Week 15 - December 15, 2017

Activities for Next Week 

• Monday (12-18): Holiday traditions/Read In
• We will learn about holiday traditions celebrated around the world.
• Read in Day! Bring in blankets, small pillows, and even your favorite stuffed animal for a day filled with reading.
• Tuesday (12-19): Gingerbread Day.
• We will be making gingerbread play dough
• Paper bag Gingerbread house
• We need ingredients and volunteers to make play dough! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0945a5a62da1f58-first
• Wednesday (12-20): Grinch Day
• Wear Grinch shirts or green
• Grinch activities throughout the day
• Thursday (12-21): Holiday party @ 9:30-10:15 am
• Wear festive attire- green, red, gold, silver, etc
• Board game day in the afternoon= bring in your favorite non-electronic game (board games, puzzles, and card game) to play with friends.
• Holiday Party Sign Up Genius
• Friday (12-22): Pajama Day!
• Movie Day
• Whole school sing along at 9:30am

Curriculum

Reading

The students have been working on retelling stories with the characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, problem and solution.  Next week, we will continue to practice retelling what we're reading.  In addition, students will be learning to find syllables in words.

Book Baggies:
Students have 6 books in their bag (two below their reading level to help them work on fluency, two at their level to focus on good reading skills, and two above level to continue to push and grow as readers).  These bags will stay at home all week for students to practice reading.  It is good to encourage reading and rereading of these books!  We will exchange books on Fridays, so please have students return these books next Friday.  (Just FYI, Library books are sent in on Thursday.)  If a student forgets or is absent one week, they will need to return them the following Friday. 

Writing
The students are creating a how to book about Seesaw for the Kindergarten classes.  Students are working in groups to teach about different parts of Seesaw such as how to log in, how to take a picture, how to make a drawing, how to make a video, and how to record.  They are also making some tips and warnings about handling the iPads.  Ask your child about his/her part!  Next, week we hope to finish our how to book on Seesaw and move on to writing a new how to book.

Math
Students have enjoyed learning to collect data, make tally charts and bar graphs.  Next week, we will learn to add and subtract 10 from any number and then take our test.

Unit 4 Skills
o I can add three numbers using different strategies (make 10 or doubles).
o I can use strategies to solve facts within 10.
o I can put objects in order by length.
o I can measure the length of an object using nonstandard units.
o I can answer questions about data in a tally chart or bar graph.
o I can represent number stories using a number model.
o I can add and subtract 10 from any number.

Unit 4 Study Guide - You may use this to guide you in helping your child study for this Unit 3 Assessment.

Unit 4 IXL Skills - If you would like to, students may use IXL to help them practice these skills.

Social Studies
Students have learned about families, what makes a family, traditions families have and that families have roles and responsibilities.  Next week, we will begin exploring how we might share what we've learned with others.

Purposeful Play
Students are really enjoying the opportunity to be creative and use their imagination.  I enjoy seeing the problem solving and collaboration that happens. Ask your child what he or she created!

Please see the Purposeful Play tab on the blog to learn more about our weekly Play Time and donation items we could use for it!

Homework

• Read every night
• Work on a math skill (i.e. adding and subtracting to 20 - play a board game for this, telling time, counting coins, measuring - length and volume -  have your child cook with you to practice this, talk about shapes - 2D and 3D - find items around your house, etc.) 
• December Homework - This is all "Play based" to encourage the students build fine/gross motor skills, creativity and imaginative skills.

Cabins
As a school, we are focusing on respect this month.  Students are learning to show respect to themselves, others, and their environment.  Today we focused on showing respect during our dismissal time.  Please talk with your child about what they learned today!

Important Dates

December 21 - Holiday Party (9:30-10:15)
December 25 - Winter Break Begins
December 25-January 7 - No School - Winter Break
January 8 - School Resumes