We had another fun week in kindergarten! Everyone is adjusting to the new routines well and making new friends.
Language Arts
We will continue introducing the letters & their sounds this week. We are introducing a letter a day right now, with review weeks built in between. The expectation is that by the end of the first trimester (early November) students know all their letters & sounds. By the end of September, we will start reading centers, which we call "Daily 5," and all children will be meeting with me in small groups, addressing their specific reading needs. Those students who already know their letter sounds will work on other reading concepts in their small group. This week, we will introduce the first reading center that is part of Daily 5, called "Read to Self." Students will practice reading/looking at a book independently. Each day, we will build their reading stamina by adding more minutes. The expectation is that they look at the book quietly for the duration of the "Read to Self" time.
This week, we will focus on nursery rhymes & familiar stories/fairy tales for our readings. We will read different versions of The Three Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Humpty Dumpty, and more.
STEAM Activities
Going hand-in-hand with the fairy tales & nursery rhymes that we'll be reading, we'll have some fun STEAM activities as well during the next couple of weeks. STEAM activities challenge children to solve problems in creative ways. We will be building trees out of popsicle sticks and KEVA planks to see how many letters they can support (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom), we will be building houses to see if they can stand up to the huffing and puffing of a hair dryer (Three Pigs) and we will be building bridges to see how many goats they can support (Three Billy Goats Gruff). We will also test different materials to cushion Humpty Dumpty from his fall to see if we can keep his shell from breaking. We have some fun activities ahead of us!
Math
Over the next few weeks, we will introduce numbers 1-10. We will learn how to write them correctly, and learn different ways to represent their value. For more information on this math module, please see the parent tips here.
Wednesday Envelopes
This Wednesday, you will receive your child's first "Wednesday Envelope." Since most communications from the school are now online, this will mostly contain completed work from the classroom. Please look this over to see any areas where your child may need additional support. Right now, we're working on a lot of handwriting/fine motor activities, so just check over how your child's letter formation is looking. Every Thursday, please return the empty envelope to school so that we can send their work home each Wednesday in that envelope.
Late Arrivals
Either Mrs. Barbara or I stay at the gate until 8:15, when the starting bell rings. After 8:15, when the gate closes, your child is considered tardy. You will need to walk your child all the way around the school to the front gate by the office to check them in & get a tardy slip, as we cannot leave our classroom to come and open the gate. Please do not enter the school by using the Extended Care gate. This is strictly for use by a.m. extended care TK students, and should not be used by kindergarten families. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Upcoming Events
Friday, 9/3: Staff Development Day, no school
Monday, 9/6: Labor Day, no school
