February 11, 2019 4:41 pm

Kindergarten Highlights

Week of February 11, 2019

February is such a wonderful month; it is loaded with numerous spring time celebrations.  We began with Groundhog Day on the 2nd.  Not only did the groundhog seem to get the prediction right, but also the day marks the halfway point of winter. The class studied shadows and enjoyed eating our experiment when we were finished. Already the days are longer and sunnier. On February 4th we welcomed Lunar New Year; the class enjoys learning about everyday items that were discovered or invented in China.  We also explored some of the traditions associated with the 15 day celebration. Next we look forward to our celebrations of hearts and one hundred on the 100th day of school this Thursday. We continue this week with new reading selections.  We will review and re-teach the concepts of magic – e and double consonant to assist with the success of The Big Game. Our other group will be taking a look at a young reader biography of Amelia Earhart. We are beginning the fourth unit in the Making Meaning series this week. Unit 4 is about visualizing.  The purpose of this unit is to help students visualize stories as they listen to read alouds.  Creating mental images helps readers understand and enjoy texts.  The students use their background knowledge and inference to help create mental images from descriptive language in stories.  This story this week is Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward. Cookie, the cat, gets into a different kind of mischief every day of the week. In math we will begin to take a closer look at the numbers 1 thru 10. Through the use of manipulative we will discover that these numbers are made of smaller parts.  The math term is part – part – whole.  It is an important concept to understand because it aids in a student’s ability to quickly and mentally add and do subtraction.  Understanding, for example, that six can be 6+0, 5+1, 4+2, 3+3, 2+4, 1+5, and 0+6.  We will use math manipulatives and a work mat to help us see and build these relationships.  Please reinforce and work with your child this week. I will be sending the math mats to reinforce the skill learned in school.  Enjoy exploring and building these math sentences at home. In science this week we wrap up our study of penguins with a visit from Jenkinson’s Aquarium.  They will be joining us Wednesday morning for an assembly about penguins.  I can predict that our class will impress the staff biologist with our knowledge of these funny but amazing flightless birds. The students did a lovely job presenting their research reports. Our 100 Day celebration will include fun activities that have us counting, writing, building, and jumping for joy because we are 100 days smarter!  We will combine the day with Valentine’s Day by creating 100 hearts with 100 words we know and love!  We are sending home a class list with the classmates’ names.  If you are sending in Valentines, please remember to include all our friends. I’m looking for a few volunteers to send in treats for the sweetest day of the year as well.  Please let me know if you’d like to contribute.  Items like fruit, cookies and jello snacks would be greatly appreciated. Please be mindful that in case of inclimate weather and Marlboro School District is closed or on a delay, we will also be closed or on a delayed opening schedule. (10:45 am start).   As always, thanks for your continued support!

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