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Week of September 25-29


Where did the week go? Are we really only a few weeks away from fall break?! I guess that when you get to spend your days with the best kindergarten in the world, time just gets away from you!

Although we had a short week, we made many accomplishments. The only activity we are carrying into next week is our 5 Senses apple exploration. We will continue with our apple theme though this week. I would like to end the week by making applesauce.

There have been many questions throughout the school concerning the new math curriculum we adopted this year. I am trying to communicate the weekly objectives as well as some additional information to help you understand how and why math is being taught this way. Please let me know if you have any questions along the way. I am always happy to sit down with you after school and discuss any concerns. Another option would be to arrange to come during our math block to see how math is being taught and also to see how well they are doing! We are tackling some tough concepts and the students are rising to meet those higher expectations!

Our first field trip will be on Friday, October 20, 2017. We will be going to Lowell Ranch, which is located on the east frontage road half way between Larkspur and Castle Rock. This historic ranch owned by the Lowell Family was generously donated to Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation, or CALF, to provide educational programs to youth. We will be participating in their Fall Harvest program. We will leave at 9:30 and return at approximately 12:30. The field trip form is in your child's Thursday folder. Please return the forms by Friday, October 6, 2017. The cost of the trip is $4.50. PTO has generously paid for each child's entry fee of $7. The remaining balance is to cover the cost of transportation. The fee can be paid through your parent portal or you can send a check to school with the form. Please be sure to send your child with sunscreen applied, a water bottle and a sack lunch. You have the option of purchasing a sack lunch from the cafeteria. We will be asking for a few volunteers to attend with us, but space will be limited. Volunteer opportunities will be posted at a later date. Due to the policy of CALF, siblings are not able to attend.

Here is what we are learning this upcoming week:

 

Literacy

We will continue to work on our Alf Unit this week. We will finish up on Wednesday and you can expect to see the Alf student book in next week's Thursday folder. Objectives for this unit:

  • Phonemic Awareness and Phonics: Aa /a/

  • Handwriting and Spelling: Form Aa, Encode A and a for /a/

  • Comprehension: Recognize text structure, Understand descriptive language, Plot: beginning, middle and end, comparing and contrasting

  • Fluency: recite the rhymes of a poem fluently

  • Vocabulary and Grammar: Camping, Adventures and Neighborhoods

  • Writing: Generate lists of favorite things, Draw and tell about a favorite item, Add details to drawings.

  • Lasting Lesson: Respecting Nature

During our morning meeting, we sing and recite poems as a part of our routine. Here is a link to the Color Farm song which they LOVE! (I use my own book of letters and I'm not crazy about this video, but it's nice for them to listen to the song):

 

Math

Objectives for this week's math lessons include:

  • Count 4–6 objects in vertical and horizontal linear configurations and array (i.e., 3 and 3, 3 twos) configurations. Match 6 objects to the numeral 6.

  • Count 4–6 objects in circular and scattered configurations. Count 6 items out of a larger set. Write numerals 1–6 in order.

  • Count 5–7 linking cubes in linear configurations. Match with numeral 7. Count on fingers from 1 to 7 and connect to 5-group images.

  • Reason about sets of 7 varied objects in circular and scattered configurations. Find a path through the scattered configuration. Write numeral 7. Ask, “How is your seven different than mine?”

  • Compare counts of 8 in linear and array configurations. Match with numeral 8.

  • Arrange and strategize to count 8 beans in circular (around a cup) and scattered configurations. Write numeral 8. Find a path through the scatter set and compare paths with a partner.

Images to help your understanding:

 

Science

We finish up our 5 Senses Study with our apple investigation. Through our 5 Senses Unit, literacy and math concepts were integrated. We learned that our senses make us aware of our surroundings. We are using Thinking Maps to organized our information we are gathering in the apple investigation. Thinking Maps(TM) are consistent visual patterns specifically linked to 8 thought processes. By visualizing our thinking, we create concrete images of abstract thoughts. These patterns help students reach higher levels of critical and creative thinking. We are learning to use the most basic thinking map, the circle map, to define our senses. Once they are complete, I will post pictures.

 

Social Studies

Solving social problems is a big part of kindergarten! We are beginning to learn how to solve problems that arise with our classmates. We will be practicing these strategies throughout the day. Here are the solutions we are working on this week:

 

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Student to a friend: "He dude! Check this out!"

Another student interjects: "He has a name, you know."

 

Upcoming Dates:

  • Friday, October 6-Scholastic Book Order Due

  • Friday, October 6- Field Trip Forms and Payment Due

  • Monday, October 9 - Friday, October 13- Fall Break

  • Friday, October 20 - Field trip to Lowell Ranch

  • Saturday, October 28th - Fall Festival


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