Friday, April 29, 2011
May and June Reading Program
Your child's new reading log and letter that explains May and June reading will be coming home on Monday. It has been so exciting to see how many students have been actively participating in the monthly reading program. As you know the program is optional, however highly remcomended because the kids benefit from reading. :)
This month and next month we have added book reports. Your child will have the opportunity to complete up to five book reports. This is all explained in the letter.
I look forward to seeing all of my kindergarten friends participating. I know they are excited about it! :)
This program will last through May AND June.
This month and next month we have added book reports. Your child will have the opportunity to complete up to five book reports. This is all explained in the letter.
I look forward to seeing all of my kindergarten friends participating. I know they are excited about it! :)
This program will last through May AND June.
School Time Fun!
Fun, fun, fun... Isn't that what school is all about?
The children have learned about how to ask interview questions and then how to conduct an interview with a classmate.
The also enjoyed participating in solving logic problems with Mrs. Law. Boy, were they challenging!
Our afternoon kindergarten classes had a Fire and Water Safety Assembly sponsored by the VBFD. WOW! What an excellent program.
Ask your child what he or she learned from this assembly.
Today we added up double digit dice. The children had to create double digit numbers. Then, they had to decided which number they rolled was larger.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Fun, Fun, Fun for every family
Please check out this site.
http://www.virginiablastofffestival.com/
Tomorrow is Fancy Dress-Up Day. Your child can wear their fancy clothes. Please make sure they have shoes on that they can run and play in. :)
http://www.virginiablastofffestival.com/
Tomorrow is Fancy Dress-Up Day. Your child can wear their fancy clothes. Please make sure they have shoes on that they can run and play in. :)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wonderful Wednesday
In Rainbow Valley we enjoyed creating and solving number stories. This is a skill that can easily be reviewed at home. Here are some examples: I have 6 apples and my sister gave me 4 more. How many apples do I have in all? Or Mommy gave me 14 cookies. I ate 4 cookies. How many are left?
We also continued to review number families. I say to the kids, "How many ways can you make 5?" 4+1, 5+0 ETC...
The children are also working on making estimates. A simple way to practice this at home is to gather some items and ask your child to estimate how many items do you think we have? If your child is making estimates that are too high or too low you know that they need extra practice.
The children are having a contest in the classroom and estimating how many Easter eggs we have. The person with the closest estimate wins a prize! Oh the excitement! :)
Today we read two really good stories, Now One Foot, Now The Other and The Two Of Them. We practiced making Text to Text Connections. Every student did an amazing job with this. Some of the kids made very thoughtful connections that exhibited thinking way "outside the box." We have many AMAZING 21st Century Thinkers and Learners in Rainbow Valley.
Text to Text Connections can be easily practiced at home. Before your child reads to you say, "As you are reading today I want you to think about if anything that happens in this story reminds you of anything you have read before?"
Simple prompts such as this will really help your child to help build their ability to comprehend what they read. Remember reading is much more than reading words on a page.
We also continued to review number families. I say to the kids, "How many ways can you make 5?" 4+1, 5+0 ETC...
The children are also working on making estimates. A simple way to practice this at home is to gather some items and ask your child to estimate how many items do you think we have? If your child is making estimates that are too high or too low you know that they need extra practice.
The children are having a contest in the classroom and estimating how many Easter eggs we have. The person with the closest estimate wins a prize! Oh the excitement! :)
Today we read two really good stories, Now One Foot, Now The Other and The Two Of Them. We practiced making Text to Text Connections. Every student did an amazing job with this. Some of the kids made very thoughtful connections that exhibited thinking way "outside the box." We have many AMAZING 21st Century Thinkers and Learners in Rainbow Valley.
Text to Text Connections can be easily practiced at home. Before your child reads to you say, "As you are reading today I want you to think about if anything that happens in this story reminds you of anything you have read before?"
Simple prompts such as this will really help your child to help build their ability to comprehend what they read. Remember reading is much more than reading words on a page.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Parent Portal
What is Parent Portal? It is a great source for you to use to monitor your child's progress in grades K-12. How do you sign up? Call the office and they will give you step by step instructions.
Don't wait for report cards and progress reports to come home to know how your child is progressing.
Also, if you have any questions at anytime about your child's progress please contact me. I am here to help.
Thanks so much! :)
Don't wait for report cards and progress reports to come home to know how your child is progressing.
Also, if you have any questions at anytime about your child's progress please contact me. I am here to help.
Thanks so much! :)
Non-Fiction and Saving Our Earth
Ask your child about our compost that we are making in our classroom. We are observing the changes that occur in our compost pile everyday. Today they discovered that the plastic spoon has not changed, but the food scraps are growing mold.
We also enjoyed a non-fiction story about a baker. We discussed how through asking questions we can learn more about someone. At the end of the story there was a recipe for cookies. The children asked if I would copy it for them. It is coming home today, so they may be asking you to help them practice being a baker. I explained to them that they do not "have to" make these cookies. :) They children came up with questions they would like to ask people in our school building who they want to learn more about.
We also enjoyed a non-fiction story about a baker. We discussed how through asking questions we can learn more about someone. At the end of the story there was a recipe for cookies. The children asked if I would copy it for them. It is coming home today, so they may be asking you to help them practice being a baker. I explained to them that they do not "have to" make these cookies. :) They children came up with questions they would like to ask people in our school building who they want to learn more about.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Welcome Back!
On our first day back following Spring Break our Rainbow Valley Friends really impressed me and Mrs. Stinard. Today the kids came right into the classroom and got right to work. Within the first hour of school each table earned 4 tickets! Woo! Hoo!
I told the children I felt like I was teaching first graders today. Way to go Rainbow Valley!
I told the children I felt like I was teaching first graders today. Way to go Rainbow Valley!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Terrific Thursday!
Today was filled with fun!
The children enjoyed their Easter Egg Hunt very much. We continued to review creating number families. Today we used Easter Eggs. Please make sure you are reviewing this skill with your child at home.
To continue our work on non-fiction the children wrote non-fiction stories today. They needed to include at least three sentences that were factual. After writing we had many authors who shared their work.
The children enjoyed their Easter Egg Hunt very much. We continued to review creating number families. Today we used Easter Eggs. Please make sure you are reviewing this skill with your child at home.
To continue our work on non-fiction the children wrote non-fiction stories today. They needed to include at least three sentences that were factual. After writing we had many authors who shared their work.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Patterning In Music
Ask your child about patterns that they enjoyed creating in music today with Mrs. Gordon. Mrs. Gordon's lessons help to reinforce our math and reading skills.
Today we also enjoyed writing facts as we continue to learn about writing non-fiction.
Today we also enjoyed writing facts as we continue to learn about writing non-fiction.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tuesday's Learning
On this bright and sunny Tuesday we took advantage of learning outside in the sunshine. We took our books, journals, and pencil boxes and learned outside.Today my friends in Rainbow Valley enjoyed learning more about making Text To Text connections using the stories No,David! and It's Christmas David!
We also continued to work on creating number families. For example,
we tried to find out how manys ways we could make 7, 8 , and 5.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Spring Tree and the 3R's
Today the children learned about how their Spring Tree has changed since they saw it last in winter. They also had a special guest come to visit to begin our unit about Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. Our K-9 friend's name was Taylor.
Your child has a recycling bookmark that we encourage all families to use as you help to reinforce the 3R's at home.
Your child has a recycling bookmark that we encourage all families to use as you help to reinforce the 3R's at home.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Science Bag
Thank you to all of our Rainbow Valley families who have enjoyed working with your children when he or she has been Scientist Of The Night. Just a friendly reminder, the science bag needs to be returned within two days. For example, if your child receives it on Monday it needs to come back to school by Wednesday. It causes "issues" at school when the bag is not returned and the next person who is counting on it doesn't get it.
Please help us by returning the bag on time.
Thanks so much~
P.S. If your child brings home the bag and you know that you will not be able to get to it, send it back immediately with a note.
Please help us by returning the bag on time.
Thanks so much~
P.S. If your child brings home the bag and you know that you will not be able to get to it, send it back immediately with a note.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Our newest chapter book.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Text to Text Connections
Today the children learned about making Text To Text Connection.
This is when we are connecting a thought or idea from two different books. For example, the story line may be the same, the type of characters may be the same, or the lesson the author is trying to teach us may be the same. When making text to text connections the students learned to write down both titles then list what the connection is. We also learned that it is important to add teh word because so that we know why there is a connection. Students can also make these connections to their nightly readings on sticky notes.
Today, we made connections to Oliver Button and William's Doll.
Ask your child about these stories and the connections we talked about.
This is when we are connecting a thought or idea from two different books. For example, the story line may be the same, the type of characters may be the same, or the lesson the author is trying to teach us may be the same. When making text to text connections the students learned to write down both titles then list what the connection is. We also learned that it is important to add teh word because so that we know why there is a connection. Students can also make these connections to their nightly readings on sticky notes.
Today, we made connections to Oliver Button and William's Doll.
Ask your child about these stories and the connections we talked about.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
A Bad Case Of Tattle Tounge
Today Ms. Booth, our Guidance Counselor read a story about tattling. She talked to the kids about when it is important to report something to an adult and when you shouldn't. Ask your child about today's lesson.
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