Reminders

Just a quick reminder that we will be going Ice Skating tomorrow - Wednesday
-We will eat lunch early @ 11:00 and leave school around 11:45
-We will arrive at The Wex around 12:15 - for to those of you who are meeting us there to help out:)
-We will arrive back @ school in time for dismissal around 2:15
-Please be sure to send your child to school with - a winter coat, hat, mittens/gloves, boots, warm pants (snowpants are optional).
-Good news - broomball will be played in our boots - that will make it a whole lot easier!!

We are looking forward to a fun afternoon!!

**Please remember to return your March Book-It Calendar

Newsletter Updates for the Week of March 30th

DATES TO REMEMBER:

-Wed., April 1st—Ice Skating @ the Wex

-Thursday, April 2nd—Report Cards Home

-Friday, April 3rd—Spring Break Begins

SCHEDULE CHANGES 

*We will have gym on Monday & Tuesday this week.

**We will visit the library on Thursday, April 2nd.  Please be sure to return your child’s library book so they can check out a new book for Spring Break!

BOOK IT: 

Please be sure to return your March Book-It Calendars so I can award Pizza Certificates.  March is the last month of Book-it for the school year.

READING: 

This week our class will be reading stories about different kinds of pets and how to care for them. Children will learn about grooming, feeding, walking, and caring for pets.

· Vocabulary: responsibility, train - Talk about the responsibilities associated with caring for pets, as well as how people train pets.

· High-Frequency Words: of - Think of short sentences that includes of and write them down. Have your child point to each word and read each sentence aloud. Ask your child to underline the words they know.

· Category Words: pets - Play a game of “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down.” Ask your child to show thumbs up if what you say is true, and to show thumbs down if what you say is not true. For example, A dog can be a pet. (thumbs up)

· Phonics: g—Help your child think of words with the letter g AND look for the funny g in books & magazines.

· Beanie Babies—We will introduce Tryin’ Lion who reminds us to ‘keep tryin’ and not give up when we come to a tricky word.  We have a lot of strategies that we can use to help us figure out tricky words!

WRITING: 

This week we will wrap up our second small moment story, take some time to conference with a peer, edit, revise, and perfect our story with a title & ‘wow cover.’  Students will be bringing home their small moment stories and their March Journals in their report card envelopes.  Please take some time to read over these with them and celebrate their growth as writers!!

MATH: 

Thanks for sending in those 3D shapes!  Friday’s lesson was quite extensive! Not only did we sort & graph our 3D shapes, but we learned how to open our email, retrieve a picture/worksheet that I had sent them, save that picture in their photos, upload that photo into their Show Me app, create their graph by drawing on the worksheet, take a screenshot of their graph, go into their photos, and then email that picture out to you! Phew!  I know those emails don’t look like much BUT a lot of skills and following directions go into them:) 

This week we will continue to work on addition & 3D shapes.  We will be collecting survey data using tally marks, and use jelly beans for a measurement activity and a graphing activity.  We will also introduce the Dime.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES: 

This week we will continue our study on Spring as we focus on animals in Spring and farm animals and the new life that occurs.  We will also read several narrative & informational books about Bunnies and watch The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

 I will send blankets home to be washed over Spring Break!

Have a fabulous Easter & Spring Break!

We Won!

We Did It! Our class won the Fieldtrip to the Wex!

Wednesday, April 1st from 12:15-2:15

Here's what you need to know:

·        We will eat lunch early @ 11:00 on Wednesday and leave school @ 11:45

·        We will arrive @ the Wex @ 12:15 and spend 2 hours skating & playing broomball

·        We will be joined by Mrs. Wimmler’s 2^nd Grade Class & Mrs. O’Keefe’s 4^th Grade Class

·        Please be sure to dress your child for 2 hours in the Ice Rink.  Winter coat, hats, gloves/mittens, & boots.  I’m thinking snowpants will be very bulky to skate in and get on and off for the bathroom, so I suggest no snowpants BUT jeans or thicker pants.  Also, I’m thinking winter boots for ease PLUS if we have a hard time in skates, maybe they will let us wear our boots on the ice (especially for broomball).

·        Parents are welcome and I would LOVE help tying skates and helping students skate!  You are welcome to meet us there OR we may have room for a of couple parents on the bus. 

·        No cost to students. Cost for parents is $2.

I am attaching a slip to the newsletter for you to let me know if you are available and willing to help out AND also for you to indicate your child's shoe size (to save us time at the rink) :)

Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

Reminders for Friday

Just a couple quick reminders for tomorrow:

-P.J. Day - but we will still be going outside for recess:)

-Last day to send in those reading slips!!

-Last day to send in a 3D shape from home - we will be graphing them in the afternoon

Have a great night!

Newsletter Updates for the Week of March 23rd

DATES TO REMEMBER:

-Wed., March 25th—Piaget Day with High School Psychology Students—pm

-Thursday, March 26th—Safe Boundaries Presentation—9:30-10:00

-Friday, March 27th—Pajama Day

-Thursday, April 2nd—Report Cards Home

-Friday, April 3rd—Spring Break Begins

STUDENT OF THE WEEK: 

Our student of the week is Mason Grames. Mason enjoys camping, riding his bike, going to the beach, and playing outside. His favorite place to go is to his Papa’s house and when he grows up, Mason aspires to serve in the military and be "an army guy!”  Congratulations to Mason on being Student of the Week!

READING MONTH: 

*After week 3, our class is still in the lead - by a hair. This is the LAST week to bring in your reading slips!  The final tally will be made on Friday, so please be sure to send in your slips Friday morning!  JUST A REMINDER—students MUST return at least 1 reading slip in order to join us on the Fieldtrip, if we do win:)

READING: 

This week our class will be reading stories about baby animals. Children will be using words to describe how the appearance and behavior of these animals are alike and different.

· Vocabulary: appearance, behavior Discuss the appearance and behavior of a kitten, as well as other baby animals.

· Sight Words: for, have Write sentences about baby animals using the words for and have. Read the sentences together. Ask your child to underline the words for and have.

· Category Words: animal parts Play “Guess the Animal.” Give clues about an animal’s appearance. Encourage your child to guess the name of the animal and act out how it moves.

· Phonics: Uu Write the word bug on paper and sound out the word together. Then have your child think of other short u words that rhyme with bug, such as dug, jug, hug, and mug.

· Beanie Babies—We will use Repair Bear to help us go back and reread to clarify information that may be confusing.  We will also use Chunky Monkey to read and write words with the un, ug, uck, & ub chunks.

WRITING: 

This week we will capture another small moment story from our lives and use all of the skills and strategies that we’ve been learning about to put it down on paper.  The students are having a great time writing letters and using our classroom post office.  Please feel free to send in a note/letter to your child; we will sort them and deliver them daily—they LOVE getting mail!

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES: 

This week we will be reading several informational texts related to Spring.  We will be learning about all of the exciting changes we can expect to see in the coming weeks with the weather, plant life, & animals.

MATH: 

This week we will introduce the penny & nickel and practice making fair trades using those coins.  We will continue to work on addition & identifying 3D/Solid Shapes. Students may bring in 1-2 shapes from home (see attached Homelink); on Friday we will be sorting and graphing our shapes.  Students will also be conducting several surveys this week; they will have to collect their data (using tally marks), interpret the results, and analyze their data.

 Our Baseball Cards are on Display—Stop in and Check them out!

Friday Reminder

Just a reminder to please send in your weekly reading slips tomorrow, so we can maintain our lead:)

Also, tomorrow is Dress like your Favorite Athlete.  They can wear a sports team shirt/logo, or wear shorts.  If you run short on ideas, the McBain Varsity Boys just won Regionals and are beginning their run for State, so a McBain shirt would be very appropriate:)  They can also wear funny socks, as we will be Reading in Our Socks during Read-to-Self time.

Kindergarten Round Up for Next Year

Parents:

If you have a child that will be 5 years old by September 1st and is planning to attend

McBain Elementary this fall, please call NOW to register!  231-825-2021.

Feel free to pass along this email, if you know of someone else that has a little one ready for Kindergarten. Any questions, give Mrs. Hill at call 231-825-2021.

Thank you

Newsletter Updates for the Week of March 16th

DATES TO REMEMBER:

-Tues., March 17th—Irish Dance Assembly @ 12:45

-Wednesday, March 18th—Library

-Fri., March 20th—Fav. Athlete/Read in Your Socks

-Thursday, March 26th—Safe Boundaries Presentation—9:30-10:00

-Friday, March 27th—Pajama Day

-Thursday, April 2nd—Report Cards Home

READING MONTH: 

*After week 2, our class is still in the lead.  But, the other Kindergarten classes are trying to close the gap, so keep reading & sending in those slips—Go Team!

The Reading Month Committee has several fun dress-up days planned on Fridays:

*March 20—Favorite Athlete & Read in your Socks—Dress up like your favorite athlete &/OR Funny Socks

*March 27—Rest Day/Pajama Day

RECESS/PLAYGROUND: 

I realize that this time of year is extremely difficult to dress your child for recess.  Please continue to send snow pants and boots—as the playground still has snow, mud, & puddles and the kids come in VERY wet!  You are welcome to send your child a sweatshirt so if the temps get warmer as the day goes, they can wear a sweatshirt vs. winter coat.  Spring is on its way—It officially begins this Friday—Yay!

ASSESSMENTS: 

It is that time of year again! We’ve been diligently working on assessing the students for upcoming report cards. Special thanks to my faithful parent/grandparent volunteers who help me complete many of these assessments—it is a time consuming task! As the year progresses, the expectations continue to increase as we prepare for first grade.

READING: 

This week our class will be reading stories about how to stay safe in bad weather. Children will also learn about severe weather conditions, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, droughts, and floods.

Vocabulary: safe, prepare - make a list and gather materials for a weather supply kit. Include items such as a first aid kit, canned food, and a battery-operated radio.

*Letter of the Week—we will be reviewing the letters h, e, f, r,b, l, k, & ck

*Sightwords—of, for, & have

*Beanie Babies—This week we will introduce Flashy the Peacock who helps us Expand our Vocabulary as we find and use interesting/fancy words while speaking, reading, and writing.

WRITING: 

This week we will continue writing and drawing our own ’small moment’ stories, as we work on including details & feelings.  We will also complete a couple of journals related to St. Patrick’s Day.

MATH: 

We will continue to work on addition using number lines and manipulatives.  We will create several fun graphs this week; one using Lucky Charms and another graph of our Pets; we will then interpret and analyze the data together.  We will also practice finding numbers and identifying patterns on a number grid.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES: 

This week we will continue our Social Studies Unit—Me on the Map. We will be learning about maps, globes, and our place in the world—Country, State, & City.  Our Post Office is open in the dramatic play area for students to practice writing and addressing letters, as well as sorting the mail.  We will also read some narrative & informational texts related to St. Patrick’s Day.

Please be sure to return your child’s library book

on or before Wednesday!

Reminder

Just a reminder to please remember to send in your weekly reading slips tomorrow morning (Friday). The kids are so excited about their early lead and we want to keep it!!

Also, tomorrow is "I am an Athlete."  I suggested that the students wear shorts, a jersey, or uniform, & some of the girls suggested wearing skirts - all perfectly great ideas!  Students can also bring in a flashlight to read with during Read-to-Self time.

Another quick reminder about recess: We are ALL excited about the warmer weather and melting snow BUT the playground is still covered in wet snow and mud, so, PLEASE continue to send your child with snow pants and boots so that they can stay dry during recess:)

Newsletter Updates for the Week of March 9th

-Friday, March 13th—Dress Up—I Am An Athlete (Flashlight)

-Monday, March 16th—Delayed Start (10:00)

-Tuesday, March 17th—Irish Dance Assembly

-Wednesday, March 18th—Library

STUDENT OF THE WEEK: 

Our student of the week is Landon Kirt. Landon enjoys going to the beach and playing football.  His favorite place to visit is the Great Wolf Lodge! He loves the thrill of racing and aspires to be a go-cart racer when he grows up! Congratulations to Landon on being Student of the Week!

READING MONTH: 

*After week 1, our class is currently in the lead with 1136 minutes read!! But, the other Kindergarten classes are not far behind, so keep reading & sending in those slips—Go Team!

The Reading Month Committee has several fun dress-up days planned on Fridays:

*March 13—I Am an Athlete & Read with a Flashlight—dress in shorts OR sports uniform AND bring a flashlight to read with.

*March 20—Favorite Athlete & Read in your Socks—Dress up like your favorite athlete &/OR Funny Socks

*March 27—Rest Day/Pajama Day

READING: 

*This week our class will be reading stories about different kinds of weather. Your child will be predicting the weather and learning how to describe it.

*Vocabulary:  predict, temperature - Look outside with your child and try to predict what the weather will be like later in the day. Try to predict the temperature for tomorrow.

*Letter of the Week—Kk & ck—help your child find objects that begin with the letter k or end in ck. Make a list of the words.

*Sightwords—was & she

*Category Words: weather words - Make a 7-column table and write the days of the week at the top of each column. Every morning, look outside and have your child write a word under each day to describe the weather.

WRITING: 

This week we will continue to study what it means to write a personal narrative/small moment story.  We will choose our own ‘small moment’ stories to share; which we will tell orally, then plan out onto a  graphic organizer, and then begin writing and drawing in our own booklets, as we stretch our thoughts and feelings across the pages.  It is so exciting to see their enthusiasm and confidence for writing grow!

MATH: 

We will work on collecting survey data using tally marks and practice reading our data results.  We will practice making fair trades with base 10 blocks as we try to reach 100.  We will also be working on measuring length using feet, rulers, and measuring manipulatives.  In preparation for report cards, we will continue to work on addition, counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, & 10’s, and identifying & naming 3D solid shapes.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES: 

This week we wrap up our Social Studies Unit on American Symbols and Values as we learn about The Statue of Liberty, The Bald Eagle, The White House, & The Liberty Bell.  Then we will begin our new unit—Me on the Map. We will be learning about maps, globes, and our place in the world—Country, State, & City.  Our Post Office is open in the dramatic play area for students to practice writing and addressing letters as well as sorting the mail.

Please be sure to read the informational letter attached to the newsletter about an upcoming presentation offered to our school titled Safe Body Boundaries.