The first week of May was a quick one in Mr. Smith’s Kindergarten classroom.  Students worked hard and tried to stay focused during the windy weather. The class worked on building and practicing skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social times.

In both reading and writing students worked on beginning and ending sounds with words.  Students used pictures and words that were missing either the beginning or ending letters in the word.  They stretched the word out slowly until they could isolate the missing sound.  Then they wrote the letter that matched that sound on the blank.  When your child needs help with an unknown word in either reading or writing have him or her stretch the word out until s/he can hear the beginning and ending sounds.  In reading this strategy should help your child to get his or her mouth ready to say the missing word.  Then s/he can ask:  “Does it look right, sound right, make sense?”  In writing this should help student take risks and write more words than just what they have memorized.

For math this week we focused on number counting and recognition skills.  This should be helpful as we continue working on problem solving and math pacing.  Remember that the end of the year expectation is to recognize  numbers to 31 and count to 100.

For science we wrapped up our study of wood.  We began looking at many different kinds of paper.  We went on a paper hunt and labeled the room.  Finally, we have been trying to write on all of the different types of paper with our markers.  If your child has not been given a new set of makers over the spring, please send washable ones for your child to swap out.

With “Spring Fever” in full swing, our class has been reviewing all of our procedures and routines.  Most of the time they do a fantastic job.  This makes our learning time more fun and provides a much safer and happier environment.

Please, continue to work on your classroom goals sheet at home.  I will be beginning some testing next week

Finally, I hope you all have a very happy Mother’s Day.  The art projects that your student worked on for their mom’s should be ready to bring home.  If they are not dry, I will have to send them home on Monday or Tuesday.  Sorry about the delay;  Our art teach was sick on our art day.

Thanks again for all you do!

It is hard to believe that April is over and next week will begin our last full month of school.  The month of May is a crucial month for student learning.  Students will work on reinforcing the skills necessary to prepare them for first grade.  It is important to make sure that students are not only making it to school on time, but that they are getting plenty of rest, as well. 

I have been so impressed with the effort that the students have been putting forth.  Many of the skills that they have worked so hard on this year are coming together in reading, writing, math and science. 

In reading many students are working on reading strategies for figuring out unknown words.  Some are still focusing on using the initial sound of a word and then using picture clues.  While others are thinking about whether or not the word sounds right, looks right and makes sense in the context of the story.  These are complex but important strategies.  They are also using their sight words more effectively when reading stories.

Students are beginning to write more independently.  They are using their writing skills to write stories about their families.  Their faces light up as letters come together to make words and words come together to make sentences.

During math time we have been working with combinations of six in story problems.  We have also been comparing numbers to see which are greater, less and equal.  It is important that your child work on number recognition,  (0-31), and counting from 1-100 this month. 

Students had fun sanding wood and changing sawdust into particleboard using a cornstarch “matrix” or glue.  They enjoyed learning that wood floats in water until it is “water logged.”  When wood soaks up enough water it will sink.  Try puting a popsicle stick in a pan of water and test how long it will float before becoming water logged.

The students continued to learn about chess on Thursday.  They added the king piece to the board.  The pawns can only move forward and take a piece diagonally one space at a time.  The king can move one space in any direction and take pieces the same way.  There is only one limitation to the king’s movement.  It can not move into any space where it can be taken.  This is called “check.”

If students came to school on Friday, they got a tree in honor of Arbor Day.  This went great with our wood unit discussion of where wood comes from.  The students were responsible for bringing them home on the bus safely.  If your child did not have a tree when s/he got home, it may be because the bus drivers were instructed to take the trees away if the students did not hold them responsibly on the bus.  Please, find a place to plant your tree where it can grow and thrive for years to come.

Next week we will not have school on Friday May 7th.  Homework folders will be due on Thursday the 6th. If you have any homework books at home, please return them as soon as possible.

This week in Mr. Smith’s kindergarten class  has been an exciting time for learning new things.  The students have been working so hard to make growth in reading, math and science.

In reading the students have been working on using beginning  sounds to decode unknown words and then asking themselves:  “Does it sound right and make sense?”  We have also been working on retelling stories using characters names and as many details as can be remembered.  Students should be touching each word as they read so that it can be determined if they are reading the words or memorizing text.  Practice these strategies with your child at home.

During math time this week students have been making joining (addition) and separating (subtraction) story problems.  They have been creating stories about fish in a pond and apples and birds in trees.  Try creating story problems with your child.  Answers should be around ten.  (Example : 4 fish are swimming in the river.  3 fish joined them.  How many are there now?)  It may help to have your child draw a picture to find the solution.

In science we have begun experimenting with wood and water.   We’ve studied absorption and how the water spreads through the wood.  We also discovered that wood floats.  Then we took paper clips and attached them to the wood pieces with a rubber band to see if we could sink our wood pieces.

On Thursday Mr. Stripes visited our classroom.  He teaches chess to the students.  The class learned a game using just the pawns.  He called it “Pawn Wars.”  The students learned the way pawns are supposed to move in the game of chess and had fun playing the game.

On Friday the class participated in the “Fun Run” at the high school track.  Kindergartners ran or walked one lap around the track.  Then we cheered on the first and second graders.

Thanks for all you do.  Keep up the good work.  Have a great weekend!

Wow!  What beautiful weather we have had this week.  It would seem that Spring has finally arrived!

Along with the wonderful weather comes “Spring Fever.”  Despite the longer day light hours it is important that your child keeps a consistent schedule.  Make sure s/he is getting plenty of sleep each night.   This will help him or her to be ready to learn and less likely to make bad choices or act impulsively.

We have been working on a new science unit this week.  The unit is called “Wood and Paper.”  We will focus on wood for the next few weeks .  We started by talking about trees and what is made of wood this week. 

Next week we will look at some of the properties of wood and what happens when it interacts with water.  We will be writing about what we learn in our science journals.  Ask your child about the different kinds of wood we looked at in class this week. (pine, red wood, basswood, plywood and particleboard)

In reading we are focusing on many of the skills from the students’ goals.  If you think that your child might be reading from memory and not paying attention to the text, have him or her touch each word as s/he reads. Continue to practice finding your child’s sight words in his or her books. 

The next big step for kindergartners is to retell their story in sequence.  Many students have already been working on this.  Keep it up!

In math we are beginning to work on addition and subtraction story problems with answers up to ten.  Try making up a story and having your child use counters or draw to find the answer.  An example of an addition problem might be:  Once there were 3 fish in the pond.  Then 4 more fish joined them.  How many fish were in the pond?  An example of a subtraction problem might be:  Once there were 8 frogs in the pond.  Then 4 hopped away.  How many frogs were in the pond?  Try this with apples in a tree or any kind of animals in their habitat.

Have a great weekend!  Enjoy the beautiful weather… I hope it lasts!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful break and were able to enjoy the time off.  

The weather this week created an interesting start to spring.   The classroom climate proved to be much more calm than the outdoor climate.  The students took it all in stride!  I was proud of their ability to pick-up right where we left off.  

We spent the beginning of the week reviewing the procedures and routines.   The class has worked hard to stay focused and on task.  With a few exceptions the students behavior was exceptional.   Everyday we talk about being respectful, responsible and safe.  I say, “We come to school to …” and the students respond. “LEARN!”  I tell them that we will have time to work and play and they will have fun.  Topics of discussion have also included having a good attitude and doing your best.

At conference time each of the students set two goals to work on this trimester.  We will be working on them in the classroom.  Please, continue to  work on them at home.  When your child shows mastery of a goal I will work with them to set another one.

Next week we will begin our science unit on wood and paper.  We will start off discussing where wood comes from, identifying objects that are made of wood and then making comparisons of several different kinds of wood.  In the weeks to come we will take the different kinds of wood and discuss their properties.  Take some time to talk with your child about trees and objects that you have around the house that are made of wood next week. 

Thanks for all of your hard work.  Keep reading with, reading to and listening to your child read every night.  Please make sure that s/he is getting plenty of rest.  This will help your child to learn, stay focused and to maintain a good attitude!

This week in Mr. Smith’s Kindergarten Classroom we had a lot of fun!  The students have been making such great gains this month and are working hard on their end of trimester skills.  We are so close to finishing the testing.  However, it is important that your child come to school next week so that we can finish the rest of our assessments.  I am looking forward to seeing you all at conferences!  Don’t for get that we have an Early Release day on Friday the 26th.

This week we were privileged to have the Middle School Drama Team/Choir perform at the school.  On Wednesday morning they performed the musical “Cinderella” for all of the students.  They did such a great job and the students thoroughly enjoyed it! 

We also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday!  The class colored and cut out leprechauns. I read several books on that theme, as well.  Then we designed a leprechaun trap.  The students glued clover all over a box and colored pictures of rainbows to put around the room.  They also glued gold glitter to rocks to make them look like real gold.  Then the trap was set up to catch a leprechaun during our lunch break.  The students were so surprised when they got back to the room to see that the trap had been sprung!   Unfortunately, the leprechaun had escaped.  He left us a note and some gold coins for making such a tricky trap.  Later we played sight word bingo and had cookies with green Kool Aid.   

On Friday we had the Arts Festival in the afternoon.  We got to see a puppet show, make a craft and listen to a professional story teller!  It is so much fun to learn about and participate in ”The Arts.”

Friday was also the due date to turn in your child’s blue Silverwood reading forms.   If your child has read for a total of 10 hours over the last 6 weeks and you documented it on the blue sheets that were sent home, please return those forms ASAP.  They were due on the 19th, however, you can turn them in next week if you forgot.  Please, don’t wait or it may be too late.  The forms will have to be sent to Silverwood before we will get the tickets.  Check your Monday folders for further information from the PTO.

Have a great weekend!

This week in Mr. Smith’s Kindergarten room we continued to focus on rhyme using Dr. Seuss’ books.  Students love trying to figure out the rhyming words at the end of each phrase.  Try giving your child a word and having him or her make up a rhyming word.  It can be a real word or a made up “Dr. Seuss” word, as long as it rhymes.

On Tuesday I gave the class our spring writing assessment.  Everyone wrote about their favorite pet or a pet that they wanted.  I am looking forward to showing you your child’s work. 

On Wednesday and Thursday the class began writing their own three-page story.  Their task was to think of a true story about themselves.  On the first page they think and write a sentence that answered four questions:  Who was the story about?, What happened in the story?, When did it happen?, & Where did it happen?.  Then they needed to answer what happened next and what happened last?   They illustrated each page.  Next week we will spend time editing and publishing their books.  I look forward to sharing these with you at conference time, as well.

On Monday I will be sending home a conference slip which gives you your assigned conference day and time.  I tried to meet your preferences as best I could.  Please sign the sheet and send back the return portion.  If the time will not work for you, let me know ASAP and I will try to reschedule you.

On Friday the 19th the blue Silverwood reading sheet is due.  Remember to keep recording the minutes you are reading to or with your child each night on .   You must sign and fill out the form with 600 minutes (10 hours) of reading time over the last six weeks.

Please continue to practice the benchmarks on the checklist I sent home.  I have been assessing the class on these benchmarks.  Make sure your child is at school on time every day to maintain a consistent routine and master their kindergarten skills.

There is no school on Friday.  Enjoy your three-day weekend!

Finally, don’t forget that it is time to “Spring Ahead” on Saturday.  Move your clocks one hour ahead and make sure your child gets to bed early on Sunday evening so that s/he will get enough sleep for school on Monday.

This week in Mr. Smith’s Kindergarten room we focused on Dr. Seuss.  We read many of the books Dr. Seuss wrote.  Students brought in books from home.  We read and watch Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who.”  We made comparisons of the book and video.  The students were very good at picking out the differences.  

On Monday evening we had a “Reading is Fundamental” family night called Fables, Legends, and Tall Tales.  It was at the elementary school.  Families  created their own tall-tale and ate pancakes honor of Paul Bunyan.  Also, every student that attends Deer Park Elementary got to choose a free book to keep.   If your child was unable to attend, they should have brought home a book with their name on a label placed inside the front or back cover.  These are your child’s book to keep.   These books were purchased through a reading grant and the students are able to pick books that they can bring home to read with their families.  I hope that you have had time to enjoy them or will have time this weekend!

On Tuesday we had McTeacher Night at McDonalds.  This PTO fundraiser was a great success.  It was great to see so many of you there!

I sent home a letter on Monday which gave you the opportunity to give me preferences for your student’s conference time.  Many of you have turned in the forms.  Thank you for your quick response.  If you haven’t returned the form to me, please get it back to me ASAP.  I will try to meet your preference times and I will send a confirmation letter home on the 15th.

I also sent home a benchmark checklist for the second trimester.  I am beginning to assess the class on these benchmarks.  Please practice these skills (especially letter and number recognition and letter sounds).  

Keep recording the minutes you are reading to or with your child each night on the blue Silverwood reading sheet.  This sheet must be completed and returned on March 19th for a free ticket to Silverwood.

Next week we will be a four-day week as there is no school on Friday the 12th.  Please, make sure your child is at school on time every day maintain a consistent routine.  Also, we will be reviewing many of the skills that your child is working to master.

Thanks again for all you do!

February was a fantastic month for celebrating literacy.  All of the students grew in reading and writing.  They are becoming more confident and willing to take risks.  I am so very proud of their progress!

This week was very eventful.  The students got to meet a published children’s author Kelly Milner Halls.  We listened to stories of how she became a writer.  She had many copies of fossils that the dinosaurs left behind.  As your child may have told you when they got home on Wednesday, she also had a fossil of dinosaur “poo!”  She let every child touch the fossils which the children discovered were like rocks.   She brought a couple of books that she had written and discussed them.  Dinosaur Mummies was about fossils of dinosaurs soft tissue that have been found.  Dinosaur Parade is a book written to  help children see how big dinosaurs are in comparison to them.  This book was written using the average height of a 5 year-old.

On Thursday we had a Deer Park Ranger Assembly.  The students enjoyed a jump roping exhibition and celebrated all of the students in the school who were chosen to be a Ranger.  

On Friday Mrs. Miller and a student dressed up as “The Cat in the Hat”  and came to our classroom to give us a Dr. Seuss book and stuffed Dr. Seuss creature.  We also celebrated the end of “Celebrate Literacy Month” with cupcakes. 

Next week we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday by reading many Dr. Seuss books, watching the movie “Horton Hears a Who,” and working on rhyming and word families.  This week is a lot of fun for the students!  If your child has a favorite Dr. Seuss book that s/he would like to bring to school for the week, please write his or her name in it.  We use the books students bring to create a graph. We will see which of the titles we have the most.

Next week on Monday evening we will be having a “Reading is Fundamental” family night called Fables, Legends, and Tall Tales.  It will be at the elementary school from 6pm to 7:30. Families will create their own fables and pancakes will be served in honor of Paul Bunyan.  Also, every student that attends Deer Park Elementary will get to choose a free book to keep.

Tuesday March 2 is McTeacher Night at McDonalds.  This is a fundraiser for the PTO.  The kindergarten teachers will be working at McDonalds from 4:30-5:30.  Hope to see you there!

On Monday I will be sending home a letter which will give you the opportunity to give me preferences for your student’s conference time.  I will try to meet your preferences on a first come, first serve basis.  So, please get these back to me ASAP.  I will also be sending home a benchmark checklist for the second trimester.  This will be what we will be working on in March.  There will be no goal sheets for this month.

Even though Celebrate Literacy month is over, don’t for get to record the minutes you are reading to or with your child each night on the blue Silverwood reading sheet.  This sheet must be completed and returned on March 19th for a free ticket to Silverwood.

Thanks again for all you do!

Groundhogs Day, 100th Day of School, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day… With all of the different holidays this month it is important to remember that February is also “Celebrate Literacy Month.”  “Reading is Dino-mite” is the theme.  The first week each student received a gift bag of dinosaur related items courtesy of the PTO.  The second week we had a “Celebrity Reader” (Deer Park Schools superintendant, Mick Miller) come to our classroom and read two fun dinosaur books to us.  This week the students in Mr. Smith’s kindergarten teamed up with Mrs. Smith’s 2nd grade class and did a shared read from their own writing.  The students enjoyed being authors and then enjoyed popcorn as Mr. Smith read, “The Cat in the Hat.”  Next week we will have a local published children’s author coming to share stories that she has written.  Look in your Monday folders for more information about her books.

Next week will be the last week your child will bring home a reading sheet to be filled out. Please return it on Friday so that the PTO can tally the reading minutes and give out the prizes for reading. Also, the minutes can be recorded on the blue Silverwood reading sheet to be returned on March 19th for a free ticket to Silverwood.

Also, next week will be the last week for your student to meet their February goals.  Please practice them with your child nightly so that they can meet them.  The students really enjoy the feeling of success when they meet their goals. 

There will be no goal sheet for the month of March due to conferences and the time I will be spending assessing each student.  Instead I will send home the list of benchmarks that your child is expected to meet in March.  I will be meeting with both you and your child at the end of March to share their report card and to discuss some goals that will help your child meet our end of the year grade level expectations.

Starting next week and on until conferences students will be working on putting together many of the skill necessary to meet March benchmarks.  It is so important that they are here (unless they are sick) everyday and on time.  I will be doing multiple assessments with them throughout the month of March. 

Thanks again for all you do!