NIGHTLY READING HOMEWORK:

Don't forget to practice reading with your child, using the short decodable reader in his/her folder.  Your child will get a new book every Thursday, unless there is extra time in class one afternoon prior to Thursday and we get a chance to read together. 

MATH WORKBOOK B (Part 2):

It is important to spend time getting familiar with what your child has been learning in kindergarten and try to find ways to help him/her master those skills. Consequently, please look over your child’s math workbook as thoroughly as possible. In particular, work on anything noted as “completed with help” or “practice at home.” This means your child was either unable to complete the page without one-on-one assistance or s/he struggled with the concept. When working with your child on these math skills, it is often times as simple as verbally asking them a similar question or drawing a picture.

This workbook is what we have been working on daily for the last few months, and if the majority of the skills are not mastered by the end of the year, your child will not be adequately prepared for first grade. Addition and subtraction fluency and fact practice will be a big part of your child’s first grade math curriculum. I would recommend focusing on these two concepts the most. Thank you for your help.

JOURNAL REMINDER:

The journal your child writes in three days a week stays in class, so you will not see your child’s work until our next parent/teacher conference in March. At the March conference, I will show you how your child’s journaling has progressed and how you can help them excel. Then, at the end of the year, the completed journal will be sent home with your child for you to have as a kindergarten keepsake.

MARCH ACTIVITIES:

Read Across America Day is Friday, March 1st. This is a reading celebration that takes place on/near the birthday of Dr. Seuss (March 2^nd). In years past, we have read the Dr. Seuss books and cooked Green Eggs and Ham. This year, I would like for the parents to have an opportunity to be more involved. If you are interested in helping, please fill out the form that was sent home on Wednesday and return it to school. More information will follow regarding a sign-up sheet for the dates and times of our activities.

 

 

 

LIBRARY BOOKS:

 

Quite a few kids forgot to bring their library books back to school today.  That means they don't get a new book when they go to library at 10:45, while everyone else does.  Help your child out by reminding him/her to place the book in his/her backpack on Tuesday night each week.  Even better, keep the book in the backpack everyday and get it out to read as needed. 

VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY:

Don't forget to send your child to school with his/her Valentine's Day cards on Thursday.  Please have each card folded, labeled, and ready to pass out.  It would be great if you had your child practice reading the classmates names, so they are easier to pass out during the party.  Thanks!

GINGERBREAD MAN:
Ask your child about the Gingerbread Man!  There will be plenty to tell.  It has been an exciting morning in kindergarten! :)

NIGHTLY READING BOOKS:

Your child will begin bringing home a short decodable reader (a small book with color pictures and about eight pages).  These decodable readers are in addition to the black and white phonics reader sent home once a week.  Every Thursday, your child will read his/her book to me or a teacher’s aide. As each book is mastered, s/he will receive a more advanced book to practice at home for homework.  If your child is still struggling to read his/her current book on the day it gets read in class, the same book will be sent home for another week of practice. I will log when I read with your child on the back of his/her behavior log.

JOURNALS:

The past few weeks, the boys and girls have been busy writing sentences and “stories” in their own personal journals.  From now until the end of the year, we will continue to journal two/three times a week.  The kids need quite a bit of practice on independently writing sentences, so I ask that you work with them at home.  Give your child a piece of paper and provide an idea for him/her to write about (favorite thing to do at school, playing with friends, visiting grandparents, going to the park, etc).  Closely monitor your child as s/he works, but don’t do it for him/her.  Help your child sound out unfamiliar words and let him/her write the words as s/he hears them.  It is completely okay for the kids to spell the words as they sound and not use the conventional spelling. We want them to have confidence in their independent writing skills, and don’t worry; they will learn the correct way to spell each word as they advance in grade.   

BOOK ORDER:

Scholastic book orders are due in class or online by Friday, February 8th.  Remember, ordering online means you get a free $5.00 book on your next month's order.