November 30-December 4

Welcome back! 

I hope that everyone enjoyed time with family, friends, or just relaxing over break. 

Remember to keep sending warm outdoor gear for recess times! 

A December homework calendar was sent home today. Here is a copy.

Upcoming events:

• December 1st: Kaukauna Christmas Parade
• Families are welcome to ride on or walk with the New Directions float. Join us at parade position 27 at 809 Wisconsin Avenue by 5:50 pm. All children must be accompanied by a parent.
• December 3rd: Wear your Packer gear
• December 10th: Family Night 5:30-7:00
• December 15th: Half Day 

What’s happening in Kindergarten this week?

Reading: Super Readers are taking off with their reading super powers! Readers are working so hard to point to each word on the page (pointer power), use their sight words (snap word power), and look at the first letter of a word to figure out the word (sound power). We will learn about pattern power (using the patterns in the book to help us read the words) and persistence power (readers don't give up, they try another power!) You can use all of these powers when reading at home with your child. 

• Beginning this week, students will be bringing home a book baggie each night. These book baggies will have 2 books at your child's reading level. Ask your student what he/she is working on when reading (pointing, using pictures, and using beginning sounds are a few examples). Read the books with the student when you are able or ask them to spend time with the books each night. Please send the book bag back to school every day so we can exchange the books!

Writing: Writers will use a checklist to help make their writing the best it can be. After working on making sure we have all the parts of a true story, we will make sure the words on the page make our writing easy to read! We will talk about vowels and using the word wall to help us write. Students will learn that each word they write has a vowel in it. Encourage your child to transfer these skills into their writing at home! 

Math:

We will be wrapping up unit 2 this week. Students will complete the Math Expressions assessment after finishing up the following centers:

• Students will create their own number lines with digits, dot representations, and +1 equations. 
• Mathematicians will work with shapes using geoboards.
• We will use chips and a ‘break apart stick’ to find the partners of a number. Then, they will write the equation that matches.2
• Students will practice number identification and number order with a partner. After lining up the dotted number tiles, partner 1 will secretly remove two of the tiles. Partner 2 will need to figure out which tiles are missing.

Word Study: We will start new sorts this week! The new words are come, look, like, my, & to. Remember to keep searching for those sight words in books, on cereal boxes, or anywhere you can find them!  

Here is an ongoing list of our sight words: http://kindergartenroom82.blogspot.com/p/our-sight-words.html

Science: Scientists will investigate birds and feathers this week. We will rub vegetable oil on our skin to replicate how oil on feathers keep birds warm and dry. We will explore different kinds of feathers too!