WEEKLY UPDATE 3/1

Please visit your child's Seesaw to see our weekly update. Join us Tuesday, March 14 SCHOOL WIDE LITERACY NIGHT! We will have games, crafts, the scholastic book fair and more! Dressing up as your favorite SUPERHERO is optional, but recommended! If you are interested in purchasing dinner, see the PTA. We still need YOUR HELP! We are also collecting paper grocery bags for the event. Drop them off in the green basket across from the office - Thank you! Questions? Contact Roberta Kavanaugh. (773)383-3133

STEM AND THANKSGIVING LEARNING!

KUDOS!
Many thanks to those who sent in supplies and cards of thanks for our well deserving troops! We had many boxes shipped to them!
Thank you to all of our families who supported the canned food drive.  
Thank you to all of our children who are bringing in p.j.'s for children who do not have any. Thank you for talking with you children and explaining to them why, we participate in these events to help others.

After learning about the First Thanksgiving, I asked the children to walk a day in the Pilgrims' shoes.  They were tasked with creating a home made out of things that would come from the environment.  The children understood that they had some constraints just like the Pilgrims.  Harsh weather, they could only use sticks, wood, mud (clay), and animal muscles, tendons, and grasses (twine) to construct their homes.
Their home had to protect their family through the winter and must have walls and a roof.
Here are the children in action.
After completing the task, the children shared that with more time they would have completed a home. They said that they wished they had more materials to use as well.  
I would say that the children have a clearer understanding now about how difficult it was to be a Pilgrim in a new land. 

We are learning that patterns repeat during our math time.

The children also created patterned head bands much like the Native Americans would have worn. 

In math during the next few weeks our focus will be on teen numbers.

I CAN statements are simple sentences written in student friendly language to convey the Virginia Beach Objectives (VBOs). These statements break down each objective into learning targets a student can read, understand, and self-assess. There can be one or more than one I CAN statement attached to an objective. Used consistently, these statements can help students to become more reflective about their own learning and determine movement towards proficiency on a particular objective. 

Unit 3 – Numeration – Numbers through 20
Virginia Beach Objective	I CAN Statements
K.1.1 The student, given two sets, each containing ten or fewer concrete objects, will identify and describe one set as having more, fewer, or the same number of members as the other set, using the concept of one-to-one correspondence.	·         I can match each member of one set with each member of another set to compare the number of members between sets, where each set contains 10 or fewer objects. ·         I can compare and describe two sets of 10 or fewer objects, using the terms more, fewer, and the same. ·         I can construct a second set, given a set of objects, which has more, fewer or the same number of objects.
K.1.2 The student will count orally the number of objects in a set containing 20 or fewer concrete objects	·         I can count up to 10 objects. ·         I can explain that the total number of objects can be counted. ·         I can explain that the last number I say is the number of objects in a set. ·         I can explain that an empty set has nothing in it.
K.1.3 The student will read and write the numeral that corresponds to a set of 20 or fewer concrete objects.	·         I can read numbers from 0 to 20. ·         I can write numbers from 0 to 20. ·         I can read a number that matches a set of 20 or fewer objects. ·         I can write a number that matches to a set of 20 or fewer objects.
K.1.4 The student will select the numeral from a given set of numerals that corresponds to a set of 20 or fewer concrete objects.	·         I can build a set of objects for a given number. ·         I can identify numbers from 0 to 10. ·         I can explain that changing the way objects are organized does not change the amount.
K.1.5 The student will, given an ordered set of ten objects and/or pictures, indicate the ordinal position of each object, first through tenth, and the ordered position of each object.	·         I can use ordinal numbers to describe the position of objects in a sequence.
K.1.6.The student will count forward from zero to 100.	·         I can count from 1 to 10 with manipulatives. ·         I can count from 1 to 10 without manipulatives.
K.1.9 The student will identify one more than and one less than a number.	·         I can understand the relationship of one more than and one less than a number using manipulatives.
K.1.12 The student will decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way.	·         I can break a part numbers that are less than or equal to 5. ·         I can draw how I break apart numbers that are less than or equal to 5.

This week the children are reading and learning the poem One, Two, Buckle, My Shoe!


We are learning how to push and say words.  For example, when we go to spell FIG we have a CVC word.  Every word has a vowel. It is the glue that sticks the words together.  Your child is expect to place the appropriate vowel in their three letter words. 
Please practice at home if time allows.  

This week we have learned about and are practicing Habit #2 Begin With The End in Mind.
The children are goal setting based on something of their choosing.  For example, some of my friend's said their goal was to be a better sleeper (stay in their bed at night). Some want to be princesses and in the Navy.  We are talking about what you need to begin doing when you are five or six to reach that goal.  What are you practicing, what leadership tools are you using each day to work toward that goal? During writing the children are creating a fish bone diagram to set their goals. Soon they will be displayed on our classroom door.


Reminders:
Please notify me if you wish to be a speaker in our class to support our community helpers unit.
Our holiday centers will be held on December 22nd. I hope to see everyone here! Please be reminded that this is for parents and kindergarteners, and not for younger siblings.
Your room parents will be contacting you soon with the details!
Reading logs for November are due on November 30th and so are book orders!
Your new homework went home on Seesaw and your reading log for December will go home on Thursday. 

As always,
THANK YOU! 

Careers!

WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS!

HABIT 2 BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!

THANK YOU MRS. S. AND MRS. B. FOR SHARING IN OUR LEARNING THIS WEEK!

Setting Goals

Today the children were so fortunate to have a nurse share with them all about her career. We are learning to set goals and begin with the end in mind.   HABIT #2
Today, she shared with us tools that she uses, what she had to learn in order to become a nurse, and why she decided to be a nurse. Thank You Mrs. S. for making learning fun and meaningful.

Coding and Clothing!

Tomorrow your children will be participating in
THE HOUR OF CODE!
Today we began our unit of study on economics.
The children discussed what type of job he/she would like when they are a bit taller.
I provided the children with an overview of coding. 
Tomorrow they will code. This may be a career path he or she may choose! ;) 
COMPUTER SCIENCE!  HOW COOL! Any one of our friends could be the next Bill Gates!
We watched this video! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQilo5ecSX4&feature=player_embedded

Here are some other videos that will help you to understand coding a bit more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Ux2PnJe6E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgooqyWMTxk


Tomorrow the children will learn how to code on a special app. I will add that app to our blog then as not to ruin the surprise!
During our small group rotations the children will be lead by Mr. Neihoff in coding. They WILL be spending 20 minutes coding in school. 
If this is something that they enjoy, I encourage you to allow them to do some more at home.
I will then add this to an IPAD station in the days to come.


Please make sure that your child has their winter coat, hat, and gloves with them tomorrow.
We are using them for a project.


Thanks!
Sara

This week we are learning all about THE 3 Rs! Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Please encourage discussion and participation at home with your kindergartener and the 3 Rs.  

We have discussed what can be recycled, how to reduce water, paper, electricity, and reducing the amount of gas being used.  Reuse! This is a great time of year for this.  We have talked about giving away old toys and re purposing them.

This weeks poem

A new super hero!

Please continue to make reading and retelling characters, setting, and the beginning, middle, and end events a daily at home routine.

We have officially moved into our REAL BIG KID JOURNALS!!!
(Composition Books)
This is a great gift to give this time of year. Your child can begin journaling about the holidays! They are authors and illustrators.   Oh the places they can go with their journal writing!
If your child is writing at home, please feel free to send it in to school.

Dear Parents,

In case you didn’t see my latest blog entry…

I NEED HELP!
In the next few weeks we are going to be learning about economics. The students will learn about descriptions of work that people do, economic choices, needs, and wants.
That's where I need you.

Calling all folks who want to come in and share about their careers.

My goal is for our kids to be thinking about what problems they want to solve when they are a bit taller, and for them to ask and understand what they need to do to learn to be able to do to solve a problem.

For example, last year we had a large number of friends who loved video games.  A parent came in and shared that his job is "coding" for the military.

He had their full attention.

We have had all professions in the past, and I welcome everyone. 

The key to your sharing time with the kids is props, purpose. You can create  a way to express to a 5-6 year old how they can help to solve a problem and begin thinking about their journey now through sharing what you do and the problems that you solve. As far as the props go, I ask that you pass them around after you speak and not during. ;)

I have a firefighter. ;) So...I don't need another one.;) 

I can do 15-20 minute blocks from now until the Tuesday of the holiday break.  One speaker per day.

Please E-mail me ASAP if you are interested in being part of this learning journey!

Retelling The Thanksgiving Story

Today your child came home with a retelling bracelet.
Please ask them to tell you the story of The First Thanksgiving!

Thankful!

Magnificent Monday!

Today the children participated in a STEM Challenge.  
The scenario- The pilgrims had to build their homes with whatever was outside. Mrs. Davis helped us with our challenge. The children discovered that being a pilgrim wasn't easy! It was nice to see the children working collaboratively to solve a problem. Their design constraints  were  they had 15 minutes to build and they had to use bark to make their roof.  Please ask them about their challenge.  

 We are continuing to work on teen numbers.  Today, one of our small groups used a beaded number line to help them make one group of 10 and 4 more ones.  That makes 14. We did several examples of making teen numbers. Please make writing, identifying, and making teen numbers part of your daily routine.  

Working together to get the job done.

Problem solving

Reflecting on our work