Class News

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Miss Contres and Ms. Spivey’s

Kindergarten Newsletter

January

Important Dates:

 January

6th - Elective Forms Due

12th - Q2 Electives End

13th - Marbles Field Trip

16th - NO SCHOOL (Holiday)

20th - Early Release (Dismissal at 1:15pm)

23rd - Q3 Electives Begin

24th - End of Q2

27th - NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday)

 

 

Today we wrote about our New Year’s Resolution. Ask your child about their resolution. Brainstorm ways you can help your child achieve their goal!

 

Elective Registration: Elective registration sheets will be sent home in Monday folders.  Please complete and return forms by Friday, January 6th.  You are submitting your selections for the remainder of the year. Your child will register for TWO electives for 3rd Quarter and TWO electives for 4th Quarter. Please be sure to complete all choices as classes fill up quickly. (We often need to go down the list to meet the interests of your child). Elective changes should be sent directly to Mrs. Johnson at jjohnson6@wcpss.net by January 20th.  Electives for 3rd Quarter begin on Monday, January 23rd.  Since we will have two electives, we will have specials less often, about twice a week.

 

Book Orders: Scholastic Book Orders are due Wednesday, January 18th. You can place your orders online at scholastic.com/readingclub 

Class activation code: LX8BY

 

Chaperones Needed:  If you have been approved as a chaperone by WCPSS you are welcome to meet us at Marble Museum for our field trip on Friday, January 13th. We are in need of several chaperones to guide a small group about the museum. We will be arriving 10am and departing at 12noon (times are approximate). Please email me if you can help! Chaperones will need to provide their own transportation and pay entrances fees upon arrival.

Hunter Magnet Tours will be held on Wednesdays in January.  Be sure to spread the news to any prospective parents. We’d love to welcome new families to Hunter.

 

County wide benchmark assessments and mid-year assessments will be given in January.  Your child will be assessed for both literacy and math.

 In literacy, your child will be assessed on: Letter Identification, (upper and lowercase), Letter Sounds, (upper and lowercase), First Sound Fluency (FSF), when told a word, they are asked to segment the beginning sound (cat  “c” sound), Letter Name Fluency (LNF) when shown a list of letters, they are asked to tell the letter name, Phoneme Segmentation Fluency (PSF) when told a word, they are asked to break apart the sounds in the word, Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF) when shown a nonsense word (such as vec, tun), they will be asked to read the word, Reading Level (TRC) and comprehension (characters, setting, making connections, providing supporting evidence in the text etc.), High Frequency (Word Wall) Words

In math, your child will be assessed on: number identification (0-100), counting to 100 by 1s, and10s, subitizing, counting objects in an array, line and scattered, teen number, counting on from 10, identify the missing number (5, ___, 7), quantity discrimination: more/less (7, 9), count forward from any given number, writing numbers 1-20, positional words (such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to), identifying shapes regardless of orientation or size (square, rectangle, oval, circle, triangle, hexagon, cone, sphere, cylinder, cube), describing and comparing attributes of shapes (vertices, sides, faces, corners, angles) of 2-D(flat) and 3-D shapes (solids), building and drawing shapes.

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Career Volunteers Needed: Do you have an interesting, fun, unique career that you’d like to share with our Kindergarten students?  We are in need of volunteers to share during Career Week (last week this month). If you can help, please email me and let me know what you’d like to share.

 

What we’re learning this month…

Math: count to 100 by 1s and 10s, count forward from any given number, describe objects in the environment, using the names of shapes and describe relative position in terms (such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to), name shapes regardless of orientation or size, identify 2-D (flat) and 3-D (solid) shapes, compare 2-D and 3-D shapes to describe similarities, differences, part, attributes, (vertices, corners, sides, length etc.), build and draw shapes, compose simple shapes to form larger shapes (such as combining two triangles to form a rectangle).

 

 

Literacy:

Reading Unit 5:  Partners Help Teach Each Other to Read

We will read texts with confidence and use the strategies to tackle unfamiliar words and understand the text. We will review and practice how to talk with a partner making several back and forth exchanges speaking in complete sentences and using phrasing and wordage that is taught. We will begin to see how authors carefully choose interesting words to describe (verbs) what characters are doing and how knowing this will help with understanding. We will ask questions so we can understand what are reading and help partners. We will    use decoding strategies to figure out unknown words. We will look for familiar sight words in books. We will use evidence from the story to support our responses. We will share the main idea of the books and give events/ key details from the story to support our answers. We will learn how authors carefully choose interesting words to describe characters.

Writing:

Procedural Writing - How Tos

Writing explanatory/informative texts that name what they are writing about and supply information, steps involved in How To. For example, How To Build a Snowman (First, Next, Then , Last).

 

Miss Contres and Ms. Spivey’s

 Kindergarten Newsletter

December 2016

 

 

December Dates:

 

12th - Walking Trip to Ligon (Holiday Concert).

21st - Polar Express Day (Wear your Jammies)

22nd-Jan. 2nd - NO SCHOOL (Vacation/Break)

Jan 3rd Back to School

 

BYOD in Kindergarten: The K team is excited to launch BYOD!

 

On Fridays in December, your child is welcome to bring their device. You and your child need to submit the BYOD contract prior to sending a device.

 

We need your child's device ready to go. This includes being connected to our WAKE-BYOD Wifi, and downloading some apps we will be utilizing. Please download the app for Seesaw CLASS, Epic Books for Kids and a QR Reader. Both apps are free! We will likely ask for additional downloading as we progress. Bare with us--December will be our chance to “practice” with our devices and work out the kinks, so we are ready to integrate technology for our units after the new year. Please note: Your child will be responsible for their device. They will keep it in their backpacks and our classrooms will be locked when a teacher/TA is not present in the room. Students will be required to bring devices home at the end of the school day. For more information on BYOD, see Hunter's Website.

 

Devices Donations Being Accepted in Kindergarten! Do you have an old phone/device that is WiFi compatible that you are no longer using? We’d love to adopt it! If you have a device you’d like to permanently donate to our class, please contact me.

 

Big Universe - Thanks to WCPSS, your child has an online library account with Big Universe. You may visit Big Universe at with the login information below to access books online. A great resource to practice reading and great for non-fiction books.  This site only gives some "listen and read along" options but does allow you to create your own library so you can go back to re-read your favorites.  Here is a link to Big Universe: https://www.biguniverse.com/signin

 

Student username:  wcpss student ID #

 Password: student ID #

Group username:  wcpss

 

Polar Express Day, December 21st  - Pajama Day! We will watch the Polar Express movie and enjoy some hot chocolate!

 

December Math:

Reading and writing number words one to twenty.

Composing and decomposing numbers 11-19: teen numbers, ten frames/groups, composing and decomposing with objects, drawings and equations, partners of 10 (10=6+4), shapes (triangle, rectangle, square, circle, hexagon, cube, cylinder, sphere, cone), attributes of shapes (sides, vertices/corners), positional words, 2 and 3 dimensions of shapes.

 

December Reading:

Using Reading Strategies (Tricks & Tools for Reading): Crosscheck: Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense? Use tools/strategies to make meaning when reading. Identify patterns when reading: Do pictures repeat? Do words repeat? Do actions repeat? Does it rhyme?  Using letters and sounds to read and build words, CVC words.  Using syllables, phonemes, beginning sounds, rhymes, phonics, decoding, word analysis skills, high frequency words to read. Asking and answering key questions in a text.  Asking and answering questions about unknown words in a text. Retelling and identifying characters, setting, beginning, middle, ending, problem and solution. Making predictions and connections. Recognizing patterns in books.  Three types of endings: opposite endings, endings where the whole comes to light (whole something) and funny endings. Rhyming patterns and word families. Fluency: voice changes when reading.  Dramatizing: our bodies come to life.

 

December Writing:  Opinion Writing, forming an opinion and stating reasons for it. Continue to rehearse, plan and write complete sentences.  Reread own writing and practice 1-1 correspondence. Editing your writing. Forming an opinion and state a reason for it.

 

Word Wall: Students are expected to be able to read and spell all the words we have learned and added to our “Word Wall”. We practice these words daily. Be sure to practice at home too. Wall (High Frequency) Words we have learned: a, and, are, can, in, is, it, like, me, my, no, not, on, see, she, the, to. This month we will add the words: look, little, he, her, down. Word Wall words are in addition to the Rainbow words, though some overlap.

 

Specials: We started our new specials today! We now have Dance, Art, Media, Chorus, and PE.

 

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October News:

Important Dates:

October:

7- Picture Day

13- Field trip to Pumpkin Patch

14- Scholastic orders due by 4 pm.

 

Big Universe - Thanks to WCPSS, your child has an online library account with Big Universe. Big Universe is a great resource to practice reading and great for non-fiction books. This site does not give you a "listen and read along" option, but does allow you to create your own library so you can go back to re-read your favorites.  BIg Universe link: https://www.biguniverse.com/signin

Student username:  wcp+student ID #

Password:  student ID #

Group username:  wcpss

Library Books: Please return your library book by Tuesday so your child can check out another book on when we visit the library.

Toys: Please remember to keep toys and personal items at home.

BOOK BUDDIES: Our class has teamed up with Mrs. Stroupe’s 2nd grade for book buddies. They will have the opportunity to read and work together to strengthen their literacy partnerships.

PETS Program: Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Parham our Enrichment Teachers will be working with Kindergarten to teach whole group lessons on critical thinking skills. This gives every child in kindergarten the opportunity to be exposed to higher level thinking and different ways of thinking. The program is called PETS (Primary Education Thinking Skills). 

MATH:

‘Digging Deep’ with Numbers 1-10: counting, writing (number formation), number words, number sentences, tally marks, ten frames, equal/not equal numbers, dot-to-dots, same, more/fewer, alike/different, order, number line, before/after, groups of numbers, counting to 100 by ones and tens, 5-groups, counting on, number patterns, +1 pattern, partners of numbers (9=5+4), ones, tens, teens and zeros, equal sign, and plus sign.

 

LITERACY:

Print Concepts, Reading Behaviors, (See “parent resources” tab on class website to practice at home). When reading at home with your child, be sure to let them try to sound out some of the words. In the classroom, we practice ‘tapping out’ the word on our arm (cat, c-elbow bend, a-forearm, t- wrist) then swiping our arm down these spots to blend the sounds together and hear the whole word.

Reading Strategies – Upper/Lower Case Letter recognition and letter sounds, identifying title, author, illustrator, check for understanding using picture clues, making predictions, finding patterns, play with rhyming words, discussing our favorite part, set a purpose for reading (fiction/non-fiction), retell beginning, middle ending, exploring characters (adventures, feelings, voice),

Word Wall (High Frequency Words we have learned and are expected to read and spell correctly): a, I, like, the.  This month we will add the words: see, go, at, to, is, in, and, can. (See “parent resources” tab on class website for a list of the words to practice at home).

Writing: We are learning all about the tools that we need for writing: pencil, paper, crayons, space stick and eraser, counting how many words are in the sentence, to make sure that we have spaces between those words. Good writers make sure they write down all the sounds they hear when they say a word. We have learned letter formation for letters a-z practicing within the lines.

 

 

September News!

OPEN HOUSE will be held Wednesday, September 7th from 6:00-6:45pm in our classroom. Parents are invited to learn more about their child's class. We prefer this to be an ADULTS only event. Please make arrangements for your children. A PTA Meeting will follow from 6:45-7:15pm in the gym.

GOING GREEN: To cut down on paper waste, we will send most correspondence via email or our class website.  If you do not have access to email and/or the Internet, please send me a note and I will be sure to get you a hard copy.

ROOM PARENT: If you are interested in being a room parent please send me an email.  We will certainly invite additional volunteers to help in other ways.

EMAIL: Please send me an email (acontres@wcpss.net) with your child’s name so I can add you to my contacts.  

MemberHub: The PTA sends information via MemberHub. If you need a form to join please let me know and I will send one home with your child.

T-SHIRTS: We are receiving a group deal with all of Kindergarten for our field trip t-shirts. The cost of the t-shirt is $8.50. Please send in payment by October 1st. If paying by cash please send exact change. Please make checks out to: Aardvark Inc. Donations for another student are always welcome!

REMIND: Be sure to join our classroom text service by signing up for Remind. With Remind, I am able to text your reminders about upcoming events or classroom needs (ex. Field Trip tomorrow - wear tennis shoes). You can join via SMS! @b82629 to the number 81010

LUNCH MONEY: If your child plans to purchase lunch throughout the school year the cost is $2.25 per lunch.  If you are able, we ask that you send a few week’s worth of lunch money ahead of time so we can deposit it in their lunch account.  As you can imagine, juggling money daily for a class of 5-year-olds can be cumbersome.

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: We'd love to have you volunteer! All volunteers must complete an online clearance application via a WCPSS computer. Be sure to sign-up during Open House. Clearance takes about 3 weeks and is needed for helping in the classroom or joining us on field trips.  Even if you have submitted your information previously, YOU MUST REREGISTER EACH SCHOOL YEAR.


ENRICHMENT HW: Enrichment Homework is OPTIONAL. Enrichment homework is provided on our class website. Simply click on the ”Parent Resources” tab on the left.  Enrichment HW provides an opportunity to work with your child at home.  

CONTACT ME:  The best way to reach me is email.  My email is acontres@wcpss.net. You may also call Hunter at 919.856.7676 and leave a message with the front office staff.

September Goals:
Literacy: Identify letters and sounds, Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print: follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page. Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book. Take a 'picture walk' to tell ourselves about the book adventure by using picture clues. Purpose for reading, what readers do (before, during. after) and more.
Math: Count to 20 by ones and tens. Write numbers 0-10. Count to answer, “How many?” Count objects in a scattered arrangement. Name successive numbers without recounting. Compare numbers (more, less, equal)