In Reading, we are steadily working on completing our introduction to all letters and sounds in our Kindergarten Level. We will finish Kk, Qq and Jj this upcoming week, leaving only Xx, Yy, Zz and our year-end review. The children will be reading three acts of a play put on by the Superkids this week and so a major focus will be decoding and then re-reading with expression. Next, the children will review rhymes and focus on spelling word families (lists of words that rhyme and whose rime part has the same spelling. For example, led, red, bed but not head. Students will focus on alternate ways to spell the same sounds next year.
In Math class we are ready to move on from numbers and their parts. The children did very well on our last topic. The next, Topic 12, will be about Measurement. I am sure the children will enjoy the hands-on activities as the learn to measure objects in different ways. They will use our linking cubes, string and other objects to measure length and height. They will use balance scales to measure weight and examine the size of different containers to study capacity. In Kindergarten, measurement is all about comparison. Which child is taller? DId you need a longer string to measure this pencil or that one? Which container holds more? While standard units of measurement may be mentioned (inches on a ruler), children will not be responsible for using them this year.
In Science/Social Studies we will continue to study plants, their needs and life cycles. We will tie in this science theme to social studies and even our Kindergarten Show as we discuss how people use plants and farms in upcoming weeks.
A few reminders...
- It is helpful for girls to wear shorts or leggings under dresses as we begin to play more outside and because they must sit with legs crossed on stage. FYI- our show is a Western Theme but they will be required to follow the dress code on show day.
- Please send in a snack for your child each day. We have a snack mid-morning each day to tide us over till lunch and all children wish to eat each day. I do have extra snacks for those who occasionally forget. Some children who "forget" snacks daily have been complaining about the snacks offered in school. I cannot cater to individual children's preferences. I have been reminding students to either say "Thank you" or No, thank you" to our snack (ususally goldfish crackers or cereal) an to use good manners. You can help alleviate this problem by remembering to send in a snack for your own child that he/she likes each day. Thank you.
- Make sure any overdue Library books are either returned ot paid for by the last day of school. Contact Mrs. D'Obilda with any questions.