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.