Language
Daily 5 -
- New Decodable Books! Please help your SKer add the decodables (black and white books) that are coming hom in their Friday Folder to their black book box at home. This week's book featured a brand new word family that we had loads of fun getting to know! (We've been a tad behind in sending home our books - while we only tackled one this week, some from previous weeks are coming home to roost with you!)
- The -ox family: We were thrilled to learn more about how to read and write box, fox, even lox! We played pictionary and context clue games to help friends guess, write and read the members of this new family. Go hunting for -ox family words this weekend at home and out and about!
- Sh/Th/Ch: We worked hard to read, sort and write these tricky digraphs over the week. Ask your SKer "Shower... sh, th, or ch? Chips... sh, th, or ch?" This is tought stuff, but we can do it with good practice and strong connections!
- Word Family Review: We started sorting and classifying word family words in context, and in guessing games, to help friends strengthen their reading and writing skills. Ask your SKer to be a word family expert this weekend... "Bin, bit, big... which one lives in the -it word family house?"
Printing -
- Mm: (M: start at the blue sky, pull down straight, pick up! Start at the blue sky, slant down right, slant up right, pull down straight. m: start at the red fence, pull down straight, push up and rainbow over, push up and rainbow over.)
- Nn (N: start at the blue sky, pull down straight, pick up! Start at the blue sky, slant down right, push up. n: start at the red fence, pull down straight, push up, rainbow over, pull down.)
Math
New Math Stations! We were thrilled to play fun math games in small groups, circulating through to build our skills and enjoy play with numbers. Some of our centers include...
- 2 Digit Detectives: Friends flip cards and color the two digit number that corresponds on their 100 chart.. careful! 27 isn't the same as 72!
- 100 Chart Patterning: Friends fill in missing numbers on the 100 chart from 1 to 100, and color patterns they find ("These all begin with 2! These are end in 5!")
- Addition/Subtraction Number Story Books: Friends write and illustrate +/- stories using mystery bags filled with two colors of manipulatives to guide their process.
Science
Gaga for Groundhogs!
- Fact/Fiction: We explored the lore of Groundhog day (1/2 way through we winter we look to Phil to either see his shadow and bring on six more weeks of winter... or fail to see his shadow, signaling an early spring!) We know that's fiction, but it's still fun!
- Research: We also put our scientist hats back on, watching videos and researching groundhog facts.. ask your SKer about how tall a groundhog stands, how much they way, how many pounds of dirt they can dig, where they're found, whta they like to eat, and who their predators are!
- Our burrow: We created our own groundhog burrow in P217! Ask your friends what food we made for the burrow, and how we created the structure!
Announcements
- 100 Day: Notes are in Friday Folders with more information about 100 Day collections - please help your SKer to bring in his or hers next week!
- Dry hands, chapped lips: Many friends are complaining of sore hands and lips. This dry weather leaves many of them wishing for a chapstick or hand lotion. Feel free to send one of each along in their tote bag, and encouage them to moisturize when they come into school!
- PK Friends: We had a great time celebrating Sofia's PK sister's picnic day with a treat in SK! Thanks, Liliana!
Reminders (There are loads, we know - but thank you for reading them all!)
- After School: If your SKer is signed up for after school on a regular basis between now and spring break (for a class, or for usual after school), please just send one more quick e-mail (i.e. "SK Friend, Tues and Thurs After School) - we want to be sure everyone is just where they should be, and that our info is up to date!
- No School: Teachers are here for an inservice on Monday, so be sure to take the day off with your SKers! We'll see you back in our classroom on Tuesday.
- ICE SKATING: We'll meet you at the rink on Tuesday morning for our next ice skating lesson! Thank you over and over again for all of the moms and dads who have stayed to help get us laced into and up onto our skates!
- Show and Share Night: We hope you'll be at school next Thursday, January 31st, for a fun filled night, looking into first grade classrooms!
- Show and Share Dinner Deadline: Please remember to turn in your Jimmy John's form by Tuesday next week with your check attached.
- Play Dough/Cookie Cutters: Thank you for bringing your contributions! One more week to bring in any fresh dough/cutters that you can.
- Box Tops: Again, thank you for contributing! Please continue to bring in any that you can for the next few weeks before we meet the deadline!
- Snowpants and boots: Your SKer must have both to play at recess. Without them, they'll be on the blacktop, and shivery! Thanks so much for your help.
- Illness in SK: We are sorry to say that your teachers (along with many SK friends and PP/LS teachers), have been home with the flu, sinus infections, and lost voices in the past month. It is our intention to be here each and every day, but please know that in the case of our absence, we plan each week the Thursday before (preparing all materials, communicating throughout each day over e-mail and on the phone, etc.) Your SK friends are well taken care of, and consistency for their learning is our priority. Thank you for your support (and for keeping any sick friends home as well, to rest and recover before returning to school!) We appreciate you all.
