I hope everyone has enjoyed the two snow days we have had.  The kindergartners are growing so much.  This week we worked on learning the sounds for the letters Gg and Jj.  Last week we learned a new short vowel sound, Oo.   We have been working to make sure we are very careful to listen for the different vowel sounds when we are spelling and reading words. 

We did not get to meet in our guided reading groups this week or last week due to the weather, concert and holiday shop.  

In math we have been working on adding and subtracting.  We have been trying to remember the sign for addition and knowing you will get a bigger number.  We have also been trying to remember the sign for subtraction and knowing you are taking away and getting a smaller number. 

Our holiday party was a success!  We watched "The Snowman" and ate a snack.  We made two snowmen ornaments and listened to two stories and we had our book exchange (thank you to all the parents for helping to make this possible!). 

Thank you so much for all of your help with the kindergarteners through the weeks of December.  I hope everyone has a very wonderful winter break.  Be safe and have fun!

In math, the kindergartners have worked very hard learning about the subtraction sign and that it means to take away.  Next week we will work to review addition and subtraction.

We have learned the letter sounds almost half of the letters of the alphabet.  This week we worked on the sounds for the letters "N" and "P."

We also started talking about December holidays and how everyone has different traditions during the holidays.  This week we talked about Hanukkah traditions.

During writer's workshop we have been working hard to add who, where, and what happened to our true stories.  We also have continued to make our writing readable.

During reader's workshop we are working hard to use all of our reading super powers.
1. Pointing under each word.
2. Using letters to help us.
3. Using pictures to help us.
4. Looking for word wall words.

As your child brings home our guided reading books, we have talked about using our "eagle eye" to help us when we get to a tricky word by looking at the pictures.  

I hope everyone has  a wonderful weekend!

This week we learned the sounds for letters /h/ and /r/.  We really worked hard this week on reading CVC words.  You will see a list of CVC words come home in your child's folder today.  We started practicing reading these words with a partner each day.  We put a check next to words that were easy for us to sound out and then a dash if the word was hard for us to sound out.  See if your child can read these words to you at home.

In math we really focused on adding numbers up to 10.  We talked a lot about what the plus sign means and practiced figuring out addition math equations.

We finished talking about communities and how people in communities help each other.  Yesterday your child brought home a picture that he or she drew of how he or she helps in the community.  Today your child will have a picture of their family that they drew.

In writing workshop we worked so hard to make our writing readable.  We talked about writing that was hard to read and writing that was easy to read.  We learned that writing that is easy to read has spaces between words, neat letters, a lot of letters, and pictures that help.  

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!!

This week in Kindergarten we learned our first vowel sound /a/.  We started putting together simple three letter words.  We talked about how the letter "A" is a vowel and all the other letters we have learned so far are consonants.  We learned that with vowels we can put letters together to make words.

In math we have been working on learning to add numbers together to get a bigger number.  Today, we have been in school for 51 days.  We have been working hard to know all numbers 0-51.

We just started our guided reading groups this week.  Thank you for reading the book that was sent home with your child and recording his or her progress at home.  They were so excited to show you how they can read.  Please remember to have them use their "Eagle Eye" to look at the pictures if they get stuck on a word.

In writing workshop we just started a new unit.  We are working on making our writing readable by having letters that are all the same size, neat, lots of letters, and pictures that help.

The kindergartners worked hard this week learning the sounds for Cc and Ff.  In writer's workshop we worked on planning out our books before we started writing.  In reader's workshop, the kindergartners were introduced to their reading partners.  They worked hard at taking turns to read to their partner.  On Friday, the kindergartners made their very own November calendar.

Our Halloween party was a great success.  We did fun Halloween related activities throughout the day. After lunch we made our own Witch's Brew and got to taste it and eat our snack while we watched, "Room on the Broom."  Later, Mrs. Roth came in and provided a neat craft for the kindergartners to make.  Mrs. Janusz read a few books to the kindergartners as well.  The kindergartners really appreciated seeing their parents during the parade and in our classroom.  The kindergartners had super costumes!  At the end of the day the students brought home goody bags and were excited for their after school activities to begin.  Thank you to all of the parents for a super day!

I look forward to seeing everyone next week during parent - teacher conferences!  I hope you have a happy and safe weekend!      

Last week we started learning that letters make sounds.  We learned the sounds for Mm and Tt last week.  This week we will learn the sounds for Bb and Ss.  The students are really working hard in math.  I will keep reinforcing that our teens start with a 1, twenties with a 2, and thirties with a 3.  In writing workshop we are working hard to stretch our stories out to add more pages and have a beginning, a middle and an end.  Last week we finished talking about seasons.  This week we will talk about ways to stay healthy to go along with Red Ribbon Week.  The students are really working hard in school!  Today we have Snakes n Scales after school as well as Kindergarten Soccer.  On Thursday we will have Social Skills.  The kindergarteners are keeping busy!!!

We have almost finished learning to write our alphabet!  The kindergarteners are really working at writing their name starting with a capital and then all lowercase letters.  In reading we talked about looking at the cover of a book to figure out what the book is about.  We also talked about looking at the details in the pictures to help tell us what the book is about.  In writing we started writing books!  In math we are working to remember that our teen numbers begin with a 1 and our twenties begin with a 2.  In science we are talking about seasons.  We have learned all about Fall this week.    

 I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend!!

The kindergarteners worked hard this week learning their letters.  Now we have learned letters Aa-Tt.  In math we continued to talk about our teen numbers and how they start with a one.  We also started talking about how our twenties begin with a two.  In writing we really worked hard this week to tell a story with our writing.  Next week we will start making our first books.  In science we started talking about the seasons.

The kindergartners are working hard this week to learn numbers 1-19 and letters Aa-Oo.  In writing workshop the kindergartners learned how to label their writing pieces using their kindergarten spelling.  They say the word they want to write and then write down the sounds they hear.  This week during center time we learned how to use the art center and are really working on coloring using little strokes and staying in the lines.  We also talked about coloring to make things look like they would in real life.  Kindergarten soccer started this week and the children really seem to be enjoying it.  

This week in Kindergarten we have been working hard to really learn numbers 1-12 and alphabet letters Aa-Jj.  Today we went to the book fair.  The Kindergarteners did a fabulous job of choosing books and putting books away correctly that they did not want.  Students that did not have money at the book fair today made "wish lists."  They will bring their wish lists home tonight.  If your child wishes to get the books on his or her "wish list," then you can send in money for the books you and your child choose.  

We have hard workers in Kindergarten!

This week the Kindergarteners have been working so hard!  We have been learning to write letters and numbers and becoming readers and writers.  I hope the Kindergarteners have been coming home excited about school and telling you all about it.  I am so excited to meet everyone during back to school night next week.  Have a wonderful weekend!

One Week Down!

The Kindergarteners had such a successful first week of school.  We really focused on learning the classroom routines and rules.  We will continue to focus on this until the students are comfortable.  Next week we will begin learning how to write uppercase and lowercase letters A through E.  We will do a letter a day. 

We finished our first day!

The Kindergarteners did such an awesome job today!  Many of the Kindergarteners were asking about play time, lunch, snack and more play time.  We will keep talking about our schedule everyday.  Soon they will learn what the pictures and words mean on the schedule.  Today we had a lot of firsts and the Kindergarteners were very brave!  Your child will bring home a paper every night to let you know how well he or she is doing in school.  Their first one came home today!       

Back to School!

I can't believe that it is almost time to start school again!  It was so exciting meeting the Kindergarteners at orientation on Monday.  We have a very exciting year planned ahead of us.  We are going to make new friends and learn a lot of new things. 

I am sure the kindergarteners are dreaming of play time, which we will definitely have; however, I am hoping for a lot of fun learning time as well.  The first few weeks of school will mainly be focused on becoming familiar with classroom routines and rules.  We will talk about why we come to school and how to be a student as well as a friend.  We will discuss feelings and how to solve problems when we feel upset. 

There are some papers that will be posted on the school website in the "backpack" for you to print, complete, and send into school with your child.  Please make sure your child has a folder with his or her name on it that he or she can transport important information back and forth from school.  Please keep a lookout every night for papers that may come home in your child's folder. 

If you are curious about our classroom specials schedule this year, you have come to the right place! 

Library & Computers - Monday - We will not start going to the library and computer lab until we have other basic routines set in place.  Once we begin going to the library and computer lab we will go every week unless there is another school event taking place that will interfere with the routine.  Once we begin going please remember to send your child's library book back so he or she will be able to take out a new book.  It may be helpful to leave your child's library book in his or her back pack when it is not being used. 

Physical Education - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Please make sure your child wears sneakers to school on days we have gym in order to ensure that your child can stay safe and participate in the activities.  Physical Education is an important piece to your child's growth and development, we don't want them to miss out on this exciting opportunity!

Music - Wednesday

Art & Spanish - Friday

Lunch - We will have lunch everyday from 11:15-11:45.  Please make sure your child eats a substantial breakfast so he or she can have a happy experience instead of a hungry one. 

Snack - Since we have a long afternoon, our snack will be toward the end of the day from 1:45-2:00.  If your child would like a drink with his or her snack please send in a water bottle (labeled with his or her name) as juice boxes (juice boxes may be sent for lunch) can make our classroom very sticky. 

I hope you find this helpful!  I am so excited to begin a new adventure with your children this year!  Please continue to view my blog as it will be updated weekly!  Have a relaxing weekend! 

Sincerely,
Miss Knauer

This week in math we worked on telling time to the nearest half hour.  We also learned about the dollar bill.

In science we learned about the parts of a fish.  We made our own fish to decorate our classroom.

Next week in writing we will put together the books we have been working on to teach our readers about ponds.

As the weather gets warmer please remember to dress your children in shoes that have a closed toe and a support in the back of the shoe.  As always please provide sneakers for your child on days that we have gym  (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday).

Beginning this Monday, we will start Kindergarten testing.  Please make sure your child gets a good nights sleep and has a healthy breakfast and snack.

Last week in Kindergarten we learned about beavers!  We will continue to learn about more pond animals.  Eventually we will make a book about all of the animals we have learned. 

In math we are really working on learning addition and subtraction problems.  We are trying to increase our speed with figuring out different math problems.  

We will not meet in our small guided reading groups this week because I will be doing individual assessments.  I am going to have your children bring home books to read in their bags.  They may need some extra help trying to read the book since we are not meeting in our small groups.   

In science this past week we learned about frogs.  We learned about what different kinds of frogs can look like and we talked about how frogs have different characteristics that help them live.  We even made our own frogs to look and feel smooth like real frogs.  

In math we learned a few games and even made our own hundreds chart.  Your child should be starting to  count up to numbers above 100.

In reading we have really been working hard on using our strategies to figure out words we don't know.  Last week we learned about skip it the frog.  He taught us that if we get to a tricky word, we should skip it and go back to the word when we get to the end of the sentence.  

Ponds, Ponds, Ponds.

This week in Kindergarten we learned about ponds and talked about different kinds of animals and plants that can live there.  Next week we will take a closer look at frogs.  

In math we learned about the quarter.  Now we will work on making exchanges with money for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.  

In writing we are finishing up our unit on all about books.  Next week we will start a new unit on poems.  

The students are working hard at becoming better readers each day.  They are really using the strategies we have learned to help them with tricky words.  

We Learned About Ponds

This week in Kindergarten we learned about ponds and talked about different kinds of animals and plants that can live there.  Next week we will take a closer look at frogs.

In math we learned about the quarter.  Now we will work on making exchanges with money for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.

In writing we are finishing up our unit on all about books.  Next week we will start a new unit on poems.

The students are working hard at becoming better readers each day.  They are really using the strategies we have learned to help them with tricky words.

The Kindergarteners seemed very well refreshed after the break.  I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun vacation!

This week in Kindergarten we learned about the parts of a flower and about the things a plant needs to grow.  We planted our own seeds to take care of and watch grow.

In writing workshop we learned about how to use and create a table of contents.  The Kindergarteners have been working hard to create their own table of contents for their all about books.

This week we learned a new letter sound /x/.  Next week we will learn the sounds for letters /y/ and /z/.

The kindergarteners are growing so much while working during our writer's workshop.  We will be completing our unit on all about books by the end of this week and will start a new topic when we return from our spring break.  

The kindergarteners continue to grow each week as readers as well.  They are really improving with being able to read consonant-vowel-consonant words.  We only have one more vowel sound left to learn (e) and just a few more consonant letter sounds left.  

The students are really doing a nice job creating and solving addition problems utilizing numbers 1-10.  

I hope everyone has a very happy and safe spring break!  I will be looking forward to seeing your children when we return!

I can't believe we are almost halfway through March!  This week we have been working hard to learn the letter W.  Next week we will be working hard to learn a new vowel sound, U.  The Kindergarteners should be comfortable attempting to sound out different CVC words.

This week we made a Leprechaun craft.  We also made hats that the students will take home on Friday.  Next week the students will explore characteristics about spring.

The students should be so proud of how they are growing in reading and writing.  You may have noticed that the students have been bringing books home that they have written.  The books we have been working on writing are "all about books."  The students have chosen topics they feel they are experts on.  Your Kindergarteners are probably excited to share their books with you.  Ask your child if he or she can read their book to you.

March

March is Here!  

We just recently celebrated our 100th day of school.  The kindergarteners are beginning to master counting to 100.  Tomorrow we will celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday by making special hats.  We have been learning about The Pledge of Allegiance and what it means.  When the kindergarteners are comfortable reciting The Pledge of Allegiance, they will have the opportunity to recite it on the morning announcements.   

The kindergarteners are working hard at reading and writing.  It is so exciting to see how much they are growing! 

February

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!  We are quickly approaching the 100th day of school.  This is an exciting day because we focus on counting to 100 and looking at what 100 items really look like.  Several of the kindergarteners have already recognized that the 100th day of school is not far away.  The Kindergarteners should be making progress toward being able to count to 100 by ones and tens.

In writing workshop we are working on writing How To Books.  I am so proud of how our writing is coming along.  Our authors are so excited to publish their books by binding them with special tape when they are all done.  They will be bringing some of their books home shortly.

So far we have learned two vowel sounds: short /a/ and short /o/.  We are working on sounding out consonant-vowel-consonant nonsense words such as kaz, zof, kat, bof, etc.  We will continue to try and increase our speed when reading these types of words.

Valentine's Day is approaching as well.  We will not be having a classroom party, although we will be taking some time to exchange valentines on this day.

January

Dear Families,

It was so nice to see your children today after the break.  I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday.  Today we worked on making new years resolutions.  We wrote our resolutions on snowflakes and will decorate our room with them.

We will continue our guided reading groups next week.  Your child will begin to bring more difficult books home as the year progresses.  If your child has trouble reading the books that come home, please record that  on the reading log.

Your child will also bring home short stories that will require him or her to sound out the words.  Your child should be getting more comfortable sounding out consonant-vowel-consonant words that have the short /a/ sound (i.e. cat, pan, map).  These short stories will include the short /a/ sound.  As we learn more vowel sounds, the stories will begin to incorporate those as well.

We will begin creating calendars for each new month that approaches so the children can practice writing their numbers 1-30.  We will continue to work on counting to 100  by ones, tens, and fives.

Our young authors will begin writing new books about small moments in their lives.  You will be surprised with how well their writing is coming along!

I am hoping to do a small unit on decision making.  This unit will look at the right and wrong choices that Pinocchio makes.  We will talk about his conscience Jiminy Cricket as well.

Sincerely,
Miss Knauer