 are missing, 2 and 3 are partners of 5.

Science: For science this week, students will be wrapping up science centers and learning how to use Seesaw to share our learning. This year we're going to use a new tool to share what we're learning in class called Seesaw. Your child will have his or her own learning journal, and you can get notified when your child adds new items. It's completely private -- only you can see your child's journal outside of class. I will be sending out a link to access Seesaw later this week!

February18-22

This week will be short and sweet and will hopefully not involve any snow days!   Check out the fun we had this week!!

 100 cup stacking

 What can we build with 100 legos?

 100 Gumballs!

 Keeping track of how many times we licked our suckers...

Making beautiful necklaces with 100 beads!

Our biggest school fundraiser will be here soon!
Please see the link below to sign up to help out with this fun event!
http://signup.com/go/imLqCBE

Important Dates and Reminders:
February 21: Funset Boulevard
February 26: Family Art Night--includes art auction, art projects, and a cookie sale!
Serving Cookie for Feb 26 Family Night: http://signup.com/go/bpmTYNJ
Donate Cookies for Feb 26 Family Night: http://signup.com/go/cDtSDdE

February 25-March 1st is Read Across America Week.
Monday, Feb 25th: Dress Like Your Parents
Tuesday, Feb 26th: Dress Like a Game
Wednesday, Feb 27th: Crazy Hair Day
Thursday, Feb 28th: Dress Like A Book Character
Friday, March 1st: Camp Out Day, Dress in Camping Wear

Reading: This week as Super Avid Readers we will look more closely at non-fiction or informational texts and how we can really learn from what we read in them.  To pique our interest in looking more closely at non-fiction topics we will watch this video.   The kids do seem to really like this video and learn so much from watching it, but some may find it a tad scary a first.  There will be lots of discussion around it so I wanted it to be available to you as well :).  Some of the ways we will work with non-fiction books this week we will be: to use new vocabulary we have learned about our topics when talking about our books, finding multiple books on a topic that interests us and comparing and contrasting various books we read

Writing: Writers will pick a how to book to revise, edit and make their best this week.  We will use the charts below to help us make sure our writing teaches all it should and is easy for others to read!

Math: This week we will begin Unit 4.  The main concepts of this unit are finding partner numbers for 6-10 and identifying 3 dimensional shapes.  The unit also reinforces teen number composition and decomposition.  Please note that any partner work within 6-10 is expected to be done with math tools and drawings and students are by no means expected to be fluent in knowing their facts or partners to 10.  We will continue to work toward automaticity with addition and subtraction within 5.  Did you know there are 21 addition facts from 0-5 that students need to be automatic with?!

Science: The scientists will spend next week rotating through centers to gather and share information about plants. The centers are:

• Plant photographs--students can sort, label, and discuss the photographs
• Books--students will look through and read plant books
• Ipads--students will research plants on Pebblego 
• Art--scientists will create plants using different art materials 

The scientists will take notes about their learning and will compile all of this information together to share in the form of a poster or presentation.

February 8-15

What a busy and exciting time of year! See below for a list of the upcoming school events and dress up days. Thank you to the families that donated snacks and supplies for our celebrations!

Upcoming Events:

February 11: 100th Day of School--dress like you are 100 years old
February 11: Culver's Night

February 14: Class Valentine Exchange and Red, White and Pink Day
February 21: Funset Boulevard
February 26: Family Art Night--includes art auction, art projects, and a cookie sale!
Serving Cookie for Feb 26 Family Night: http://signup.com/go/bpmTYNJ
Donate Cookies for Feb 26 Family Night: http://signup.com/go/cDtSDdE

February 25-March 1st is Read Across America Week. 

• Monday, Feb 25th: Dress Like Your Parents
• Tuesday, Feb 26th: Dress Like a Game
• Wednesday, Feb 27th: Crazy Hair Day
• Thursday, Feb 28th: Dress Like A Book Character 
• Friday, March 1st: Camp Out Day, Dress in Camping Wear

Reading:  As we continue to learn about becoming avid readers, students will have "playdates" during their partner reading time. According to research on cognitive development, children increase focus, stamina, self-regulation abilities, and abstract thinking through play. During the "reading playdates", book clubs will meet and can choose from a variety of fun activities to do with books. These activities could include: acting books out, playing school, having a read aloud, hunting for snap words, etc. Try one of these fun games while reading with your child at home!

Writing: As we head toward the end of our how to unit, we will work on adding introductions and conclusions to our books. We will also learn to use comparisons in our writing to give more specific directions.  Finally, writers will be reminded to use all the strategies they know to make their how to books easy to read.Writers will continue to work on "writing with flow" to get even more books done. Here are some of the ways we figured out how to write with flow: 

Math: To continue to build our fluency within five,  the mathematicians will explore the +1 and -1 pattern this week. We will study what happens each time you subtract a number; it's just like counting backwards! Students will also find that inversely, each time you add 1 to a number, it's like forward counting.  Here are some poems we will learn to help us remember these patterns automatically.

• When you have a number and you add one more, you count up to the number next door. 
• When you have a number and you take one away, it's like counting backwards, hip, hip, hooray! 

Science:  We have a class pet! Meet Pocahontas. After researching what a fish needs to survive, students were surprised with a fish! It was so much fun!

This week, we will be shifting our focus to plants. We will find out what plants need to survive and plant our own seeds.