January 5, 2007
What
are the Molecules Learning?
January 2-5, 2006
Math Workshop
- Counting strategies: Grab and Count, Inventory Bags, Racing Bears
- Writing Numbers: start at top and go down
- Making shapes with pattern blocks
- Counting backwards by 10
- Counting by 5's
- Pattern Block Software
- Creating Counting Books
Language Arts
- Handwirting: Sing the Start Your Letter at the Top Song
- Recognizing and writing the letter /Uu/ and /Qq/
- Popcorn words: "you" and "up"
- Story Element: Main Characters
- Modeled Writing: Being a "Smartie Writer".. a writer who is brave enough to hear the sounds in words and write the letter that makes those sounds. As writers become more confident, correct spelling is shared and written in personal dictionaries.
- Read Aloud: Because of Winn Dixie: Fanny Brock tells of her great grandfather who invented a candy made with sorrow. Charlotte's Web: Fern saved the life of a little runt and now has a new best friend.
- Listening to all the entries in the Virginia Young Reader Awards. The Molecules will vote for their favorite book in the library next Wed. with Ms. Regan.
Science
- Looking at a thermostat, types of weather and making weather using the Weather Machine.
| Kindergarten
Bulletin Board |
||
1/8 |
Humanities
Assembly |
2:00 |
1/10 |
Principal's Chat | 8:00 Library |
1/11 |
Trip to the Planetarium | 10:45 |
1/13 |
Estella's Birthday | All
Day |
1/15 |
Martin Luther King Day | No School |
1/16 |
Investigation Station | All
Week |
1/18 |
Corcoran Art Gallery Field Trip | 10:00-12:00 |
1/26 |
Teacher Work Day | No
School |
1/31 |
Math Day | 9:00 |
|
Great
learning activities around money! Create
with Pattern Blocks A favorite
game with little word. Put
sight words into ABC order |
On-Line Newsletter
One of the goals at ASFS this year is to decrease the amount of paper used and utilize technology for communicating with parents and community. For the past month the front office has collected email for almost 86% of all students. In Room 149 we are fortunate that 91% of us check email nightly. A printed copy of this newsletter will be sent to our students without email.
Up-Coming Field Trips
The Molecules will be experiencing three different field trips in the coming weeks. Thank you in advance for returning signed permission slips as soon as they are received. Parents are welcome to join our trip to the Corcoran Art Gallery. See our Kindergarten Bulletin Board for all event dates. All permission slips can be found on the class web site. Click here.
Absences and Tardiness
Ms. Begley has asked that all parents be reminded of the importance of getting children to school on time. Not only is it important for the children to get the best possible start to their day, attendance is a component of No Child Left Behind legislation.
MARS Books
Molecules are asked to bring back their MARS books each day. During guided reading groups, Molecules will read a new book every other day. When your child comes home with the same book, please take time to read the book again. Below are a few ideas/strategies to try when reading the MARS books.
-
Go on a word hunt, looking for specific words or letters.
- Go on a Popcorn Word Hunt
- "Can you find a word that rhymes with ____?"
- Make personal connections with characters in the book.
- Discuss the problem and solution
- Make predictions
The growth Mrs. Cabrales and I have seen in personal reading skills, ability to sound out words, using context and picture clues has been huge! We both agree it is due the work you are doing at home to support what we're doing in the classroom .
Reading Assessments
Over the next three weeks, I will be having an individual conference with each Molecule. During our time together I will be giving the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). Students will be reading aloud several specifically selected text that will increase in difficulty. Two areas of reading will be assessed: accuracy of oral reading and comprehension through reading and retelling of narrative stories. Data from the DRA will allow me to provide reading materials at your child's reading ability and provide instruction at an appropriate reading level.
Book Ordering On-Line
Please print the letter giving you instructions on ordering Scholastic Books on-line. Click here.
Catalogs came
home yesterday, but now you have the option to order the books on line
and use your credit card to order books. Books will still be sent to
the classroom and delivered through back pack mail.
Scholastic
Parent Ordering
Class
User Name: rileyroom149
Password:
asfs