January 11

As usual, we had a busy week here.  Our field trip to see Wake Up, Brother Bear was a lot fun.  The class thought it was very funny. 

We learned about migration, blending and stretching 3 sounds to make consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, and continued with subtraction.  We also had a practice lockdown drill on Wednesday.  Our class did a very good job staying quiet and following directions.   

We read a story called Tap, Tap about a Haitian girl and her mother who go to market.  The class really liked the book.  Then we made cards for kindergartners in Haiti.  We will send them down with members of the parish next month.   

The class making beautiful cards for Haitian kids

The class making beautiful cards for Haitian kids

The class making beautiful cards for Haitian kids

Next week:

• No school on Monday.
• There is no show and tell since it is not a full week.
• Homework came home today and is due next Friday.  I am leaving all homework in the folders until Friday so that I do not misplace any work turned in.  
• We will have a marble party on Friday afternoon.  The class voted for a play party again.  Every kid may bring in one toy from home to play with that day.  It is not required but some kids asked if they could bring something from home in to play with at the party.  I am fine with this as long as there are no play weapons.      

Enjoy the long weekend and see you all on Tuesday!

Week of January 4

Welcome back!

This week we have been studying hibernation in science, Penguins and the Arctic in reading, and subtraction in math.  Tonight each student is bringing home two books we made in class.  One book is called "My Book About Hibernating Animals."  The other is a little book about a hibernating bear.  Please read them together this weekend.  The kids should be able to tell you about many of the animals and where they hibernate.  They did illustrations to show what they know.  Some children can read these without help, but not all can. I recommend popcorn reading and echo reading.  We have done both in class, but will continue throughout the year. 

•  Popcorn reading is when you read and then suddenly stop to let your child pick up reading.  You may need to point to the words you are reading so he/she can follow along.  I recommend stopping when you get to a simple word such as: a, I, the, go, etc.  and then picking it back up.

• Echo reading is when you read a page or sentence and let your child echo you.    

When working on subtraction and addition at home, please use tools to help.  Cheerios, noodles, legos, etc. are all good tools to help you solve problems.  We are focusing on what the number sentences actually mean before we get the answer.  For example, 3+4 can be shown with 3 noodles and 4 noodles.  6-3 can be shown with 6 legos and 3 being hidden or moved away. 

studying penguins

studying penguins

studying penguins

Please don't forget that we are going on a field trip next Tuesday.  We are going to see Wake Up, Brother Bear.  We will have snack and lunch at school so there is no need to pack a disposable lunch or snack.  Please do send in your child's car seat labelled with your last name and leave them outside our classroom.

We have a MLK prayer service on Friday at 9 am.  You are welcome to join us in the church.  Friday is also a 1:00 dismissal day.

Show and tell next week is something to do with winter.        

Homework came home today.  It is supposed to be a review of this week and some of next week.  If it is too stressful, please stop and tell the teacher that it is too difficult for your child.  New homework comes home each Friday and should be returned the following Friday. 

Jack's birthday was on the 6th.  Here is his table enjoying the cupcakes he brought in to share. 

Mrs. McKay telling us about Epiphany in France

 

 

We added our kings on Wednesday

 

 

 

Week of December 14

We have had a fun week, full of holiday excitement.

This week we finished our alphabet study and set a new goal for independent reading.  We have been writing about Christmas and practiced writing O in our handwriting books.  We have had a really fun week in math too.  We have taken a break from Envision and been learning about odd and even numbers, counting by 5s, and reviewing drawing pictures to show what addition equations mean.  (Even Steven and Odd Todd was a big hit!)

Counting by 5s

Counting by 5s

Counting by 5s

We made presents for our parents.  The presents turned out very cute.  My advice to you, without telling you what exactly we made is:

• Open on Christmas or before, as you choose.  

• They are breakable.  My advice is to bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees.  

• They have been already baked, but will retain their colors with a little bit longer in the oven.  

• Also, hand-washing is best.  

We had our first rehearsal as a school today and you are in for a treat.  The kids know the song and sing loud enough to hear.  Hooray!  Speaking of the show, here is the link for costumes.

Remember:
Library is still on Monday next week.
There is NO SHOW AND TELL next week.
Tuesday is a 12:00 dismissal day.  No aftercare.  You are welcome to pick your child up from class directly after the show (11:15ish).
No folders are necessary on Tuesday.

Please let me know if you know that your child will not be here next week.  Also, please let me know if you are staying in town and would like to try your green thumb on our class flower boxes over Christmas break.  

Week of December 7

We have had a lot of special guests this week and done a lot of work too. 

Mrs. Tersoff came in to talk about Hanukkah.  She told us the story, shared traditions, and let us play dreidel.  The kids enjoyed spinning the dreidels and were a great audience.

Mrs. Tersoff

Dreidel practice

Mrs. Gray, Noe's mom, came in to talk to us about Haiti.  The class learned a ton and were very interested in life in Haiti.  

Thanks Mrs. Gray!

In reading we practiced retelling Jan Brett stories (The Mitten and The Trouble with Trolls) while paying attention to her specific illustration style.  We read a poem and tried to illustrate it in her style. We studied the letters, X, P, and K.  In writing we learned to write the letter T/t in our handwriting book and made a card for Mr. Hennessy's birthday.  We also continued to practice addition using manipulatives and pictures to solve the problems and figure out how to write addition equations and what each part means in math.   We have been talking about seasons and have started making a weather graph.     

We also decorated our classroom.  We cut snowflakes for our bulletin board and each colored a piece for our classroom nativity scene.  We have been reading an advent book and lighting our advent wreath for examen each day. 

Strengthening our cutting skills

Wise men to come on Epiphany.

Next week we have library on Monday so please make sure books are returned.  On Friday we have the Christmas show rehearsal in the morning. 

Show and tell topic next week is something that you use at your house to celebrate Christmas.  It can be an ornament, a family keepsake, a picture of a tradition, a plate for Santa's cookies, etc.  Please make sure your child can tell us at least 2 things about it.  For example, what it is, why it is used, where it came from, etc. 

Today is Max's birthday.  Please wish him a happy birthday if you see him!

Happy birthday Max!

Week of November 30

We had a fun week, full of learning.

In science we talked about the winter solstice and did a demonstration of the Earth and Sun during the winter solstice and summer solstice. We went to Discovery Theater to see the winter light show.  We learned about the many different cultural celebrations that happen around the shortest day of the year.

This is what summer looks like...

Both kindergartens on the Mall

On our way to Discovery Theater

Bruno and Saoirse volunteered to be shamen

In reading we studied the letters Q and U.  We also looked at beginning blends, particularly s-blends.  (St-, Sp-, Sk-, Sn-, etc.)  In writing we tried to make sure that all of our words had the first and last sounds we heard.

In math we started working on addition.  We have had a very good time playing the adding game Bump.  We will keep going with adding next week as well.

Next week we have mass on Tuesday at 11.  It is also an early dismissal Friday.  If your child is going to aftercare, please let me know.  Show and tell is a favorite Christmas book.  Please make sure that your child knows the title and can tell us his/her favorite part.   Library books are due on Monday as usual. 
 

Happy Thanksgiving

A few reminders for next week:

• Library on Monday.  Please return books.
• We have Mass on Wednesday, December 2 at 8 am in the chapel.  If your child arrives after 8:00 please bring him/her to the classroom since latecomers disrupt the service.  
• I was wrong about our last batch of McKenna Sandwiches.  We have the Wednesday we come back.  If you don't mind bringing in more sandwiches on Wednesday, December 2, I'm sure that the homeless would be happy to have them.  
• We have our field trip to the Smithsonian Discovery Theater on Thursday, December 3.  Look for an email with more details next week.

Thanks to the grandparents and special friends who came to school today.  This week was a focus on Thanksgiving.  We read "Stone Soup," "Balloons Over Broadway," and books about the lives of pilgrim children and used our imagination to pretend we were living like pilgrims.

"Sewing our clothes" (tying practice)

"Picking berries" (sorting)

"Putting on our stockings and garters."

From the grandparents show

Happy Thanksgiving!

Week of November 16

We had a great time on our field trip today.  Here are some pictures.  The overwhelming opinion was that the cider we made was delicious.  Thank you for sending in car seats.  Thanks also to Kate Baker, Juila Torrey, and John Carroll-Gavula for driving.  

In reading, we studied the letters R and E.  We also added they, look, and for to our sight word list.  We read and watched a video about the Mayflower to start our Thanksgiving study.  Each child has a Mayflower book that we will send home next week.  

In math, we kept working on numbers larger than 20 and estimation.

Also, we celebrated Maren's birthday on Monday.  She made egg-free chocolate chip cookies to share.  

Next week:

• We will be mostly reviewing skills, but learning about the pilgrims. 
• Library is on Monday.  Please return books.
• Wednesday is a noon dismissal day.  I know several students have grandparents coming, but have not received a list from development.  Please let me know if you expect any special friends on Wednesday or if you will be out next week.
• No show and tell.

Have a great weekend!

Kate