November 2-6

Important News

• No school on Tuesday!

Language Arts

We will be reading about our favorite characters from the stories Bear Snores On and Bears New Friends.     We will be comparing and contrasting these stories and the non-fiction story The Big Bears.  We will be continuing to work on ending sounds.

Our sight word this week is--AS.

Math

We will be playing the games grab , count and compare & the game compare (war).  The children will be working on comparing numbers.   We will also be working on solving story problems.  Please have the children continue to practice writing the their number from 1 - 10.

October 26-30

Language Arts

We will be reading fiction and non-fiction books this week about winter and hibernation.  We will be focused on asking students to share key details from the text.  For word study, we will be focused on ending sounds.

Our sight word for the week is HE.

Writing Workshop

We began writing workshop last week with the goal that our students begin to see themselves as writers!  Did they share that they are in a writing club?  We will be writing several times a week.  Last week we learned that "When we think we are done, we have only just begun!"  That means we can go back, reread our writing and add more details to our pictures or add more words.  We could also start a new paper.  The students chose their own topic.  We suggest they choose something they know a lot about.  What does your child know a lot about?  Talk with him/her about some possible writing topics.  Do they know a lot about animals, baseball, ballet, fishing, the beach, bike riding?  Any topic will work!  If you would like, you could create a list (with pictures) of ideas for writing and send it to school.  Your child can keep the list in his/her writing folder in case they get stuck and need an idea.

This week we will learn about stretching out words to write them and how to write about things that the students might think are too hard to write about.

Math
Our District Math coach, Mike Lipnos, will be working with our students this month during our math time.

Important Notes

• Picture Retakes are on Wednesday.
• Friday is our Fall Festival Party.  Please send your child's costume to school in a bag because the children need to change at the end of the party before they go home on the bus.  Please do not send any costume weapons or treat bags.  Thank you!  It will be a fun party!

October 19-23

Book Fair

Our Book fair will be here next week, October 19-22.  The class will browse the book fair during their library time (Monday for Mrs. Gallucci, Tuesday for Mrs. Haughey) and create a wish list.  Their wish list will be sent home to you.   If you want to purchase books, you have 3 options.

1.You can send money back to school indicating which book(s) from the wish list you would like to purchase.

2. You could visit the family night on October 21 from 4:30-7:30.  The time includes a story time with local author Eric VanRaepenbusch.

3.  You can go online and purchase books using the link below.

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=millerelementaryschool16&appesp=CPT/ib/20120101///txtl/FairFindertoHomepage

Also, please note:  Keep your library books at home for another week!  

 Language Arts

We will begin a unit on the seasons and weather.  We will be reading both non-fiction and fiction books about these topics.  While reading these books, we will focus on main idea and comparing and contrasting.  We will also be writing about the things we see during each  of the seasons.

October 12-16

Sight Words

Please continue to practice the first 20 kindergarten words.  When your child has mastered all 20, then move on to the additional ones sent home each month.  Remember when practicing these words, we want the students to say the word "in a snap".  That means they aren't sounding out the word. They should just know it.

Report Cards
Report cards will be given out at Conferences so that we can go over it with you.

Principal's Pals
On Monday, our classes will enjoy a special time with the Principal called "Principal's Pals".  We will hear a story and enjoy a special treat.

This week we will be reading several stories about Mrs. Wishy-Washy.  The children have enjoyed the versions we have read so far.  These stories will help us continue to focus on character and setting. We will also learn about how a pumpkin grows.

Don't forget next week (October 19-22) is the Book Fair.  The children will create a wish list during their library time and bring it home.  You can send in money any day that week.

No School on Friday!  Have a great week!

Craft Supplies Needed

Do you have extra craft supplies at home?  We would like to make a center that the kids could use their creativity!  We are looking for toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, buttons, cards, ribbon, cupcake liners, stamps, etc.  We would appreciate any materials you donate!  Thank you for your help!

September 28-October 9

Picture day is on Wednesday, September 30!

Important News

• Remember to send your picture envelopes to school on Wednesday!
• Thank you for remembering to send back the book buddy bags every day!  

Language Arts

We will begin a unit on apples that will last two weeks.  We will be reading several stories, fiction and non-fiction, about animals and the seasons.  This works perfectly with our Lake Farmpark field trip.  During the field trip, the children learned how to make apple cider from the apples at the farm.  They had an opportunity to taste apple cider!  We will continue practicing fluency with the Apple, Apple on the Tree poem in our poetry folder.

Phonemic Awareness skills:  letter names, letter sounds, ending sounds, syllables

Practice sight words!  We would like the children to be able to read 5 sight words by the end of the first quarter (October 15).  The words are: a, it, in, on, at

Math

We will continue our unit on counting.  We have learned some strategies for careful counting.  Ask your child to share these strategies with you.  Also, we are practicing counting from any given number.  We have been practicing counting by 10s to 100.  We are also working hard to learn what number comes next when crossing over a decade.  What number comes after 29, 39, 49...

Book Buddy Bags

Your child will be bringing home a "Book Buddy" or "book in a bag".  Right now, the book inside this bag is one that we chose for him/her.  We will begin guided reading lessons in the next 2 weeks.  Then, the book inside this bag will be the one your child received small group instruction on during guided reading.  This book MUST be returned tomorrow.  When guided reading begins, we will add  2 bookmarks with the reading strategies that your child is learning in guided reading.  The students have not received instruction on all of these strategies just yet, but will as the year progresses!  Please encourage your child to use one of these strategies when they get stuck on a word.   The letter you see below is also included in the book buddy bag for your reference.  Happy Reading!

Dear Parents,                                                                                                                   

“Book Buddy Bags” are an important part of our reading program.  Several days a week your child will bring home a guided reading book in the bag, home to practice.  This book will be one that he/she has practiced with me in our small guided reading group lesson.  Please have your child read the book as part of his/her homework.  It is extremely important the book be returned to school the following day.   We will be using it again for our guided reading groups.

At this stage of reading the story has a very predictable text (I like red, I like blue) and the pictures are very important, as they support the child’s “reading” of the words.  At times your child may forget the predictable part of the text (I like).  If that happens, you can help them by reading the first few pages together.

When working with your child, please encourage him/her to:

·         Point to each word as they say it (this helps develop their one-to-one correspondence)

·         Look at the pictures if they get stuck

·         Go back and re-read if they get confused (you may help them by saying “I like…). Then have them read the sentence again on their own.

·         Get their mouth ready for the first sound in the word

Learning to read is a lot like learning to speak. You must:

·         Believe your child will learn to read

·         Praise and encourage your child’s every attempt. Just like you did with their first words

·         Reread books over and over and over….

·         Make reading a relaxed and enjoyable experience

·         Let them see you reading.

Please be careful NOT to:

·         Get impatient or upset when reading with your child (if you or your child is frustrated put it away for another time)

·         Expect your child to sound out each letter.

·         Cover the pictures to prove your child is “really” reading.

Don’t worry if it appears your child has memorized the text…That is a Good thing!!  Just be sure they are pointing to each word as they say it.

A note of responsibility: The children are taught that these books are precious and their responsibility (not Mom’s or Dad’s).  It is their responsibility to keep them in great condition and to bring them back every day.  The “Book Buddy Bag” will keep them dry and protect the pages from being ripped as they are put in their backpacks.  Once they have finished reading their books, please remind them to put them right back in their backpack.

Thank you for all of your help and support as we begin our adventure in reading.

Happy Reading!!!!! 

September 21-25

Guidance Lessons
Tami Mazzella, our guidance counselor, will begin lessons in our classrooms this week.  She will be focusing on the following topics: Buddy Bench, Respect, Responsible, Problem Solving, Listening & Following Directions, Bucket Filling/Kindness, Perseverance, Making Mistakes, Tattling vs. Telling, Bully Prevention, and Acts of Kindness.  

Important news:

• Please send an extra set of clothes to school.  We will keep them in our classroom in case of an accident like a lunch spill, muddy clothes, etc.
• Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @kindernews44202 and send back the Facebook invitation letter with your email if you are interested.

RAZ kids

Have you logged in and tried out this fun reading app?  We sent home information with your child's password last week.  If you need help logging on, please let me know.  The students enjoy earning stars to build robots and rockets by reading and answering the quiz questions.

We will continue with our Language Arts theme (farm) and Math skills for one more week.  

We hope you have a great week!

September 14-18

Important News

• Please put all notes to the teacher or office on a large sheet of paper.  Small notes (like post-its) tend to get lost.  Thank you!
• Thursday we are taking our field trip to Lake Farmpark!  Please make sure you dress for the weather!  We will be walking outside rain or shine!  Also, please pack your child's lunch in a disposable bag. 
• Please practice tying shoes.

Homework

• Review letters and sounds with your child daily.  How quickly can your child name the letters? 
• If your child knows his/her letters and sounds, practice the sight words.  Start with only a few words at a time. 
• Ask your child to name the characters and/or setting in a story you read together. 

Field Trip Volunteers

Mrs. Haughey--Mrs. Bindus, Mrs. Horvath

Mrs. Gallucci--Mrs. Courtad, Mrs. Cost, Mrs. Kacmar

Language Arts
We will be learning about the farm.  We are reading several stories about the farm and farm animals.  We will be using these stories to learn about characters, setting, cause and effect and sequencing.

The focus for the next 2 weeks includes:

• rhyming
• letters and sounds
• final sounds
• syllables
• Left to right directionality

Sight words--a, the

Math

In math, we are learning addition and subtraction to five with materials.  Also, we practice counting from any given number to 100 forward and backward.

September 7-11

Browsing Boxes
Each student in our classroom has his/her own basket of books.  We use these baskets to do an activity called "Read to Self".  For this activity, each child finds a quiet spot in the classroom with their browsing boxes to read the books inside.  Each child has several books in the basket.  Some of the books are chosen by the student according to his/her interest (princess, baseball, animal, Clifford, etc.)  The other books are on their reading level.  If your child would like to bring a book from home to put in his/her basket, we encourage it!  This is the introduction to one of our Daily 5 literacy centers.

The students were taught that there are 3 ways to read a book.  The first way is to read the pictures.  We modeled for the students how to use the pictures to read the book to themselves.  The second way is to read the words in the story.  The third way is to retell a story that they have heard before.  Some students may have a book in their basket that they have read before such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  Now, the student can retell the story as he/she reads the pages.

Mindset
The staff at Aurora City Schools have read a book called Mindset by Carol Dweck.  In this book, we learned about the importance of building a growth mindset in our students.  People with a growth mindset believe that basic abilities (intelligence for example) can be developed through dedication and hard work.  This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.  In a fixed mindset, people believe that intelligence and talent are fixed traits.  They believe that talent alone creates success without effort.

This year, we will be focused on encouraging a growth mindset because it creates motivation and productivity.  It teaches children to welcome challenges, to persevere and accomplish things they may never have believed they could do!  We are teaching them that mistakes are ok, because we learn from them!  We are teaching them that they may not be good at something YET, but they will be, with hard work and effort!

Please contact us if you have any questions or are interested in learning more about Mindset.  We are even willing to loan you our book!  It is a great read!  We love it as teachers and as parents.

Note: We will add the various Mindset messages to our blog each week if you are interested in talking with your child about it at home.

Important Notes:

• No school on Monday, September 7!
• Friday is September 11 so wear red, white and blue!
• We do not need to wear our bus tags anymore.  Thank you for always remembering to send it to school each day!
• HOMEWORK--Have you played a rhyming game with your child?  Practice rhyming by asking your child if two words rhyme.  (Do cake and rake rhyme?) Also, try asking your child to think of a word that rhymes with a word you say.  (Can you think of a word that rhymes with sun?)
• Mrs. Haughey's class has a student teacher!  Amy Rankin will be teaching with Mrs. Haughey until December.  She currently attends Kent State University.
• Please check the calendar daily to see the good news about your child's behavior!
• Mrs. Haughey's Class ONLY--Please remember to send in a picture of your child if you have not done so already!  Thank you!
• Please return the Lake Farmpark permission slips to school as soon as possible!

Language Arts
This week our stories will be about our five senses.  We will be reading both fiction and non-fiction books.  We will be experiencing all of the senses, except tasting, during our activities this week.

We will continue our practice of phonemic awareness with our "blue book" activities.  We will focus on rhyming.

Math
We are working on saying the number before and after any given number from 0-30.  What number comes before 18?  What number comes after 12? We 

Science:  5 senses

Pictures from this week...

Sorry, only 2 this week! 

August 31-September 4

Quick Reminders

• Please pack only ONE nut-free snack for your child each day.
• Please remember the red communication folder each day.
• Please remember to wear your bus tag every day!
• It is no longer necessary for your child to have a PE shirt!  

Language Arts

This week we will be reading 2 stories, The Little School Bus and Big Yellow Bus.  We will compare and contrast these stories and talk about the characters in each story.  At home, as you read books with your child talk about the characters in the story.  We tell the children that the characters are the people or animals in the story.

We will continue to work on fluency this week through poetry.  The children have enjoyed the mystery color poems.  Have they shared these with you?   We will also look at a new poem called Get on the Bus.

We will also complete a Name of the Day activity each day until each child in the class has a chance to bring home a special book.  During this activity we work on letter names, sounds, and formation of letters.

Every week throughout the year we will do phonemic awareness activities such as letter names and sounds, rhyming, listening for the beginning sounds in words, compound words, and listening for ending sounds in words.  Please practice these types of activities at home with your child.  The best part of these activities is that it doesn't require any materials or take a long time.  All you have to do is say "Can you think of a word that rhymes with dig?" or "What sound do you hear at the beginning of ball?"  "What do you hear at the end of mug?"

Sight words this week: a, the

Math

We will continue to work on counting!  We want the students to be able to count to 100 by the end of kindergarten fluently.  This means that they can count starting from any number.  Can you start counting at 8?  Can you count beginning at 87?  We are also learning how to count by 10s to 100!  We are also exploring our math tools such as attribute blocks, unifix cubes, and pattern blocks.

REVIEW:  Last week our focus was on rules.  Why do we have rules? What are the rules for the cafeteria, recess, bathroom, classroom and hallway?  Ask your child if they can share the rules with you.  

Here are some pictures from this week:

August 24-28

Quick Reminders

• Please pack only ONE nut-free snack for your child each day.
• Please remember the red folder each day.
• Please remember to wear your bus tag every day!
• Book orders are due on August 28.  

Language Arts

This week we will be reading a story called We Need Rules.  We are working on learning all the rules of school.  They are doing a great job remembering what to do!

We will work on fluency this week through poetry.  The children are enjoying guessing the mystery color poems.  Have they shared these with you?  

We will also complete a Name of the Day activity each day until each child in the class has a chance to bring home a special book.  During this activity we work on letter names, sounds, and formation of letters.

Every week throughout the year we will do phonemic awareness activities such as letter names and sounds, rhyming, listening for the beginning sounds in words, compound words, and listening for ending sounds in words.  Please practice these types of activities at home with your child.  The best part of these activities is that it doesn't require any materials or take a long time.  All you have to do is say "Can you think of a word that rhymes with dig?" or "What sound do you hear at the beginning of ball?"  "What do you hear at the end of mug?"

Sight words this week: a, the

Math

We are working on counting!  We want the students to be able to count to 100 by the end of kindergarten fluently.  This means that they can count starting from any number.  Can you start counting at 8?  Can you count beginning at 87?  We are also learning how to count by 10s to 100!We are also exploring our math tools such as attribute blocks, unifix cubes, and pattern blocks.

REVIEW:  We are focusing on the rules for the cafeteria, recess, bathroom, classroom and hallway?  Ask your child if they can share the rules with you.

Pictures from the first week

Here are some pictures from Mrs. Haughey's class.  Mrs. Gallucci sent a picture home to you on the first day of kindergarten!

Welcome

Welcome to our new Kindergarten Families!   It was so nice to meet you!  We are having a great first week.  We can already tell that it will be a wonderful year!

ALLERGY INFORMATION--Please be aware that both classes have a peanut/tree nut allergy.  Please do not send any snacks that have peanut or tree nut products in them.  We cannot have students eating these types of snacks in our classroom.  You are allowed to have items with peanut/tree nut ingredients at lunch.

Quick reminders:

• Please remember to wear your bus tag to school every day for the first 2 weeks.  Mrs. Haughey's class are paw prints and Mrs. Gallucci's class are frogs.
• Pack ONE snack daily for your child.  Please try to pack it separate from the lunch.
• Bring the red folder to school each day.
• Keep the PE shirt in your child's backpack because we wear them to all of our specials.  This helps our librarian (Mrs. Kudley), our music teacher (Mrs. Jones), and our PE teacher (Mrs. Barnes) learn names. 
• Please remember to complete and return all forms.  Thank you!

Below is our contact information:

Karen Gallucci  330-562-6199 ext. 2218 or kgallucci@aurora-schools.org
Cyndi Haughey 330-562-6199 ext. 2199 or chaughey@aurora-schools.org

Last Week Reminders

Monday
Remember to wear your tie-dye t-shirt!  Also, today is the last day you can purchase a school lunch or milk.  If you have any late fees for lunch or a library book, please send it in today!

Tuesday
It is our last day of kindergarten and our end of the year party!  Remember to wear your tie-dye t-shirt, sunscreen and a bottle of water!  Report cards will go home with your child.  Your child will not be able to purchase a school lunch or milk.  Please make sure your child has a packed lunch!

Thank you for such a great year!  We were lucky to have such amazing students and families this year!

If you are looking for a few ideas for summer, please read over the list of ideas from first grade that will come home in the report card.  RAZ kids will be available for students to access all summer! Also, you check out these recommended apps:

Writing Wizard--Letter formation
Letter Reversals--Letter formation
Friends of 10--Math
RAZ kids

Have a safe and happy summer!

Mrs. Haughey's class let their butterflies go!

We let our butterflies go!

May 18-29

Important News

• Field Day is Tuesday, May 19.  Please make sure your child is wearing tennis shoes, their tie dye t-shirt and has a water bottle. 
• We will being completing end of the year assessments during the month of May.  Therefore, please make sure your child is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast. 
• Please continue to work on sight words and math facts. 
• Please return your "book in a bag" as we are going to be concluding this program for the year and we would like to have all of our books returned.  Thank you!

Language Arts and Science
We will begin a unit on insects.  We will learn about all types of insects!  Have you heard about the caterpillars that we have been observing in our classroom?  We have been writing in our journals about our observations.  Now, we are waiting for them to make a chrysalis.

We will continue to talk about long vowel sounds, and adding -s and -es to make plural nouns.

Math
We will continue our unit on shapes, place value and practice our math fluency facts to 5.  We will solve addition and subtraction story problems.

Tie Dye Tshirt Dates

May 19--PE Field Day
May 28--Visit to Craddock
June 2--End of the Year Party

Spring Concert and Vehicle Day Photos

Vehicle Day (Mrs. Gallucci's Class)

                                      

Spring Music Concert  (Mrs. Haughey's Class)

                         

May 4-15

Important News

• This week is a busy week!  On Monday, we are having Vehicle Day.  Vehicle Day is an extension of the career lessons with Ms. Mazzella.  We will see inside a fire truck, police car, and school bus.  We will also get a visit from Home Depot and the Parks and Recreation Department.  Wednesday the local preschools will be visiting to learn about kindergarten and to take a tour of our school.  Thursday will be Tie-dye day so please wear old clothes!

• Please do not send birthday invitations to school to be passed out.  Please understand that this can cause hurt feelings for the friends who are not invited to the party.  Thank you!

Language Arts, Science and Social Studies

For the next two weeks, we will be learning about seeds  We will be learning about what seeds need to grow and the difference between living and non-living things. We will be reading various stories including Seeds, The Mystery of Seeds and Alive or Not Alive.  We will continue to work on comprehension skills such as comparing and contrasting.

During writing workshop, we will continue our unit on opinion writing.

Word study--Blends

• Week of May 4--gl, pl, gr, pr
• Week of May 11--dr, gr, tr

We are also working on spelling our sight words correctly.  

Math
 We will begin a unit on shapes.

Reminders for next week

Hi Families,

Just a few reminders for next week:

• White t-shirts for tie dyeing project due on Wednesday, April 29.  Please remember to wash it first and then complete your design with the rubber bands.  
• Friday, May 1 is our Music Concert.  Mrs. Haughey's class is 9:30 am and Mrs. Gallucci's class is at 2:30.  

April 20-May 1

Important News:

• Please send in a white, washed t-shirt for our tie-dying project.  Remember to wrap it in rubber bands in the design you like!  Make sure your child's name is on the t-shirt tag and on the ziploc bag.  Please click on the link on the right hand sign of the blog marked "tie-dye t-shirts" for all the information regarding how to choose a design and apply the rubber bands.

Language Arts, Science and Social Studies
For the next two weeks, our focus is on how to keep our Earth clean.  We will be learning about recycling and ways to take care of our planet.  We will be reading various stories including Recycle It, Where does all the Garbage Go, and Saving our Planet.   We will continue to work on comprehension skills such as main idea, cause and effect and drawing conclusions.

During writing workshop, we will be studying a new genre--persuasive writing.  We learned that narrative writing means that we are telling a story.  Narrative writing includes characters, setting, and a beginning, middle and end.  We will be practicing writing in this genre for several weeks.

Word study--Blends

• Week of April 20--sc, sm, sl, sw
• Week of April 27--cl, fl, cr, fr

We are also working on spelling our sight words correctly.  

Math
We have been focusing on fluency with the addition and subtraction facts to 5. You may have seen some timed tests come home. We are practicing completing 10 math facts in one minute.  We will also continue our unit on place value.

Special note from Mrs. Gallucci...

Thank you very much for all the wonderful birthday wishes!  I really appreciated all of the cards, memories, and gifts.  You made my day so special!  Thank you!

April 7-17

Important News

• Please remember to send back the "book in a bag" so that your child can continue to practice the skills that they learn in guided reading.  Please remind your child to change their book daily.
•  We are still in need of tissues!  We appreciate the ones we have received already, but we are going through them quickly! Mrs. Haughey's class is completely out! 
• Don't forget that we go out for recess every day! Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather! 

Language Arts

• We will be learning about the Earth, Sun and Moon for the next two weeks.  We will be reading many non-fiction books including Earth and Moon and Watching the Night Sky.  Ask your child to share some information that they have learned.   We will also focus on the comprehension skill of comparing and contrasting.
• Word study--We will be working on blends--st, sp, sk, sn

Math

• We have been focusing on fluency with the addition and subtraction facts to 5.  You may have seen some timed tests come home in the last week.  We are practicing completing 10 math facts in one minute. 

"Teach your children that strength doesn't come from what you CAN do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you COULDN'T."

March 23-27

Have a wonderful spring break!

Cold season came upon our classrooms again and we are out of tissues!  If anyone would like to donate a box of tissues for our classroom we would greatly appreciate it!  Thank you!

We had a great time during right to read week!  The class really enjoyed all the fun activities!  The Lego necklaces were awesome!

Right to Read Week

Dear Parents,

Next week is Right to Read Week!  We will have fun celebrating reading with a Legos theme!   The Miller newsletter came home this week describing the activities for the week.  Your child also received a reading log where they can keep track of all the books he/she reads at home!  Below is the list of activities for the week:

Monday, March 16--Lego Color Day!  Dress in your favorite colors!
Tuesday, March 17--Lego Animal Day!  Wear a shirt with an animal on it!
Wednesday, March 18--Lego Number Day!  Wear a shirt with numbers on it.
Thursday, March 19--Lego City and Career Day--Dress as your favorite Lego City or career character.  No masks or props when dressing as characters please.
Friday, March 20--Lego Spirit Day--Dress in your Greenmen gear!

It will be a fun week!

March 9-20

Dental Health
     Over the next two weeks, we will be focusing on dental health.  Your child will be reading books to learn about dental health as well as see demonstrations how to properly brush and floss their teeth. At home this week, please have a conversation with your child about the importance of brushing their teeth and help them with flossing after daily brushing.  One of our parents shared a fun app to encourage great brushing.  It's called Brush DJ and it's free!  It plays music from your library for 2 minutes while you brush!  It makes brushing for 2 minutes a lot more fun!  Enjoy!

Word Study: digraphs--th, sh, ch, wh

Math News
       Please continue to practice math facts with your child at home.  If your child is having difficulty with the flash cards, use various objects around the house to help your child visualize the math equations which they are attempting to solve. Some ideas for objects you can use are; goldfish crackers, cotton balls, m&m's, beans, Legos, or any small object.

Outdoor Recess
    The weather is still cold and snow is still on the ground. Please make sure that you are sending proper snow attire to school with your child so they can enjoy their outdoor recess!

Right to Read Week is March 16-20.  More information will be coming home soon about how to participate!

Have a wonderful two weeks!

March Benchmark Check In

Language Arts Benchmarks:

March:

• Can identify all uppercase and lowercase letters
• Can isolate and pronounce the sounds in CVC words.  (c-a-t)
• Reading Level C books
• Can print uppercase and lowercase letters
• Begins to use punctuation, spacing and begins a sentence with a capital letter
• Writes to a single topic
• In fiction texts, can identify characters, setting and major events.
• Can identify similarities and differences between two stories.  

End of the year benchmarks:

• Level D reading level
• Comprehension of text in fiction and non-fiction.  The students can identify characters, setting, and major events in a story.  They can also retell the story in order with a beginning, middle and end.
• Reading the 20 kindergarten sight words correctly
• Spelling the 20 kindergarten sight words correctly
• Writes an opinion piece (I think PE is the best special because we can play tunnel tag.)
• Writes a narrative.  (I lost a tooth yesterday and the tooth fairy came.)
• Writes a how to book including several steps (How to make a snowman.  First, roll a big ball.)
• Can isolate and pronounce the sounds in CVC words.  (c-a-t) 

Suggestions for extra practice:

• Read the leveled books found in the "book in a bag" every evening.  Please remind your child to bring home a new book each night.
• Continue to support the comprehension of text at home.  When reading with your child, ask about the characters, setting, and to retell the story to you.  What happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story?  Is this story similar to one we have read before?  How?  
• Write at home about anything!  Let your child choose the topic and write as long as their interest level allows using inventive spelling.

Math Benchmarks:

March:  

• Can identify numbers from 0-20
• Has One to one correspondence
• Can count to 100 from any given number
• Can write numbers to 20
• Understands addition as putting together and subtraction as taking away
• Begins to solve addition and subtraction problems within 10 using materials

End of the year benchmarks:

• can add and subtract fluently to 5 without materials
• Can solve addition and subtraction problems within 10 using materials\
• Understands place value (15 is 1 ten and 5 ones)
• Shape identification

Suggestions for extra practice:

• Continue to practice the math flashcards.  Try to see how many your child can do in a minute.
• Practice writing numbers (especially teens!) in fun ways!  Draw the numbers in sand, shaving cream or pudding!  Make it with play-doh, etc.

What Have We Been up to in Kindergarten?

Dear Families,

Thank you to all the families who made our Valentine's Day so special.  The cards, notes, candy and gifts were so thoughtful!  We are so lucky to be your child's teachers!

Thank you,
Mrs. Gallucci and Mrs. Haughey

We have been working hard in kindergarten and have a lot to share with you!

Special Guest Reader, Mr. Kohanski (Lila's grandpa)

100s DAY!

We built a tower with 100 cups and 100 cards!

We made crowns to celebrate the 100th day of Kindergarten!

We strung 100 fruit loops on a necklace!

Valentine's Party

How to Make a Snowman Project

February 16-27

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Important News

• No School on Friday (February 13) or Monday (February 16)!
• Please make sure your child has the proper attire for outside recess.  
• It is the time of year when it may be necessary to replenish your child's supplies.  Please check the condition of his/her folder.  We are in need of a few supplies for our classrooms.  If you would like to donate crayons and/or markers we would greatly appreciate your generosity!  Thank you!

Language Arts & Social Studies
The next TWO weeks we will be learning about Presidents, American symbols and Maps.  Can your child name one symbol they have learned?  We will learn about the Statue of Liberty, bald eagle, American flag, Mt. Rushmore and the White House.  The students will also learn that the President works in the Oval Office.  We will also learned about the first and current President.  Can your child name them?  We will also be creating maps of our classroom. 

Word Study Skill: digraphs--ch, sh

Math
We are working on various activities that focus on subtraction.  We are also practicing counting to 100 focusing on the teens.  Please practice writing the numbers in the teens. 

Valentine Information

Valentine’s List

         Our Valentine party will be on Thursday, February 12^th.  If your child will be sending valentines to school, please be sure that he/she makes one for EVERY child in the class.  This year, we would like your child to just sign his/her name only on each valentine.  No need to address it with a classmates’ name!  This will help with the ease of passing out valentines in the morning. There are 23 students in Mrs. Haughey's class.   Mrs. Gallucci's class has 21 students.  Please send your valentines to school on Thursday, February 12^th. 

Other names you may want to consider

(If you are sending valentines to any of the names below, please address the to and from section of the valentine)

*Mrs. Minrovic—Principal              *Mrs. Rogalski—Secretary

*Mrs. Haughey or Mrs. Gallucci      *Mrs. Kudley—Librarian              
*Mrs. Barnes—P.E. Teacher       *Ms. Jones—Music                     

*Ms. Mazzella—School Counselor   *Bus Driver

*Miss Carol and Miss Lynn—Classroom Aides

February 2-20

Winter Clothes
Winter is here and so is the snow!  Please pack an extra pair of gloves and socks in your child's backpack in case they get wet. Also, if you would like to keep an extra pair of pants and socks at school, please send them in a large ziploc bag with your child's name on it. We will keep them in our classroom in case your child gets wet at recess and needs to change. Thank you!

Important Notes
Please make sure you send back the book in a bag EVERY day so that your child can choose a new one at his/her level.  This is an important part of our reading program!

Language Arts

• For the next three weeks, we will be learning about the ocean through several fiction and non-fiction books.  We will be focusing on the comprehension skills setting, compare and contrast and main idea.  When reading with your child at home, try asking them  comprehension questions.
• In writing, we will continue with a new unit on informational writing.  The students will be writing "how to" books.  This means they will need to think about all the things they know how to do so that they can write a book to teach others.  Please help them think about things they know how to do:  build a snowman, tie shoes, make an ice cream cone, hit a homerun, brush teeth, etc.  If you generate a list with your child, please send it in for your child to keep in his/her writing folder.  The class is continuing to practice writing using the developmental conventions (spacing, punctuation, beginning a sentence with a capital, spelling sight words correctly) and stretching out words to hear all the sounds (beginning, middles, end). 

Snow Day and Two Hour Delay Procedures

Two Hour Delay Procedures

If our Superintendent, Mr. Bennett announces a "Two Hour Delay", school will begin for our kindergarten students at 11:05.  Lunch and dismissal time will remain the same.  

Snow Day

If we have a snow day and you are looking for a way to keep your child's skills sharp, please look on the Miller website or click the link below for some activities.  

Snow Day Activities

January 19-30

Important Notes

• Thank you to all the families who sent in supplies!  We appreciate your generosity!
• Report cards will be sent home on Friday. 
• Family Fun Night is on Thursday at 7:00
• We learned about Martin Luther King last week.  Did your child share with you what they learned?

Winter Clothes
Winter is here and so is the snow!  Please pack an extra pair of gloves and socks in your child's backpack in case they get wet. Also, if you would like to keep an extra pair of pants and socks at school, please send them in a large ziploc bag with your child's name on it. We will keep them in our classroom in case your child gets wet at recess and needs to change. Thank you!



Language Arts
For the next two weeks, we will be learning about Antarctica through a non-fiction story called If You Could Go to Antarctica.  We will learn about the plants and animals that live there and other interesting facts.  Please ask your child what they know about Antarctica. 



Please make sure you send back the book in a bag EVERY day so that your child can choose a new one at his/her level.  This is an important part of our reading program!


In writing, we are moving to a new unit on informational writing.  The students will be writing "how to" books.  This means they will need to think about all the things they know how to do so that they can write a book to teach others.  Please help them think about things they know how to do:  build a snowman, tie shoes, make an ice cream cone, hit a homerun, brush teeth, etc.  If you generate a list with your child, please send it in for your child to keep in his/her writing folder.



Please continue to work on the letter and sound fluency practice pages.  These are the pages where the children need to say the name of the letter or the sound of the letter in a minute.  We will be doing our winter benchmarking this week.  The benchmark for Letter Naming is 40.  The benchmark for Letter Sounds is 27 in a minute.



Math
We will continue to practice the activities and skills from previous weeks.  Also, Friday, January 30 is the 100th day of kindergarten!  We will be celebrating with lots of fun 100s day activities!  We would also like to enjoy a special snack as part of our celebration.  If you would like to assist with the snack, ask your child to count out 100 of something (M & M's, marshmallows, animal crackers, pretzels, skittles, chocolate chips, raisins, etc.) and send it to school on Friday, January 30.  We will put all the snacks together to make a trail mix for the students to enjoy.  No peanut or tree nut products please!  Thank you!

January 5-16

Happy New Year!

FYI from the Lunchroom
If your child buys lunch or milk, you can send in a larger sum of money all at once ($5-10). We will apply it to your account and each time your student buys milk or lunch it will be deducted from that amount. If you choose this method, you won't have to send money in each day that your child is buying lunch/milk.

Supplies
The second quarter is coming to a close soon, and we are in need of a few supplies for our classrooms.  If you would like to donate LARGE ziploc bags, tissues or baby wipes we would greatly appreciate your generosity!  Thank you!

Cultural Heritage Project
The cultural heritage projects were amazing!  Thank you for sharing your culture with our class.  We learned so much about various countries (Germany, England, Canada, Japan, Madagascar, Scotland, Australia, Lebanon, Italy, China, Ireland, Hungary, Ukraine, Costa Rica, France, Poland, and more!) around the world.  The children really enjoyed learning about the foods, flags, clothing, and watching videos of the different types of dance.  We hope that your child shared something they learned with you.

Winter Clothes
Winter is here and so is the snow!  Please pack an extra pair of gloves and socks in your child's backpack in case they get wet. Also, if you would like to keep an extra pair of pants and socks at school, please send them in a large ziploc bag with your child's name on it. We will keep them in our classroom in case your child gets wet at recess and needs to change. Thank you!

Language Arts
For the next two weeks, we will be reading the stories Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Little Pigs.  We will read several  versions of each story and compare and contrast them by discussing the characters, setting and plot.

Please make sure you send back the book in a bag EVERY day so that your child can choose a new one at his/her level.  Some children bring home the guided reading book and those MUST be returned the next day.

Please continue to work on the letter and sound fluency practice pages.  These are the pages where the children need to say the name of the letter or the sound of the letter in a minute.  We will be doing our winter benchmarking in the middle of January.  The benchmark for Letter Naming is 40.  The benchmark for Letter Sounds is 27 in a minute.

Math
We will continue to practice the activities and skills from previous weeks.  Please continue to practice the addition and subtraction flashcards to 5.