EARLY RELEASE & PARTY TIME CHANGE - Tuesday, December 19th

I wanted to make everyone aware of a slight change to the school calendar that will take place on December 19th. That Tuesday is the last scheduled day before we begin Christmas break and is also the last day of the first semester. The published school calendar shows December 19th as a full day of school. However, the decision has been made to modify the schedule and release students at 1:15 on that day. 

This will also affect the times for the PTA Christmas Party.  We will follow this party schedule:
11:30-12:00 Party Set Up Time
(Homeroom Parent & Helper ONLY)
12:00-1:00 Class Parties (All Parents)
1:00-1:15 Student Dismissal Holiday Break Begins!

Friday Note - 11/17/17

Events of the Week:

Math:  We continued our topic on measurement and worked on comparing objects.  We learned comparing words such as enough, not enough, more than, less than, same as, and fewer.  We have also continued to review numbers 0-10.  If your child has not mastered identifying these numbers, please continue to work with them at home.  I will work with them in small groups and then reassess in the next couple of weeks.

• Language Workshop:  We read several different versions of the book The Three Little Pigs.  We focused on story elements, such as characters, settings, and major events.  We introduced vocabulary words that are in the story, such as: trot, sturdy, and furious. We also practiced retelling the story by telling what happened in the beginning, the middle, and the end. The students also enjoyed wolf’s version of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.  Students did a good job comparing and contrasting the different versions of the book.   

• Writing Workshop:  We learned the sight word “with”.  We practiced stretching sounds as we wrote sentences about the pigs and the wolf.  The students are practicing using spaces between words, a capital letter at the beginning, and an ending mark at the end of each sentence.     

• Reading Workshop:  We are working in literacy centers independently while I am working with students in small groups.  We used a book called Maria Goes to School to practice the reading strategies we have already learned (look at the picture for clues and get your mouth ready to make the first sound).  Your child has this book in their book box to continue to practice reading during independent reading time and rest time.  Please encourage your child to use these reading strategies when reading at home.  

• Word Study:  Our letters for the week were “Mm”, “Nn”, “Pp” and “Oo”.  We learned that “Oo” is a vowel and can make a short sound and a long sound.  Please continue to work with your child on correct letter formation and on knowing the letter sounds.  Our goal is to know all the letters and sounds by the end of second quarter.   

• Content:  We read several nonfiction books about Thanksgiving and talked a lot about the first Thanksgiving and how the holiday first started.  We made macaroni necklaces to trade with the other kindergarten classes. During lunch we traded our necklace with the kindergarten class that sat across from us.  Then all the kindergarten classes got together and we had our Share Feast.  The kindergartners had a great time sharing and trading.   

Important Dates:    

• Nov. 20-24:  Thanksgiving Break - No School
• Nov. 30:  Picture Retakes
• Nov. 30:  PTA Skate Night 6:00-8:00 @ Skateland
• Dec. 11:  Cox Care Mobile

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I   is   a   my   like   she   see   

the   it   he   be  can   to  with

***Reminder: These are words your child should be able to read by sight!

Picture Retake Information - Nov. 30th

If you would like for your child to have his/her picture retaken, please return the original picture package.  The information on the package is needed so that the photographer knows what to re-enter in the system to ensure you get the same package you ordered.  Thanks!

Reading Journey

I hope you are finding a special time to read every day with your child.  This is a great time to practice using reading strategies we have learned, finding the letters we have learned and sight words.  The Reading Journey ends on December 18th and we will have a reading celebration the following day.  

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements.  
• In Language Workshop, we will begin our unit on The Gingerbread Man.
• We will learn about the letters “Qq”, “Rr”, “Ss” and “Tt”.   
• In math, we will be comparing numerals.
• Our sight words will be “go” and “we”.

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving Break!

Enjoy your time with your family!!

~Mrs. Vestal

Friday Note - 11/10/17

Events of the Week:

Math: We continued our topic on measurement and worked on comparing the weight and volume of objects.  We have also continued to review numbers 0-10.  If your child has not mastered identifying these numbers, please continue to work with them at home.  I will work with them in small groups and then reassess in the next couple of weeks.

Our focus in reading this week was on Folktales.  Here’s what we did in each workshop:

• Language Workshop: We focused on the book The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  We focused on story elements, such as characters, settings, and key events.  We introduced vocabulary words that are in the story, such as: valley, meadow, rushing, troll, roared, gobble, and trampled.  We also practiced retelling the story by telling what happened in the beginning, the middle, and the end.  The students really enjoyed using the story pieces to retell.  We finished the week by reading other versions of the story.  

• Writing Workshop: We learned the sight word “to”.  This week we practiced using magnetic whiteboards and letters to build and write the sight words we have learned so far.  We also spent time writing in our “Writing Journals”.  Journals are used for students to write about whatever they choose.    

• Reading Workshop: We are working in literacy centers independently while I am working with students in small groups.  We used a book called I Go to introduce the reading strategy, “Get your mouth ready to make the first sound”.  Your child has this book in their book box to continue to practice reading during independent reading time and rest time.  Please encourage your child to use these reading strategies when reading at home.  

• Word Study: Our letters for the week were “Jj”, “Kk”, “Ll” and “Ii”.  We learned that “Ii” is a vowel and can make a short sound and a long sound.  Please continue to work with your child on correct letter formation and on knowing the letter sounds.  Our goal is to know all the letters and sounds by the end of second quarter.   

Important Dates:  

• Nov. 13 - Cox CARE Mobile
• Nov. 17 - Kindergarten Share Feast  
• Nov. 20-24 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
• Nov. 30 - Picture Retakes
• Nov. 30 - PTA Skate Night 6:00-8:00 @ Skateland 

If your child eats breakfast at school please have them here by 7:50.  Breakfast bags are picked up at 8:05 and we begin our day.  Thank you!  

Share Feast  

All of Kindergarten will come together on Friday, November 17th to celebrate the first Thanksgiving.  Please have your child bring in ONE INDIVIDUAL-SIZED favorite snack (Cheez-its, mini marshmallows, pretzels, M&M’s, etc.) before this day that we will combine together to make a Share Feast for all to enjoy. Thanks so much for your help!  Please send the item in by next Wednesday.  

Sight Words—Keep practicing!

I   is   a   my   like   she   see   

the   it   he   be   can   to

***Reminder: These are words your child should be able to read by sight!

Reading Journey

I hope you are finding a special time to read every day with your child.  This is a great time to practice using reading strategies we have learned, finding the letters we have learned and sight words.  The Reading Journey ends on December 18th and we will have a reading celebration the following day.  

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements.  
• In Language Workshop, we will read  The Three Little Pigs and then spend the rest of the week reading various folktales.  
• We will learn about the letters “Mm”, “Nn”, “Pp” and “Oo”.    
• We will learn about Thanksgiving.
• In math, we will begin comparing amounts of objects.
• Our sight word will be “with”.
• We will have our Kindergarten Share Feast on Friday!

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vestal

Friday Note - 11/3/17

Events of the Week:

Math:  We began Topic 3 on measurement and worked specifically on longer, shorter and the same length.  We have also continued to review numbers 0-10.  If your child has not mastered identifying these numbers, please continue to work with them at home.  I will work with them in small groups and then reassess in the next couple of weeks.

Language Workshop: We focused on story elements with the book The Little Red Hen.  On Monday, we introduced vocabulary words that are in the story such as: gossip, vain, plump, sprout and knead.  On Tuesday, we identified the characters in the story.  On Wednesday, we identified the setting in the story.  On Thursday, we discussed the sequence of events by retelling the story.  Today, we read a different version of The Little Red Hen and compared the two books.  The kids had quite a heated discussion as to whether the hen should have shared her bread or not!

Reading Workshop: We are working on staying in our literacy centers and working independently while I am working with students in small groups.  We are also working on transitioning quietly to independent reading time by beginning to read without needing to be reminded to stay on task.  

Writing Workshop:  We wrote a sentence each day telling what the Little Red Hen did throughout the story.  Have your child read this to you.  You will notice on the top side of each page your child practiced writing the sounds they heard in each word on their own before writing it the correct way in the sentence.  

Word Study: Our sight word for the week was “she”.  We also reviewed letters Dd, Gg, Hh and Ee with an emphasis on learning the sound(s) and path of movement (correct way to write each letter).  Reminder--I expect the kids to know all the letters and sounds before Christmas break.

Content Workshop: We introduced the reading strategy “Look at the Picture”.  We practiced using this strategy with a book called Fire Truck.  These books are in the kids’ book boxes for them to practice reading during independent reading time.  

Important Dates:

• Nov. 9 - Veteran's Day Assembly 1:30-2:30
• Nov. 13 - Cox Care Mobile
• Nov. 20-24 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
• Nov. 30 - Picture Retakes & PTA Skate Night 6:00-8:00 @ Skateland 

The Character word for November is

CITIZENSHIP.

(Taking care of our school and community)

Sight Words — Keep practicing!

I   is   a   my   like   she   see   

the   it   he   be   can

***Reminder: These are words your child should be able to read by sight!

Message from Coach Wise:
1. Coach Wise will begin enforcing the “Tennis Shoes Rule” beginning next week. -If your child is not wearing tennis shoes they will not participate in PE and will walk laps around the gym to still be getting exercise during PE.  

2.  If you want to order your child Cupstacks for Christmas, let the office know and it can be done secretly. Cup choices are first come first serve. She has sold out of all the little ones. Timers with mats are $20.

Reading Journey

Remember to be working on the reading journey for this quarter! You can help your child meet their reading goal by reading daily with them.

Extra Clothes

Please send an extra set of clothes with your child to keep in his/her backpack in case of an accident at school. We will make sure that your child changes into the clothes if an accident happens. Thank you!

Next Week:

• We will continue learning about story elements.  
• In Language Workshop, we will be focusing on the books The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
• Our sight word will be “to”.
• We will review the letters Jj, Kk, Ll and Ii.
• We will introduce the reading strategy, “Get your mouth ready to make the first sound” with a book called I Go.
• In math, we will be comparing the weight and capacity of objects.

Have a great weekend!!

Mrs. Vestal