Welcome to Mrs. Kutsch's Kindergarten Class!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wishing your family a very happy and healthy 2009!
***Please be sure to see the links below for the class newsletters***
What we have been learning:
Reading: We have started Unit 3, "So Much To Do!" Throughout the stories, we will focus on the theme finding our way. We will share how animals and people fit into their communities and homes. We will also concentrate on recalling and retelling parts of the stories, cause and effect, setting and plot, and comprehension. Please be sure to continue to read with your child as much as possible and extend their learning with the previously mentioned concepts.
Phonics: We are continuing to focus on one letter a week. This has given us more opportunities to work on the sound of the letters. We are also learning where we hear the sound in words, whether it is at the beginning, middle, or end. We are also using the letters for rhyming words. The children love to point out the letter of the week whenever they see print! Be sure to ask them what the letter is and go on a detective search around your home for all of the things that may contain that letter! Try to have your child make a list too, by sounding out the letters they hear. The letters that we will be focusing on each week are Cc, Pp, Nn, Ii (short sound), Hh, and Rr. This will also be the order that we will be sharing our sound bags each week. On December 3rd, we will start with Cc.
Religion: We have also started a new unit in Religion, "God's love gives me people to love." This ties in nicely with the Advent season. We will begin discussing our families, friends, teachers, and neighbors. Throughout this month we will also have many special activities that tie into the Christmas season. Please be sure to see our additional Advent activities listed below.
Math: We have started this week discussing probability. We have used the terms, possible, impossible, and certain. The children enjoyed coming up with stories using the vocabulary! We will also revisit the pan balance and explore the concept of leveling. We have also started a new weather graph for December. They enjoy looking at which types of weather we have had the most, least, or same. Let's hope it is not mostly snowy! We will also count by tens, continue to practice writing our numbers, and introduce the addition symbol. ****Please be sure to send in $1.00 worth of quarters(4), dimes (10), nickels (20), and ten pennies. We will be using this money throughout the year for our upcoming math units. The money will be returned at the end of the year.
Science: We have concluded our first unit, Earth Science and will now begin exploring Physical Science. Our first chapter leads us to matter. We discussed how to describe objects. We reviewed how objects are different sizes, shapes, colors, and weights. After the next few chapters, your child should be able to describe matter that is a solid, liquid, or gas. The final lesson discusses how we can change the states of matter. Be sure to look for their workbook pages to come home!
Social Studies: Our second unit is titled, "A Big Wide World." Your child will explore our world's land, water, seasons, and communities. We will also discuss needs and wants, people at work, and saving. This ties in nicely with our reading in that again, we are stepping outside of our boundaries and exploring different parts of the world.
Computers: The website that we have used most often has been Starfall. (The link is listed below) Not only do they have stories that are holiday related, but they also have so many fun and educational games included. When they are done with the holiday stories, we go back to the ABC section and review our letter of the week. We will also use Kidpix, to illustrate a Christmas tree and other holiday scenes. The children are also starting to log on independently, so hats off to the Kindergartners!
Journals: Every month your child will have a journal. This month we have been writing various sentences using our word ring words.
Centers: On Friday's, for one hour, we have center time. This is a fun way for your child to go through four different stations. We will have stations that focus on the various topics that we are learning.
Handwriting: We will be starting an ABC book that will focus on our letter of the week. This will also include a phonics activity. Your child will be bringing the books home on Friday. Please review the book with your child, sign the page, and return the book on Monday. We are really working hard on neat handwriting, so please be sure to encourage this with your child at home.
Classroom Rules:
The children are becoming more familiar with our routine, but please encourage at home the importance of following our classroom rules. I have started our discipline procedure. All of the children have a green card. If they are not following a classroom rule, they will turn their card to yellow as a warning and a reminder to make better choices. If it continues, they will turn their card to red, meaning that a note will go home and they will lose 5 minutes of recess time. I also have a sticker chart at their tables. If they stay on green, they will receive a sticker at the end of each day. When their charts are full (20 stickers), they will receive a prize from our prize box.
Reminders:
*Please be sure to check your child's folder every day for important papers. Your child will also have a Thursday folder. Please be sure to go through all of the contents and return the folder on Friday.
*Thank you for returning the word rings. These will continue to go home on Tuesday. This is a great way for you to reinforce at home the skills that we are learning. Please remember to ask your child the name of the letters.
*Reading books will also continue to go home on Monday or Wednesday. Please do not forget to sign the form that is in the bag. The books are going home in groups of six, so if your child has not brought one home, they will soon.
*Thank you for your Scholastic book orders! Please remember to make your check payable to Scholastic when ordering. DID YOU KNOW? You may also place your order online at Scholastic.com and still be able to earn bonus points for our classroom! Thank you again for all of your orders!
*It is very important that you send any money in a sealed envelope. On the outside, please label what the money is for and your child's name.
*Thank you for our wonderful, healthy snacks! Please remember that you do not need to send in a drink, milk is provided.
*Our lunch time has changed! We are now having lunch first at 10:50, followed by recess from 11:15-11:35.
*We have also changed our snack time due to the above. We will now have snack before our second recess. We thought this would be a better timeframe. Please be sure your child eats a good breakfast! If you forget to send in your snack, please be sure to still send it in. Thank you!
*WINTER WEAR: The winter weather arrived all too soon! Please be sure your child has snowpants and snowboots. These items are needed in order to play outside. Also, please be sure your child comes equipped with a hat and mittens. We are also recommending an extra pair of socks, if they do not already have one with their change of clothes. Any items that can be labeled with your child's name will greatly be appreciated! There is a lost and found in the cafeteria if your child is missing anything.
STAR STUDENT CORNER
We have had a great time learning about our star students so far! Here is the schedule for when your child is star student for the week: Monday-Your child may bring in five items from home to share with the class. (nothing breakable please) You can also bring in pictures to fill up our board. There will also be a questionnaire sent home on Friday for your "little star" to fill out and bring to school on Monday. Tuesday-Bring in your favorite book to share with the class. If you would like to read the book to our class, you may come in at 11:45. Thursday-Bring in a favorite snack to share with the class in the afternoon. Friday-We will make a special book for the star student. Please see the link below for the star student schedule, if needed.
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION:
Thank you for the generous response that I received for volunteers this month! I truly appreciate your time!!! Please do not forget to stop in at the office before you come to our classroom. A visitor's pass is required. If you have not received the VIRTUS training, please visit the archdiocese website for upcoming dates and locations. The class is required for all volunteers.
Specials for the week:
Monday: Art 9:15-9:45, Library 9:45-10:15
Tuesday: Spanish 8:40-9:10, Computers 12:45-1:15
Wednesday: Gym 8:40-9:10, Music 2:05-2:25
Thursday: Computer 10:00-10:45, Music 2:10-2:30
Friday: Gym 9:15-9:45, Centers 1:45-2:45
Homework Folders: The children have been doing a great job on their homework and I was so pleased to hear how many are enjoying this time at home. Thank you for your help! Please be sure that your child uses a pencil. No markers please, unless stated otherwise.
Sound Sharing Bags: The Children have really enjoyed this time! Please be sure to check your child's folder on Tuesday. A reminder slip will be included stating the letter that we will be sharing the following day.
UPCOMING DATES:
December 2nd: Advent begins, All school mass
December 3rd: Secret Santa shopping
December 5th: Field trip forms and money are due
December 8th: Scholastic book orders due, All school mass
December 10th: K-5 Christmas Program
December 12th: Field trip to see, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"
December 19th: EARLY RELEASE 1:00, Out of Uniform day, Christmas break begins!
Thank you for visiting our website! I hope your find the information helpful.
If there is anything that you would like to see added, please let me know.
May God Bless,
Mrs. Kutsch
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Thank you.
