We had a fun first week back, easing into the school year with several collaborative art projects and other activities. The students have hit that magical part of kindergarten where their growth is really showing, both academically and socially. This week, we will hit the half-way mark (90th school day) in our kindergarten year. This is where the kindergarten curriculum really takes off, and your continued support with the curriculum will be especially important at this time. Reading to your children and asking them questions about what they are reading, helping them blend and read/write short vowel words (eg: hop, can, rat, etc.) and reinforcing math facts and sight words are all things you can do to help enhance what they are learning in the classroom.
Language Arts
This week, we will delve deeper into our study of owls. We will complete some informational writing about owls and do a few owl crafts. Our sight words this week are he and she. Our emphasis in Fundations will continue to be blending sounds to read and write words with fluency. This week, we will also begin instruction on the formation of upper case letters, covering two letters per day. As I said last week, the Fundations Parent Letter has a lot of great tips on ways to encourage blending, as well as guides to correct formation of the upper case letters.
Math
We are in our final topic of Module 3, Topic D, Compare Numbers Within 10. In this topic, your child is continuing comparison work with a focus on numerals. Students use terms such as greater, less, and equal to compare numbers.
Upcoming Event: Snow Day
Next Tuesday, January 20th, we will have a "Snow Day" in kindergarten. Coincidentally, this is also a schoolwide Spirit Day-- dress in your snow gear. The kids can dress in their snow gear (whatever you have is fine-- hats, scarves, mittens, goggles, etc.) and we will have an all-kindergarten "snowball fight." Children should bring a separate bag for their snow gear for taking on and off, as it gets too warm wearing some of those items all day. They also tend to get lost if we don't have a place to put them. If they fit in your child's backpack, that is fine too. Our centers on the 20th will all be snow-themed. It is always lots of fun.
Toys in the Classroom
There has been a recent uptick in toys/jewelry being brought into the classroom from home. Watches that frequently beep, small stuffies, key chains, etc. are all providing a distraction from the focus of all students. Per Mr. Barbara's reminder in the Vista Views this week, Toys, and other personal items from home, not related to school, are not permitted at school unless it is a specially designated day. Please remind your student not to bring personal items like toys or sporting equipment unless otherwise arranged with their teacher. We cannot guarantee the safety of every item brought to campus and often these items lead to avoidable conflict and distractions that negatively affect the learning environment. Thank you for your help in creating a distraction-free classroom.
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Grasshopper t-shirts to show your school pride.
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: Centers @ 12:20 (Kaela & Fatemeh)
Tuesday: Centers @ 12:20 (Eva & Anda)
Wednesday: Library @ 9:10 (Reader: Tiffany, Checkout: Mary), Dismissal @ 1:15
Monday: Centers @ 12:20 (Kaela & Fatemeh)
Tuesday: Centers @ 12:20 (Eva & Anda)
Wednesday: Library @ 9:10 (Reader: Tiffany, Checkout: Mary), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Activity w/ 5th grade buddies, Music with Mr. Jason
Upcoming Events
Monday, 1/19: No School: MLK Holiday
Tuesday, 1/20: "Snow Day" (dress in snow gear & have special snow-themed centers)
Wednesday, 1/21: Dyslexia Screener Assessments for all kindergartners
Thursday, 1/22: Vision testing in kindergarten (please make sure your child is wearing their glasses, if applicable)
Wednesday, 1/28: 100 Day
2/16-2/20: No School: President's Week
