Welcome to December!

Mrs. Deci’s Kindergarten News

November 28, 2011

Greetings Kindergarten Families!

THIS WEEK:

We will begin the unit: The Gingerbread Man!  This unit will begin our Winter Holidays theme that will last the month of December. 

Below is an outline of the concepts that will be taught this week.

Language Arts ·       Identifying beginning sounds (Gg) ·       Segmenting Words (breaking them into sounds: m-a-n) ·       -an Word Family ·       Story Structure (beginning, middle and end)

Math ·       Counting ·       Estimation ·       Symmetry

Social Studies ·       Winter Holidays

SIGHT WORDS:

This week we will be reviewing color words.  Many students have mastered many words.  However, as we begin our Gingerbread Man unit, it is important that all students are able to identify all color words.  Please study the words nightly.  If your child already knows how to identify these words have them practice using the words in simple sentences. 

COLD WEATHER:

As we enter December, I want to remind all families that students have two recess times a day.  All students spend time outside on the playground in the morning when they come off the bus or are dropped off at school.  Students also have outside recess after lunch. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the time they will be spending outside on the playground.

HOLIDAY CONCERT:

The first of three Dike-Newell School Concerts will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.  Come and enjoy the first grade class’s Holiday Concert! 

Thank you for your continued help and support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at 443-8285. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Deci

Thanksgiving Is For Giving Thanks!

November 21, 2011

Greetings Kindergarten Families!

THIS WEEK:

We will wrap up the theme: We’re A Family!  The conclusion of this theme is very timely as families prepare to come together and celebrate Thanksgiving. 

Below is an outline of the concepts that will be taught this week.

Language Arts ·       Identifying beginning sounds ·       Segmenting Words (breaking them into sounds: c-a-t) ·       Writing Narratives

Math We will review several concepts this week as we review previously taught skills. ·       Counting ·       Graphing

Social Studies ·       Past and Present ·       Thanksgiving

LIBRARY:

Please check in your child’s backpack for their library “book bag”.  Inside is the book(s) that were purchased at the book fair.  Every student received a book from the fair. Please take them out and enjoy reading the stories at home.  Students will select new library books the week following Thanksgiving break.

SIGHT WORDS:

I am pleased with the progress I am seeing from all students as we learn new words by sight. There will be NO sight word homework this week. 

REMINDER:

There is NO school November 23- 25, 2011. 

I hope that everyone enjoys the Thanksgiving holiday.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at 443-8285. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Deci

Dike-Newell School Book Fair (Nov. 14 - 18, 2011)

November 14, 2011

Greetings Kindergarten Families!

THIS WEEK:

We will continue the theme: We’re A Family!  We will continue this discussion as we learn about Thanksgiving and discuss family traditions.  Please talk your child about your plans for the upcoming holiday.  Who do you celebrate with, and where do you go if you travel? 

Below is an outline of the concepts that will be taught this week.

Language Arts ·       Letter Tt ·       Identifying beginning sounds ·       Segmenting Words (breaking them into sounds: c-a-t)

Math ·       Counting ·       Identifying “Tricky Teens” ·       Estimation

Social Studies ·       Past and Present ·       Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving approaching we will be discussing why we celebrate Thanksgiving and what we are thankful for.  Please discuss this with your child and send in three to four pictures, clipping or other items that can be glued to a project we will be doing this week. Please send these items to school on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 in your child’s folder.

REPORT CARDS:

If you have not already done so, please sign your child’s report card envelope and return it to school in your child’s folder tomorrow.

BOOK FAIR:

Students will visit the book fair on Thursday, November 17, 2011.  If you would like your child to purchase books from the fair please send money to school in their folder in an envelope or baggy labeled “book fair”.  You can feel free to send money to school prior to Thursday if it helps. 

DONATIONS:

I am in desperate need of Lysol/Clorox Wipes. I clean the surfaces of our room daily and these wipes make the job much easier.   I greatly appreciate any and all donations.  Thanks you for your continued help and support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 443-8285 if you have any questions or concerns. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Deci

The Hello, Goodbye Window

This week students have been learning about and discussing families.  We read "The Hello, Goodbye Window".  Students enjoyed the award winning illustrations and the lovely story about a young girl and her relation ship with her grandparents (Nana and Poppy).  Students discussed the the special names they have for their grandparents, and created their own "hello, goodbye window".  Here they are!

Reminder, NO school Friday, November 11, 2011 (Veteran's Day)

November 7, 2011

Greetings Kindergarten Families!

THIS WEEK:

We will continue the theme: We’re A Family!  We will read and write about families.  Please discuss with your child different members in your family, and what you like to do as a family.  Students will review the letters talk this year including: Ss, Mm, Rr, Bb, Pp, Nn, and short Aa.  Challenge your child to produce rhyming words. You say a word and see if they can tell you a word that rhymes.  Challenge your child to count syllables in words.  Students are doing very well with these skills. If you notice your child is struggling with either, please review them at home.  In math students will review coins, count objects with one-to – one match, and begin to learn about the “tricky teens”.  Many students can count well past the teen numbers, but have a difficult time identifying them out of order.  In social studies we will continue to discuss how things have changed over time as we explore the past and present.  

ASSEMBLY:

Dike-Newell school held an assembly today for students and staff.  A slide show was shown of students, and each grade level performed.  The kindergarten class shared a special song about the “Bee Rules”.  If you are not already familiar with them, students must – be safe, kind, and responsible.  Ask your child to share our song with you today.  This assembly brought us all together to celebrate our community!

REPORT CARDS:

Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, November 10, 2011.  Please remove the report card, sign the envelope and return it in your child’s folder on Monday.   

BOOK FAIR:

Students will visit the book fair next week on Thursday, November 17, 2011.  If you would like your child to purchase books from the fair please send money to school in their folder in an envelope or baggy labeled “book fair”. 

VETERAN'S DAY:

There will be NO school on Friday, November 11, 2011 in observance of Veterans Day. Please discuss this holiday with your child, and talk to them about any members of your family who may have served our country.  We will discuss this on Thursday. 

DONATIONS:

I am in desperate need of Lysol/Clorox Wipes. I clean the surfaces of our room daily and these wipes make the job much easier.   This is cold and flu season.  Now is the time to keep the room clean and germ free.  I greatly appreciate any and all donations. Thank you to families who have donated them in the past.

Thanks you for your continued help and support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 443-8285 if you have any questions or concerns. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Deci

Literacy Workstations!

Every morning for forty-five minutes students participate in literacy workstations.  This method of instruction allows students to work individually, in pairs, and in small groups.  Students also are able to receive individualized instruction as they rotate to different stations to review alphabet knowledge, phonemic awareness, writing, and reading skills.  I am thrilled with the work students are doing.  I am so impressed with the readers and writers I am beginning to see already in kindergarten.  Here we are reading in the library, playing a syllable sort game, and writing -at words and sentences.

In November

Greetings Kindergarten Families!

Happy Halloween!  As I am sure you can imagine, today was full of excitement and anticipation. I hope that all my students have a fun filled evening.

THIS WEEK:

We will begin the theme: We’re A Family!  We will read and write about families.  Students will discuss members of their family, and traditions.  Students will also be introduced to the letter Nn.  We will review syllables, letters, words and sentences, and rhyme.  In math students will review patterning, compare and sort coins, and begin to learn about number formation.  In social studies we will discuss past and present.  

ZIPPING AND TYING:

Please work with your child at home to practice tying shoes and zipping and buttoning coats.  These skills take a while to master, and I am working with students to become more independent with these tasks. 

PICTURE RE-TAKES:

Picture re-takes will be done on November 1, 2011.  Please complete and send in the green form if you would like your child to have their picture retaken.

REPORT CARDS:

The school year is off to a great start!  It is hard to believe the first quarter of school ends this Friday. Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, November 10, 2011. 

DONATIONS:

Our class is in need of:

Lysol/Clorox Wipes

Thanks you for your continued help and support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 443-8285 if you have any questions or concerns. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Deci