January 13, 2017 Dear Parents,   This week, we continued our in-depth study of letter/sound association by sorting initial and final /Dd/ and /Nn/. We reviewed letters previously taught and practiced manipulating the letters to blend and finger-spell CVC words: dot, not, dog, got, etc. We practiced forming the letters correctly using multi-sensory strategies and are trying very hard to break old habits. We highlighted the sight words they, from, how, and now in our shared reading text and added them to our Word Wall and word rings. We enjoyed reading the poem Snowflakes and discussing vocabulary and imagery in the phrases ”on the walls and housetops,” “ window ledges,” “branches bare,” and ”soft and thick they lie.” In Reading Workshop, we deepened our practice of noticing when and where the pattern changes in the text and using known reading strategies to solve tricky words. We enjoyed reading about Monkeys many adventures in the Monkey Trouble Series. We discussed character traits and actions, made predictions, and shared personal connections to the story events with our partners. In Writing Workshop, we reviewed the criteria that makes a story interesting, clear, and easy to read. We compared sample texts to determine what makes a story interesting. We began writing a class story utilizing all the criteria that we charted. We also practiced writing and illustrating simple sentences using sight words, good spacing, neat writing, and stretching out trickier words. In Math, we further explored numbers 10- 16 by reading, building, and showing numbers on double ten-frames. We practiced saying the nicknames for teen numbers, ie; 14 is ten and 4. We are developing cardinality by recognizing that a full ten-frame is a ten and we therefore don’t have to recount each dot, as well as quickly identifying a number on a ten-frame when flashed. We also practiced counting to 100 by tens and ones. In Science, we observed our pumpkin and noticed that 4 seedlings had grown taller and were bending to the sunlight. We observed that the pumpkin shell had become drier and more shriveled. We recorded and labeled our observations in our Science Journals. We also continued our investigation of pushes and pulls, by exploring the concept of speed. We enjoyed singing and moving to the Rap song Move It. We tested the effect of force upon an object by comparing and contrasting how fast or slowly an object moved when pushed, as well as the distance covered. In Social Studies, we began exploring the concept of change, by activating our prior knowledge. We drew pictures of what we thought the word ”change” means, then sorted, grouped, and labeled our illustrations into categories: money, things that change spontaneously (such as weather), changing clothes, and changing our mind about something. We then watched the video, Sid the Seed, and drew illustrations with new constructs: relating change to the concepts of a seed growing into a tree and a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly. We began reading about Martin Luther King, Jr. We examined, predicted, and compared the similarities and differences of the outer shells and inner contents of white and brown eggs. We illustrated our observations and drew conclusions about both eggs and people, in that like eggs, we may look a little different on the outside, but we are the same on the inside.

Looking Ahead: Special Notes: We thoroughly enjoyed Maker Monday Explorations, by choosing to make Duck Tape wallets, paper circuits, cardboard creations, Squishy Circuits, Lego designs, or take apart and put together old toys. We even began exploring Snap Circuit, Jr.! Enjoy the weekend! Linda Yelvington   Looking Ahead: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day- Schools Closed for Students: Mon., January 16 Connected Parent Series- STEAM and Makerspace in the Kindergarten Classroom: Tues., January 17 @ 4:00-5:15 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, Washington Parents and Kindergarten Students only **Registration is required Baby & Current Photos Due: Wed., January 18 Special Notes: Kindly remember to pack sneakers for P.E. and recess, when wearing boots to school. Also, dress in layers to accommodate changing classroom temperatures. Please encourage your child to spell and write sight words, as this will enable him/her to write sentences with greater confidence and ease. Please practice counting to 100 by tens and ones. Wanted!!! - We are in need of toys for our Maker Monday Explorations. If you have any toys which are no longer being used, please consider donating them for the children to examine, tinker with, take apart, and put back together.